When the original Keystone pipeline cut through the extreme northeast corner of Platte County and down the length of Colfax and Butler counties in 2009-10, it stirred few complaints from property owners along the route. Area officials said this week they expect a similar reaction following the Nebraska Public Service Commissions narrow 3-2 vote to approve TransCanadas mainline alternative route for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, shifting the project east to run parallel to the original pipeline. I had no complaints, said Mark Arps, who saw how TransCanada treated property owners from a personal standpoint and worked with the Canadian company on the job as Colfax Countys highway superintendent. Arps wife's family owned agricultural ground along the pipeline path near Bellwood and he worked with TransCanada as construction proceeded. They treated (my wifes family) real nice, doing exactly what they said they would do, Arps said. They kept their promises. The highway superintendent said TransCanada tore up county roads as the pipeline was going in the ground, but the company brought in its own certified grader operators to rebuild and gravel local roads. The pipeline infrastructure also added to property tax payments going into local coffers, Arps said. Mondays decision by the state commission rejects TransCanada's preferred route for the Keystone XL stretching across the outskirts of several area communities to the west of Columbus, including Albion, St. Edward, Genoa, Fullerton, Silver Creek and Stromsburg. The Lincoln Journal Star reported that TransCanada didn't immediately say whether it will pursue Keystone XL construction along the alternate route through Platte, Colfax and Butler counties. "As a result of today's decision, we will conduct a careful review of the Public Service Commission's ruling while assessing how the decision would impact the cost and schedule of the project," Russ Girling, the company's president and CEO, said Monday in a statement. The alternative route would impact about 40 new landowners, mostly in Madison County, who aren't along the preferred route and don't have the original Keystone pipeline cutting through their land already, according to the Journal Star. The alternative route to the north and east of Columbus would impact only a couple of landowners in Platte County, according to County Assessor Tom Placzek. With the original pipeline, the assessor said, TransCanada did a good job of addressing any ag-related issues, such as the threat of environmental damage as a result of pipeline leaks. There were no complaints from what I heard, Placzek said. They didnt impede things (crossing fields during construction) any longer than they had to and farmers were able to plant their fields. Colfax County Commissioner Gil Wigington said the county has had pipelines running through it for years and complaints were few and far between when the original Keystone began shipping crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to Steele City in southern Nebraska. "I hope it gets built," Wigington said of the Keystone XL. Its admirable, in a way, that so many left-leaners are calling for Al Franken to quit the Senate. Columnist Paul Waldman says Democrats have a good opportunity to take the high road against sexual harassment. Activist-podcaster Sally Kohn tweets, Wrong is wrong. Democrats need to show they strongly and consistently stand for womens rights. The same sentiment is echoed by progressive groups like Credo Action and Indivisible. But lets not be hasty here. Im warning against haste not because Franken is a Democrat; if he were to quit, Minnesotas Democratic governor would keep the seat blue anyway. Im warning against haste simply because, amidst the flood of raw info about predatory misogyny in high places, and with so much we still dont know, the allegation-and-punishment process threatens to veer out of control before weve even established a fair and balanced system of justice. Ill explain what I mean in a moment. But first, heres Waldmans argument. He wrote on Monday that Democrats should call for Franken to resign, as penance for the two accusations lodged against him, because it would demonstrate that theyre willing to put their actions where their principles are, that they want to take this opportunity to begin really changing the culture of male supremacy ... If Democrats want to show that theyre different [from Republicans], nows their chance. I get what he says with one massive caveat. Hes basically advocating unilateral disarmament. Democrats can walk the high road and set whatever noble example they want, but theres no way Republicans will follow suit. At virtually the same time that Waldman and other liberals were calling for Frankens head, Trump propagandist Kellyanne Conway was telling Fox News that Roy Moore, accused repeatedly of pedophilia, was perfectly acceptable because we want the votes in the Senate to get this tax bill through. If self-policing Democrats stand up for morality, amoral Republicans will try to leverage that to their advantage. In that view, Im hardly alone. Kate Harding, a feminist author and podcaster who wants Franken to stay, points out that, like it or not, we have a two-party system, and that unilateral Democratic disarmament will empower the other party: If we [compel Franken to quit] in the interest of demonstrating our partys solidarity with harassed and abused women, were only going to drain the swamp of people who, however flawed, still regularly vote to protect womens rights and freedoms. The legislative branch will remain chockablock with old, white, Republican men who regard women chiefly as sex objects and unpaid housekeepers, and well show them how staunchly Democrats oppose their misogynistic attitudes by handing them more power. But, as mentioned earlier, Im most concerned that were at risk of losing all sense of proportion. Were at risk of ushering in an era of mandatory sentencing (Franken must go!) before we even set up a fair system of justice. Step back from Franken and look at the big picture. Not all accused male lawmakers (the ones we know, the ones we will soon know) have erred equally. Should an isolated grope be deemed as serious as a serial pattern? Should verbal harassment warrant the same punishment as physical assault? Should accusations that involve the use of taxpayer money be treated more seriously than other accusations? Should bad behavior outside the congressional workplace be deemed as dire as bad behavior with underlings at the workplace? Should any exculpatory weight be given to testimonials from professional women who were treated with respect by the accused? In Frankens case, he has gotten such testimonials. And neither of his two accusers were in the workplace. If he is frog-marched out of the Senate if quitting ones seat is deemed the appropriate punishment for non-consensual kissing and groping it surely means that all lawmakers accused of anything more severe should summarily resign. Heck, if Franken is compelled to quit, then surely Donald Trump (with 16 accusers) should do the same. Even Waldman, whose work I admire, acknowledges that we need to make sure we dont lose our ability to make moral distinctions between different kinds of sexual misconduct, and whatever punishments we mete out are proportional and just ... A man who doles out the occasional unwanted kiss might deserve a vigorous public shaming, but still be allowed to have a career. All the more reason to take a deep breath. We need proportion. We need just punishments that fit the alleged offenses. And rest assured, our Thanksgiving will be better than Frankens. Dick Polman is the national political columnist at NewsWorks/WHYY in Philadelphia (newsworks.org/polman) and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com. One of Netflix's most anticipated series has released a new trailer and it has us ready to feel bleak all over again. Black Mirror, known for its dark setting and dystopic themes, is set to return to Netflix for a six-episode fourth series. Each episode of British writer Charlie Brooker's renowned show features a new story, cast and setting. The key to good parenting. pic.twitter.com/J97Ij0u9jc Black Mirror (@blackmirror) November 24, 2017 The latest trailer is from episode two of the next series. The episode, Arkangel, will be directed by Jodie Foster and looks set to feature more creepy mind-bending and thought-provoking scenes. The episode deals with parenting, but without us spoiling anything you can take a look for yourself here: The world of the episode does not look that much different to our own - apart from the fact that they inject children with needles into their brains and someone says they are 2,000 years old. We watch a mother have a mini-panic over temporarily losing her daughter. The same child, Sara, is seen being injected as part of a trial, most likely due to her earlier scare. "The key to good parenting is control," the trailer posits after. No doubt we can expect to have some interesting conversations with our Netflix viewing buddies about helicopter parenting. Could it be mind control? Are they androids? Who knows. We can't wait. The release date for Black Mirror series four has yet to be announced. A British mother jailed in Iran has spoken from prison in Tehran to thank those campaigning for her release. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe addressed those attending a rally and march, including actress Emma Thompson, through a phone and loudspeaker to thank everyone for their support. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been imprisoned in Tehran since April 2016, when she was arrested at the city's airport after a holiday with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. She told the rally near her home in north London: "I'm so grateful for everybody's support and love... I am so overwhelmed and moved. "All that is on my mind is to be back home and to be back with my family." Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in jail on charges of spying and seeking to overthrow the Tehran regime, and has been held in solitary confinement. Her family has led a long-running campaign for her release, saying she is innocent and raising fears for her physical and mental health. At the protest a tearful Thompson hit out at the "bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster" and urged the Government to do more to bring her home. The Love Actually actress, who was suffering from pneumonia, called on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to "get on a plane", after his suggestion earlier this month that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran exposed her to the threat of her five-year sentence being doubled. The Oscar-winning actress said: "We are a net of compassion and love for Nazanin and her family. This is what we human beings do best, in stark contrast to the bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster. "If I can get out of bed with pneumonia to support a horribly abused member of our community then our Foreign Secretary can get on a plane and go to Iran and deal with the problem he's so seriously exacerbated." Thompson added: "The screw is twisting more and more and her physical and mental health is deteriorating to such a degree now that I think we are in a very urgent situation. "I can't imagine the effect of being separated for 19 months from your child. I would have gone bonkers if that had happened to me. "I'm just so passionate about getting her back, it's a sort of physical feeling of anguish for her." Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq spoke to Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and later said: "We discussed how we would take both our daughters to Peppa Pig World when she's released." Mrs Zaghari-Racliffe's husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said: "It is profoundly moving to see so many people here. "I can really feel the love, and Nazanin can feel the love, and in the end that's the most important thing, that's what keeps us going." The rally took place before a march to the Shia Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale, north-west London, to hand in a "Mothers' Open Letter" asking for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release from the Tehran prison. An online petition calling for her to be returned to Britain has had more than 1.3 million signatures. Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK's director, said: "Once again, it's inspiring to see so many people supporting Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family this way. "She's been put through a deeply unfair trial and could be facing a fresh charge, so it's extremely important that the recent political focus on Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case now translates into the Iranian authorities finally releasing her." Zimbabwe's former finance minister has testified that armed, masked men in uniform abducted him from his home during the military operation leading to the ousting of Robert Mugabe and held him for a week in an unidentified location. His account has fuelled debate about the legality of the popular, mostly peaceful takeover by the armed forces. The evidence of Ignatius Chombo came a day after a High Court judge, a retired general, ruled that the military's actions last week, which commanders described as a move against "criminals" around Mugabe, were legal. While some critics said it set a dangerous precedent, the decision by Judge George Chiweshe reinforced the military's assertion that it acted within the law even though it set off events, including impeachment proceedings and street demonstrations against 93-year-old Mugabe, that ended his 37-year rule. The joyful inauguration on Friday of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former top aide to Mugabe, showed that most Zimbabweans were happy to have a new leader who might take steps to revive the shattered economy and grant them more freedoms. Even so, perceptions that the abrupt political transition was constitutionally sound are important to Zimbabwe's new leadership, which must prepare for 2018 elections while it seeks to attract foreign investment. However, Mr Chombo and two leaders of the ruling Zanu-PF party's youth league who said they were abducted by the military before being handed over days later to the police described experiences reminiscent of human rights violations that were a routine occurrence during Mugabe's rule. The three men have been linked to a party faction loyal to Mugabe's wife, Grace, whose presidential ambitions triggered the military intervention. "I was in the custody of armed persons who were dressed in soldiers' uniforms," said Mr Chombo, who has been charged with corruption. "I don't know where I was taken to." He described in court how the raid in the early morning of November 15 began with two explosions, one of which shook his home. Men entered his bedroom with AK-47 assault rifles pointed at him, his wife and his maid, then handcuffed and hustled him out of the house through a smashed living room window, blindfolding him with his own T-shirt, Mr Chombo said. A one-hour drive to an unidentified location led to days of custody during which interrogators told him that he had performed badly in his role as a government official and ruling party leader, he said. He said he was blindfolded most of the time and never saw his captors' faces. He was not assaulted and saw a doctor after requesting pills, but suffered lacerations during the forced exit from his home, falling several times while barefoot. Several days ago, his captors told him to pack his things and they drove him home, he said. There, two cars with police were parked. "They said, 'You are under arrest'," Mr Chombo said. Defence lawyer Lovemore Madhuku said it was obvious that Mr Chombo was originally taken by state agents, probably the military, and that his constitutional rights had been violated because he was not taken to court within 48 hours of his detention. The police arrest, he said, was designed to provide legal cover for an illegal act. "The military must know that there is a constitution in this country," Mr Madhuku said. "There's no such thing as a military arrest." However, state prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba said the police arrest of Mr Chombo was lawful and that there was no evidence the "armed men" who previously held him belonged to the military. The detained youth leaders, Kudzanai Chipanga and Innocent Hamandishe, have been accused of denigrating the military. All three men are now in police custody. AP The landlord of a historic pub in England has described how a man "escorted from the premises" was the driver of a car which then crashed into the front door, injuring four people. UK police were called to the Cinque Ports Arms in Kent, at 9.52pm on Friday, after the silver Vauxhall Corsa crashed into the front of the building, pushing in the door. Owner Kevin Gibbons said that at about 9.30pm a man in his 20s was escorted from the premises before he got into a car which hit "the front of the pub, subsequently causing injuries to some of our patrons and staff". Photo: Cinque Ports Arms/PA Wire Mr Gibbons added: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff who not only remained calm but acted in a highly professional manner to ensure that our customers and children above the pub were safely evacuated while assisting the emergency services. "We would also like to thank the emergency services for their rapid response and the service they provided. "We have had builders working throughout the night to make the pub structurally safe and will be carrying on with business as usual." A Kent Police spokesman said: "A 24-year-old man from New Romney, reported to be the driver of the car, has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in custody. "Four other people are reported to have been injured, with three men taken to a local hospital for treatment to injuries that have not been reported to be life threatening. "The fourth injured person did not require hospital treatment." Several fundraisers are planned for the family of Terre Du Lac Police Officer Adam King who died in a vehicle crash Nov. 19 just after his shift ended. Terre Du Lac Police Chief Tim Cook said there are several ways to donate to Kings family and one way is the youcaring.com page for "Officer Adam M. King's family." They can donate that way and when you donate to that it will automatically go to an account at First State Community Bank that we set up, said Cook. People can also walk in to Belgrade State to donate, which is a savings account set up for the children and the First State Community Bank account is just a donation account to the family. Cook said there is going to be a bake sale/toy drive for the children at the Terre Du Lac Fire House 1 located off St. Francois Road near the gas station. It will be Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and they will selling baked goods and drinks, said Cook. They will also be taking toys for the children for Christmas and monetary donations. King has an 8-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son." Cook said the woman who organized the bake sale/toy drive had gotten locked out of her house one day and King went to help. She had locked herself out of the house and her sons inhaler was inside, said Cook. King was able to get into the house and she was able to get her sons inhaler. So she set this up to help his family. Cook said all donations made and sales from the bake sale will go to the family. A Terre Du Lac police officer's wife also designed bracelets which will be sold at the event. Cook said the bracelets are end-of-watch thin blue line bracelets in Kings name and they will be selling them for $3 a piece and all the money goes to the family. We just made a really big order of them because they were being sold right and left, said Cook. We should be getting those in soon, so if anyone wants to pre-buy them, they can. We will add them to the list if they come down and pay for them ahead of time. Otherwise they can buy them when they come in. Cook said they can be purchased at the Terre Du Lac Police Department, Terre Du Lac Fire Department or the Terre Du Lac Association Office. We also invited all police departments who want to show their support and respect by being in the funeral precession, said Cook. I had central dispatch send a statewide fax out to all the departments letting them know everything and the arrangements. DeClue Funeral Home located at 301 E. High St. in Potosi is handling Kings funeral arrangements. Visitation for the public continues Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m. A procession will leave the funeral home and travel to Highway 21 South to Liberty Baptist Church in Belgrade. Any law enforcement officer, fire department or EMS vehicles are welcome. 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... Tata Motors Nano, the cheapest car launched in recent times, is now also among models clocking lowest monthly production and sales volume (in double digits to be precise). The average daily production of just two Nano cars at the companys Sanand plant is indication enough that this vehicle is now as good as obsolete. Dealers of Tata Motors in most parts of the country have stopped placing orders for this small car in the last three-four months and the showrooms are displaying contemporary models such as Tiago, Tigor, Hexa and Nexon. Kazakhstans national airline Air Astana is preparing for an IPO in FY19. Peter Foster, CEO, Air Astana, tells Arindam Majumder in an interview that the airline is counting on transit passengers from India to improve its business. Edited excerpts: Air Astana is planning an IPO. What are the steps you are taking to increase its value proposition? The intention is to do the IPO in 12 to 15 months. It will be a dual listing in Kazakhstan and London. Some of the promoters will hold onto their shares and new shares will be coming in. The existing shareholders' holding will go below the majority stake. With the first phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail ready for inauguration on November 28, construction major Larsen & Toubro on Saturday said that it is ready to pitch for the second phase proposed by the Telangana government. The 30 km stretch of the total 72-km-long project is ready for launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 28. The remaining stretch of the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) project is expected to be commissioned by the end of next year. Telangana Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao on Saturday said the government had started talks for expanding the metro. He told reporters that he will be visiting Japan in January next year to hold talks with Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA). Shivanand Nimbargi, MD & CEO, L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (LTMRHL) said they would definitely look at the second phase. "Phase two will be taken up by the government. They are doing pre-feasibility studies. As and when the government finalises the alignment and how the bid should be, we will definitely look at it. We would like to participate in it," he said. He said since L&T was already here, it would definitely look at the second phase. The company is already helping the government in pre-feasibility studies with its technical inputs. "We are in the initial stage. We are doing studies and exploring different possibilities and financial opportunities including JICA," said N V S Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR). Reddy, along with two other top government officials, recently visited Japan to hold preliminary talks with JICA. The state government said last week that it is considering a new proposal where 60 per cent of the cost for the metro project can be met through external loans while the Centre and the state governments can bear 20 per cent cost each. Under the second phase, the government proposes to expand metro up to Hyderabad Airport and connect the city to neighbouring towns. Meanwhile, a 30-km stretch from Nagole to Miyapur is all set for the inauguration. The original construction period for the elevated metro ended in July this year but the project could not be completed due to various reasons and the developer was granted a 17-month extension. The entire project, barring 5-km stretch in the Old City and about 1 km stretch between Hitec city and Raidurg, is now likely to completed by the end of 2018. Billed as the world's biggest metro rail project in PPP, it was taken up in 2012 at a cost of Rs 14,132 crore. Both the minister and L&T officials, while confirming the cost overruns, declined to give a figure or comment further, saying they were trying to solve the issue through talks. "There have been cost-escalation issues which have been requested.A We are in discussion. As and when we have to disclose, we will disclose," said Nimbargi. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. American technology and engineering company Emerson sees Indian firms lagging behind the technology curve if they continue to follow the lowest bid criteria for awarding contracts. The company has executed projects for Reliance Industries as well as national oil . Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. Having reached the 80 per cent capacity utilisation mark, tyremakers are planning to invest Rs 35,000 crore in greenfield and brownfield projects to expand capacity. The manufacturers also anticipate double-digit growth from FY19 against single-digit growth this year driven by domestic and export demand. Seeking to exploit a crude meme tweeted by the Congress mocking the Prime Minister's 'chaiwala' past, BJP leaders, including Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah, will listen to PM's radio talk 'Mann ki Baat' while having tea with people across poll-bound Gujarat on Saturday. The event, to be held at all 50,128 polling booths in 182 Assembly seats, is named 'Mann ki Baat - Chai Ke Saath'. While BJP chief Amit Shah will attend the program in the Dariyapur constituency in Ahmedabad, the Union finance minister will have tea with people at a booth in Adajan area of the Surat-West seat, said a party release. Other party leaders who would join the program at various places are Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Uma Bharti, Smriti Irani, Jual Oram, Parshottam Rupala, state BJP president Jitu Vaghani, chief minister Vijay Rupani and several Gujarat ministers, MLAs and MPs. The event is being organised ahead of Narendra Modi's tour of Gujarat on November 27 and 29, during which he will address eight rallies in Saurashtra and south Gujarat which would be going to polls on December 9. Referring to the meme mocking Modi over his tea-seller background, tweeted by the Youth Congress, state BJP in-charge Bhupender Yadav on November 23 had announced this event. The Twitter handle of the Youth Congress's magazine "Yuva Desh" kicked up a row with the tweet which was seen to be mocking Modi's humble past and English skills. Soon after, the Youth Congress apologised and removed the tweet. Chief minister Rupani had dubbed the tweet as "blatantly classist and anti-poor". Ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had said that Modi, a former tea-seller, could never become prime minister. The BJP leveraged the remark to launch Modi's 'chai pe charcha' sessions as part of the election campaign. The death toll in in Maharashtra rose to four from one on Saturday. A three-storey residential building collapsed on Friday morning in Bhiwandi in Thane district. Many people were injured, while several others feared to be trapped inside the debris. The 'Tahir Biznor' building, situated in Navi Basti area, was unauthorised, a district official said. The building collapsed around 9 am on Friday morning, Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Santosh Kadam said. The deceased were identified as Ruksar Yakub Khan (18), Asfaque Mustaque Khan (38) and Jaibunissa Rafique Ansari (61). The nine injured, including a six-year-old boy, have been admitted to the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the civic hospital here, District Disaster Management Control officer Asmita Nikam said. The Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were rushed to the spot, along with fire-brigade teams from Bhiwandi, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan civic bodies. Bhiwandi Tehsildar Shashikant Gaikwad, who was supervising the rescue operations, told PTI that the building, over 10 years old, was not on the list of dangerous buildings. At least eight families lived in it, the officials said. The officials said the possibility of some more people being trapped under the debris cannot be ruled out yet. Pakistan has justified the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, claiming that Islamabad was committed to the implementation of UNSC sanctions regime on terrorists. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder, who has a $10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan yesterday. He is a UN and US-designated terrorist. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Saeed's release confirmed once again the lack of seriousness by the Pakistan government in bringing to justice perpetrators of terrorism, including individuals and entities designated by the UN. "It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is visible for all to see," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi on Thursday. Responding to the comments made by the MEA, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan was committed to the implementation of UNSC 1267 sanctions regime and has taken several steps in this regard. "The (MEA) spokesperson took exception to self-serving insinuations," he said in a statement issued late last night. Faisal said that courts in Pakistan, pursuant to their constitutional duty, were determined to uphold rule of law and due process for all citizens of Pakistan. Legal processes were anchored in rule of law, not dictates of politics and posturing, he said. "It is in the interest of all States to speak and act in a manner that is consistent with the imperatives of adhering to rule of law at the and international levels," Faisal said. He said that Pakistan's resolve, actions and successes in the fight against terrorism, terrorist violence and terrorists are unmatched in the world. "Pakistan condemns and opposes all forms of terrorism by any individual or group," the FO spokesperson said. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. Saeed was individually designated by the UN under the Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. A police officer, who was part of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case probe, and his two family members, have been booked on the charge of abetment to suicide after a woman allegedly hanged herself in suburban Mulund and named him in the suicide note, an official said today. The 44-year-old woman, Riya Palande, had allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her residence in Mulund East on November 23. Palande, a widow, was living with her two children and used to run a grocery store, police said. "During the investigation, sleuths of Navghar police station found a message written on the wall, which said that she was committing suicide due to harassment by ACP Damodar Choudhary. The message also said that a detailed suicide note was kept in her grocery store," an official said. A police team went to her grocery shop, from where they recovered a note, which mentioned the names of Choudhary, his wife and daughter, the official said. "On the basis of the suicide note, Navghar police registered a case of abetment to suicide against Choudhary and his two family members," he said. Choudhary was among the policemen, who probed the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case. He has also been appreciated by his seniors for his work, he said. Choudhary is currently posted as a senior inspector in the Local Arms division in Andheri. "As the names of the officer and his family members name were found written in the suicide note, we registered an offence of abetment to suicide against them," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-7), Akhilesh Singh, said. "We are investigating the exact reason behind the woman's suicide and the officer's role in it. We will take necessary legal action in this case," Singh said. As a young doctor committed to serving the needy, she used to visit slums in Lucknow with suggestions and advice to inhabitants on how to safeguard their health. Despite telling a woman repeatedly not to drink water from a contaminated source, and seeing the woman ignore her advice before her very eyes, the young doctor asked why? Irritated, the unlettered woman replied: who are you to advice? The collector? The doctor was quiet, but resolved to answer the question. She cleared the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination in 2009, becoming an officer in the Chhattisgarh cadre. The doctor-turned-bureaucrat, Priyanka Shukla is now serving as district collector in Jashpur district. As a district collector, she is using her authority to enable young people, especially students, to dream big. At least 305 people were killed and 109 others injured in a gory terror attack on a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai region on Friday, reported state media, making it one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the countrys modern history. Haryana has been put on alert and the state government has sought 25 companies of paramilitary forces in view of the proposed rallies of a Jat body and a BJP MP tomorrow. The Haryana Police said that "adequate" number of security personnel have been deployed in almost 13 districts of the state to maintain law and order, and claimed that the situation was "peaceful and under control". Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini, who has been opposing reservations for Jats, would be holding a "Samaanta Maha Sammelan" in Jind while the All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti's chief Yashpal Malik would take out a rally at Jassia village in Rohtak district on November 26. "The situation is peaceful and under control," Haryana Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Muhammad Akil told PTI this evening. "We have deployed adequate forces in 12 to 13 districts of Haryana," he said without specifying the number of security personnel. The state has also sought 25 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre in view of the two rallies being organised in Rohtak and Jind districts, the officer said. However, the paramilitary forces are yet arrive, he said. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Rohtak Range, Navdeep Virk said that as many as 3,500 security personnel have been deployed in Rohtak. Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rohtak, Yash Garg said, "Prohibitory orders banning carrying of arms, weapons or lathis has been issued." Besides, routes have been diverted at several points so that those participating in the rally at Jassia village would not have to pass through the city, he said. "As many as 19 police check posts have been set up while 38 duty magistrates have also been deployed in the district," the officer said. DC, Jind, Amit Khatri said that the district administration and the police are on alert and adequate security forces have been deployed. "Hisar Range IGP is also camping in the district," he said, adding that no prohibitory orders have been issued. Yesterday, a group of Jats, who had been opposing Saini's rally, had clashed with police in Jind and had blocked the Jind-Chandigarh highway. The police had to use a mild lathi charge to disperse the protesters and clear the highway. The Haryana government had yesterday suspended mobile internet services at 13 places in the state for the next three days, apprehending breach of peace and law and order problem because of the rallies. Mobile internet, SMS and dongle services provided by cellphone networks, except voice calls, would remain suspended for the next three days, till November 26 midnight, in Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts. (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.) Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. Congress Vice-President on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan released 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest, saying that the former's 'Hugplomacy' with US President Donald Trump failed. Gandhi took to Twitter and said "more hugs were urgently needed" between PM Modi and Trump. Narendrabhai, . Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed.https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 25, 2017 Earlier on November 24, Saeed was released from house arrest in Lahore. Police guards were removed from his residence where a large number of supporters gathered to celebrate the end of his house arrest. In his first address after being released, Saeed blames India and the US for detention and raked up Kashmir. ALSO READ: Hafiz Saeed calls Nawaz Sharif a traitor for seeking peace with India Saeed is said to be the head of the US-designated terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba and had been under house arrest since January 31 this year. The decision to put Saeed under house arrest in January was seen as a response to actions by US President Donald Trump's White House against nations deemed linked to terrorism. He has been declared a global terrorist by the United Nations and the US for his role in the Mumbai attack which claimed the lives of 166 people and maimed over 300 others. He has a $10 million bounty on his head. (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.) Admiral Sunil Lanba will embark on a three-day visit to Bangladesh tomorrow for a multilateral naval exercise being held under a regional maritime forum set up by India's initiative. His visit was also aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations and to explore new avenues for maritime cooperation, the defence ministry said. It said Indian naval ships Ranvir, Sahyadri, Gharial and Sukanya along with one maritime patrol aircraft P-8I will take part in the International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) which will be inaugurated by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday in the port city of Cox's Bazar. The exercise is taking place under the aegis of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) -- an initiative of the Indian Navy that was launched in 2008 to bring together littoral states in the region. The IONS has now grown into a formidable organisation comprising 23 member nations and nine observer countries. The ministry said apart from the exercise, an 'Extraordinary Conclave of Chiefs (ECoC)' meeting of IONS was scheduled on November 28 which will also be attended by Admiral Lanba. The meeting was expected to review the progress made by three IONS Working Groups on maritime security information exchange, interoperability and humanitarian assistance. Lanba will also hold bilateral discussions with Chief of the Naval Staff of Bangladesh Navy on Monday and several other navy chiefs of other participating countries. The defence ministry said Lanba would also be gifting 'War Memorabilia' for the 'Liberation War Museum' of Bangladesh. There have been great strides and many important victories in the fight against HIV. Scientific innovations and sustained investment have been the most important weapons in this ongoing battle. The Kipembawe Division is hidden in the southern highlands of south-west Tanzania, a long seven-hour drive north from the city of Mbeya. The scenery is stunning, yet when you look closer you can see that plants dominate agricultural areas, and the sound of trees being felled is a constant background noise. Amid the Padmavati row, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said today that giving violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm was not acceptable in a democracy. Not directly referring to the controversy, but films and art in general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country. Naidu, at a literary festival here, said there is now a new problem over some films where people feel that they have hurt the sentiments of some religions or communities and that has led to protests. He said while protesting, some people go overboard and announce rewards. "Whether these fellows have that much money or not, I doubt. Everyone is announcing Rs one crore reward. Is it so easy to have Rs one crore? "This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and can't give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law," he said. Stressing that he was not talking about a particular film but in general, Naidu read out names of previously banned films like Haram Hawa, Kissa Kursi Ka and Aandhi. His remarks, however, assume significance as they come amid protests by many groups against Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Padmavati, alleging that the movie distorts history. Historians are divided on whether Rani Padmavati even existed. Some leaders and groups have also reportedly announced a bounty for beheading Bhansali and the female lead Deepika Padukone. "You have no right to take laws into your own hands. At the same time, you don't have the right to hurt the sentiments of others", Naidu said. The vice president also warned against selective condemnation and said it was wrong to link it to religion. He said there was a difference between religion and culture. While religion was a way of worship, culture was a way of life, he said. (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.) Where is it written that is Pakistan's, questioned Occupied (PoK) leader Tauqeer Gilani on Saturday. He said that there is no agreement that says that the PoK is a part . "Where is it written that is Pakistan's? No agreement says so. This is nonsense and is a propaganda by Muslim Conference and their paid stooges. Even on our bathroom doors they have written 'Kashmir banega Pakistan' (Kashmir will become Pakistan)," Gilani said. He said that there is a limit of nonsense. There is a limit of nonsense. On television, they (Pakistanis) term us treacherous. But, we purchase Pakistani salt Rs 20 per kilogram, which no one other buys. Even you (Pakistanis) drink our water," Gilani asserted. He also said that Pakistan's terror agencies masterminded the murder of senior Kashmiri separatist leaders. " was behind killing of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Sajjad Lone's fathers," Gilani said. Mirwaiz Farooq, father of the present chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was shot dead at his residence on May 21, 1990, while Abdul Gani Lone was gunned down during a commemorative rally for the senior Mirwaiz on May 21, 2002. India has been bearing the brunt of Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir since over three decades. With rising onion prices becoming a recurring problem in many parts of the country, including the national capital, the Delhi government is believed to have suggested constituting a price stabilisation fund (PSF), which would enable it to purchase onions from neighbouring areas and retail in the Capital in times of shortage. A proposal to this effect was discussed at a meeting between the Centre and state officials some weeks ago. India's ability to stand up to China has increased but New Delhi remains "much more vulnerable than her powerful neighbour", says a new book. "While it may be safe to assume that China does not seek an escalation or a wider conflict (with India), the fact is that it holds more cards than India," says Arun Bhatnagar in his book "India: Shedding the Past, Embracing the Future 1906-2017" (Konark Publishers). "The long-term strategy or goals that the Chinese wish to advance by taking an uncompromising position are to restrict India's influence globally and to curb its emergence as a pre-eminent power in South Asia," says Bhatnagar, a retired civil servant with close to four decades of experience who was also associated with the National Advisory Council in 2004-08. "The stakes are very high for India," adds the 264-page book, an overview of Indian history from the early 20th century to now. "As of now, the net result is that India-China relationship, carefully constructed, despite the odds, in the last three decades is disintegrating and this too in a very short period of time," the book says. Bhatnagar also says that China's growing influence in South Asia amounts to creating a web of strategic alliances with India's neighbours, eclipsing New Delhi's influence in the region. "There can be no underestimation of the Chinese threat." The author warns that the days of India viewing Bhutan as a "protectorate" were over. "India's Big-Brother demeanour has not helped, either with Bhutan or Nepal, or elsewhere." The book adds: "The fact is that India lacks a coherent and consistent policy vis-a-vis Pakistan and the Pakistan Army continues to take advantage of the situation." The author adds that although a major plank on which Narendra Modi won the 2014 Lok Sabha election was the promise to defeat Pakistan's proxy war, "a blow-hot-blow-cold approach suggests that a coherent strategy has yet to be put in place". On the domestic front, Bhatnagar says that India cannot achieve its development goals if it was trapped in the morass of communal conflicts and ethnic strife. "However, the biggest cause of worry should be that the government continues to be in denial mode of the actual state of the economy and often opts for diversionary action such as the setting up of yet another Economic Advisory Council. "This denial is extremely dangerous since the first step to resolving a problem is to acknowledge that it exists. "In the fourth year of its term, the NDA-II faces a major crisis which has emerged not from issues like Pakistan and terrorism that dominate the headlines, but from the vital issue of the middle-class standards of living and its expectations. "Global fuel prices are much lower than they were during the UPA, but the benefit of the drop in prices has not been passed on to the consumer. "The situation is critical enough to force the preparation of a stimulus package, even at the risk of increasing the fiscal deficit," says Bhatnagar, grandson of eminent scientist and educationist Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. The views expressed are solely of the author. It does not voice Business Standard's stand on the issue Indian have started mining data on customers smartphones for fast loan approval, testing out cutting-edge but controversial technology in what is potentially a huge market for such products. Thanks to Donald Trump and Alabama judge Roy Moore, men in power nationwide suddenly find themselves besieged by accusations of sexual misconduct including rape and **********. No one should be surprised. The same year Assistant District Attorney Roy Moore was reportedly forcing himself on 16-year-old Beverly Nelson, a book-length psychiatric study revealed in detail the abusive sexual habits of men in power, especially those in politics. Theres no reason to think men in power are any different today than they were back then, in 1977. Heres what the study found: Many politicians have an exaggerated drive for sexual dominance. To compensate, they are much more likely than ordinary men to visit prostitutes, and to do so much more often, averaging 2 or 3 times per week. This reflects a psychic structure which generates extreme sexual needs that seem to be basic to the power drive itself. Furthermore, few politicians visit prostitutes for straight sex: the vast majority of them are seeking kinky sex, which the 1977 study defined to include exhibitionism, voyeurism, cross-dressing, fetishism, threesomes, golden showers, humiliation, bondage, and flagellation. By far the most common service politicians demand from call girls is to be beaten, the study reported. Most politicians prefer sex that is sadomasochistic in nature, involving bondage, discipline, humiliation and pain. As one prostitute reported, Sometimes it is hard to think of things that will hurt them badly enough to keep them happy. The study offered an elaborate Freudian explanation for this weird behavior. A Sexual Profile of Men in Power The study, A Sexual Profile of Men in Power, was carried out over a seven-year period by Sam Janus, Ph.D., and Barbara Bess, M.D., both at that time members of the psychiatry faculty of New York Medical College. Between 1969 and 1976 they conducted lengthy and repeated interviews with 80 sex workers (68 elite call girls and 12 madams), gathering reports about 7,645 johns or clients, 60% of whom were politicians. In addition, they conducted another 300 hours of interviews with 10 legislative aides, 10 secretaries, and 10 research assistants on Capitol Hill in Washington or in state legislatures. {pg. xviii} When gathering data on politicians specific sexual preferences, each story was confirmed in detail by at least two other unrelated sources. The published report is based on data from 773,920 separate visits to prostitutes by judges, mayors, governors, congressmen, senators, district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, city councilmen, and aldermen, but the statistical analysis was limited to members of the U.S. Congress. The study concluded that politicians are motivated simultaneously by the highest ideals, and by the most primitive need to prove their mightiness by imposing their will on others. The politician presents a clinical picture of an obsessive striving for power and control, to which he has subordinated every other aspect of life and sacrificed all human relationships. An insatiable need to control and dominate Politicians at least the ones who visit prostitutes are narcissistically vain and are compulsive risk takers because the arrogance of power wraps these men in an illusion of invulnerability. In addition, they are incapable of publicly admitting to error. The politician needs to win not only for the intoxication of victory in a hard-fought battle, but because he has a compelling drive to dominate. It is very common among men who reach high office to speak of themselves as singled out by a supernatural agency to fulfill the will of God, the study noted. Some of those who stay in office long enough to gain seniority, and thus unusual power, have virtually abnegated their humanity in the relentless, all-consuming, and insatiable need to control and dominate. Once he reaches a position of power, an elected official gains many privileges which are denied the lower and middle classes but traditionally have been enjoyed by the aristocracy. He quickly becomes accustomed to the privileges of the class he now belongs to, and begins to take it for granted that if he wants them, women will be made available to him to use pretty much as he pleases. Sex lubricates the wheels of legislation The multitude of lobbyists and influence peddlers who understand very well that sex is the emollient which lubricates the wheels of legislation also see to it that these gatherings [receptions, business lunches, cocktail parties, and official dinners] always include a generous sprinkling of compliant single girls, professional prostitutes, or secretaries and aides who have retained a semi-amateur status. So, Very soon [the politician] comes to regard access to quantities of available young women as one of the many fringe benefits that naturally accompany his exalted position. The most notorious womanizers are the most hostile to women Many men in power are deeply conflicted in their feelings toward women. On the one hand, they want to dominate, use, and abuse them; on the other hand, they want them held sacred on a pedestal. The study examined the voting records of 48 men in Congress who have wide reputations as womanizers, finding that far more than the average politician they are hostile to women. Ninety-two percent of notorious womanizers opposed abortion, expressing a strongly punitive attitude toward womens sexuality. The most notorious womanizers, not to say whoremongers, are the most narrowly repressive, the study found. The study reported some pretty bizarre behavior among men in Congress: one politician has a woman come to his office and torture him while he makes business phone calls. And: the chairman of a committee of the United States Senate regularly has himself bound against a wall and subjected to mock crucifixion. And: Another senator has to have surgery performed on him with kitchen knives. (These men are trying to convince themselves how much stronger they are than ordinary humans.) Most bizarre of all, one congressman asked a prostitute to kill a cat, skin it in front of him, and let the blood drip all over his body. She refused. In 1977, the authors wrote, We were totally unprepared for the startling results of their study. Today, on the other hand, no one should be surprised when politicians and other men in power assume they have a right to use and abuse women. Power itself drives men to take advantage of subordinates, and the urges for power and sexual dominance are inseparable. What is to be done? The saving grace in all this will be the rise of many more women into positions of countervailing power. In 1976-77 there were only 18 women (3%) serving in Congress; presently there are 105, which is 20%. Thanks to reports of sexual abuse by President Trump, former President William Clinton, Alabama Judge Roy Moore, and many other prominent politicians, aggressive nationwide campaigns are now under way to increase female representation at all levels of government. As these campaigns coordinate and come together, they will surely succeed. Slowly the abuse of women, at least in Congress, will likely diminish. Until then constant vigilance and zero silence are in order. If we abandon our illusions about men in power and act accordingly, we can avoid many future unpleasant surprises. Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy is visiting Bangladesh on an invitation of Bangladesh for participation in International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) being held at Bangladesh from 26 to 28 November 2017 under the aegis of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). . . IONS, an initiative which was started by Indian Navy in 2008, has grown into a formidable organisation with 23 Member nations and Nine observer countries. Continuing with the active engagement within IONS, Bangladesh, the current Chair of IONS is conducting the first ever operational exercise called IMMSAREX, under the IONS Charter. The exercise will be inaugurated by Honble Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 27 November 2017 in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh. Indian Naval Ships Ranvir, Sahyadri, Gharial and Sukanya along with one Maritime Patrol Aircraft P-8I will be participating in the exercise. In-addition to the conduct of the exercise, an Extraordinary Conclave of Chiefs (ECoC) meeting of IONS is also scheduled on 28 November 2017, at Cox Bazar, which would also be attended by the Chiefs of the Navy. The ECoC would deliberate upon activities being undertaken by IONS in-addition to reviewing the progress made by three IONS Working Group (IWG) namely HADR, Maritime Security & Information Exchange and Interoperability. . . The visit is also aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between India and Bangladesh and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation. Admiral Sunil Lanba will also hold bilateral discussions with Chief of the Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy on 27 November 2017, and other participating Chiefs of Navy/ Head of Maritime Agencies. . . Indian Navy regularly interacts with Bangladesh Navy through the medium of Staff Talks and other interactions, which include operational interactions including Port Visits, Passage Exercises, Training, Shipbuilding Cooperation besides regular participation by Indian Navy serving and retired officers in Victory Day Celebrations, held in Bangladesh to commemorate Liberation War of 1971. . . The CNS during his visit to Bangladesh would also be gifting War Memorabilia for Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh. . . Fruits of economic development must reach poorest of the poor: Vice President Inaugurates All India Gandhian Constructive Workers Conference The Vice President of India has said that the fruits of economic development must reach every section, particularly the poorest of the poor. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating All India Gandhian Constructive Workers Conference organized by Harijan Sevak Sangh in Gandhi Ashram, here today. The President of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Swami Chidandand Saraswati and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. The Vice President said that we are all privileged that Gandhiji himself framed the constitution, rules and regulations of Harijan Sevak Sangh, which was founded in 1932. He further said that this organization had rendered yeoman services in promoting education among the downtrodden and in fighting against social evils like untouchability. The divisive walls erected in the minds of the people in the name of caste, religion or social hierarchy will have to be removed, he added. The Vice President said that New India, which we are envisaging to build, has to be free of poverty with equitable distribution of wealth and prosperity. He further said that it has to be free from gender-based discrimination, atrocities on women and weaker sections, corruption, religious extremism, terrorism and regionalism. It has to be a country of people with strong ethical and moral values, who believe in One Country and One People, irrespective of religion, he added. The Vice President said that with about 65 per cent of the Indian population under 35 years of age, India is on the cusp of a big a transformation and the skills and the talents of the educated youth will have to be fully tapped for development of the country. Following is the text of Vice President's address : "I am extremely delighted to inaugurate the two-day All India Gandhian Constructive Workers Conference and also the Mahatma Gandhi Yoga Center. In fact, I deem it a huge honor to be associated with this great voluntary organization, which was founded by the Father of the Nation with the objective of eradicating untouchability and uplifting the poor and downtrodden. We are all privileged that Gandhiji himself framed the constitution, rules and regulations of Harijan Sevak Sangh, which was founded in 1932. Since its inception, this organization had rendered yeoman services in promoting education among the downtrodden and in fighting against social evils like untouchability. Friends, it is a matter of grave concern that even 70 years after Independence and in spite of concerted efforts by the governments and voluntary bodies like yours, we come across instances of the evil practice of untouchability now and then in different parts of the country. This is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated. It is most paradoxical that as India marches ahead as one of the fastest growing large economies of the world, social evils like casteism, communalism and corruption are still prevalent and negatively impacting the social fabric of the country. These three cankers affecting Indias growth narrative have to be destroyed. Measures taken to promote social inclusiveness like implementation of 25 per cent seats for the poor in private schools will have to be strictly implemented. Friends, the fruits of economic development must reach every section, particularly the poorest of the poor. While the governments will continue with their welfare programmes for the poor and the needy, every conscientious citizen of the country must try to make a difference to the lives of the underprivileged in every possible manner. The divisive walls erected in the minds of the people in the name of caste, religion or social hierarchy will have to be removed. The New India, which we are envisaging to build, has to be free of poverty with equitable distribution of wealth and prosperity. It has to be free from gender-based discrimination, atrocities on women and weaker sections, corruption, religious extremism, terrorism and regionalism. It has to be a country of people with strong ethical and moral values, who believe in One Country and One People, irrespective of religion. With about 65 per cent of the Indian population under 35 years of age, India is on the cusp of a big a transformation and the skills and the talents of the educated youth will have to be fully tapped for development of the country. Youth will have myriad of opportunities and they should seize them to pave the way for a brighter tomorrow for themselves and the country. Apart from the economic reforms being undertaken to accelerate the growth and make India the most attractive global destination for investors, some electoral reforms might also have to be considered to improve governance and make it more accountable to the people. This indeed is a timely conference and I am happy to know that all of you who have gathered here today are hugely contributing to the task of nation building. Various programmes launched by the Harijan Sevak Sangh like running schools and hostels, a family counseling centre, a charitable dispensary and Prakritik Chikitsa Jeevan Kendra are excellent and laudable initiatives. All these will go a long way in uplifting and integrating the downtrodden members into the mainstream of the society. In fact, the statement of former President K R Narayanan that had there not been an Ashram School run by Harijan Sevak Sangh it would have been impossible for him to get school education is a huge testimony to the magnificent humanitarian work being rendered by this great organization. Finally, I would like to conclude by appealing to various philanthropists, corporates and industries to donate liberally to enable Harijan Sevak Sangh to expand its activities in serving the needy and the poor. JAI HIND!" The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee of Inter-State Council (ISC), here today. . . Addressing the meeting, Shri Rajnath Singh said that a number of steps have been taken in recent years by the Central Government to promote cooperative federalism. He said that the meeting of the Inter State Council, which was held in July, 2016, happened after a gap of 10 years. Subsequent to that, meetings of the Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council are being periodically convened to lend speed and purpose to the process of harmonizing Center State relations, he said. He expressed satisfaction over the fact that the meetings of the Zonal Councils have now become regular and periodical. He also said that our effort is to see that at least one meeting of all the Zonal Councils is convened annually. He mentioned that a number of important State-to-State and Centre-State issues that are raised at these meetings find resolution. In 2015 such 82 issues were resolved and 140 issues were resolved in 2016. . . Shri Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction over the fact that the Inter State Council and the Standing Committee have been rejuvenated. He said that it is important for us to promote the spirit of cooperation with greater zest and zeal and expressed satisfaction over the deliberations held today in harmonious and congenial atmosphere for arriving at consensus on some complex issues that have been covered in the agenda notes. . . The Home Minister said that Volumes-I & II were discussed during the eleventh meeting of the Standing Committee in April this year and Volumes-VI and VII will be discussed during the next meeting of the Standing Committee. Shri Rajnath Singh said that the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Punchhi Commissions report will then be placed before the Inter-State Council, headed by the Prime Minister. . . The subjects discussed at the meeting included : Matters related to financial transfers from the Centre to the States; Goods and Services Tax; Structure and devolution of functions to local bodies; District Planning; Special provisions for Fifth and Sixth Scheduled Areas; Maintenance of communal harmony; Deployment of Central Forces; Migration issues; Police reforms; Criminal justice system and other internal security issues. The Standing Committee at its meeting considered 118 recommendations contained in Volumes-III, IV and V and finalised its recommendations. . . The Punchhi Commission was set up by the Government under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India in 2005. The Punchhi Commission submitted its report in 2010 containing 273 recommendations in 7 volumes. The 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of ISC was held on 9th April this year after a gap of 11 years and 69 recommendations of the Punchhi Commission relating to the Constitutional provisions on various subjects such as the role of Governors, the Inter-State Council, assent to bills passed by Legislative Assemblies etc. were discussed. The convening of the Standing Committee meetings twice in the same year reflects the importance attached to the promotion of harmonious Centre-State relations. . . The meeting of the Committee was attended by the Union Ministers of Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley; Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, the Chief Minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh Dr Raman Singh, CM Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik, CM Rajasthan Smt Vasundhara Raje Scindia and CM Tripura Shri Manik Sarkar as members. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for law and Justice, Shri Hardeep S Puri, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development were present as special invitees. States of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh were represented by their ministers. . . Representatives of 30 Union Ministries/Departments and 7 State Governments were also present to assist the Committee in its deliberations. . . The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will be leaving tomorrow on a three-day visit to Russia from 27th-29th November, 2017. . . During his visit, the Union Home Minister will hold discussions with Mr. Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister for Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and other senior Russian leadership. The discussions would cover the entire gamut of bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest. . . Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh is likely to sign an Agreement on Cooperation between Ministry of Home Affairs, India and Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation. He will also sign a Joint Action Plan between the Narcotics Control Bureau, MHA and Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation. The signing of a comprehensive security agreement on cooperation in combating terrorism and organized crime with the Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation would reinforce the relationship between India and Russia through exchange and sharing of information, expertise, best practices and would help in curbing terrorism and enhancing security in the region. . . Shri Rajnath Singh will also hold meetings with Mr Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary, Security Council of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Puchkov, Minister of Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief of the Russian Federation and Mr. Alexander Bortnikov, Director, Federal Security Service of Russia. He will pay a visit to the National Crisis Management Centre (EMERCOM) under the Ministry of Situations. . . As both the countries have long history of close cooperation on matters of shared security concerns, this visit will provide an opportunity to further cement and strengthen the mutually beneficial bilateral ties between both the countries. . . With critical national elections only months away, anxiety is building that Italy will be the next target of a destabilizing campaign of fake news and propaganda, prompting the leader of the countrys governing party to call on Facebook and other social media companies to police their platforms. The Amazon.com founders fortune is up $2.4 billion to $100.3 billion, as the online retailers shares jumped more than 2 per cent on optimism for Black Friday sales. Online purchases for the day are up 18.4 per cent over last year, according to data from Adobe Analytics, and investors are betting the company will take an outsized share of online spending over the gifting season. The Lahore High Court (LHC) has summoned ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz for allegedly misusing official protocol. The court reportedly took a decision to summon Sharif and his daughter on Friday during the hearing of plea seeking to retract official protocol from the former prime minister and his family, the Express Tribune quoted the Express-News, as saying in a report. The petition was filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Andleeb Abbas. On July 28, The Pakistan Supreme Court had disqualified Sharif from holding the office of prime minister and asked the National Accountability Bureau to file references against the Sharif family in connection with the corruption case against them. The apex court also directed the trial court to decide the references within six months. Earlier on Sunday, Sharif said that no decision of the court could separate him from the people of Pakistan. Addressing a rally in Abbottabad, Sharif said, "The support of the [large] number of people gathered here is proof that no decision of the court could separate me and them." He further said that the people expressed the same support for him in the 2013 general elections. "If someone thinks I will be defeated, then they are wrong, I'm not the one who is going to be defeated here," Sharif added. Sharif, his sons Hasan and Hussain, daughter Maryam, son-in-law Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar are facing multiple corruption references in the accountability court. Violent protests erupted across Pakistan on Saturday after security forces launched an early-morning crackdown on thousands of religious demonstrators camped on a highway in the capital in which a policeman was killed and 200 hundred people were injured. The authorities ordered private television channels to go off the air. Roughly 8,500 elite police and paramilitary troops in riot gear were seen throwing rocks and using slingshots in the bid to followers of the cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi of the Tehreek-e-Labaik party who began rallying near Faizabad interchange soon after dawn. The protests had erupted after the Pakistani Parliament approved an amendment to the electoral law earlier, removing an oath public servants had to take before assuming office, reiterating their belief in Prophet Muhammad. ALSO READ: Pakistan media blackout: TV channels go off air amid Faizabad crackdown The amendment was deemed a "clerical error" by the government and was rectified. But the protesters still demand the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for his alleged role in the controversy. They attacked his home in Pasrur but the minister and his family were not present at that time. Security forces resorted to rubber-bullets after the protesters put up the resistance. The law enforcement agencies lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse the crowd. In return, the demonstrators pelted stones on the security personnel. Amid the furore, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal claimed that religious parties protesting in Islamabad had "contacted India", and that the government was investigating the matter. "Why they did it, we are looking into it. They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state," he was quoted as saying by Dawn online. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited all satellite TV channels from covering the operation at Faizabad. The authority advised media houses to ensure the safety and security of their field staff. Social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were blocked by web browsers across the country. Protesters broke the gate of former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar's residence. They set the gate, a building and a mobile satellite van located near Nisar's residence ablaze. He and his family were not at the residence at the time of the incident. The protesters had been camping since November 8 on the main highway that connects Islamabad to the city of Rawalpindi causing huge traffic snarls that led to the closure of some schools in the capital. The Islamabad High Court on November 18 directed the local administration to clear protesters from Faizabad, within 24 hours. However, the government did not carry out the orders and initiated several rounds of talks with the protesters to disperse them peacefully, but failed each time. The operation on Saturday came a day after the court issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court to the Interior Minister over his failure to take steps ordered by the court to end the sit-in. According to reports, the operation against protesters was suspended at 1.30 p.m. At least 370 protesters were taken into custody, said police officials. At least 10 motorcycles and two vehicles were torched during the operation. Ninety police and Frontier Constabulary personnel were among 200 injured. An Islamabad police spokesman confirmed that a policeman was killed in the clash with protesters after he was struck in the head by a rock. The crackdown also sparked protests in other parts of the country. In Karachi, people supporting the sit-in took to the streets and blocked several roads, causing disruption in traffic flow. Clashes also erupted between supporters of sit-in and police after they burned tires and blocked roads and railway tracks in the country's eastern cities of Lahore and Daska. fought running battles with stone-throwing Islamist activists on Saturday as they tried to clear a sit-in by religious hard-liners who have blocked the main routes into Islamabad for more than two weeks. goober said: The tax plan that if passed will bring about the greatest economic collapse in the history of the country, that tax plan? Click to expand... YES. That tax plan. What Goodface doesn't tell you is that the deductions he's speaking of are tax credits for children--mostly American citizen children. Illegals get to deduct $1000 per year/per child. This includes the "class" known as The Dreamers.Does anyone still believe that this tax plan will help the lower and middle classes?A married couple making less than $90,000 would be taxed at a 12 percent rate, instead of the current 15 percent. The size of their standard deduction would nearly double to $24,000. Sound good?? Keep reading.But that same couple would lose personal exemptions deductions that largely benefit families with multiple children. The child tax credit would rise to $1,600 from $1,000 short of the $2,000 that Sullivan said would be needed to make many families whole.What about deductions? The tax plan would also repeal the deduction of substantial medical costs, including what families might spend on nursing home care. Nor could people with student loans deduct the interest paid on the debt anymore. NO deductions for mortgage interest. Or property tax. Personal and dependent exemptions of $4,050 vanishCharities lose. Better check your 401K or Roth.And the plan would cap the deduction of state and local taxes. It also would use a less generous measure of inflation, so that more middle class taxpayers would creep into a higher bracket over several years.The good news is for business owners: Partnerships, sole proprietorships, and S-corporations in the top income tax bracket.Winners: Wealthy families and their heirs, particularly those who haven't made any estate plans. Does that sound like the Trump family? Cabinet members' famlies? In a bid to defuse the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state where violence has triggered an outflow of Rohingya refugees, India has sent relief material consisting of 3,000 family relief packs. "With best wishes from the people of India. Indian Air Force aircraft lands today in Yangon, Myanmar, with 3000 family relief packs consisting of daily essentials including rice, oil, salt, sugar, soap, etc. for distribution amongst the displaced persons in Rakhine state," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted on Friday evening. More than 600,000 Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh since violence erupted in Rakhine late in August. The minority Rohingya community does not enjoy citizenship in Myanmar and is sparingly given refugee status in Bangladesh. Human rights monitors accused Myanmar's military of atrocities against the minority population during its clearance operations following Rohingya militants' August 25 attacks on multiple government posts. On Thursday, however, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar Kyaw Tint Swe signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Nay Pyi Taw for the return of these refugees. India has maintained that the issue should be handled in a humane manner, development activities should be initiated in Rakhine and conditions should be created for the safe and secure return of the refugees to their homes. During his visit to Myanmar in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared India's concerns over the issue in a meeting with that country's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. India has also sent relief material to Bangladesh to handle the Rohingya refugee crisis. Since August, over 600,000 Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, have fled their homes to escape persecution. These refugees have been forced to take shelter in makeshift settlement camps in Bangladesh, where disease and malnutrition have contributed to a pervasive gap in human services. In recent weeks, as a cold front has set in around the camps, there has been increasing concern over children freezing. The United States will cut off its supply of arms to Kurdish fighters in Syria, a move by President Donald Trump that is sure to please Turkey but further alienate Syrian Kurds who bore much of the fight against the Islamic State group. In a phone call yesterday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump said he'd "given clear instructions" that the Kurds will receive no more weapons "and that this nonsense should have ended a long time ago," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The White House confirmed the move in a cryptic statement about the phone call that said Trump had informed the Turk of "pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria." The White House called the move "consistent with our previous policy" and noted the recent fall of Raqqa, once the Islamic State group's self-declared capital but recently liberated by a largely Kurdish force. The Trump administration announced in May it would start arming the Kurds in anticipation of the fight to retake Raqqa. "We are progressing into a stabilization phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return," the White House said, using an acronym for the extremist group. The move could help ease strained tensions between the US and Turkey, two NATO allies that have been sharply at odds about how best to wage the fight against IS. Turkey considers the Kurdish Syrian fighters, known by the initials YPG, to be terrorists because of their affiliation to outlawed Kurdish rebels that have waged a three-decade-long insurgency in Turkey. Yet the US chose to partner with the YPG in Syria anyway, arguing that the battle-hardened Kurds were the most effective fighting force available. Cavusoglu, who said he was in the room with Erdogan during Trump's call, quoted the US president as saying he had given instructions to US generals and to national security adviser HR McMaster that "no weapons would be issued." "Of course, we were very happy with this," Cavusoglu said. Yet for the Kurds, it was the latest demoralizing blow to their hopes for greater recognition in the region. Last month, the Kurds in neighbouring Iraq saw their recent territorial gains erased by the Iraqi military, which seized the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and other disputed areas from the Kurdish regional government in retaliation for a Kurdish independence referendum that the US ardently opposed. Trump's decision appeared to catch both the Pentagon and the US State Department off guard. The biggest in the United States will start running prime-time television commercials and full-page ads in national newspapers on Sunday but the campaign is unlikely to spur enthusiasm for their products. A gold industry obsessed with containing costs and minimising risks will find itself at the edge of a cliff by 2020 as supply tightens, according to one of the most profitable producers. Major social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter were allegedly blocked in Pakistan after a police crackdown on protesters turned violent. According to the Express Tribune, scores of people complained about inaccessibility to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter across the country as clashes between police and protesters intensified. Earlier today, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) warned that it would prevent live coverage of the Faizabad sit-in during a police crackdown on protesters. Following the PEMRA order, there was a media blackout in Islamabad, where almost all leading private TV channels went off air. "It is informed that under the Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015, live coverage of any security operation is prohibited," the PEMRA said in a written statement. "Therefore, all the satellite TV channel licensees are directed to exhibit utmost sensitivity on the matter and comply with Clause 8(8) of Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015, in letter and spirit and refrain from live coverage of the ongoing operation at Faiz-e-abad, Islamabad," it added. PEMRA has also directed law enforcement agencies to make strict security arrangements for staff present in different media outlets across country. As per the reports, one police officer has died after sustaining head injuries while dealing with the protesters in Islamabad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The newly crowned Miss World, Manushi Chhillar, arrived in Mumbai in the wee hours of Sunday. The 21-year-old model's win at the pageant comes 17 years after Priyanka Chopra won the crown in 2000. A medical student hailing from Haryana, Chhillar competed against 108 contestants from various countries at a glittering event held at Sanya City Arena in China to grab the title. Manushi has been showered with praise for her answer in the final round. On being asked, "Which profession deserves the highest salary and why?", she replied, "I think a mother is of the highest respect. I don't think its just about cash but love and respect she gives to someone. She is the biggest inspiration in my life. Mother should get the highest respect." She was crowned the new queen by Miss World 2016 winner Puerto Rico's Stephanie Del Valle. Besides Chhillar, the first runner-up was Stephanie Hill from England, while Andrea Meza, hailing from Mexico, was announced the second runner-up. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After being named the world's richest person just over four months ago, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' has now surpassed $100 billion mark in his total net worth. The new achievement comes on the backdrop of Black Friday sales which got Bezos' fortune swelling. It was observed that Amazon's Black Friday stock price bump pushed him over the 12 figure mark, and reportedly accounted for half of all online sales for the day. Bezos' fortune is channelised into a number of things, such as $250 million on the Washington Post in 2013, a billion dollars a year in stock to fund rocket company Blue Origin and its rockets, and convertion of a billion dollars worth of stock into cash earlier this month, as reported by The Verge. Earlier this year, Bezos took away the mantle of world's richest person from Microsoft founder Bill Gates and achieved the feat after a 1 per cent pop in the shares of Amazon.com, which accounts for the vast majority of his wealth. The Forbes estimated Bezos' wealth at about $90.6 billion, compared to $90 billion for Gates. (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.) Earlier on Saturday, a number of reports claimed that the troops were called in Islamabad to restore peace after a police crackdown on protesters went violent, but it turns out, the army hasn't been deployed yet. According to sources, the civilian government requested the Commander 111 Brigade directly, as per the mail that was leaked to the Pakistan media, violating the protocol. The proper channel would have been through the Chief of Army Staff General (COAS), Qamar Javed Bajwa. Several hours later, there was no sign of any army movement in Islamabad or Rawalpindi. A statement of Pakistan's Ministry of Interior read, ".....is pleased to authorize deployment of sufficient number of troops of Pakistan Army to be determined by the Commander 111 Brigade, in aid of civil power, to control law and order situation in Islamabad Capital Territory with effect from November 25 till further orders". Reportedly, major social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter, have also been blocked in the country. As per the reports, one security official died and over 200 people were injured after the law enforcement agencies clashed with a cleric's supporters, who have been camping at national highway leading to Rawalpindi. The cleric, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, and his followers are demanding resignation of Pakistani law minister Zahid Hamid, as they saw the change in wording of an oath sworn by the lawmakers as blasphemy. Though the change has been reversed, the protesters continue to demand Hamid's resignation. On Saturday, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) warned that it would not cover Faizabad sit-in during a police crackdown on the protesters. Following the PEMRA order, there was a media blackout in Islamabad, where almost all leading private TV channels went off air. The PEMRA has also directed the law enforcement agencies to make strict security arrangements for the staff present in different media outlets across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday that the decision to hike the price of Delhi Metro was taken by the fare fixation committee and neither the Delhi government nor the Central government has authority to decide. "When fare is increased, its impact is studied by taking in account data of at least two to three months. Neither Delhi government nor the Central government has authority to decide fares of Delhi Metro, only fare fixation committee can do that," he told ANI. According to an RTI reply, over three lakh commuters stopped taking Delhi Metro in October after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) increased the passenger fare for the second time this year. As part of the two phase revision of Metro fares recommended by the committee, the fare would remain Rs. 10 for the first 2 km but will subsequently increase by Rs. 10 in each slab, going up to a maximum of Rs. 60. The metro fares were last revised in May when the minimum tariff was raised from Rs. 8 to Rs. 10. The revised fare structure is: up to 2 km - Rs. 10, 2-5 km - Rs. 20, 5-12 km - Rs. 30, 12-21 km - Rs. 40, 21-32 km - Rs. 50 and for journeys beyond 32 km - Rs. 60. FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA Peter Baldwin, who started as an actor and went on to become a prolific TV director, died on Sunday in Pebble Beach, California. He was 86. Peter took his last breath at his home in Pebble Beach, California, his son, Drew Baldwin, CEO of Tubefilter and creator and executive producer of the Streamy Awards, informed, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Peter won a Primetime Emmy Award for directing 'The Wonder Years' and a Cable ACE Award for 'Dream On.' He started his journey behind the camera in Italy when he served as an assistant director under the legendary 'Vittorio De Sica on Woman Times Seven' (1967) and 'A Place for Lovers' (1968), which he also co-wrote. After he returned to the U.S., producer Sheldon Leonard hired him to work on The Dick Van Dyke Show starting in 1964, launching his career as a TV director. He returned to the U.S. and was hired by 'Dick Van Dyke Show' producer Sheldon Leonard. He went on to direct hundreds of episodes of popular shows including 'The Andy Griffith Show,' 'The Partridge Family,' 'Mary Tyler Moore' and many more. He also directed comedy feature film "Meet Wally Sparks" starring Rodney Dangerfield and produced the HBO movie "As Summers Die" starring Bette Davis, Jamie Leigh Curtis, and Scott Glenn. After retiring to Pebble Beach, he served on the board of the Pacific Repertory Theater in Carmel-By-The-Sea. He is survived by his wife, Terry, son Drew Baldwin (creator of the Streamy Awards), daughters Amy Anderson and Eleonora Baldwin, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday lashed out at Haryana's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suraj Pal Amu's Surpanakha statement on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and said only cowards make such statements. TMC leader Derek O'Brien told ANI, "Only cowards make statements like these, when they can't fight the TMC politically in Bengal." "It's best to not even listen to these cowards. Just completely ignore them," the TMC leader added. Taking a jibe at the BJP leader, O'brien said, "Come fight us politically." Earlier in the day, Amu threatened Banerjee of a similar fate like Surpanakha if she continues to support Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Padmavati'. The party's chief media coordinator, Amu told ANI, "Mamata Banerjee should not forget how woman like Surpanakha was dealt by Lakshman, who chopped off her nose." "Like Rani Padmavati, she (Mamata) is also a woman. If she cannot respect a woman, she will get the answer from the people of Bengal," added Amu. Amu made the statement after Banerjee, at an event on Friday, welcomed the film in Bengal. A few days back, the Bengal chief minister tweeted in support of the film, 'Padmavati', and said the controversy surrounding it to be "the calculated plan of a political party to destroy freedom of expression". "We condemn this super emergency. All in the film industry must come together and protest in one voice," the tweet further reads. Earlier on November 19, Amu made derogatory remarks against Bhansali, actress Deepika Padukone and actor Ranveer Singh and announced a reward of Rs 10 crore for beheading the actress. Amid the hue and cry, the release date of the epic drama 'Padmavati' starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor has also been postponed from December 1. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While the recent advances in quantum computers may soon give hackers access to machines powerful enough to crack even the toughest of standard internet security codes, researchers are wielding the same strange properties that drive these computers to create theoretically hack-proof forms of quantum data encryption. And now, these quantum encryption techniques may be one step closer to wide-scale use thanks to a new system developed by scientists at Duke University, The Ohio State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Their system is capable of creating and distributing encryption codes at megabit-per-second rates, which is five to 10 times faster than existing methods and on par with current internet speeds when running several systems in parallel. The researchers demonstrated that the technique is secure from common attacks, even in the face of equipment flaws that could open up leaks. "We are now likely to have a functioning quantum computer that might be able to start breaking the existing cryptographic codes in the near future," said researcher Daniel Gauthier. "We really need to be thinking hard now of different techniques that we could use for trying to secure the internet." To a hacker, our online purchases, bank transactions and medical records all look like gibberish due to ciphers called encryption keys. Personal information sent over the web is first scrambled using one of these keys, and then unscrambled by the receiver using the same key. For this system to work, both parties must have access to the same key, and it must be kept secret. Quantum key distribution (QKD) takes advantage of one of the fundamental properties of quantum mechanics -- measuring tiny bits of matter like electrons or photons automatically changes their properties -- to exchange keys in a way that immediately alerts both parties to the existence of a security breach. Though QKD was first theorized in 1984 and implemented shortly thereafter, the technologies to support its wide-scale use are only now coming online. Companies in Europe now sell laser-based systems for QKD, and in a highly-publicized event last summer, China used a satellite to send a quantum key to two land-based stations located 1200 km apart. The problem with many of these systems, said another researcher Nurul Taimur Islam, is that they can only transmit keys at relatively low rates -- between tens to hundreds of kilobits per second -- which are too slow for most practical uses on the internet. Like many QKD systems, Islam's key transmitter uses a weakened laser to encode information on individual photons of light. But they found a way to pack more information onto each photon, making their technique faster. By adjusting the time at which the photon is released, and a property of the photon called the phase, their system can encode two bits of information per photon instead of one. This trick, paired with high-speed detectors developed by Clinton Cahall, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, and Jungsang Kim, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke, powers their system to transmit keys five to 10 times faster than other methods. Though their transmitter requires some specialty parts, all of the components are currently available commercially. Encryption keys encoded in photons of light can be sent over existing optical fiber lines that burrow under cities, making it relatively straightforward to integrate their transmitter and receiver into the current internet infrastructure. The results appear online in Science Advances. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is visiting Bangladesh to participate in the International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX), the first ever operational exercise held under the aegis of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Bangladesh, from November 26 to 28. Indian Naval Ships Ranvir, Sahyadri, Gharial and Sukanya along with one Maritime Patrol Aircraft P-8I will be participating in the exercise. The exercise will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 27 in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh. Admiral Lanba's visit is also aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between India and Bangladesh and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation. In pursuance of this aim, he will also hold bilateral discussions with Chief of the Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy on November 27, and other participating 'Chiefs of Navy/ Head of Maritime Agencies'. In addition, an 'Extraordinary Conclave of Chiefs (ECoC)' meeting of IONS is also scheduled on November 28, at Cox Bazar, which would also be attended by the Chiefs of the Navy. The ECoC would deliberate upon activities being undertaken by IONS in-addition to reviewing the progress made by three IONS Working Group (IWG) namely 'HADR', 'Maritime Security' and 'Information Exchange and Interoperability'. The Navy Chief, who is visiting on the invitation of Bangladesh, will also be gifting 'War Memorabilia' for 'Liberation War Museum' of Bangladesh. IONS is an initiative, which was started by Indian Navy in 2008. With time, it has grown into a formidable organisation with 23 member nations and nine observer countries. Continuing with the active engagement within IONS, Bangladesh, the current Chair of IONS is conducting IMMSAREX under the IONS Charter. Indian Navy regularly interacts with Bangladesh Navy through the medium of staff talks and other interactions, which include operational interactions such as port visits, passage exercises, training, and shipbuilding cooperation. There is also regular participation by Indian Navy's serving and retired officers in Victory Day Celebrations, held in Bangladesh to commemorate 'Liberation War' of 1971. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the November 27 hearing in an alleged 'love jihad' case, Kerala woman Hadiya arrived in Delhi on Saturday to appear before the Supreme Court. Before leaving from Kochi Airport, Hadiya told reporters, "I am a Muslim. I want to go with my husband. Nobody forced me to convert." 24-year-old Hadiya has been in the headlines after she converted to Islam following her marriage to Shafin Jahan. Earlier, the Kerala High Court had sent her with her parents K. M. Asokan and Ponnamma, who alleged that her marriage is a case of 'love jihad', and annulled her marriage to Shafin. The case is under the consideration of the apex court, which had ordered the Investigation Agency (NIA) to look into it. On September 16, Jahan filed a plea in the top court and requested to call off the NIA probe, alleging that the investigation agency "is not being fair". On October 30, the Supreme Court directed her father to produce her on the next date of hearing. On November 21, Hadiya's father moved a fresh application in the top court seeking direction for audio and video recording of the hearing. On November 23, the NIA submitted a status report in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court in connection with the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the November 27 hearing in Kerala's 'love jihad' case, Hadiya on Saturday left from Kochi to appear before the Supreme Court. At the airport, Hadiya told reporters, "I am a Muslim. I want to go with my husband. Nobody forced me to convert." The 24-year-old Hadiya has been in the headlines after she became a Muslim following her marriage to Shafin Jahan. Earlier, the Kerala High Court had sent her with her parents K M Asokan and Ponnamma annulling her marriage with Shafin Jahan, after her parents alleged that her marriage is a case of 'love jihad'. The case is under the consideration of the apex court, which had ordered the Investigation Agency (NIA) to look into it. On September 16, Jahan filed a plea in the top court and requested to call off the NIA probe, alleging that the investigation agency "is not being fair". On October 30, the Supreme Court directed her father to produce her on the next date of hearing. On November 21, Hadiya's father moved a fresh application in the top court seeking direction for audio and video recording of the hearing. On November 23, the NIA submitted a status report in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court in connection with the case. The next hearing in the case is scheduled on November 27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday condemned the killing of a Territorial Army soldier Irfan Ahmed Dar at Shopian in the state. The Chief Minister said that such heinous acts will not weaken the government's effort to restore peace in the valley. "Strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed, a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian. Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace and normalcy in the valley," she said in a tweet. The bullet- ridden body of 23-year old jawan was found in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian on Saturday. The locals found the body lying in pool of blood at Wothmula Nad area of Keegam, after which they informed the police. Dar had reportedly gone on leave 10 days ago and had gone missing yesterday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Democratic Alliance (NDA) government over winter session of the Parliament. The Gandhi scion said, "Generally, every year Parliament session is held in November and the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha sit for one month to discuss issues. But, this year the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will convene after Gujarat elections." The Modi government on Friday recommended that the winter session of Parliament be held from December 15 to January 5, with 14 sittings of both Houses during the 21-day session.The Congress has been targeting the government for deferring the winters session for the sake of Gujarat Assembly elections. Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday launched scathing attack on Prime Minister Modi over the winter session. Addressing the Congress Working Committee meeting, Gandhi said, "Modi government in arrogance has cast dark shadow on India's Parliamentary democracy by sabotaging Winter Session on flimsy grounds. The government is mistaken if it thinks by locking temple of democracy; it'll escape constitutional accountability ahead of elections." Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday lashed out at the Prime Minister and state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani over 'Gujarat model' and termed it as 'Narendra Modi marketing model'. The 14th Gujarat Legislative Assembly election, 2017 is scheduled to be held on December 9, 2017 and December 14, 2017. The Congress is eyeing to dethrone the BJP led Gujarat government when the results of the assembly elections are announced on December 18. The last Congress government in Gujarat was led by Chhabildas Mehta from February 17, 1994 to March 13, 1995. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukul Roy has filed a criminal defamation case against Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee over using "defamatory statement" in the notice sent to the former by the parliamentarian. The hearing in this matter will take place on December 1 in New Delhi's Patiala House Court. Earlier this month, the Bhabhanipur MLA had sent legal notice to Roy after the former TMC leader, at a public rally, had said Biswa Bangla Marketing Corporation was not a government entity but a private company owned by Abhishek, the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The legal notice sent by Abhishek's advocate to Roy read, "On 10 November, Roy in a public rally made certain defamatory, malicious, and false statements against Banerjee. Roy had deliberately levied various baseless allegations which were published, broadcast and circulated by various news organisations." "Roy has deliberately targeted All India Trinamool Youth Congress president which are nothing more than an attempt to malign and tarnish his reputation. The notice further states that no such paper depicting Banerjee's ownership or association with either a company 'Biswa Bangla' and 'Jago Bangla' exist," the notice further read. Mukul Roy quit the TMC and joined the BJP on November 3. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lahore High Court (LHC) has summoned the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz for using official protocol. The court reportedly took decision to summon Sharif and his daughter on Friday during the hearing of plea seeking to retract official protocol from the former prime minister and his family, the Express Tribune quoted Express News as saying. The petition was filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Andleeb Abbas. On July 28, The Pakistan Supreme Court had disqualified Sharif to hold the office of prime minister and asked the National Accountability Bureau to file references against the Sharif family in connection corruption case against them. The apex court also directed the trial court to decide the references within six months. Earlier on Sunday, Sharif said that no decision of court could separate him and the people. Addressing a rally in Abbottabad, Sharif said, "The support of the [large] number of people gathered here is a proof that no decision of the court could separate me and them." He further said that the people expressed the same support for him in the 2013 general elections. "If someone thinks I will be defeated, then they are wrong, I'm not the one who is going to be defeated here," Sharif added. Sharif, his sons Hasan and Hussain, daughter Maryam, son-in-law Capt (retd.) Mohammad Safdar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar are facing multiple corruption references in the accountability court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Subhash Bhamre slammed Pakistan for encouraging global terrorist Hafiz Saeed. Bhamre's statement comes a day after Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Saeed was released from house arrest. Hitting out at the Pakistan, the MoS Defence said that political and military leadership of the country is weak. "The non-state actors like Saeed are being encouraged. He was set free in the name of High Court's decision. This invited a negative reaction from all over the world. Our government also expressed concern over it," he said in a media briefing. Bhamre also pitched for eliminating the terrorism and claimed that India is prepared to face the global threat. "We want to maintain a peaceful relationship with our neighbours. Terrorism has become a global issue. Nothing is in the hand of the political leadership in Pakistan today," he added. He further cornered the military leadership of the country and accused it of involving in double-speak. "Their military leadership also speaks something else and does something else at the border. They talk good but the infiltration bid and cross-border terrorism have been increasing by the day at the border," he said. Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, was released from house arrest after a Pakistan judicial body ordered his release. Follwing his release, the United States called on Pakistan to ensure that the JuD chief was arrested and charged for his crimes. (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.) Union Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Subhash Bhamre slammed Pakistan for encouraging global terrorist Hafiz Saeed. Bhamre's statement comes a day after Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Saeed was released from house arrest. Hitting out at the Pakistan, the MoS Defence said that political and military leadership of the country is weak. "The non-state actors like Saeed are being encouraged. He was set free in the name of High Court's decision. This invited a negative reaction from all over the world. Our government also expressed concern over it," he said in a media briefing. Bhamre also pitched for eliminating the terrorism and claimed that India is prepared to face the global threat. "We want to maintain a peaceful relationship with our neighbours. Terrorism has become a global issue. Nothing is in the hand of the political leadership in Pakistan today," he added. He further cornered the military leadership of the country and accused it of involving in double-speak. "Their military leadership also speaks something else and does something else at the border. They talk good but the infiltration bid and cross border terrorism have been increasing by the day at the border," he said. Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, was released from house arrest after a Pakistan judicial body ordered his release. Follwing his release, the United States called on Pakistan to ensure that the JuD chief was arrested and charged for his crimes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a major disclosure, the Pentagon is likely to announce that there are 2000 U.S. troops stationed in Syria, rather than the 500. Two U.S. officials detailed the new figure, as the military acknowledges that an accounting system has under-reported the size of forces on the Syrian ground, reported the Guardian. The number reflects a more accurate count as the official troop count in Syria currently given by the U.S. military is around 500. The U.S. military has mostly been supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces group of Kurdish and Arab militias fighting Islamic State in the north of the country. An accounting system, known as the Force Management Level (FML), was introduced in Iraq and Syria under the Obama administration as a way to exert control over the military. The actual number in Iraq was not expected to be announced because of "host nation sensitivities." But the numbers do not reflect the extent of the US commitment on the ground. The U.S. defense secretary, Jim Mattis, has expressed frustration with the FML method of counting US troops in conflict zones, the report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajasthan police on Saturday seized a truck loaded with explosive materials in Dholpur district. The explosives included 12 cartons of detonators, 20 cartons of gelatin rods and 12 fuse wires, Dholpur Police Station Sub Inspector Rakesh Sharma said. Truck driver Balla, a resident of Mathura, was arrested and sent to jail. An FIR was lodged under section 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act. The truck was heading to Gwalior, allegedly to a person called Aarif. Further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The family of Pradyuman Thakur, who was allegedly murdered at Gurugram's Ryan International School, will be approaching the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the bail granted to the Pinto family by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On November 21, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted anticipatory bail to the Pinto family, founders of the Ryan Group of Institutions, in connection with the Pradyuman murder case. However, the High Court bench of Justice Surender Gupta has barred them from leaving the country without permission and directed the family to extend their help in the investigation. The anticipatory bail pleas by Ryan Pinto and his parents, founding Chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, were filed on September 19. Eight-year-old Pradyuman was found in a pool of blood with his throat slit inside Ryan International school in Gurugram on September 8. The incident sparked a public outcry following which Gurugram police arrested Ashok, accusing him of killing the seven-year-old student. But the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is now probing the matter, gave him a clean chit and held a class 11 student responsible for the murder. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill into law allowing Russia to register international media outlets as foreign agents. "According to the text of the law, media that receive financial assistance from foreign states or organizations can be recognized as foreign agents, while the decision on which outlets will be classified as 'foreign agents' will be taken by the Ministry of Justice." The move is a retaliatory response for a similar measure taken by the U.S. Department of Justice against the state-funded RT television. Earlier, the U.S.Department of Justice had asked Kremlin-funded TV network to register its American arm as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), reported CNN. In 1938, the Congress passed the Foreign Agent Registration Act in an effort to curb the amount of German propaganda circulating in the United States. The amendments signed by Putin had been previously approved by both chambers of the Russian parliament. According to the reports, the U.S. has accused RT, formerly known as Russia Today, of being a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin. It was specifically accused of spreading false information during the 2016 presidential election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan released 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest, saying that the former's 'Hugplomacy' with US President Donald Trump failed. Gandhi to his Twitter handle and said "more hugs were urgently needed" between PM Modi and Trump. "Narendrabhai, ??? ???? ???. Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed (sic)," he tweeted. Earlier on November 24, Saeed was released from house arrest in Lahore. Police guards were removed from his residence where a large number of supporters gathered to celebrate the end of his house arrest. In his first address after being released, Saeed blames India and the U.S. for detention and raked up Kashmir. Saeed is said to be the head of the U.S.-designated terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba and had been under house arrest since January 31 this year. The decision to put Saeed under house arrest in January was seen as a response to actions by US President Donald Trump's White House against nations deemed linked to terrorism. He has been declared a global terrorist by the United Nations and the US for his role in the Mumbai attack which claimed the lives of 166 people and maimed over 300 others. He has a USD 10 million bounty on his head. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Saturday extolled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision of appointing Prabhari officers for 115 backward districts and said that it will accelerate the journey of realising 'New India'. Singh took to his Twitter account and said, "PM @NarendraModi's visionary decision of appointing Prabhari officers for 115 backward districts will accelerate the journey of realising New India. This innovative blending of wisdom of senior officers with the energy of young ones shall revolutionize the way India is governed." Senior government officials in the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary have been designated as Prabhari Officers or the in-charge to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the states in addressing the specific developmental needs of the districts. Yesterday, the first meeting of the Prabhari Officers was entrusted with the responsibility to co-ordinate the efforts of the Centre and the States towards rapid transformation of 115 backward districts across the country. Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha chaired the meeting with the CEO of the NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant. Secretaries of key ministries attended this session. Among the 115 backward districts, 35 are affected by Left Wing Violence. Shortly after this event, meeting of representatives of the state governments and Prabhari officers was organised to ensure that transformation of backward districts in India is carried out by a dedicated team of Central and State governments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An international analyst has expressed concern on the repatriation process of the Rohingya refugees saying that the absence of an international body to monitor the implementation is worrisome. Prof. Ali Riaz of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University in United States emphasised that there are many hurdles to get over before the repatriation starts. "I'm afraid that within the period stipulated in the signed instrument Myanmar may rush and eventually engage in a small-scale symbolic repatriation to fend off international pressure," The Daily Star quoted Prof. Riaz as saying in an interview with UNB. Bangladesh and Myanmar on Thursday signed a deal on repatriation after both the countries came to a consensus following a meeting between Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that the Rohingya repatriation process will start soon. "The return shall commence within two months," Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement, adding, "A Joint Working Group will be established within three weeks of signing the 'arrangement'." Prof. Riaz further elaborated that "the instrument may neither ensure repatriation of all Rohingya refugees, nor allow Bangladesh to involve the international community if the process gets stalled." More than 620,000 Rohingya have crossed the border into Bangladesh since August, running from a military crackdown that Washington termed as ethnic cleansing. A study prepared by the New York-based Amnesty International charged the Burmese government with promoting and practicing a form of "apartheid" against the Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali on Saturday said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be involved in the repatriation process of Rohingya refugees. "The signing of the arrangement is an initial step . there are more steps. UNHCR will be involved in the repatriation process of Rohingyas," the Dhaka Tribune quoted Ali, as saying. More than 620,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since the Myanmar security forces launched an operation in response to alleged attacks by militants on August 25 against 30 police posts and a regimental headquarters. "Their houses have been torched . where will they stay after going back . I have talked to China and Myanmar over their rehabilitation there and they agreed to extend their cooperation," the foreign minister said. Bangladesh and Myanmar on Thursday signed a deal on repatriation after both the countries came to a consensus following a meeting between Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said the Rohingya repatriation process will start soon. "The return shall commence within two months," Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement, adding, "A Joint Working Group will be established within three weeks of signing the 'arrangement'." The long pending talks started on Wednesday with the aim of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable both the countries to start the repatriation process of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland Myanmar. There is global outrage over the distressing plight of dispossessed Rohingya in Bangladeshi camps currently. On October 12, a United Nations' report based on interviews conducted in Bangladesh found that brutal attacks against Rohingyas in the northern Rakhine state have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic, with the intent of not only driving the population out of Myanmar, but preventing them from returning to their homes. The Rakhine state is home to the Rohingya community of Myanmar, ethnic Muslims, who have long faced persecution in the Buddhist-majority country, especially from the extremists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Greater Albany Public Schools is not making any promises about boosting scores on state math tests. But the district is working on several programs intended to improve overall math skills. Superintendent Jim Golden outlined the district's efforts in a letter to former State Rep. Mae Yih, who has spoken at recent school board meetings in support of more emphasis on state assessment tests. Yih has said she would like to see the district publicize a plan, including strategies and timelines, that would have 90 percent of Albany students passing state tests in reading and math in six years. Math is of particular concern to Yih, who noted at a board meeting in October that only 40.1 percent of Albany students passed the state math test last year, just shy of the state average of 40.8 percent. Some individual schools notched even lower rates: Third-graders last year at two Albany elementary schools had math passing rates of just 14 and 15 percent, respectively. At the Nov. 20 meeting of the Albany School Board, Yih introduced Professor Ren Guo of Corvallis, who teaches math at Oregon State University. Guo echoed Yih's concerns and said he believes a school district "shirks the responsibility of education" if it doesn't adopt a goal of high academic achievement, particularly in math. Gabriele Huycke, John Hebda, Tom Cordier and Bruce Madsen also spoke in support of more emphasis on rigorous academics. Cordier and Hebda in particular said they believe local employers should know what students have achieved, because effective reading, writing and figuring play huge roles in the workplace. In his Nov. 20 letter to Yih, which Golden read aloud at the board meeting, he stressed the school district has every intention of improving student outcomes in math, although he did not specifically cite extra emphasis on state assessment tests. Golden has said in the past he has little faith in the current tests, known as Smarter Balanced, or SBAC. Instead, he said, the district is working on a new, five-year strategic plan to increase efficiency and effectiveness in several areas. That plan is to be approved by June 2018. The district has identified five "pillars" that research suggests are critical for school improvement. One is the expectation that all students will graduate from high school and go on to successful placements, whether that's a four-year university, a two-year community college, a trade school or service in the military. "As part of this global academic goal, I am working closely with Oregon State University and Linn-Benton Community College to insure that our students have the necessary skills to be successful in these settings," he wrote. The district also is setting specific benchmark goals for "developmentally appropriate milestones," such as making sure all students are reading at grade level by third grade, and all students are ready to take algebra by eighth grade. Golden said the district also is working on a program that trains instructors in teaching math. "As you may know, math is another form of language and we are focused on having teachers trained in understanding how students learn math," he wrote. And, he added: "Finally, we are developing classroom norms and relationships to support a math culture of effort and growth. We believe that math is an essential part of every students' education and that all students can learn math and show growth over time." The district's five pillars do not specifically cite high academic achievement and character development as necessary to a successful post-high-school placement, which has been a source of contention for Yih. Speakers at the meeting did not call out teachers for poor test results. But Sue McGrory, president of the Greater Albany Education Association, also spoke at the Nov. 20 meeting, saying residents should rethink their beliefs if any are convinced teachers are solely responsible for lagging scores. Class sizes have exploded in the past decade, she said. Teachers have increasing numbers of students with dangerous behavior issues. Costs have risen exponentially. Common Core standards for SBAC tests were adopted before teaching strategies were in place to address them. And, she said, SBAC tests can't be fairly compared to their predecessors, which were multiple-choice exams that could be taken multiple times. The SBACs themselves are comparable to four-hour "research papers," she said, and are given only once. McGrory encouraged the speakers to work with the district on providing social services to children, particularly mental health, and to spend time in classrooms to get a better idea of the challenges teachers face. "We do not appreciate being an easy target of attacks," she said. The Government announced the trajectory for achieving its targets of commissioning 175 GW of Renewable Energy (RE), 100 GW of solar generating capacity and 60 GW of wind power, by 2022. Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy , Shri Raj Kumar Singh said that there was a long pending demand form the Industry to declare the RE roadmap of the Government. Hence, today with the declaration of this trajectory, the Government has clearly spelt out its plan of speeding up of RE installation in the country and strengthening the RE manufacturing base in India. Shri Singh informed that to encourage the Make in India in RE sector, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is working out the scheme and going to issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the Industry, for establishing domestic Manufacturing facilities to the tune of 20GW, in the near future. Further, the MNRE is exploring innovative ways to achieve additional installed RE capacity through Floating Solar Power Plants over dams , Offshore Wind Energy Systems and Hybrid Solar-Wind power systems, which may provide over 10GW additional capacity. The MNRE team of experts has already surveyed the Bhakra Nangal dam for floating solar power plants and off-shore Gujarat and Tamil Nadu for wind power plants, the Minister added. Expressing confidence of comfortably achieving a rather conservative RE target of 175GW by 2022 and even exceed it, along with providing 24x7 affordable, clean and efficient power for all, Shri Singh said that all these targets would be positively achieved with the cooperation of the States in ensuring that their power utilities/ DISCOMS remain financially viable. The Centre has provided all the required support, including funds under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), to the States to ensure 24x7 Power for All by strengthening the intra-State transmission networks and by ensuring mandatory presence of metered connections. The Ministry is in talks with the States to ensure 100% metered connections through Smart/Pre-paid meters, Shri Singh added. Talking about issues in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Shri Singh made it very clear that the sanctity of the PPAs have to be ensured and they would have to be mandatorily honoured. The Ministry is in constant talks with State Governments, including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, to ensure the same. Talking about the Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPOs), the Minister that these obligations are mandatory and need to be adhered to strictly. Elaborating the RE Development road map , Shri Anand Kumar, Secretary MNRE, said that for achieving 100 GW solar power target by 2022, the Ministry, along with the States, would lay out bids for ground mounted solar parks for 20 GW in 2017-18, out of which 3.6 GW have already been bid out, 3 GW will be bid out in December 2017, 3 GW will be bid out in January 2018, 5 GW in February 2018 and 6 GW in March 2018. 30 GW will be bid out in 2018-19 and 30 GW in 2019-20. Further, Shri Kumar informed that against the target of 60 GW for wind power, 32 GW have already been commissioned. The Central Government in participation with the State Governments intends to issue bids of cumulative capacity of about 8 GW this year. Out of this, 5 GW (including present 2 GW) have already been bid out, 1500-2000 MW will be bid out in January 2018 and 1500-2000 MW in March 2018. A total of 10 GW will be bid out in the financial year 2018 and 10 GW in 2019, leaving a margin of 2 years for commissioning of projects. Further adding to this, Shri Kumar informed that the Ministry would soon be issuing the Wind Bidding Guidelines. Shri Kumar also said that with wind power tariffs becoming competitive and State DISCOMs encouraged to buy more of Renewable Energy power, the Government has doubled the auction capacity for the third national level wind auction from 4GW last year to around 9GW in the current year. Regarding clarity on GST rates on Solar panels, Shri Kumar said that the MNRE is in talks with the Ministry of Finance and in the next 7-10 days all the issues would be resolved. The present scheme of Wind Power Auction is for setting up of 2000 MW Wind Power Project connected to Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS). The bidder can bid for a minimum capacity of 50 MW and maximum up to 400 MW. The projects under this scheme are expected to be commissioned towards the end of 2019. Power Sale Agreements (PSA) for purchase of wind power under second wind auction with States were also signed with Solar Energy Corporation of India with utilities of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab, Goa and Odisha. The reverse auction for SECI-II wind bid was conducted on 4th October 2017, which resulted in very competitive tariff of Rs.2.64/2.65 per unit. It may be mentioned that the winners of SECI II wind bid namely Renew Power (250 MW at Rs.2.64/unit), Orange (200 MW at Rs.2.64/unit), Inox (250 MW at Rs.2.65/unit), Green Infra (250 MW at Rs.2.65/unit) and Adani Green (50 MW at Rs.2.65/ unit) would be setting up wind power plants in states of Gujarat, TN and MP to sell power to these utilities. PPAs with these winners are expected to be signed shortly. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Argentine submarine that went missing nine days ago while heading northward from the country's southern tip was not on a secret mission and authorities have no reason to believe the vessel was attacked, the Navy has said. "The submarine was sailing from Ushuaia to Mar del Plata on a direct route inside the exclusive economic zone, near the edge, exercising the monitoring of sovereignty as any other Navy unit does," Captain Enrique Balbi said at naval headquarters in Buenos Aires on Friday. Headquarters last heard from the ARA San Juan on the morning of November 15, when the sub was located in the San Jorge Gulf region some 432 kilometres east of the Argentine coast. "It was not on a secret or special mission. There is no indication of any attack or anything similar," the Navy spokesman said. In Mar del Plata, the sub's home port, some 350 people, including friends and family of the San Juan's 44-member crew, mounted a procession from the city's Our Lady of Lourdes cathedral to the naval base to honour the missing sailors and pray for their safe return. "The truth is that we are bad at this moment. At the beginning we had hope ... but we still have hope!," one of the participants said. The procession came amid growing discontent among the families of the crew after they learned that an explosion was detected near the sub's last known location on the day contact was lost. More than a dozen nations are assisting Argentina in the search for the San Juan, which was built in Germany in 1983 and refurbished a few years ago. The government announced the start of an investigation to "determine the degree of responsibility and non-compliance within the chain of command" and said that the current naval command would be dismissed once the submarine was found. --IANS soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit back at Rahul Gandhi for his "failed hugplomacy" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the release of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, saying the Congress Vice President should stand with the country and not with the mastermind of the Mumbai massacre. "Rahul baba, Aadte nahi badli (Habits have not changed). For once, stand with the country and not with Terrorists as is your habit. You are a known sympathiser of LeT. WikiLeaks and Ishrat Jahan case cover-up exposed your links. By the way have you congratulated your 'Hafeez Saheb' on his release yet," BJP spokesperson G.V.L Narsimha Rao said in a tweet. Accusing the Congress of showing sympathy with Pakistan, the BJP leader said "Congress Ka Haath, Aatankivadiyon ke Saath" would be a more appropriate slogan for the grand old party. "While Manmohan Singh's government treated Pakistan as a victim state and let it off lightly, Narendra Modi has succeeded in isolating and cornering Pakistan as terroristan not just in the region but globally and in all international fora like the UN, G20, BRICS, ASEAN etc," Rao said. He said that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly betrayed the country by pandering to anti-India elements. "The manner in which they questioned the surgical strikes against the terror launch pads across the LoC and the utterly disgraceful attacks against the army chief as a 'Street thug (Sadak Ka Goonda)' and Rahul Gandhi's joining the groups shouting "Bharat ki barbaadi" slogans are symptomatic of Congress party's support for anti-India sentiments. "The statements of Congress leaders eulogising and praising Burhan Wani and their solidarity for separatists clearly show their sympathies for pro-Pakistan elements. It is a tragedy that a party which ruled India for six decades has compromised with the terrorist groups that have bled India for the sake of appeasing a minority vote bank. They have abused Hindu religion with terms like Hindu Terror and Saffron terror for appeasing minorities. In no other country, terror is politicised as the Congress sought to do in power," he said in a statement. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the Prime Minister and termed the latter's relationship with US President Donald Trump as failed "hugplomacy". "Narendrabhai, baat nahi bani (this is not done). Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed," Gandhi tweeted on Saturday morning. On Friday, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai massacre in 2008, was freed after 10 months of house arrest in Pakistan. Earlier this month, the US Congress also passed a bill which dropped action against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a condition for Pakistan to receive hundreds of millions of dollars. --IANS bns/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu on Saturday threatened West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that she would meet the same fate as "Surpanakha", a demoness from the epic Ramayana whose nose was cut off by Lakshman, a day after she asserted her state was ready to welcome Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film "Padmavati" and its crew. Amu's comments drew flak from Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, as also writers and cultural personalities of Bengal, who described the remarks as "shameful" and "unfortunate". Addressing a public meeting, Amu refered to the mythological character "Surpanakha". "I have come to know that Mamata Banerjee is saying Sanjay Leela Bhansali, come to Kolkata. We will welcome you. I say, this is the village of Ramchandra Ji's brother Lakshmanji. And what Laxmanji did to Surpanakha, I don't have to tell you," Amu said, making a gesture of cutting one's nose. Further egging on the crowd, Amu, also a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, repeated: "Do I need to say? What Lakshman had done, will you do or not?" In Valmiki's Ramayana, Surpanakha - the sister of Ravana - had proposed toRama and Lakshman, but was spurned by both. In retaliation, she tried to attack Ram's wife Sita, but Lakshman rushed to protect his sister-in-law, and cut off Surpanakha's nose. Amid the raging controversy over the period drama, Banerjee on Friday had promised to make special arrangements for the screening of "Padmavati" in her state. "Yes, we would welcome them. They are welcome here if they can't do it in other state. We can make special arrangements. Bengal will be very happy," she said, in response to a query whether her state would welcome the film's crew for a premiere here at a time when a number of states have banned the movie. An angry Trinamool demanded an apology from Amu. "The language, and the content of his remarks cannot be condoned. Either he should apologise, or else the people of the state would keep a watch on him, and launch proper protests," its Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said. Eminent Bengali writer Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay described Ammu's comment as "unfortunate". "I do not know how to protest. Such comments create despair among us. As politicians, they should be more careful about using their words. I do not know why police are not taking any action. Police must take action against such comments," he said. Educationist Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri said some politicians often cross the limit and forget political ethics. Poet Subodh Sarkar welcomed the Chief Minister's stand of standing by the director, actor, actresses of the film. "Let people watch the movie and come out with their own opinions. Let historians express their opinions after watching the movie. Threatening the Chief Minister for her comment was shameful. Are they political leaders?" he said. Theatre personality Debesh Chattopadhyay said threatening people was part of agenda of the BJP and the RSS. "The more they talk like this, the more their hidden agenda will be exposed. History assures us the people of India would reject and protest such attempts," he said. Poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay said through such comments, people like Amu were ensuring the "democratic right of cutting of nose". Bhansali's attempt to bring alive the story of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati on the silver screen with his movie "Padmavati" hasn't gone down well with Hindu groups backed by the BJP. It features Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as her husband and warrior king and Ranveer Singh essays Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali faced many hiccups while shooting the film, but the protests escalated as the film neared its release date. There are conjectures that it "distorts history" regarding the Rajput queen, though he has denied it repeatedly. --IANS bdc-ssp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of people gathered in the centre of the capital to protest violence against women to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The UN designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to commemorate the Mirabal sisters, who were assassinated on the same day in 1960 for opposing the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. A crowd of around 5,000 joined the two-hour march on Friday organised by the Chilean Network against Violence towards Women, bringing traffic along one the city's main arteries to a standstill. Protesters were pleased by the large turnout, calling for an end to gender-based violence both in Chile and around the world, Efe news reported. According to the protest organisers, 61 femicides have been recorded in the country so far this year, in addition to the 36 women who have committed suicide. Women in Chile have called on authorities to amend the law on gender-based violence as the current legislation only accounts for violence within marriages and relationships. --IANS umer/soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The by-election scene in Tamil Nadu hotted up on Saturday with the DMK renominating its candidate Marudhu Ganesh in the R.K. Nagar Assembly constituency, and immediately got support from the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruttai Katchi (VCK) and All India Forward Bloc. The party also asserted that it was not worried about the "Two Leaves" going to the ruling AIADMK faction. Ganesh, who was the party candidate in the April by-election that was later countermanded, will be fielded again in the December 21 bypoll, DMK Working President M.K. Stalin announced, quoting a statement of General Secretary K. Anbazhagan. "We will face the elections in a democratic way and we will win it in a big way with the support of allies. We already have the support of our allies and would appeal to more parties to support our candidate," he told reporters. Asked about Chief Minister K. Palaniswami claiming big victory after the allotment of the "Two Leaves" symbol to his faction, Stalin said "We have faced Two Leaves in the past and have won elections and come to power in the past. There is no fear or worry about Two Leaves." Tamil Nadu Congress unit President S. Thirunavukkarasar announced the party's support to DMK candidate while VCK leader Thirumavalavan extended his party's backing to DMK. He hoped the by-election would be held in a fair manner without money power being allowed to play a part in it. The bypoll in R.K. Nagar was necessitated by the death of then Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha in December last year. The AIADMK, which had fielded its Presidium Chairman E. Madhusudanan, is yet to announce its candidate, while the BJP said it would decide whether to contest or not in the changed circumstances in consultation with the high command. BJP state unit President Tamilisai Soundararajan said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the state leaders and the views have been conveyed to the high command. The BJP had fielded well-known Tamil music composer Gangai Amaran in the countermanded election. Soundararajan, however, said the symbol of "Hat" which was given to the T.T.V. Dinakaran faction during the countermanded election should not be allotted to them this time because it is associated with the corrupt practices adopted by Dinakaran earlier. Dinakaran, whose faction lost the symbol battle, has decided to contest again in R.K. Nagar. Thangathamizh Chelvan, leader of the Dinakaran faction, said the party's governing council would meet on November 29 and make a formal announcement on the candidate. He, however, rejected the view that their faction should not be given "Hat" and asked were the rivals worried that they would be defeated. --IANS vj-vsc/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced seven people to death for joining the Islamic State (IS) in Libya and contributing in beheading 21 Copts, the media reported. The defendants formed a cell in the north coast city of Marsa Matrouh province bordering Libya for training and recruiting new elements and planning for terrorist operations, the official news agency MENA cited a prosecutor as saying. Cairo Criminal Court referred the files of seven members of the militant group to the country's highest religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for his non-binding Islamic legal opinion on their execution. The accused militants took part in terrorist attacks in Cairo, Alexandria, Maras Matrouh and also outside Egypt from 2012 till April 2016, the court judge said. Some of the terrorists contributed in killing 21 Egyptians Copts who were working in Libya in February 2015, Xinhua news agency reported. Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently blacklisted Brotherhood group. Terror attacks in Egypt used to focus on police and military men in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and targeting the Coptic minority as well, with most of them claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional IS group. --IANS umer/soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death toll in a terrorist attack on a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai has risen to 305, with 27 children among the dead, Egypt's state prosecutor said on Saturday. Another 128 people were injured as the Al Rawdah mosque, affiliated with Sufi groups, in the town of Bir al-Abed was bombed during Friday prayers by 25 to 30 armed men and fleeing worshippers were then gunned down. Though no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the state prosecutor said that the militants were carrying Islamic State flag, state news agency MENA reported. The case will be tackled as "an emergency supreme state security case," he added. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi vowed to respond to the massacre -- believed to be the deadliest terror attack on the country's soil -- with "brute force". He also ordered the armed forces to build a memorial for those killed at the mosque. Egyptian warplanes conducted airstrikes on "terrorist outposts" and vehicles following the attack, the military said on Saturday. "The Egyptian Air Force pursued the terrorist elements, discovered and destroyed a number of vehicles that carried out the brutal terrorist killings and killed all terrorists inside those vehicles," military spokesman Tamer Rifai said. It also targeted a number of terrorist outposts containing weapons, ammunition and radical elements, Rifai said. "What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism," Sisi said in a televised address. "The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force." Dozens of gunmen surrounded the mosque in vehicles and opened fire on those trying to escape after bombs were set off. The militants were reported to have set seven parked vehicles on fire in the vicinity to block off access to the mosque and fired upon ambulances trying to help victims. A witness told the Guardian he had heard calls for help emanating from other nearby mosques after the attack. "I went with my family and friends to the scene of the mosque and found ambulances loading bodies and injured," he said. "What happened in al-Rawdah is a massacre against peaceful civilians." "In the Ber al-Abd hospitals, there was chaos," he said. "Blood and screaming were everywhere." Friday's attack prompted wide international condemnation, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump among the leaders expressing their condolences. Landmarks and government buildings across the globe paid tribute to the victims. In Israel, which borders the Sinai peninsula, Tel Aviv's city hall was lit up with the Egyptian flag. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower went dark to honour victims of the attack. In England's second largest city, The Library of Birmingham was lit up in the colors of Egypt's flag. And in Canada's most populous city, Toronto, the CN Tower was also lit to honour of the victims. --IANS soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death toll in a horrific terror strike on a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai region has climbed to 300 as the military kicked off a hunt for the attackers and responded with airstrikes at "terrorist" locations and vehicles. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi vowed to respond to the gory attack on Al Rawdah mosque, affiliated with Sufi groups, with "brute force". More than 100 people were injured, the BBC reported. The mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed was bombed during Friday prayers and fleeing worshippers were then gunned down. No group has yet claimed the massacare, one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the country. "What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism," Sisi said in a televised address. "The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force." Hours after the massacre, "terrorist spots", where weapons and ammunition were reportedly stocked, had been bombed by Air Force jets in response. An Army spokesperson said that several vehicles used in the attack had been located and destroyed. Dozens of gunmen surrounded the mosque in vehicles and opened fire on those trying to escape after bombs were set off. The militants were reported to have set parked vehicles on fire in the vicinity to block off access to the mosque and fired upon ambulances trying to help victims. A witness told the Guardian he had heard calls for help emanating from other nearby mosques after the attack. "I went with my family and friends to the scene of the mosque and found ambulances loading bodies and injured," he said. "What happened in al-Rawdah is a massacre against peaceful civilians." "In the Ber al-Abd hospitals, there was chaos," he said. "Blood and screaming were everywhere." There was also international condemnation for the attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called "for those responsible for today's horrific attack to be swiftly brought to justice". Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on a place of worship in Egypt. Our deep condolences at the loss of innocent lives." US President Donald Trump called it a "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless" and said terrorism and its ideology must be defeated. UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron also gave their condolences. Landmarks and government buildings across the globe paid tribute to the victims. In Israel, which borders the Sinai peninsula, Tel Aviv's city hall was lit up with the Egyptian flag. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower went dark to honour victims of the attack. In England's second largest city, The Library of Birmingham was lit up in the colors of Egypt's flag. And in Canada's most populous city, Toronto, the CN Tower was also lit to honour of the victims. --IANS soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said the Central government has identified many pockets in the northeastern states for opening up with neighbouring countries. On the Indo-China border disputes, he said the talks have been going on and stressed that India believed in friendly neighbourly relationships. "We have identified so many pockets within northeast in India, exc ept the border with (area towards) China where we have problems, to open up with neighbouring countries," he said at the India Today Conclave East. Along with the infrastructural and connectivity development, the Central government has identified border trade, and relaxed "many things" along the border so that the life of people in those areas improved, he said, adding commissioning of integrated check posts and border 'haats' would help to open up with neighbouring country. "Problem along the border line with China, it is not the creation during our time. This is a long-pending issue. There are talks going on and I do not want to put extra spin into that by commenting on what happens there. "Since the Indo-China border along the McMahon line in Arunachal segment is undefined, border haats, integrated check posts and these kind of communications have been stopped since 1962. Besides, all other borders are being looked into properly," Rijiju said. He said India has no problems with any of the neighbouring countries "in terms of trade, political, cultural relationship and people-to-people connect". According to him, unless eastern India and northeast India get into a particular mode, the dream of India becoming a super power would remain unrealised. "We had a Look East Policy and were looking at the northeast but it was lacking in action. That is why, it has been turned into Act East Policy. "Considering the geography of the entire Southeast Asia, the northeast occupies a crucial position. Southeast Asia starts from the region but we were unable to harness the potential that we have," he added. He said only two per cent of the northeast is connected with the rest of the country, and the rest 98 per cent with neighbouring countries. Responding to a query on how the government is planning to overcome strategic vulnerabilities, he said: "We are not aggressive towards anybody but we are firmed in defending our interests." He said: "Prime Minister has made things aptly clear that we are not too small to be cut down (bogged down) by anybody's action and we are not kind of a power that we will intimidate our smaller neighbours. We believe everybody is equal and (also believe in) peaceful coexistence". --IANS bdc/ssp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) John Wayne Lehr, 37, was arraigned Friday afternoon in Linn County Circuit Court on charges of robbery, burglary and unlawful use of a weapon. Court records list a count of first-degree robbery, a count of first-degree burglary and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Jail records list the burglary and robbery charges but only one count of unlawful use of a weapon, and add menacing and harassment to the list. The charges stem from an incident earlier this month in which Lehr allegedly pointed a handgun at his father, Wayne Lehr, in the garage of 39380 River Road, Lebanon. The date of the alleged incident is unclear, with sheriff's logs indicating it happened between Nov. 8 and 22. Lehr faced a separate allegation of fourth-degree felony assault dating Nov. 8 and was arrested on that charge Nov. 17. He posted $5,000 against a $50,000 security fee at the time. On Friday, attorney Forrest Reid said the cases are connected and asked Linn County Circuit Court Judge Thomas McHill to combine the new charges with the old one and use the $5,000 post for both of them, so Lehr could be released. George Eder, the attorney for the state, asked the court instead to keep the cases separate and to impose $100,000 security on the new charges. The new charges involve a separate victim and took place at a separate location and time, he said, which he believes warrants the separate security. Eder also asked that Lehr be shackled while in court. McHill agreed with Eder, imposing security of $100,000 on the new charges and saying Lehr must be shackled for court appearances. He also ordered Lehr have no contact with his father and possess no firearms if security is posted. Lehr's next appearance is 8:30 a.m. Dec. 11. A fake advertisement reportedly led some users searching for "Amazon" on Thanksgiving to a scam website just before the Black Friday shopping frenzy, media reported. "Some Google users searching for "Amazon" on Thanksgiving were shown a phony ad that redirected to a scam website, one day before the biggest shopping day of the year," CBS reported late on Friday. "The advertisement appeared at the top of search results on Google for an unknown number of users for at least part of the day on Thursday," the report added. Meanwhile, the search engine giant has said that the advertisement violated its policies and has been removed. "This was an abuse of our platform. We strictly prohibit advertising of illegal activity and have removed these ads and suspended the account," a Google representative was quoted as saying. The app which redirected users to a scam site purporting to be run by Microsoft's support team with a message saying the computer was infected with malware, according to CNET. However, the site's URL suggested that it was not affiliated with Microsoft. Police in Ghaziabad have arrested a criminal involved in the killing of a city trader on Tuesday, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Unravelling the murder mystery at a press conference, Superintendent of Police-City (SP-City) Akash Tomar said three persons were involved in the crime and the trader was murdered over a financial dispute. According to Tomar, during patrolling near Sihani Gate area in the city, the police team spotted a person moving around in a suspicious manner. They caught hold of him and questioned him, but he failed to come up with satisfactory replies to their queries. He was then taken to the police station. On sustained interrogation, he revealed his name as Mintu Tyagi alias Kuldeep Tyagi -- a resident of Siddique Nagar locality in Ghaziabad. He confessed to killing the trader on November 21, along with two of his accomplices. On his information, the police recovered a country-made pistol of .315 bore. Mintu gave the names of two other persons involved in the crime as Bunty Tyagi and Rajiv Sharma. They killed the trader following a dispute over Rs 2.5 lakh. The deceased was demanding the money back that he had lent to the accused. Irritated with his reminders, the criminals eliminated him. Earlier, the traders' organisations had given the police a 24-hour ultimatum to work out the killing. Trader Gagandeep Khanduja was killed when he was on his way back to home on his two-wheeler after buying a cake to celebrate the birthday of his son. The assailants shot him twice in his head near Nehru Yuva Kendra in the city. Khanduja was rushed to hospital, but he was declared dead. "The deceased trader and the accused persons had business relations and money-lending between the two sides would happen every now and then. But this time, reminders to return the money proved fatal for the trader. We are trying to nab the absconding two other criminals," said Tomar. --IANS sps/nir/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal on Saturday sought fixing of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 18 per cent on all goods except tobacco and luxury items bringing it down from the present level of 28 per cent. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra told the media here that the launching of the GST in a hurry led to a loss of nearly Rs one lakh crore for the Centre and the states put together. Speaking at an event at the International Trade Fair here, Mitra said that despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warning the Centre against the GST saying that they were not ready for it, it went ahead with the new tax regime and now traders were unable to file returns due to various technical complexities. "We told the central government not to launch GST on July 1, 2017," Mitra said. "I am unhappy to say that the Centre has shortfall of approximately Rs 65,000 crore in last three months and states of around Rs 30,000 crore," Mitra said. He added that about close to Rs one lakh crore of "expected protected fund" has already been lost in past three months. The Minister said that in September, close to 30 per cent taxpayers did not file returns which increased to 40 per cent in October. "A possible reason is that small traders are not able to file their returns... If they don't file returns, there has to be a tax shortfall," Mitra said adding that the situation is "very grim". "Traders are not able to file GSTR - 2 forms, which is meant for purchase. Therefore, we had proposed a simple form for filing returns," he said. Mitra also said that there should be a principle on the basis of which tax rates should be decided on goods and services, not on the basis of "cherry picking and lobbying". He said the most dangerous thing with the situation is non-availability of refund processing menu system till date. "Now, they are talking about manual refund, instead of the computerised process. Even the return data is not available. This may create a stumbling block in smooth refund... Therefore the traders are not able to claim refunds," he said. "Data consistency" is another serious problem, said the Minister, adding that the data provided by GSTN to the states is "incomplete and erroneous". Speaking of digital transactions, Mitra said that there has been drastic fall since March 2017. "In March 2017, e-transaction was up to Rs 149 lakh crore. However, in August 2017 it came down to Rs 109 lakh crore," he said. Speaking of Aadhaar accounts, the Minister said, "According to a government department, Centre for Internet Security, 13.5 crore Aadhaar accounts have been compromised," Mitra pointed out. He said "compromised security" of Aadhaar accounts was the reason that Banerjee did not open an Aadhaar account. --IANS vv-sid-kd/vsc/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a stand-off which lasted several days, IFFI organisers have now written to "S Durga" director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan asking him to submit a censored version of the film for consideration. A spokesperson for the filmmaker told IANS that the required documents and film copies would be submitted to the IFFI authorities by Saturday afternoon. A letter from Sunit Tandon, director of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), was uploaded on a social media site by Sasidharan late on Friday. In the letter, Tandon asked him to submit copies of the film to the festival authorities, as per directions of the Kerala High Court. "In this connection, you are requested to kindly provide the censored version of 'S Durga' in 35mm print/DCP, Blueray, along with two DVD copies to IFFI, Goa. Please also submit a copy of the censor certificate," Tandon said. Speaking to IANS on Saturday, Kannan Nayar, the film's lead actor, said that copies of the film as well as the censor certificate would be submitted to Tandon's office by today afternoon. "We have the copies of the film, but the censor certificate will be received by us from Kerala by afternoon, after which we will submit all the required documents and film copies to the IFFI director," Nayar said. The last few days has seen a standoff between the makers of "S Durga" and the festival authorities over screening of the controversial film, which was one of the two films to be dropped from the screening schedule of IFFI's Indian Panorama section. The festival officials have been tight-lipped over the issue, despite an order earlier this week by the Kerala High Court directing IFFI organisers to screen the film. On Friday the High Court, despite a request from the Union Ministry for Information and Broadcasting, had also refused to stay its earlier order. The cast of the film, which is present at the festival, had also accused IFFI organisers of harassment and succumbing to political pressure, which they said was the reason why the film was not being screened at IFFI. --IANS maya/sug/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Friday strongly condemned the terror attack at a mosque in Egypt that claimed at least 270 lives. "Government of India strongly condemns the heinous act of that has claimed innocent lives in Bir-al-Abed, North Sinai in Egypt today," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. "In this hour of tragedy, the government and the people of India stand by the government and the people of Egypt," he said. "We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those affected in this attack. This incident is another stark reminder of the need to develop a global strategy to fight this menace of ." At least 270 people were killed and 109 others injured in a gory terror attack on a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai region on Friday making it one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the country. The attack on Al-Rawdah mosque, affiliated with Sufi groups, took place during Friday prayers. The assailants planted home-made explosive in the mosque in the town of Bir al-Abd, near Arish, and detonated them as worshippers were leaving after prayers. They also shot at anyone who tried to escape, a security official told Efe news agency. The gunmen also fired at ambulances transferring the injured to hospital, eyewitnesses said. --IANS ab/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin Yoga instructor lost nearly 12,000 pounds when fraudsters broke into his Facebook account and made transactions to an online gambling website. According to a Telegraph report, Jasbir Mann who runs a Yoga studio in Warwickshire recently discovered 110 fraudulent transactions were made to a poker gambling site using his Facebook account. "Mann kept his debit card details stored on Facebook as he occasionally paid to advertise his business on the social media site," the report said on Saturday. The advertisement usually cost Mann about 30 pounds. But Mann was shocked to discover transactions, ranging between 21 and 215 pounds, made to an online poker game site in September. "Aside from the occasional lottery ticket I don't gamble and do not know how to play poker," Mann was quoted as saying. When contacted, his bank cancelled the debit card and told him to remove his details from Facebook. Mann raised a dispute with Facebook but moments later, the entire history of transactions vanished. Later, "Facebook began refunding some of the transactions, paying 5,747 of the stolen 11,878 back in 30 tranches," the report added. "I can't believe Barclays and Facebook have taken so long to deal with this. I'm a yoga instructor, not a millionaire," Mann was quoted as saying. Following pressure from Telegraph Money, Facebook finally refunded the remaining 6,132 to him without explanation. "We can confirm that unfortunately this account was compromised. A full refund has now been made," a Facebook spokesperson was quoted as saying. Facebook, however, refused to explain how the fraudsters accessed Mann's account, the report said. BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of practising a dangerous form of appeasement and harming the cause of national security by providing shelter to members of fundamentalist groups in the state. "The Chief Minister does not realise that she is harming the cause of national security, not just law and order in her state. As per a particular report, 720 criminals of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Bangladesh), an Islamic fundamentalist organisation, who do not find place in Bangladesh, are crossing over to this state and they are given space here. Bangladesh government is saying this," Lekhi, the party's national spokesperson, said at the India Today conclave East here. She also held Banerjee and her government responsible for a number of riot like situations in the Bengal during the Trinamool Congress rule. "The riots need to be controlked by the state government as law and order situation is a state subject. On the contrary, there is Muslim vote bank appeasement in the state and the state government including the chief minister is responsible," she claimed. Supporting Lekhi, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who was also present at the discussion, said the state government is trying to resist central agency probes into the cases of communal violence or terrorism by forcefully handing the investigation to state CID. "The state government is trying to prevent the cases or riots from being probed by a central agency. Starting from communal clashes in Kaliachak and Basirhat to the Khagragarh blast, they are putting forward the state CID and resisting a CBI inquiry. If they want the truth to come out why are they making this attempt?" he asked. Lekhi, BJP's Lok Sabha MP from New Delhi, said the Bengal government has a tendency of baselesly blaming the BJP in case of any law and order situation in the state. "In the Ranaghat nun rape case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee started blaming the BJP from the beginning but when the perpetrators were arrestd it was found they were all Bangladeshi residents. This is a dangerous brand of practised by the Bengal government," she alleged. Lekhi also took on Banerjee over her statement that the BJP-led Central government was scaring away industrialists from the state, saying that the extortion tax that industrialists have to pay in Bengal is public knowledge. About the issue of delay in the winter session of parliament due to the upcoming elections, Lekhi claimed the whole issue was being blown out of proportion by the opposition parties and said this has happened even during the reign of other parties at the centre. --IANS mgr/ssp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Militants have killed an off-duty soldier whose body was found on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, an official said. "Sepoy Irfan Ahmad Dar, 23, a resident of Senzen village in Shopian district, was a serving soldier. He was posted in a Territorial Army unit in Bandipora district," said Defence Ministry spokesman, Col. Rajesh Kalia "He was on leave till November 26. While on leave, he was possibly abducted and killed by terrorists. The matter is being investigated by the police." Dar's body, bearing bullet marks, was recovered by the police in Keegam village of Shopian district on Saturday morning. Jammu and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and her predecessor Omar Abdullah condemned the killing. Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: "Strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed, a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian. "Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace an d normalcy in the valley." Abdullah, in a statement posted on his widely followed Twitter handle, said: "The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family." --IANS sq/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following repatriation from Bangladesh, Myanmar will send Rohingya refugees to temporary shelters before moving them back to their original villages or new neighbourhoods of their choice, an official said on Saturday. Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali said that the two governments have agreed that the repatriation of the refugees to Rakhine should start within the next two months and will be conducted in phases, although he did not specify a start date, Efe news agency reported. Myanmar will also carry out a verification process before accepting the refugees back in the country, according to a Memorandum of Intentions signed by the two countries that was made public on Saturday. The document, signed on Thursday, specifies that the final decision about the repatriated refugees will rest with the Myanmar government but stipulates that the Myanmar authorities will not persecute or punish the refugees for fleeing the country illegally, except in specific cases involving terror links or criminal activities. The agreement added that both countries will assist the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the process of repatriation as and when necessary. The UNHCR had warned on Friday that conditions were not conducive for the safe return of the refugees to Rakhine. The current Rohingya exodus started when the Myanmar Army had launched a military offensive -- described as "ethnic cleansing" by the UN -- in the region on August 25 following multiple attacks on government posts by Rohingya rebels. --IANS umer/soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foundation honors local students Last June the OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop Foundation awarded $66,000 in scholarships. Twelve scholarships of $3,000 were awarded to Benton County high school students who are attending Oregon State University as freshmen this fall. Four scholarships of $3,000 each were awarded to students who will be in their second year at OSU. Five scholarships of $3,000 went to nontraditional full-time women students from Benton County who also are attending OSU. Two scholarships of $1,500 were given to nontraditional part-time women students from Benton County who are attending OSU. Several of these awards are named for past thrift shop volunteers and present club officers. Funding of these scholarships is made possible by the work of the shop, donations and endowments. High school scholarship recipients are Claire Hekkala, Crescent Valley High School, the Leonora Kerr Memorial; Kendrea Beers, CVHS, the Betty Slegel Memorial; Jordan Holdaway, Corvallis High School, the Lorraine Crowell Memorial; Josephine Crofoot, CHS, the Jane Loomis Memorial; Seth Javorsky, CHS, the Janie Engle Memorial; Samantha Garcia Aguilera, CVHS, the Alma and Mario Pastega Memorial; Nicholas Burns, CVHS, in memory of Dottie Frank; Anna Collins, Philomath High School, in memory of Virginia Wilson; Joshua Pauls, CVHS, Joan and Roger Ryan Honorary; Madison Moore, CHS, Eneke Warnke Honorary; and Steven Kontra, Santiam Christian High School, Rosie Toy Honorary. Second-year OSU student scholarship recipients are Petar Jeknic (philosophy), Jaime Law (College of Business), Brinn Rich (human development and family science) and Rebekah Richardson (choral music education). The nontraditional women scholarship winners are Michelle Bernard (human development and family studies), Dorothy Weswig Memorial; Yvonne Dominguez (human development and family studies), Dorothy Hopkins Memorial; Shelley Gale (environmental science), in memory of Yvonne Peckham; Amanda Riley (civil engineering); Stephanie Russo (environmental science); Lisa Steinback, part-time (human development and family studies); and Angela Barker, part-time (human development and family studies). Students graduate from Gonzaga Travis Callahan, Sarah Storniolo and Jaclyn Zalesky, all of Corvallis, participated in graduation exercises during the Gonzaga University commencement ceremony held last May 7 in Spokanes Veterans Memorial Arena. These students either have completed an undergraduate degree or are expected to complete their degree requirements this year. Local man receives degree Nicholas M. Jamros of Corvallis received a Master of Business Administration degree from Marylhurst University last June 24. The commencement ceremony took place at the Oregon Convention Center. Corvallis native wins award Corvallis native Jay Harman's first book, Plains to the Pacific, won a national award from Indie Reader last June. The book is about his great-grandfathers incredible life. Plains to the Pacific was the judge's choice for the Spiritual and Inspirational category. Harman is a retired Canby High School teacher and lives on a small farm about four miles south of Canby. He received a bachelors degree from Oregon State University in 1979. Reflecting the governments tendency of keeping faith in trusted people in key diplomatic posts, the term of Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna has been extended. According to reliable sources, the term of Sarna, a 1980 batch Indian Foreign Service officer and who was supposed to retire November end, has been extended by a year. He was named India's envoy in Washington in September last year ahead of the US presidential election and after serving just eight months as Indian High Commissioner to Britain. With Sarna as the Ambassador, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a highly successful first-time meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington this year. Both Sarna and his predecessor, Arun Kumar Singh, are former Indian Ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington's closest allies. Sarna has had a previous posting in Washington when he was Minister for Press, Information and Culture between 1998 and 2002. Prior to his London posting, Sarna was Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs where he oversaw the successful hosting in October 2015 of the India-Africa Forum Summit that was attended by a record number of 53 African countries. Modi was personally very happy with the organisation of the Summit and had congratulated External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for it. It is clear Modi wanted someone in Washington he was confident would be able to steer the multi-faceted India-US relations into a new phase with a new administration. Sarna was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry between 2002 and 2008. He has also had postings in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva and Thimphu. Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' that was released in 2015. This is the second high-level extension this year after Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar's term was also extended by a year. Jaishankar is set to retire in January 2018, but South Block is agog with speculation whether he would get another extension from Modi. --IANS ab/tb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday reiterated his demand to the Central government to resolve the Mahanadi and Polavaram water disputes. Patnaik, who attended the 12th Standing Committee meeting of the Inter-State Council in New Delhi, expressed serious concern that the flow in the Mahanadi river in his downstream state has dipped alarmingly on account of the unilateral action of construction activities undertaken by Chhattisgarh. He urged the Standing Committee to take urgent action to stop this unilateral construction in Chhattisgarh and constitute a Tribunal without further delay to address the problem. This month, Patnaik had written two letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking constitution of tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi water issue. He also urged the Standing Committee to discontinue Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh as it will impact a large number of people in hinterland tribal district of Malkangiri adversely. Patnaik also mentioned that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy fixed by the Central government at Rs 1,470 per quintal is not commensurate with the rising cost of inputs and the non-remunerative MSP acts as a deterrent to doubling farmers' income. He urged the matter be discussed with the Agriculture Ministry and it consider his government's proposal to fix the MSP of common paddy at Rs 2,930 per quintal in the interest of the state's farmers. The Chief Minister highlighted that the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) poses the biggest threat to the internal security and impressed upon the committee to ensure equitable distribution and deployment of central forces, funds and logistic support and not insist upon reimbursement of the cost of deployment of central forces in the affected states. He urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who chaired the standing committee, to deploy at least two paramilitary battalions in Odisha at the earliest to address asymmetric deployment of CAPF along the border vis-a-vis Chhattisgarh state. Patnaik also mentioned that the royalty on coal which was due for revision in April, 2015 should be revised upwards at the earliest, while at least 60 per cent of the clean environment cess should be earmarked for the coal bearing states which have to bear the cost of environmental degeneration and rehabilitation. Noting the Punchhi Commission has recommended for higher Central transfer for backward states for improving their physical and human infrastructure, he said Odisha should have the same sharing pattern in Centrally Sponsored Schemes as the northeastern and Himalayan states as the state has high percentage of people below poverty line and belonging to ST and SC. Informing that low telecom connectivity and poor financial inclusion remain major concerns of Odisha, he added that 70 per cent of Odisha's Gram Panchayats do not have any bank presence and only 221 branches have been opened in last three years. The Chief Minister mentioned that Odisha should be given flexibility to operate all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes directly through Integrated Financial Management System instead of opening separate scheme-based bank accounts since Odisha has a robust Integrated Financial Management System which is fully integrated with Public Financial Management System. --IANS cd/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the eve of the ninth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Israel on Saturday expressed its condolences and solidarity with the people of India. In a statement, the Israeli Embassy expressed "deep condolences and solidarity with the people of India on the anniversary of the harrowing terror attack" that was launched on November 26, 2008. "The tragic events of that day are ingrained in our collective memories. Israel stands by India in remembrance and grief over the senseless loss of life at the hands of terrorists," it stated. Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said in the statement: "Together with India, the people of Israel mourn the victims from countries all over the globe including Israel, embrace their loved ones and the survivors. India and Israel, along with nations of the world, must do everything in their power to eradicate extremism and terrorism for a better future." Over 160 people were killed and over 300 were injured a when terrorists of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba launched a series of attacks on India's commercial capital. During his visit to Israel in July this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, were killed when the terrorists attacked the Chabad House in Mumbai. Moshe was two years old then. Moshe, who was invited by Modi to visit India, has been granted a visa and he is expected to accompany Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to India next year. --IANS ab/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Padmavati", in a sense, is a neighbourhood story. My village, Mustafabad, happens to be in Rae Bareli, which embraces numerous Chishtiya Sufi shrines or places where the saints spent some time, including Khwaja Ashraf Jehangir Semnani, the saint Malik Mohammad Jaisi, the author of "Padmavat", was devoted to. Jaisi would faint at the controversy surrounding his masterpiece. From nearby Salon, Naeem Ata Shah in his flowing orange robes and headgear, often visited Mustafabad. Jaisi, who preceded Tulsidas, in the list of great poets of Awadhi, was an endless source of quotations. So was Tulsidas, whose correspondence with emperor Akbar's premier courtier, Abdul Rahim Khan e Khana, on meter and structure of poetry, one heard about later and which is something one would have expected more scholarship on. To a most unexpected source I owed my acquaintance with the fact that Rahim, known for his dohas, wrote devotional poetry on Lord Rama in Sanskrit. The source happened to be Vishnu Kant Shastri, former Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. It always puzzled me how a man of such catholic interests -- knew Jaisi as well as Akbar Allahabadi backwards -- had actually emerged from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) stable. If Jaisi's flight of fancy can create so much mayhem, I shudder to contemplate the fate of the 1960 classic, Mughal-e-Azam, in a similar circumstance. By today's yardstick, that was the original, unadulterated case of "Love Jihad". In fact the settled conventional wisdom in the 1960s conceded Akbar victory at Haldighati. The national mood today has reversed the outcome of that battle in favour of Maharana Pratap. There have been suggestions that New Delhi's Akbar Road be renamed "Maharana Pratap Road". In other words, revenge with retrospective effect is in order. To give this trend a more contemporary twist, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has demanded that a FIR be lodged against Mulayam Singh Yadav for ordering the police to fire on 'kar sewaks' in 1990. In that framework, it can be argued that producer K. Asif glorified Akbar's Love Jihad. For that unforgivable guilt, copies of the film must be consigned to the flames by way of historical revenge. Dilip Kumar, who played Prince Salim, is unwell; otherwise he could have been brought into focus of public ire with great effectiveness on the eve of key elections with a singular purpose -- polarise the poll. At a time when logic has been crowded out by a rush of non sequitur, some pundits have attempted common sense. It will not work. The new cultural brigade destroyed the grave of Wali Dakhni who showered adoration on this land with such verses as: "Koocha e yaar ain Kashi hai Jogiya dil wahaan ka baasi hain." (The lane where my beloved lives is like holy Varanasi; The yogi of my heart has made it his dwelling place.) The sentiments the poet represents did not deter the vandals seething with anger against past historical injustices. Never will the bandish "Munmohan Braj ke rasiya" in Raag Paraj, steeped in Krishna lore, be sung better than by Ustad Faiyyaz Khan. They tried to desecrate his grave in Vadodara, regardless. Rasoolan Bai's plaintive appeals to Rama, in so many of her songs, did not protect her house from being gutted during the 1969 Gujarat riots. It did not matter that the Congress was in power then. What is being tapped into is something which gained a lease of life after Partition and which invites instant, angry, passionate response at the street level. In his very first speech in Parliament after the 2014 elections, this was precisely the nerve Narendra Modi touched: "The nation has to recover from the subjugation of 1,200 years". This is what differentiates the present government from previous regimes. Congressmen may have privately believed in "1,200 years of subjugation", but they considered it tactically proper to speak only of the British as foreigners. Let us, meanwhile, revert to Jaisi's purpose in Padmavati. The sentiment is common in Western poetry too. The "desire of the moth for the star, of the night for the morrow. The devotion to something afar from the sphere of our sorrow." Shelley's lines are an ultra simplified version of the interplay between love and beauty which Jaisi is delineating. Padmini and Khalji are secular symbols of Jaisi's elaboration of the theme on an epic scale. Keat's "Beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know" can also be tossed in to simplify communicating Jaisi. Maulana Hasrat Mohani communicates the mood thus: "Maslak I Ishq hai parastish e husn Hum naheen jaante azaab-o-sawab." (Love's purpose is adoration of beauty. Gains and losses I do not measure.) Should the ever-expanding tribe of the new cultural warriors run out of ideas, here are some on offer, gratis. They should denigrate with retrospective effect those Muslims who dared to take liberties with Hindu Gods. Remember, how India's greatest modern painter, Maqbool Fida Husain, was exiled for his supreme guilt: Excessive adoration of Goddesses. His "adoration" was considered lewd by the protectors of culture and faith. Well, in like fashion, Maulana Hasrat Mohani deserves to be shamed retrospectively. He wrote a great deal about Krishna in Urdu, but in his Bhasha or Braj verses he takes liberties: "Mose ched karat Nandlal" (Krishna teases me all the time) "hum hoon jo dei liptai ke Hasrat Saari yeh chalbal nikaal" (One day I shall embrace him tight and squeeze out all his mischief) "Squeeze out", in a tight embrace, has erotic connotations which should be unacceptable to the new cultural brigade. (A leading commentator on diplomatic and political affairs, Saeed Naqvi can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com. The views are personal.) --IANS naqvi/mr/ky (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran actor Kamal Haasan, who earlier came out in support of "Padmavati" actress Deepika Padukone amid protests and death threats hurled at her for being a part of the film, says people are being "over-sensitive" on the issue. "We are being over sensitive. I am saying so in the capacity of being an Indian. In a country where politicians wanted citizens to come upfront in the past... that doesn't mean I am dismissing off a whole group of people... There are enough Kamals not enough podiums," said Kamal during a discussion at the Times Delhi Lit Fest on Saturday. Bhansali's attempt to bring alive the story of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati on the silver screen with his movie "Padmavati" hasn't gone down well with Hindu groups backed by the BJP. It features Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as her husband and a warrior king and Ranveer Singh essays Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali faced many hiccups while shooting the film, but the protests escalated as the film neared its release date. There are conjectures that it "distorts history" regarding the Rajput queen, and Bhansali has denied it repeatedly. The movie's release date has been deferred from the original December 1 date, but there are efforts from Hindu groups to have it banned. Kamal, whose films too have faced threats on the same level be it for "Hey Ram" or "Vishwaroopam", says the current clamour around "Padmavati" is a "problem", but it is not new. "There is a problem but it's not new. When my film 'Hey Ram' was to release, somebody in Congress (political party) thought it should be banned just by looking at the poster. But they did not know what was in the film. Censors were being extra careful. Certification board behaved like censor board," said Kamal, who has been a part of the film industry for almost five decades. "All my films had a problem for reasons I am still trying to understand. Same goes for rumours when you send an sms and it distributes. We are always ready to believe the negativity first. It (protests) is wrong. After it ('Padmavati') comes out and then people have problem... that I still understand," he added. Speaking on the slamming culture on social media like Twitter where individuals are free to opine, Kamal says "those who want it regulated have some logic of their own". "They shouldn't do it but... some are far exceeding their freedom which is why they are slammed perhaps," he said. "Everyone blames it on youth. It's not age talking it is the lack of reverence talking. Deeper and hurtful things come from the grown up," he added. --IANS ks/sug/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a raging row over "Padmavati", Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that nobody has the right to take law into their hands, but at the same time nobody has the right to hurt others sentiments. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Times Litfest, Naidu emphasised that inciting violence or unlawful activities as a way of protest such as announcing bounty on some people's heads was "unacceptable". "Now this new problem has come related to some film. Some people feel that it is hurting the sentiments of this community or that community and then they protest. Some of them go out of the way and announce rewards. This is not acceptable," he said, without naming anyone. "You have a right to protest in a democratic manner. Go to appropriate authorities and complain to them. Take the recourse in a democratic way but you cannot physically obstruct. And you cannot give violent threats," he said. "You don't have a right to take law into your hands. At the same time you don't have the right to hurt the sentiments of others. That is a reality," he said, adding that some people are quite "selective" in their criticism. He said respecting others' sentiments and feelings is the "essence of our culture". A controversy has been raging over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama "Padmavati" with several organisations, mainly from the Rajput community, opposing release of the movie on the grounds it "distorts history". Fringe elements have also announced rewards on the heads of actress Deepika Padukone and film director Bhansali. The Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer was scheduled to be released on December 1, but it has now been deferred. Referring to an article in a newspaper, Naidu said in the past too films have faced bans and obstructions and mentioned "Aandhi" and "Garam Hava" as some examples. "Aandhi" (1975) whose protagonist had striking similarities with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was banned after 26 weeks of release. "Garam Hava" was held up by the censor board for eight months." Speaking on Parliamentary democracy, Naidu said that it was not important as to how many days Parliament meets, the important thing was for how many days "it functions". Naidu said people have a right to disagree but first they "must learn to respect the majority and the people's mandate". Naidu also said that while dissent was agreeable, "disintegration is not acceptable". "That is the bottom line and any attempt to undermine integrity and unity of India by forces inimical to growth of India must be nipped in the bud," he said in reference to last year' Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) controversy. --IANS mak/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Denying allegations that an attempt has been made to draw a distinction between Bangladeshi Muslims and Hindus through amendment of the Citizenship Act, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said people who have come to India due to religious persecution were to be protected. He also said the state government would follow the directions from the Supreme Court with regard to updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC). He claimed the central government's Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 had no relation with the updating of NRC. "Look, for the preparation of NRC, it has nothing to do with that issue. Whatever discipline has been set by the apex court, it is to be followed," he said when asked about the amendment in the Citizenship Act "welcoming Bangladeshi Hindus but not Bangladesh Muslims". Responding to a query whether his government supported the distinction between Bangladeshi Hindus and Bangladeshi Muslims, the Chief Minister told the India Today Conclave East: "Six religious minority communities, whoever have come to India, (have come) out of religious persecution from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. That has been the issue relating to a particular matter. It is not a question of distinction but a question of people who have come out of religious persecution. They are to be protected and it is the principled line undertaken by the Government of India." In reference to updating NRC, Sonowal said the matter would be heard again on November 29 and also indicated that the state might take extension of the deadline of December for readying an updated NRC. --IANS bdc/ssp/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday expressed concern over the "unacceptably low" representation of women, OBCs, SC/STs in the higher judiciary and called for steps to remedy the situation. "There is unacceptably low representation of traditionally weaker sections such as OBCs, SCs and STs especially in the higher judiciary," President Kovind said, adding that one in four judges is a woman. Asking the judiciary to walk in pace with other public institutions in being truly representatives of society's diversity, the President said: "Like our other public institutions, our judiciary too has to be judicious in being representative of the diversity of our country, and the depth and breadth of our society. "Of the 17,000 judges in our subordinate courts, High Courts and the Supreme Court, only about 4,700 - roughly one in four - are women," he said. Telling the higher judiciary that it was its "sacred duty" to "groom" district and sessions judges and raise their skill so that more and more of them can be elevated to High Courts, President Kovind said "We need to take long-term measures to remedy this situation." "This will also enhance trust in our lower courts and their judgments and serve to declog our High Courts," the President said. However, in a caveat, he made it clear that the long-term solutions would be "without in any manner compromising on quality" of the judges and the judicial system. The President was speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day meet organised jointly by the Law Commission of India and NITI Aayog on the National Law Day. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Dipak Misra defended the court taking a pro-active position on the fundamental rights of citizens and expanding their scope, saying that the "Protections of the fundamental rights of every citizen was a sacrosanct duty of the judiciary conferred by the Constitution". Referring to the top court framing Vishaka guidelines' for the protection of women at the work place and rescuing children working in industry, Chief Justice Misra said, "What you see today may be relevant tomorrow." "These are only protection of fundamental rights. We don't make policy. We interpret policy. That is our job," the CJI said brushing aside concerns raised over judicial activism or judicial over-reach by Minister of State for Law and Justice P.P. Choudhary. Choudhary in his welcome address said, "It is a fundamental principle of governance that decisions should, as far as possible, be predictable and not disruptive. When judicial activism and review wades into policymaking, sometimes its consequences can be disruptive. This needs to be avoided if possible." Pointing out that there was a direct co-relation between Directive Principles of State Policy and the fundamental rights, Chief Justice Misra called for a quality governance and said, "Cooperative constitutionalism is the responsibility of the three organs of the State to protect the Constitution which is the source of their origin." Calling for judicial accountability, the Minister of State for Law and Justice said, "If judicial independence is a pillar of our democracy, then judicial accountability is the base of that pillar. Without accountability there can be no legitimacy." Citing B.R. Ambedkar on maintaining "delicate balance" between three organs of the State, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan favoured a re-look at the collegium system of appointing judges to the higher judiciary. Mahajan said that the collegium system that is in working for over two decades needs to be reviewed if there was any shortcoming in its functioning or there was a need for transparency in its working. Seeking to stay free of any controversy, Mahajan said that all the institutions are manned by humans and to err is human. --IANS pk/rn (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Progress has been made in achieving a political settlement in Syria and it is urgent to advance the process of intra-Syrian negotiation, representatives of Russia and the United Nations said on Friday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exchanged views with visiting UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura about the latest international contacts on the Syrian issue and its possible political settlement, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Xinhua news agency reported. On Wednesday, presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to continue their joint efforts to facilitate a possible transition to a political settlement in Syria and restore peace and stability to the war-torn country. "Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of building up international efforts to launch a comprehensive intra-Syrian negotiation process with the leading role of the United Nations based on the UN Security Council resolution 2254," a ministry statement said. The two sides agreed to maintain close contact on the whole complex of Syrian issues, it added. Later on Friday, the UN special envoy talked with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in a separate meeting and they discussed the organization of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress. De Mistura said Russia has made many efforts to create the basis for the political settlement of the Syrian crisis. They agreed that it is necessary to "arrange a political dialogue as soon as possible" as well as organise and conduct a political settlement process in Syria. The Syrian National Dialogue Congress, proposed by Moscow in late October at Astana talks in Kazakhstan for Syrian settlement, is expected to bring together opposition and pro-government forces, as well as representatives of all Syrian ethnic and religious groups to work for the peace process in the country. The date and participants of the congress have not been confirmed yet. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Smartphone transactions hit a record high in the US on Black Friday as shoppers thronged retail stores as well as went online to celebrate. According to Adobe Digital Insights mobile transactions were "hitting record highs". Black Friday follows Thanksgiving Day that is observed on the fourth Thursday of November, heralding the Christmas shopping season. "The big story this holiday season is in mobile shopping," CNBC reported, quoting Mickey Mericle, Vice president of Adobe's Marketing and Customer Insights division. According to Adobe Insights, 61.1 per cent of shoppers' visits to retailers' websites were for mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. A report in The Financial Times said the holiday season was set to be the first in which more shopping will happen online than in stores. "Brands and retailers will offer an array of great deals on electronic devices. Those that we expect to lure consumers the most will be headphones, tablets, fitness bands, smartphones and TVs. We also expect smartwatches, VPA-enabled speakers and smart headphones to fuel demand," Annette Zimmermann, Research Vice President at Gartner for Black Friday, said in a statement. For several years now, Black Friday has become a driver of sales in Europe, both in online and offline commerce. "We see this trend in many European countries, including the UK, Germany, France and Italy, where Black Friday and Cyber Week have become well-known terms for shoppers," Zimmermann added. Gartner expects sales of smartphones to total 1.57 billion units in 2017, up 4.9 per cent from 2016. Taoist meditation group: The group will meet at 9 a.m. Sunday at the First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op north store, 2855 NW Grant Ave. in Corvallis. The event will feature Taoist Quiet Sitting meditation, also known as "Preserving the Light of the One." Information: docneedlestcm@gmail.com. Movements discussed: Those attending the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service at First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave. in Corvallis, will reflect on how the Spirit moves in "movements." Bah'ai devotions: "The Bounteous Banquet" is set for 10 a.m. Sunday at 5006 SW Hollyhock Circle, Corvallis. We explore this gift with praise and hope: the privilege of building a community where the oneness of the human family is the core of collective life, where the equality of women and men is unassailable, and in which the seemingly counteracting forces of individual rights and social responsibilities are in harmony. All are welcome to join in this program of inspirational readings, prayers and discussion. ECK Light and Sound Service: Happiness Is a State of Consciousness is set for 10 a.m. Sunday in the Eckankar Center of Corvallis at 425 SW Madison Ave. in Corvallis, downstairs from Starbucks. People of all faiths are invited to experience the presence of Gods Light and Sound. Join in singing HU, a love song to God, and a spiritual discussion exploring the meaning of true happiness and how it can be achieved. As Harold Klemp, the spiritual leader of Eckankar, once said, When you are giving, you are happy. When you are unhappy, you are taking from life." Participants will share about some ways we can move into more giving and less taking. Each ECK Light and Sound Service is based on the teachings of Eckankar The Path of Spiritual Freedom. These teachings are not meant to change anyones beliefs, but to enhance them. The ECK Center will be open from 9:30 till 11:30 a.m. Sunday to allow time for fellowship and opportunities to browse complementary information on subjects of interest or to use the lending library. Information: 503-233-1595, Eckankar.org or MiraclesInYourLife.org. Share your nativity set: Organizers of the Corvallis Nativity Festival are seeking community members willing to lend their nativity sets for five days in early December. Those willing to lend their creches can bring them to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4141 NW Harrison Blvd., between noon and 9 p.m. Thursday. Nativity owners set up and take down their own pieces, but help is available. The exhibit will be taken down between 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 5. No items lent to the exhibit are left unattended at any time, even during the night. Further information is available from Suzanne Woods at 541-760-4715. Nativity festival: The 24th annual Corvallis Nativity Festival is set for 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday through Dec. 4, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4141 NW Harrison Blvd., Corvallis. Local residents have lent hundreds of nativity scenes for display. All displays and activities are indoors. The festival offers daily concerts, childrens art activities and puppet shows. A music lineup includes 25 choirs and other musical groups, plus more than 30 soloists. A complete schedule is available at corvallisnativityfestival.org. Film on Luther: Local events celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation conclude Friday with a screening of "Luther: An Idea that Changed the World" at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 125 NW 10th St., Corvallis. The film will be introduced by Jodi Mammenga of Thrivent Financial. Taize: A contemplative ecumenical Taize worship service will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 NW 35th St. in Corvallis. The monthly event, sponsored by the Corvallis Taize Ensemble, is open to all, and features singing and prayers. Information: 541-753-7622. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was constituted by the Tripura government to probe the killing of a journalist by a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) trooper, on Saturday arrested two more security personnel, police said. "Following their investigation, the SIT arrested Naib Subedar Amit Debbarma and TSR rifleman Dharmendra Singh, as they are found to be abettors and conspirators of the killing," a police official said. Police produced them in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court here on Saturday and the court sent them to a seven-day police custody. With the latest arrests, four security personnel, including TSR Second Battalion Commandant Tapan Debbarma, are in custody in connection with the gunning down of the journalist within the battalion headquarters complex on Tuesday. According to police, TSR Second Battalion Rifleman Nandu Kumar Reang, following an altercation, shot dead local newspaper journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmik, 50, at Radha Kishore Nagar, 25 km from Agartala. Reang was the bodyguard of battalion Commandant Tapan Debbarma, who is a senior Tripura Police Service (TPS) officer (1998 batch). The slain journalist had gone to meet Debbarma at the battalion headquarters. Both Reang and Debbarma are now in police custody and senior police officers are interrogating them. The Press Council of India (PCI) has taken suo motu cognizance of the killing and sought a report from the Tripura government. Demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident, several journalist organisations under a newly-formed platform -- Forum for Protection of Journalists (FFPJ) -- on Saturday took out a protest rally on Saturday. FFPJ Convener Pranab Sarkar said a memorandum would be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind demanding a CBI probe into the killing of the journalist and protection to persons. Bhowmik, who was a reporter with "Syandan Patrika" and local cable television channel "Vanguarda, is survived by his wife, a government teacher, and two children. Earlier, 28-year-old TV reporter Santanu Bhowmik was hacked to death while covering an event of a tribal party at Mandai in western Tripura on September 20. Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy, who is now in Delhi, has said he would submit a report to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Bhowmik's killing. The Congress has demanded a high-level inquiry into the murder. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a CBI probe and resignation of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who also holds the Home portfolio. Both parties observed a state-wide shutdown on Thursday to protest the killing. The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist has criticised the BJP for politicising the journalist's killing. --IANS sc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistans top electronic media regulator ordered private television channels to go off air on Saturday during a crackdown on religious protesters in Islamabad. The suspension was ordered by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for violating media regulations showing live coverage of the security operation in Faizabad. The authority also advised media houses to ensure safety and security of their field staff. Social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were also blocked on web browsers across the country. A Pemra spokesperson told the Express Tribune that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had directed the regulator to suspend transmission of all private TV channels. Abbasi issued the directives on the request of the Islamabad administration which said live coverage was compromising the operation against the religious protesters. The state-run PTV continued to broadcast, but aired a talk show discussing politics. A policeman was killed and over 200 people were injured on Saturday as the security forces moved to disperse the religious sit-in that has virtually paralysed the country's capital for almost three weeks. The protests had erupted after the Pakistani Parliament approved an amendment to the electoral law earlier, removing an oath public servants had to take before assuming office, reiterating their belief in Prophet Muhammad. The amendment was deemed a "clerical error" by the government and was rectified. But the protesters still demand the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for his alleged role in the controversy. The protesters had been camping on the main highway that connects Islamabad to the city of Rawalpindi causing huge traffic snarls that led to the closure of some schools in the capital. Security forces resorted to rubber-bullets after the protesters put up the resistance. The law enforcement agencies lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse the crowd. In return, the demonstrators pelted stones on the security personnel. At least 370 protesters were taken into custody, said police officials. At least 10 motorcycles and two vehicles were torched during the operation. --IANS soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Saturday issued a latest statement here, showing that they are getting ready for the new round of the intra-Syrian peace talk which is expected to kick off next Monday. The statement said that the special envoy takes note of the conclusion of the just closed expanded opposition conference hosted and facilitated very effectively by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, and confirms that he will be inviting the Syrian opposition delegation to Geneva, Xinhua news agency reported. "He notes the broad and inclusive participation in this conference, including all opposition components identified in the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and a wide range of others from both inside and outside of Syria, including independents and female participants," the statement said. The statement said that the UN envoy also "notes the unequivocal rejection of terrorism and the affirmation that the solution to the crisis is political". According to his office, the UN envoy "takes particular note of the fact that a negotiating team has been announced that is tasked to negotiate in Geneva without any preconditions, and that the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions is regarded as the sole reference for the negotiation". The upcoming new round of the Geneva talks will take place just days after the leaders of Iran, Turkey and Russia met in the Russian resort city of Sochi, where they supported a comprehensive dialogue for Syria. The meeting would also come after the opposition groups agreed on unifying a delegation to the fresh talks, which marks the first time for the political opposition groups to unify a delegation to the internationally-backed talks. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Venezuelan opposition leader and former metropolitan Mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, has submitted a request for political asylum in Spain. Even though Ledezma himself, who arrived in Spain a week ago from Colombia after fleeing Venezuela, had stated he had no intention of seeking asylum, Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo announced on Friday that he had changed his mind, Efe news reported. "It's another indication of the Venezuelan people's struggle to recover their freedom and a normal democracy," the Spanish spokesman said, after noting that the opposition leader himself stated after landing in Madrid, that "today upon arriving in Spain, I feel free". Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy received Ledezma last Saturday. The Venezuelan opposition leader had been under house arrest in his country since 2015, accused of conspiracy and criminal association. Ledezma met Rajoy and the latter told him that Spain will continue working bilaterally and in collaboration with its European and Ibero-American partners to help reach a fully democratic solution for Venezuela. Ledezma censured the situation his country is going through and has called on other opposition leaders to forget about the "personal issues" and certain "inconsistencies" of recent times. Earlier this week, the opposition majority at Caracas City Hall cancelled Ledezma's title of metropolitan Mayor after he fled the country. --IANS umer/soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hadiya, a 24-year-old Hindu woman from Kerala who converted to Islam, on Saturday told newspersons in Kochi airport that she wants to live with her Muslim husband. Hadiya left for Delhi to be present before the Supreme Court on Monday in a case of alleged forced conversion. As she was brought to Kochi airport amidst tight security, Hadiya loudly told the waiting mediapersons that she wants to go with her husband, Shafin Jahan. Hadiya was accompanied by three women police officials and two male policemen besides her parents. On Saturday afternoon, she was moved from her home near here at Vaikom in a convoy of police vehicles to Kochi International Airport to take the evening flight to Delhi. In Delhi she will be put up at the Kerala House, where four rooms have been booked for the party from Kerala. The apex court on October 30 had directed Hadiya's father, Asokan to present her in the court on November 27 to ascertain her views on her marriage to Shafin Jahan. On Wednesday, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that the application for in-camera hearing of the proceedings when Hadiya appears before the court on November 27 would be taken up on that day itself after a lawyer mentioned Asokan's application for an early hearing. The court in the last hearing had said that before examining the latter issue, it would like to ascertain if Hadiya had voluntarily converted to Islam and her views on her marriage. The court is hearing a plea by Shafin Jahan challenging the Kerala High Court order of May nullifying his marriage with Hadiya and seeking recall of its order asking the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the conversion of Hadiya to Islam and her marriage. The NIA in its earlier report has pointed to a "pattern" involving conversion to Islam and marriages in Kerala. On November 18, an NIA team arrived at her home for the second time and took statements from her and her parents to present their case before the court. --IANS sg/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Many professionals, businessmen and high-ranking corporate executives have such busy schedules that they need to delegate certain duties to . Sometimes, this can include crucial tasks such as carrying out property transactions and executing contracts. That is when the (PoA) comes in handy. While using PoA is definitely convenient, it also carries certain risks and is not something that one should do without due thought and care. A security person was killed and over 150 others were injured today in Pakistan during clashes which broke out after police and paramilitary forces launched an operation to disperse hundreds of protesters blocking main highways leading to the capital Islamabad. The operation was launched after Islamabad High Court (IHC) yesterday issued contempt of court notice against Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads The Pakistan government has blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube amidst ongoing operation against protesters. The decision was taken after almost all channels were suspended. Military spokesman said that army chief General Qamar Caved Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on telephone and urged for peaceful solution to the problem. So far police have failed to dislodge the protesters from Faizabad interchange which they have been occupying for about three weeks. At least one security person was killed and over 150 persons, including protesters and security personnel, were injured, police said. About 2,000 activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) for more than two weeks have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The protesters demand the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. More than 70 people have been injured. They were shifted to hospital of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, a health official said. Those injured include also more than 35 security personnel who were hit by stones thrown by protesters, the official said. Islamabad city magistrate yesterday issued a warning to protesters to disperse by midnight or face the consequences. TV footage showed police firing teargas and security personnel in riot gears charging at the protesters. Dozens of them were arrested and shifted to various police stations. Some of the security personnel were injured due to stone pelting by protesters. According to a security official, more than 8,000 security personnel took part in the operation against around 2,000 protesters. The operation was still going on and police were facing stiff resistance from the protesters. Earlier, IHC last Friday had given a 24-hour deadline to the government to clear the roads which was later extended till Thursday. However, the court yesterday expressed strong displeasure at the government for failing to take action against the protesters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 12-year-old girl is dead after an assailant attacked her and raped her two young sisters in their home in the northern Mexico border city of Ciudad Juarez. The prosecutor's office in Chihuahua state says girl died of strangulation. The office did not give the younger girls' ages, but local media said they were 10 and 11. The office said today the assailant is being sought, but did not say if he had been identified. The attack occurred Wednesday in a low-income neighbourhood on the city's west side, near a desert area where the bodies of numerous young women were found dumped in the 1990s. Human rights officials in Mexico say number of women and girls killed in the country since then has almost doubled. Luis Raul Gonzalez Perez, president of Mexico's National Human Rights Commission, said yesterday that the number of women killed per year in Mexico has risen from 1,519 in 1990 to 2,813 in 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three people were killed while two others seriously injured when their speeding SUV rammed into a tree here, the police said today. The impact of the collission at Naupur village last night was such that two passengers in the vehicle died on the spot, while another person succumbed to injuries at a hospital, they said. Naupur village is located almost 35 kilometres from the district headquarters. "The deceased and injured passengers were from the same family. The injured persons have been referred to Varanasi for treatment. The police had to call a JCB machine to break the SUV, and take out the bodies," superintendent of police K K Chaudhary said. The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Yadav, 28, Subhash Yadav, 38, and Munnu Yadav, 35. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four employees of Tripura Gramin Bank were kidnapped from Taidu area of Gomati district, about 50 KM from here, police said today. The four employees of the Taidu branch of Tripura Gramin Bank were on their way here after work when they were kidnapped yesterday by unidentified persons, Gomati district superintendent of police Bijoy Debbarma told reporters here. The four were identified as the bank branch manager Tanmoy Bhattacharya (30), its assistant manager Sujit Dey(28) and two other staff members Raktim Bhowmick (31) and Subrata Debbarma(32), he said. Bhattacharya was driving his car and Dey and Bhowmick were in it. The fourth bank employee Debbarma was in a bike behind them when they were kidnapped, the SP said adding the exact location of the incident is yet to be identified. The Director General of Police A K Shukla said a massive search operation is on by the police and paramilitary forces to rescue the bank employees. Asked, he said it was not a case of kidnap by any insurgent outfit. "Though some insurgents of Tripura are still in Bangladesh, they are not operating inside the state." Shukla said, the family members of the kidnapped filed an FIR when they did not return home till late in the night and their phones were found switched off. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least four people were killed and 19 others injured today in a suicide attack on security forces in Pakistan's Balochistan province, officials said, the latest attack on security personnel in the restive region. The attackers targeted a security forces' convey when it was passing through Sariab road in the provincial capital Quetta, police officials said. The officials confirmed that it was a suicide bomb attack on security forces convoy. "The target was the vehicle of the FC commander, but he was not present in the vehicle when the bomb attack took place," a government official said. A spokesperson for Civil hospital Quetta said that they had received four dead bodies while 19 persons, including a child, were injured in the bomb explosion. "Some of the injured are in critical condition as they were hit by shrapnels in the attack," Wasim Baig said. The attack came a day after senior police official of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ashraf Noor was killed in a suicide attack on his vehicle in the upscale Hayatabad neighbourhood of Peshawar. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban militants and Baloch nationalists often target security forces in the area. A senior Pakistani police officer and his three family members were killed by unidentified, motorcycle-borne militants in Balochistan on November 15. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Illyas who was on his way to market when he was killed in a targeted attack along with his wife, son and five-year-old granddaughter. A suspected suicide bomber killed Additional Inspector General Telecommunications Hamid Shakeel and three other police officers in a targeted attack in Quetta on November 9. Balochistan has been rocked by a series of attacks which raised concerns about a growing militant presence, including those affiliated with Islamic State, which has claimed several bombings in the restive province. The unrest has raised security concerns for projects in the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link from western China to Pakistan's southern Gwadar port. At least six police commandos and a civilian were killed last month when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a security force's convoy on the Quetta-Sibi Highway. In August this year, a massive suicide explosion, targeting Pakistan Army personnel in Quetta, left 15 people dead including seven civilians and injured at least 20 people. In June this year, 14 people, including seven policemen, were killed and 21 others were injured in a suicide car bombing on Gulistan Road in Balochistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least four people were killed and 15 others injured today in a targeted attack on security forces in Pakistan's Balochistan province, officials said, the latest attack on security personnel in the restive region. The attackers targeted a security forces' vehicle on Sariab Road area in the provincial capital Quetta, police officials said. Four people were killed but their identity is not known, they said. The nature of the bombing was not known immediately, but police suspected that it could be a suicide attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban militants and Baloch nationalists often target security forces in the area. A senior Pakistani police officer and his three family members were killed by unidentified, motorcycle-borne militants in Balochistan on November 15. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Illyas who was on his way to market when he was killed in a targeted attack along with his wife, son and five-year-old granddaughter. A suspected suicide bomber killed Additional Inspector General Telecommunications Hamid Shakeel and three other police officers in a targeted attack in Quetta on November 9. Balochistan has been rocked by a series of attacks which raised concerns about a growing militant presence, including those affiliated with Islamic State, which has claimed several bombings in the restive province. The unrest has raised security concerns for projects in the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link from western China to Pakistan's southern Gwadar port. At least six police commandos and a civilian were killed last month when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a security force's convoy on the Quetta-Sibi Highway. In August this year, a massive suicide explosion, targeting Pakistan Army personnel in Quetta, left 15 people dead including seven civilians and injured at least 20 people. In June this year, 14 people, including seven policemen, were killed and 21 others were injured in a suicide car bombing on Gulistan Road in Balochistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disinvestment-bound Air India's regional arm, Alliance Air, plans to induct five ATR planes in its fleet in as many months and will soon roll out flights to three new destinations as part of the government's UDAN scheme, a top official said. As of now, the Delhi-based airline flies to 46 destinations with a fleet of 15 ATR 72-600s. "We are in the process of inducting new ATR 72-600 aircraft by March next year, which will take our fleet size to 20 planes at the end of the fiscal," Alliance Air Chief Executive Officer C S Subbiah said at a function held by JRD Tata Memorial Trust here today. Subbiah said that the airline is "competing" with high density rail traffic and that it has enhanced frequency on many routes with daily flights from weekly flights in the last two years. Alliance Air, at present, operates 89 departures per day connecting 62 city-pairs. "Along with the fleet, we are expanding our route network as well. We will shortly be launching a flight to Agra from Delhi, which will be our 47th destinations, as part of the government's regional connectivity scheme UDAN," he said. Alliance Air and four other operators --SpiceJet, Air Deccan, Air Odisha and TruJet -- were mandated to launch flights 70 airports connecting 128 routes in the first round of bidding for UDAN. Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme seeks to provide air connectivity to unserved airports as well as enhancing flight services to the underserved ones at affordable fares. Alliance Air has bagged 15 routes as part of this, Subbiah said adding, the airlne has already launched flights to 12 routes and operations on the remaining three including Agra will commence soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A barber community organisation, which had taken offence at a statement made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, today announced that it won't hold any protest on the issue, after Fadnavis expressed regret. Maharashtra Nabhik Mahamandal president Kalyanrao Dale held a meeting in Indapur tehsil where the decision to cancel the proposed 'agitation' was taken. While addressing a gathering in Kolhapur yesterday, Fadnavis said, "I had issued a letter when I realised that my comments had hurt the sentiments. I am not more important than the society. If sentiments are hurt, I express my apologies." The chief minister had made the statement in question when taking a dig at the previous Congress-led government over its habit of starting many development works simultaneously and leaving them unfinished, drawing analogy with 'barbers' ways'. In protest, the barber community leaders had announced a statewide road blockade agitation and mass tonsuring of heads ahead of the winter session of the state Assembly. In a statement today, the organisation said no protest would he held. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dispensing with formalities, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today travelled in a bus with 100 students from all over the country and joined them in planting saplings on the side of a lake at a nearby village. The students, from 17 educational institutions in various parts of the country, are on a three-day visit to the union territory from yesterday. Bedi travelled with the students in a bus from her office to the site at Velrampet village, a release from the Lt Governor's office said. The students, here under the banner 'Young India', spent more than two hours at the site and walked around the lake with Bedi after planting around 130 saplings of different species on the lake bund. Kiran Bedi has been undertaking periodic weekend visits to villages to know the infrastructure conditions and listen to grievances of the people. The release said the Lt Governor wanted to make the lake, which had gained a face lift after her efforts to make it garbage free and empowering the villagers to maintain it properly, an eco tourism site. Bedi told the students to develop positive habits that would stand them in in good stead in their lives, to have a goal and be committed to reach it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today condemned the BJP over its "shameful" barb that Rahul Gandhi was siding with terrorists after he alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "hugplomacy had failed" in keeping the 26/11 terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed under arrest in Pakistan. Speaking to reporters here, Congress leader Anand Sharma said that the BJP leaders "in their arrogance" have lost their mental balance as they targeted Gandhi. He said the BJP needs to be reminded that Gandhi belongs to a family which made sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the country and accused the BJP of taking political discourse to a new low. "It is shameful. It deserves to be condemned. The BJP leaders have lost their mental balance in arrogance. Gandhi is the leader of Congress, which has made sacrifices in fighting terrorism and for the integrity of India...for them to say such a thing, I will say it has hit a new low," he said. The BJP said today that its government had succeeded in isolating Pakistan over terrorism, while the UPA treated it as a victim state and let it off lightly. BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao accused the Congress and its vice president of "repeatedly betraying the country by pandering to anti-India elements" and cited their alleged questioning of surgical strikes to make his point. Taking to Twitter earlier in the day, Gandhi said, "Narendrabhai, baat nahi bani (this has not worked). Terror mastermind is free," he said, adding that the prime minister's "hugplomacy" has failed. Gandhi was referring to Modi's bonhomie with US President Donald Trump during his last visit to the US when the two leaders were seen hugging each other several times. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today accused the Centre of delaying the process of giving the state's share in GST collections. The minister along with Congress workers also took out a protest march against the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The state is facing problems in spending on development projects because of a cash crunch caused by the delay in disbursement of Punjab's share in GST collections, he alleged here. "The GST has created terror among people and it is a direct attack on the federal structure. Rs 3,500 crore has not been paid by the Centre to the Punjab government," Sidhu said. He also claimed that traders and customers were upset with the tax slab. "Earlier there was a six per cent tax on goods but with the implementation of the GST, tax was being charged at 18 per cent on most of goods because of which both traders and consumers are upset," the minister said. The Local Bodies Minister alleged that the "improper" implementation of the GST had left business communities fuming as they were finding it difficult to adjust to the new tax system. He claimed that with the Centre sharing tax proceeds with states, the latter had become "beggars" for their share of revenue. Reportedly, two ambulances carrying patients got stuck in the traffic jam for half-an-hour because of the protest march. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With little fanfare, Cuba today commemorated the first anniversary of the death of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro as it prepares to move into the post-Castro era. Since his death at the age of 90 on November 25 last year, Castro's wishes have been respected. No street, square or building bears his name, and no statue or monument has been erected in his honour. But Castro remains present in the minds of Cubans, and state media daily recalls his exploits, speeches and writings. The most important commemoration will be held at nightfall at Havana University, where Castro often delivered his lengthy and fiery speeches. The Union of Communist Youth has organised a "political- cultural evening" marking the "physical death" of El Comandante. Raul Castro, the 86 year-old leader who took power when his older brother Fidel became ill in 2006, may make an appearance. But the government has scheduled no major events marking the death of Fidel, who governed Cuba for 48 years and died at the age of 90. Nevertheless signs and slogans painted on walls that read "I am Fidel," "Fidel will always live" and "Fidel is among us" can be seen around the country. Cuba's two newspapers, the state-run Granma and Juventud Rebelde, dedicated most of their issues to the late communist leader. "This year we, the people of Cuba, have within us great sadness but mixed with joy because he (Fidel) left a youth that ... is much better than us old folk," said Emerido, a 75 year-old retiree who declined to give his last name. Leisi Chi, a 22 year-old history student, recalls the pain she felt upon hearing of Fidel's death. "It touched us, especially the youth and the people here, even if some people rejoiced," she told AFP. Fidel Castro "is alive in our thoughts, our culture, our battle of ideas," added elementary school principal Gladys Garcia. The leftist regimes of Venezuela and Bolivia also held events in memory of the late revolutionary leader. When Fidel Castro died Cuba went into mourning until his ashes were interred in the southeastern city of Santiago de Cuba. An event marking the anniversary may be held there on December 4. The anniversary of Fidel Castro's death comes just ahead of the first round of municipal elections which will mark a turning point in Cuban history. The polls will kick off a series of elections ending in February 2018 with the first top government generational change in 60 years -- the election of Raul Castro's replacement, who will, for the first time, be a post- revolutionary figure. President since 2008 when he took over from Fidel, 86- year-old Castro said he will not run for re-election. First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, 57, is favoured to replace him. Born after the revolution, Diaz-Canel would have the tough task of forging the first post-Castro government, consolidating the revolution's gains and executing an economic transition plan. Raul Castro, however, will remain head of the all- powerful Cuban Communist Party until the next Congress scheduled for 2021 -- when he would be 90 years old. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death toll from the deadliest terrorist attack on Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Egypt's restive North Sinai region was today raised substantially to 305, which included 27 children, the state prosecutor said. General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek said in a statement that another 128 people were wounded in the attack, when heavily- armed militants bombed the al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city and opened fire on people attending the Friday prayers. The death toll was reported at 235 yesterday. Sadek said the number of terrorists involved in the attack varied from 25 to 30, some of whom had raised the Islamic State flag during the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The Egypt government announced three days of mourning, even as President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi chaired an emergency meeting with officials to review security after the attack. Egypt's Army said in a statement that a number of terrorists have been killed in air strikes in North Sinai since the attack yesterday. The Army was conducting raids in the troubled region to eliminate terrorist hideouts. The Al-Ahram newspaper, citing a military source, reported that a military operation was underway in North Sinai. The unnamed source did not reveal the details of the operation, but told the daily: "The response will be on the ground and will not stop until the elimination of everyone involved in the attack. We are taking our revenge now." Sisi has vowed a "brute" response to the mosque attack. During the attack, the terrorists took positions near the door and the 12 windows of the mosque and then opened fire on the worshippers, the statement said. They had come to the mosque in five SUVs and torched another seven vehicles parked outside the mosque and owned by the worshippers there, the prosecutor said. According to people injured in the attack, some of the terrorists had masked their face and all of them wore military-like dresses. After the bomb ripped through the mosque, the gunmen on four off-road vehicles opened fire on worshippers who tried to escape from the site after the blast. Nearly 50 ambulances were rushed to the site to shift the injured to hospitals. Speaking to state-run Masriya TV, Egypt's health ministry spokesman Khalid Mujahid described it as a "terrorist attack." One report said the target appeared to be the supporters of the security forces who were praying at the mosque. Local residents were quoted in reports saying that followers of Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, often gathered at the mosque. Islamist jihadist groups, including the Islamic State, see Sufis as heretics. The Sinai peninsula has endured many attacks blamed on the Islamic State and other terrorist groups since the January 2011 revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak, but this was the deadliest assault of its kind. The attacks against police and military officials increased after Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was ousted in 2013 by the military following massive protests against his rule. More than 700 security personnel have been reported killed since then. In May this year, gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians in central Egypt, killing at least 28 people. In April, two suicide bombings at Palm Sunday service at churches in the northern cities of Alexandria and Tanta killed 46 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death toll from the deadliest terror attack on Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Egypt's restive North Sinai region has risen to 305, the state prosecution said today. Among the deceased are 27 children, Egypt's General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek said in a statement. Sadek said 128 people were injured in the attack, the deadliest terror attack in the country. Heavily-armed terrorists bombed al-Rowda mosque in Al- Arish city during the Friday prayers. The number of terrorists involved in the attack vary from 25 to 30, the statement said, adding that they had raised the Islamic State flag. They took their positions facing the door of the mosque and its 12 windows before opening fire on the worshipers, it said. The terrorists used five vehicles in the attack and torched 7 vehicles owned by worshippers, the statement added. The prosecutor said that according to the injured people, some of the terrorists were masked and others were not and all of them were dressed in military-like outfits. After the bomb ripped through the mosque, the gunmen on four off-road vehicles opened fire on the worshippers who tried to escape from the site after the explosion, it said. Speaking to state-run Masriya TV station, Egyptian health ministry spokesman Khalid Mujahid described the incident as a "terrorist attack." One report said the target appeared to be supporters of the security forces who were praying at the mosque. Local people were also quoted as saying that followers of Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, regularly gathered at the mosque. Islamist jihadist groups, including so-called Islamic State (IS), see Sufis as heretics. About 50 ambulances were rushed to the attack site to shift the injured to hospitals. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack and there is no word yet on what happened to the terrorists involved. There have been regular attacks blamed on militants on the Sinai peninsula since the January 2011 revolution that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak, but this is the deadliest assault of its kind. The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule. Over 700 security personnel have been reported killed since then. The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belonged to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip. The Egypt government has announced three days of mourning, even as President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi chaired an emergency meeting with officials to review security situation after the deadly attack. Egypt has witnessed a series of terror attacks this year claiming scores of lives. On May 26, gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians in central Egypt, killing at least 28 people and wounding 25 others. On April 9, two suicide bombings at Palm Sunday services at churches in the northern cities of Alexandria and Tanta left 46 people dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today conducted a surprise inspection of public toilets along with Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal and expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the washrooms. Kejriwal visited toilet complexes located in Chhatarpur and east Delhi's Ghazipur and Geeta Colony. During the inspection, he found that the toilets in Chhatarpur were non-operational, said the DCW in a statement. The toilet in Geeta Colony was extremely dirty while the toilet in Ghazipur was being cleaned at the time of the visit, it said. The contractor for the upkeep and maintenance of the toilets was found not engaging 'safai karamcharis' (sanitation workers) and it meant that the toilets remained dirty, the statement said. Kejriwal sought an explanation from the chief executive officer of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and directed him to take immediate action to ensure proper upkeep of the toilets. He was also directed to regularly inspect the toilets and set up a system to ensure proper monitoring. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two motorcycle borne armed miscreants today shot dead district Congress Vice President's son at Gyan Babu Chowk in Motihari town of Bihar's East Champaran district. The deceased has been identified as Chhotu Jaiswal (30), son of East Champaran District Congress vice president Munmun Jaiswal, town police station SHO Anand Kumar said. The deceased is the brother-in-law of Rani Jaiswal, who is a councillor from ward number 12 of Motihari Municipal Council, he added. After getting information, Superintendent of Police Upendra Kumar Sharma reached the spot. CCTV cameras are being searched by the police to gather detail about the incident. The incident occurred when Chhotu Jaiswal was having tea at Gyan Babu Chowk under town police station area when two motorbike borne miscreants appeared and opened fire on him (Chhotu), the SHO said. He was rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed to his bullet injuries, the SHO added. Chhotu Jaiswal received three bullets, the SHO said and added that the murder appears to be the fallout of a land dispute. The miscreants managed to espcape from the spot after the incident, the SHO said. Police have recovered six empty cartridges of 9 mm from the spot, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today claimed that the dip in the Delhi Metro's ridership, according to an RTI reply, cannot be linked to the fare hike effected in October, which it said was necessary for maintaining "efficiency". The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs told reporters here that despite the increase, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) fares were among the "lowest in the world" and the "lowest in India". "The fare hike has not led to a decline in metro ridership. For example, in 2016, there was a ridership dip by 1.3 lakh from September to October when there was no change in fares," he said. His comments came hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been opposing the fare hike, tweeted: "This steep hike in metro fare will kill Delhi Metro. If people stop using it, then what purpose does it serve?" Puri said that every year, there are a few months that see an increase in ridership and a decline is observed in the others. The ridership after the fare revision for many days was actually higher than the ridership on some days before it was revised, he said. "On previous occasions of fare increase, there were at times temporary dip in ridership which recovered shortly. Ridership in November has shown a rising trend," the union minister said. However, according to the DMRC's records, the fall in October was the steepest ever. The metro has been logging a daily average ridership between 27 lakh and 28 lakh over the recent years, with minor variations. Till May, the Delhi Metro transported around 28 lakh passengers daily. But, after the first phase of the hike in May, it lost nearly 1.5 lakh passengers per day in June as the ridership dropped to 25.7 lakh. However, the ridership picked up from around July. In July and August, the Delhi Metro witnessed a daily average ridership of 26.6 lakh and 27 lakh respectively Last year, in July, August and September, the metro's daily average ridership figures were 26.9 lakh, 28.5 lakh and 28.4 lakh, respectively, reflecting a trajectory of sustained growth. Seeking to defend the fare hike, Puri said that metro fares are neither fixed by the Centre or the Delhi government, both of which hold equal stakes in the DMRC, and pointed out that it was after a gap of eight years that the fares had been hiked. Fare Fixation Committee, a statutory body created under an Act of Parliament, determines the metro fares, he said. "When the new fixation committee was formed, they decided that since the fares were not hiked during the last eight years, the increase would happen in two segments, one in May and the other in October," Puri said. He also said that the metro is a capital intensive project and if it has to be run efficiently, it's "long-term liabilities in terms of loan repayment" need to be discharged timely". "DMRC has a loan of Rs 28,268 crore from JICA. So far, they have only paid Rs 1,507 crore. For the current year, they have to pay Rs 890 crore towards principal and interest liability," he said. According to the RTI query by a PTI correspondent, the metro's daily average ridership came down to 24.2 lakh in October from 27.4 lakh in September, a fall of around 11 per cent. The Blue Line, considered the metro's busiest, lost over 30 lakh commuters, according to data shared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in response to an RTI query. The 50-km corridor connects Dwarka to Noida. The metro currently has a 218-km network across Delhi-NCR. On October 10, the DMRC effected the fare hike, leading to a rise of around Rs 10 for nearly every distance slab. This came barely five months of another hike of up to 100 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh show-cause notice to NRI businessman C C Thampi for alleged violation of foreign exchange laws to the tune of over Rs 1,000 crore in the purchase of vast tracts of land in Kerala, official sources said today. The central probe agency has issued the notice under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), alleging contravention of Rs 1,014.75 crore by the businessman, his wife M Rodrigues and their companies. The couple, under the scanner of the agency for their reported dealings with the families of some politicians and bureaucrats, are non-resident Indians and hence were not entitled to purchase land, they said. The ED, in February this year, issued a similar show- cause notice to Thampi and his firms for alleged FEMA violation amounting to over Rs 288 crore in acquiring about 927 acres of land in Delhi and adjoining areas (national capital region). "Further probe in case of Thampi's companies in Kerala revealed that he had adopted a similar modus operandi (like the Delhi-NCR land purchase instance) of forwarding loans to his companies and getting it converted into equity in his name and in the name of his family members and purchased land including agricultural land in the name of the companies," a source said. The latest notice is for the FEMA violation amounting to Rs 1,014.75 crore and the land that he allegedly purchased in Kerala is over 594 acres. The agency registered a FEMA case against Thampi and his associates last year. The firms that are being investigated by the ED, as part of the two show-cause notices, include Holiday City Centre Private Limited, Holiday Properties Private Limited and Holiday Bekal Resorts Private Limited. The ED earlier said that Thampi had "acquired huge agricultural land mass in Palwal and Faridabad districts of Haryana in the name of his company Holiday City Centre Pvt. Ltd. by circumventing the prescribed law of land and in contravention of extant provision of FEMA". The probe revealed that Thampi was residing outside India and he had advanced unsecured loans to his three companies which was later converted into equity in his name and in the name of his family members in these companies, it had said. Agency sources said the businessman was also under the scanner for his reported dealings with some politicians and bureaucrats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court in Egypt today gave the death penalty to seven people and sent 10 more to life in prison for beheading 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya and for joining a terrorist organisation affiliated to the Islamic State. The Cairo Criminal Court also sent three others to 15 years in prison in the same case. The court found that the convicts had joined the "Marsa Matrouh cell", which is affiliated to IS in Libya. They were also found guilty of joining training camps in Libya and Syria, planning terrorist attacks in Egypt, possessing weapons, inciting violence and participating in killing of 21 Christians in Libya in 2015. The court ordered that all convicts, except those sentenced to death, remain under police surveillance for five years after serving their sentences, local media reports said. The sentencing came a day after the deadliest terrorist attack on worshippers at a mosque in Egypt's restive North Sinai region. The death toll in the attack today rose to 305. The Egyptian security forces, meanwhile, have continued their air strikes against terrorists involved in the attack. Army spokesperson Tamer el-Refai said in a statement that the Air Force destroyed a number of terrorists hideouts and the Army was conducting raids to eliminate terrorists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A herd of seven elephants has damaged standing paddy crop in a number of villages in Gajapati district of Odisha. Forest officials have been asked to assess the loss of the affected farmers, Gajapati district collector Sudhansu Mohan Samal said. The herd strayed into the villages under Goshani block near Paralakhemundi yesterday and it might have migrated from Lakhari elephant reserve via Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, Divisional Forest Officer, Berhampur, A K Behera, who is also the in-charge of Paralakhemundi Forest Divicion said. The jumbos did not cause any loss to life, he said. "The farmers will be compensated in accordance with government provision," the district collector said. The DFO said forest personnel were keeping a strict vigil on the movement of the herd, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A French court has sentenced a man who wounded a photographer in a shooting in 2013 to 25 years behind bars, in a case that predated the string of jihadist attacks that has since struck the country. Abdelhakim Dekhar, now 52, was arrested in November 2013 following a major manhunt after he broke into the headquarters of the BFMTV channel. There, he threatened journalist Philippe Antoine with a shotgun, and said: "Next time, I won't miss." Three days later, still on the run, he managed to stage a shooting attack at the offices of left-wing newspaper Liberation, also in Paris, that left a photographer's assistant seriously hurt. There was also a separate incident where shots were fired at the headquarters of the Societe Generale bank. The court found him guilty of attempted murder of Philippe Antoine, now chief editor at BFMTV, and Cesar Sebastien, the wounded photographer's assistant at Liberation. Prosecutor Bernard Farret had argued that "spite" had been Dekhar's main motive, adding that the shooter harboured "resentment against society, the state and capitalism". Dekhar, sentenced yesterday, was considering filing an appeal, his lawyer Hugo Levy said. Of the total, Dekhar will only be eligible for parole once he has served two thirds of his sentence. During his trial, Dekhar repeatedly evoked political arguments, raising topics such as France's colonisation of Algeria and social problems in the French suburbs. He had also claimed he was suicidal and "desperate" for the police to end his life. Dekhar had been jailed in the 1990s for his role in a "Bonnie-and-Clyde" style multiple murder and left rambling letters denouncing conspiracies and media manipulation. The case predated the January 2015 jihadist attack on the premises of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which left 12 people dead. On November 13 that year, gunmen and suicide bombers left 130 people dead in a coordinated attack targeting several Paris locations including a concert hall. The attacks profoundly shook France, triggering a state of emergency that was lifted only this month after President Emmanuel Macron signed a controversial new anti-terror law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) French President Emmanuel Macron named a Socialist lawmaker to a top budget post as part of a cabinet shuffle unveiled today, following grumblings from leftists who accuse his centrist government of favouring the rich. The moves were prompted by the nomination of Macron's ultra-loyal government spokesman, Christophe Castaner, as head of his Republic on the Move (LREM) party last Saturday. Olivier Dussopt, a 39-year-old specialist in regional affairs, will become junior minister in the public accounts ministry led by Gerard Darmanin. Dussopt -- who voted against Macron's 2018 budget in a National Assembly vote just a few days ago -- will oversee finances for France's public sector, which Macron has vowed to pare down. The budget puts a freeze on major infrastructure projects, while nearly 1,600 civil service jobs are to be axed. Dussopt's nomination did not go over well with his leftist colleagues, with one party official, Rachid Temal, telling AFP that "He is no longer a Socialist Party member." Another new arrival in the government is Delphine Geny- Stephann, 49, who had been a high-ranking finance ministry official until 2005, when she joined the French glass and building materials group Saint-Gobain. She was named junior finance minister. Her boss Bruno Le Maire said this week that Macron was "totally determined" to bring France's deficit below the EU limit of three percent of GDP this year. Benjamin Griveaux, the junior finance minister who was the spokesman for Macron's En Marche (On the Move) movement before he was swept to the presidency in May, will become the government's spokesman. Macron has been moving to rekindle the support of his base after passing labour overhauls and tax cuts that trade unionists and even his leftwing supporters say favour businesses and the wealthy. Last Saturday, hundreds of protesters marched to Macron's official residence in Paris to denounce what they called his "anti-social policies". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Georgian leaders have vowed to punish those responsible for a blaze that killed 11 people at a five-star hotel in Georgia's Black Sea resort city of Batumi. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who was returning yesterday to the Georgian capital Tbilisi from a summit with EU leaders in Brussels, diverted his plane to Batumi upon learning of the fire at the posh 22-storey Leogrand hotel. He pledged a prompt investigation into the cause of the blaze. "All those responsible for this tragedy will be punished," he said late yesterday. Officials today revised down the death toll after initially putting it at 12 people. "Eleven people died as a result of the fire" in Georgia's second-largest city of Batumi late Friday, the Caucasus nation's interior ministry said in a statement. The victims -- 10 Georgians and an Iranian -- all died of smoke inhalation, the interior ministry said. Twenty one people were hospitalised, mostly with carbon monoxide poisoning, and were in a stable condition, it added. Five Turkish nationals and an Israeli were among those injured, regional health minister Zaal Mikeladze said. The bodies of eight of the victims -- all of them men -- were found in an elevator, another body in a swimming pool and two more in a gym, Georgia's Interpress agency reported, citing the victims' relatives. "It took just minutes for the smoke to fill the entire hotel," one of the hotel guests, Kakha Mikiashvili, told journalists. "The electricity went off and all the doors were automatically blocked. We were trying in vain to break windows to get some fresh air," he was reported as saying. "Firefighters arrived in a few minutes and we were saved." Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili offered his condolences to the victims' families. Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia told journalists that an investigation had been launched into the "breach of fire safety norms" in the hotel which reportedly lacked a fire escape staircase. Seventeen fire engines, 120 firefighters, and 200 rescue workers were sent at the site, Gakharia added. Twenty participants of the Miss Georgia beauty contest were staying at the hotel when the fire erupted, said Ia Kitsmarishvili, head of a model agency that sought to organise the event. "None of them has been injured, they have all been evacuated on time," she said in televised remarks. The contest, which had been due to be held in Batumi today, was postponed, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa government has decided to formulate a heritage conservation policy for the Portuguese- era structures in the state. Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai said today the policy would be framed after consulting experts in the field. He said the policy would not only document the existing heritage structures but will also work to give them a new lease of life. The minister informed that the Department of Archives and Archaeology could also be roped in to restore the dilapidated structures if they are covered under the policy. "Incentives would be introduced for those who have conserved their ancestral structures with heritage and architectural value," he said. He said the state-based Charles Correa Foundation, which has been working towards heritage conservation, has been requested by the government to document and list heritage buildings across Goa. "The structures would be graded by the Foundation. They had started grading the heritage houses in Panaji much before we approached them. We have now asked them to extend scope of their work to other places too," Sardesai said. The coastal state has several hundred houses with the Indo-Portuguese architecture built during the colonial rule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has announced the post-GST rates for claiming rebate of state taxes under the scheme for Remission of State Levies (RoSL) on exports of readymade garments and made-ups, in a bid to support the outward shipments. The government has also doubled the rates for incentives under an export promotion scheme -- MEIS -- to 4 per cent for readymade garments and made-ups. In a series of tweets, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said post-GST rates for remission of state levies/taxes and Enhanced Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) rates will boost exports of garments and made-ups. Garment exporters' body AEPC said the increase in MEIS rates will help in the fulfilment of orders for the Christmas festival as it will help in unblocking the blocked capital. In a release, the textiles ministry said post-GST rates of RoSL are up to a maximum of 1.70 per cent for cotton garments, 1.25 per cent for MMF, silk and woolen garments and 1.48 per cent for apparel of blends. The ministry said the notification of post-GST RoSL rates for rebate of state levies/taxes is in pursuance of the decision of the government to boost exports and employment generation in the labour intensive textiles and apparel sector. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has enhanced rates for garments and made-ups to 4 per cent of value of exports from 2 per cent under MEIS. New MEIS rates are effective from November 1. "Announcement on post-GST rates of RoSL will be effective from 1 Oct 2017. Post-GST rates for remission of state levies/taxes will boost exports of garments & made-ups," Irani tweeted. In another tweet, the minister said the enhanced MEIS rates will further boost exports of garments and made-ups from India. Under the MEIS scheme, the commerce ministry gives duty benefits to several products. It provides duty benefits at 2 per cent, 3 per cent and 5 per cent depending upon the product and country. The DGFT said the rates for incentives under MEIS for two subsectors of textiles industry -- readymade garments and made-ups -- have been enhanced to 4 per cent of value of exports with effect from November 1 till June 30 next year. As a result, the estimated annual incentives will be Rs 1,143.15 crore for 2017-18 and Rs 685.89 crore for 2018-19, the commerce ministry said in a statement. Commenting on the measures, H K L Magu, Vice Chairman of AEPC, said the garment exporters' body has been demanding the increase in rates of MEIS along with RoSL and duty drawback from a long time. "We are also hopeful that the government will intervene and address the issue of restoration of the old duty drawback rates as the sharp reduction in the rates of duty drawback has dealt a huge blow on the competitiveness of the industry," he said. Ready made garment exports dipped by about 40 per cent to USD 829.44 million in October. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police have registered a case against a government officer for allegedly embezzling funds meant for salaries of health department employees in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said today. A special team has been constituted to investigate the case and bring the culprits to book, they said. The officials said that a junior assistant, posted with the chief medical officer's (CMO) office, was entrusted with the assignment of preparing and processing salaries of employees in the health department. However, the official allegedly for "ulterior motives" and "committing a criminal breach of trust" forged various signatures and diverted salaries of two months of several employees to his personal accounts, they said. "The police have detected both the personal accounts of the employee at the Jammu and Kashmir Bank's Bhalla Bhaderwah Branch," the officials said. The bank manager concerned was directed to freeze the accounts and efforts are being made to arrest him, they said. "A case under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code, including criminal breach of trust by a public servant, cheating and forgery was registered at the police station concerned," the officials said. The police suspect the involvement of some senior level officers in the alleged embezzlement of funds, they said. The officials said that the CMO's office has been asked to provide all relevant records pertaining to the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unhappy over the BJP nominating his daughter-in-law instead of his wife from the Kaalol Assembly seat in Gujarat, party MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan has warned that he would not guarantee a win for the party, if the candidate is not replaced with someone of his choice. The BJP yesterday released its fifth list of 13 candidates for the second phase of Assembly polls in Gujarat. In the list, the ruling party dropped sitting MLA Arvindsinh Chauhan and instead fielded his wife Suman Chauhan, the daughter-in-law of Prabhatsinh Chauhan, from the Kaalol seat in Panchmahal district. Enraged over the announcement, Prabhatsinh Chauhan dashed off a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah yesterday, urging him to replace Suman Chauhan with a "local candidate". Although, in the letter he did not clearly demand that his wife Rangeshwari be given the party ticket, recently he had told reporters that she was the best candidate for the Kaalol seat. While Rangeshwari is the president of Ghoghamba taluka panchayat of Panchamahal district, Suman Chauhan is a member of Panchmahal district panchayat. In the letter, the parliamentarian also alleged that his son Pravinsinh is a "bootlegger" and that he and his wife had even gone to jail. "My son Pravin is a bootlegger and several cases are still pending against him. Both he and his wife Suman even went to jail in the past. This will dent the BJP's prospects of winning the seat. Further, Suman belongs to Godhra and people of Kaalol will not accept her," Chauhan said in the letter. "Though I am senior, having spent 45 years in public life, the party has not taken my opinion while selecting the candidates. I was also not taken into confidence while selecting the candidate for Kaalol. Thus, I urge you to consider changing the current candidate with a local one of my choice," he added. Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a prominent Rajput face in the region, who had joined the BJP in 1992, claimed that though he had single-handedly established the BJP's dominance in that district over the years, he has been ignored by the party and not given any post in the organisation. Chauhan stressed that the BJP would not get even a single vote from tribals. While his wife Rangeshwari is a tribal, Suman Chauhan is a Rajput. "The BJP will not get a single vote, out of the 1.10 lakh votes of tribals due to this ongoing controversy. There are huge chances that we will lose Kaalol. Thus, I want to inform you that I will not take any responsibility of ensuring the party's victory on any of the seven seats under my constituency including Kaalol," Chauhan said in the letter. Three days ago, Chauhan said that he had sought ticket for his wife on the ground that she had done "very good work" as Ghoghamba taluka panchayat president. "Just go to Ghoghamba to see what kind of work she has done. She has completely uprooted corruption. Rangeshwari is the best candidate and that is why I have appealed to the party leaders to select her for Kaalol seat," Chauhan told reporters. Yesterday, when Rangeshwari came to know that she has been ignored in ticket allocation, she targeted her husband in a fiery Facebook post, in which she even dared him to enter Kaalol for poll campaign. However, she deleted the post today. "I had posted that comment out of anger and disappointment. That was not against the BJP, it was against the Member of Parliament. But now, I have entered into a compromise with him over the issue," Rangeshwari told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed today "postponed" a scheduled press conference he had called to respond to the demand by the US for his re-arrest after he was released from detention by Pakistan earlier this week. A spokesman of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), an LeT front Saeed heads, said he had "postponed his scheduled presser following riots in the country in the wake of police action against the activists of Tahreek-i-Labaik Pakistan in Islamabad." Saeed, who has an American bounty of USD 10 million on his head, walked free on Thursday midnight after his 10-month detention ended. The Pakistan government decided against detaining him further in any other case, pushing back against India's efforts to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to justice. In May 2008, the US treasury department designated Saeed a global terrorist. Saeed was "individually" designated by the UN under the Security Council Resolution 1267 in December, 2008, following the Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including Americans, were killed. Yesterday, the US had asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. "The US is deeply concerned that Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed has been released from house arrest in Pakistan... The Pakistani government should make sure he is arrested and charged for his crimes," state department spokesperson Heather Nauert said. It was rare for the US government to issue a statement during the Thanksgiving holidays but the State Department felt that the issue was urgent enough to ignore this tradition. The JuD spokesman, Ahmad Nadim, said Saeed had calledthe press conference at the outfit's headquarters in Lahoreto speak on the "Indian propaganda" against him and the US demand to re-arrest him. "However, the current situation forced him to defer it," he added. Nearly 2,000 activists of several organisations, including Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, have been protesting near the national capital Islamabad since November 8. They demand the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for changes made to the 'Khatm-i-Nabuwwat', or the finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. Saeed has asked Pakistan to desist from holding peace talks with India. He has reiterated that the US pressured Pakistan to detain him on India's request. "...I was detained on the pressure of the US on the Pakistani government. The US did so on the request of India," he claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior Hindu seer today said Hindus must bear at least four children till the Uniform Civil Code is implemented to check "demographic imbalance". Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj of Bharat Mata Mandirin Haridwar said the two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone, noting that India had lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. He was speaking to reporters on the second day of the three-day Dharma Sansad organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in the temple town of Udupi of coastal Karnataka. The Swami said the government was insisting on a maximum of two children, but till the time the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, Hindus should have at least four children.India lost many of its territories wherever Hindu population reduces, he said. "We have seen that India lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. The two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone." On cow-vigilantism, the seer said some criminals were settling personal scores under the guise of 'Gau Rakshaks'. "Gau Rakshaks are peace loving people. They havebeen defamed by some vested interests. Some criminals aresettling scores under the guise of Gau Rakshaks," said GirijiMaharaj. The mega religious event is being attended by over 2,000 Hindu seers, matt heads and VHP leaders from all over the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here in Chhattisgarh has found a private hospital guilty of "medical negligence". The forum has ordered the hospital to pay a compensation of Rs 7.14 lakh to the relatives of Chandrakant Sahu, who died during treatment. Sahu, a lawyer by profession, died on July 19 during treatment at the Fortis OP Jindal Hospital and Research Centre here. His father Rohit Kumar Sahu had alleged negligence on the doctors' part, and moved the district consumer forum demanding a compensation of Rs 19 lakh, said his lawyer D K Jaiswal. District Forum President M D Jagdalla issued the compensation order yesterday, he said. Chandrakant Sahu was suffering from kidney ailments and underwent dialysis three times a week at the Fortis OP Jindal Hospital and Research Centre, he said. On July 18, his condition turned critical while undergoing dialysis. When his relatives asked the dialysis operator to call senior doctors, he allegedly refused, saying they visit only as per their schedule. Subsequently Sahu died. During the hearing, advocate Kishore Thawait, who appeared for the hospital, argued that the standard procedure of treatment was followed and there was no negligence. The consumer forum, however, held that there was negligence and asked the hospital management to pay of Rs 7.14 lakh, including Rs 1 lakh for mental agony, to the victim's kin, Jaiswal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flies can be more than pesky picnic crashers, they carry hundreds of different species of harmful bacteria and may help to spread disease, a study warns. Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University in the US have warned the public to avoid eating food during picnics. In a study of the microbiomes of 116 houseflies and blowflies, they found that these flies carry hundreds of different species of bacteria, many of which are harmful to humans. "We believe that this may show a mechanism for pathogen transmission that has been overlooked by public health officials, and flies may contribute to the rapid transmission of pathogens in outbreak situations," said Donald Bryant, from the Pennsylvania State University. The researchers were able to investigate the microbial content of individual fly body parts, including legs and wings. The legs appear to transfer most of the microbial organisms from one surface to another, said Stephan Schuster, from the Pennsylvania State University. "The legs and wings show the highest microbial diversity in the fly body, suggesting that bacteria use the flies as airborne shuttles," said Schuster. "It may be that bacteria survive their journey, growing and spreading on a new surface. In fact, the study shows that each step of hundreds that a fly has taken leaves behind a microbial colony track, if the new surface supports bacterial growth," he said. Blowflies and houseflies - both carrion fly species - are often exposed to unhygienic matter because they use feces and decaying organic matter to nurture their young, where they could pick up bacteria that could act as pathogens to humans, plants and animals. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, also indicates that blowflies and houseflies share over 50 per cent of their microbiome, a mixture of host-related microorganisms and those acquired from the environments they inhabit. Surprisingly, flies collected from stables carried fewer pathogens than those collected from urban environments. The researchers found 15 instances of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori, a pathogen often causing ulcers in the human gut, largely in the blowfly samples. The known route of transmission of Helicobacter has never considered flies as a possible vector for the disease, said Schuster. "It will really make you think twice about eating that potato salad that's been sitting out at your next picnic," Bryant said. "It might be better to have that picnic in the woods, far away from urban environments, not a central park," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana government today launched a monthly pension scheme for Matrabhasha Satyagraihis at a programme in Kurukshetra district. In the scheme's first phase, as many as 194 beneficiaries have been identified, an official release said here. The event, organised as part of the International Gita Mahotsav, was attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, governors Kaptan Singh Solanki and Acharya Devvrat, and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, it said. They presented cheques of Rs 10,000 each to eight beneficiaries as pension for November at the event, the release said. The pension scheme has been started by the state government for those who participated in the Hindi movement in 1957, Khattar said He said the movement was neither for any individual benefit nor political mileage, but to revive the honour of the language. This historical movement started on April 30, 1957, and continued till December 27, 1957. Sumer Singh of Rohtak district's Bans village laid down his life for the movement, Khattar added. The chief minister said that he had announced the scheme for Matrabhasha Satyagarihis during the closing ceremony of the Swarna Jayanti Year celebration of Haryana on October 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The note ban in 2016, introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and anti-dumping structure have resulted in a decline in import of Chinese tyres, the chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association said. "Now you can say the Chinese imports have become less than half. During the demonetisation month (November 2016), it dropped by 20 per cent. GST coupled with anti-dumping duty, it has started to sink further," ATMA chairman Satish Sharma told reporters here today. Noting that import of Chinese tyres has started to 'decline', he said, "the imports of Chinese tyres stood at 1,50,000 units in May 2016. Today it is 50,000 units and still going down." Tyre dealers have become "confident" of not purchasing Chinese tyres as their "profitability" has also crashed, he said. To a query on the growth of the tyre industry, he said it was pegged at "high single" digit during the current financial year and would be "high double digit" in FY18-19. "My guess is that the industry this year would see a high single digit (growth) and then it should be in the double digit (as turnover)," he said. Referring to the recent interaction of ATMA's top office-bearers with Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, he said the Minister assured to take care of which can be done and also asked them to discuss again in "board rooms" the difficulties. "There have been restrictive trade practices which actually spoilt the case even further. They restricted the imports (raw materials) to a few ports. You can bring in through JNPT only. So we expect these things can be taken care of," he said. He said India signing free trade agreements would also give support to the industry. Stating that India was not producing radial tyres when the world was looking for radial tyres a decade ago, Sharma said, "now we are producing radial tyres, we are re-entering the world market and the world has taken note of this". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli media reports that the country's health minister, who heads a powerful ultra-Orthodox political party in Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, is resigning over railway infrastructure work taking place on the Sabbath, when all labour is prohibited according to Jewish law. Channel 10 TV and other media reported today that Yaakov Litzman told the prime minister he will step down on Sunday over the issue. It could spell trouble for Netanyahu if other Ultra- Orthodox Jewish politicians follow Litzman's lead. Ultra-Orthodox parties offer Netanyahu support to stabilize his coalition, while the government carves out large budgets for their community's schools and seminaries. Much of Israel comes to a halt at sundown Friday for the Sabbath. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people, including a daily wager of a state-owned company, were arrested for "misappropriation of government-supplied cement" in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, an official said today. They were arrested after a police team intercepted a truck at the Bharat Nala area on the Doda-Bharat road last night. Sixty bags of cement were also seized from the vehicle, a police spokesman said. The arrests were made after the police received information that some employees of the state-owned Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) Limited were involved in "misappropriation of government-supplied cement", he said. The police has registered a case under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code, including criminal breach of trust, against the daily wager Zafrullah Shah and the truck's driver Rayees Ahmad, the spokesman said. The matter is being probed, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the state would be free from the menace of naxalism by the beginning of next year. He was speaking at the India Today Conclave East here. For any state to prosper, peace is the most important thing and any government's priority is to provide security to its masses, the chief minister said. "In last three years we have taken steps in this regard. More than 70 per cent of naxalism has ended in Jharkhand. The remaining 30 per cent will come to an end by the end of December," Das said. "There are some naxal leaders who are hiding in Buda Pahar. Our police personnel have been countering them and I have full faith on the police that by December end, we will be able to complete the operation and put an end on naxalite terror. From the beginning of 2018 the state will be free from (naxal) insurgency and crime," he said. Das said that several Maoists have surrendered after the state introduced an attractive surrender policy. "We have also cracked on naxal sympathisers in our villages and our cities by attaching their properties," the Jharkhand chief minister said. Das said he is confident about the victory of the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat elections as the people of that state have made up their mind to give a befitting reply to the Congress. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The JD(U) and the BJP are "natural" allies and the two parties will fight the 2019 polls together, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said. "When the time comes, we will sit together and divide the seats. We will fight together and Narendra Modi will be again the prime minister in 2019," he said at the India Today Conclave East here last night. He was replying to a question on whether the BJP might not feel the need for JD(U)'s support in the elections in 2019. The BJP in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Hindustani Awam Party accounts for 32 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. "Alliance is a give and take. When both the partners feel they will benefit from it then only it will work. We will fight together with Nitish Kumar-led JD (U) in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," he said. His remarks assume significance as there were some discordant voices from leaders of both the parties on seat sharing for the next general elections earlier. After a meeting with MPs from Bihar, BJP chief Amit Shah had asked partymen to strengthen it down to the booth level in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The JD(U) also appealed to its workers to brace for contest on all the 40 seats. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and other opposition parties leaders had used the occasion to attack Nitish Kumar, claiming that he was marginalised by the saffron party to avenge an incident in 2010 when he had cancelled a dinner for BJP leaders over a tiff with Narendra Modi, the then chief minister of Gujarat. "The JD(U) and the BJP are made for each other," said. "Nitish Kumar has been our partner for 17 years and again the JD(U) and the BJP have come together, it is a natural alliance," said the senior BJP leader, who also served as the deputy chief minister in the earlier NDA government. The JD(U) had severe ties with the BJP in June 2013 over elevation of Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. After collapse of an alliance comprising the JD(U), the RJD and the Congress in July this year, Nitish Kumar and the BJP once again joined hands after four years to form a coalition in the politically sensitive state. Sushil Modi's allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family of acquiring benami properties had played an important role in the disintegration of the alliance comprising the JD (U), the Congress and the RJD. When the JD(U) and the BJP coalition was sworn in again on July 27 this year, was made the deputy chief minister. The senior BJP leader dismissed speculation that a seat- sharing adjustment, in which the JD(U) would also be accommodated, might upset the sitting BJP MPs if they were denied tickets. "What is the guarantee that every MP will get party ticket a second time? And what will they do by getting upset. If people make up their mind then it hardly matters who is getting ticket or not," said. Sushil Modi accused Lalu Prasad of being "chaotic, disorganised and an irresponsible man". "No gentleman can work with a person like Lalu Prasad. An unnatural alliance (of the JD(U), RJD and Congress) died a natural death. The day Nitish Kumar left the NDA, I knew this alliance (with the RJD) would not work but, I never thought it would break so soon," he claimed. Two more Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel were arrested in connection with the killing of journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmick at the para-military force's 2nd battalion headquarters here, the police said today. Nayek Amit Debbarma and Rifleman Dharmendra Kumar Singh were arrested last night on the charge of criminal conspiracy for killing journalist Datta Bhowmick at the battalion's headquarters in R K Nagar, DIG (Southern Range) Arindam Nath told PTI. They were produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sharmishtha Mukherjee and remanded to police custody for seven days. Datta Bhowmick, a senior crime reporter of local Bengali newspaper 'Syandan Patrika', was allegedly shot dead on Tuesday inside the battalion's headquarters, around 15 km from here, when he had gone there to meet TSR commandant Tapan Debbarma, who was arrested on Wednesday. The journalist's mobile phone was recovered from the possession of the commandant. Tapan Debbarma's personal bodyguard Nandalal Reang was arrested on Tuesday after the killing. Editor of 'Syandan Patrika' Subal Kumar Dey had yesterday alleged that Dutta Bhowmik, who had written 11 items about the Tapan Debbarma's misdeeds, was called by the commandant and shot inside the battalion's headquarters. Tripura Journalist Union (TJU) secretary Pranab Sarkar had said that the Press Council of India (PCI) had taken cognisance of the killing. Datta Bhowmik is the second journalist to have been killed in the state in two months. In September, TV journalist Shantanu Bhowmick was killed when he had gone to Mandai in West Tripura district, about 20 km from here, to cover a political event organised by the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DCW has written to the police after parents of the children, who were rescued last week from traffickers, approached it alleging that they were receiving death and rape threats from the son of a placement agency owner who had been arrested during the raids. A senior Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) official said that the women's panel received representations from the parents of the children. "They have stated that the son of the arrested owner managed to reach the place where they are staying in Delhi and asked them to withdraw the case, threatening them with rape and murder. "They also threatened to rape the girls who have not been traced till date and whose whereabouts are not being disclosed by the accused woman," the official said. The Commission was informed that when the premises of the said placement agency was raided by the police, several items were not seized, including many unlocked almirahs and a laptop. Taking cognizance of the same, the Commission has written to the DCP East seeking explanation for the same, the official said. Last week, the Commission claimed to have busted an alleged trafficking racket in East Delhi and rescued three minors with the help of police. A statement by the DCW said the Commission's helpline received a call from a group of parents from Jharkhand who were searching for their children missing since three years. The parents were accompanied by a minor girl who was trafficked along with other children earlier but had managed to flee. The girl said she was getting calls from an alleged woman trafficker, who ran a placement agency in East Delhi, and was luring her to return to the national capital. The girl was earlier working in Bangalore where she was not paid for over two years, it said. After receiving this information, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal set up a team and a trap was laid. The alleged trafficker was called to meet the girl at Akshardham metro station. When the woman and her accomplice met the girl, they tried to take her with them and were caught with the help of local police. During interrogation, details emerged about two minor girls. They were subsequently rescued by the women's panel and local police. The girls aged 12 and 13 years were rescued from Janakpuri and Pitampura. The younger girl is suspected to be pregnant. Separate FIRs were filed against the employers in these two cases. A minor boy was also rescued from Haryana's Hisar. The commission learnt that the arrested placement agency owner and the alleged trafficker were running the racket for a very long time and earlier too, several minors were rescued and many cases were filed against them. The minors were not paid for their work for years and on the papers seized their monthly salaries were fixed between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500. They were not allowed to go out of their employers' houses or contact their parents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After Mumbai, the country's next major financial hub will be Kolkata within a few years, West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra said today. "27 banks are taking land in Bengal to create a financial hub including State Bank of India which is constructing the largest training centre on 11 acres adjacent to the hub," the minister told reporters here. "This is an indication, that they see Bengal as a financial hub. Not only that, HSBC back office is in Kolkata today. Obviously we are moving towards competing with Mumbai. Some day because of our core competency of human capital, we will overtake Mumbai," he said. Mitra claimed that the financial cluster that is coming up in Kolkata for various activities like banking, insurance, mutual funds and is spread over more than 100 acres of land is a "unique" example of how West Bengal is progressing. The minister, who was in Delhi on West Bengal Day at the International Trade Fair, also claimed than 81 lakh people in the state have been provided jobs since it came to power in 2011. Mitra said that the industrialists now feel that Bengal is the state to invest. "As far as ease of doing business is concerned, earlier Bengal was in 15th position among the states. But now we have gone up to third position," he noted. Regarding of launching Goods and Service Tax (GST), Mitra said he had always objected to the decision of the Centre to implement it from July 1. He said that though his government always favours reduction of GST, "but it should have been done based on certain principles". "28 per cent GST should have been made for sin goods like tobacco and other extreme luxury items and rest should have been under 18 per cent which could have been further reduced to 12 per cent," Mitra added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI today filed charge sheet against eight police personnel, including an IG rank officer, in connection with the custodial death of an accused in the rape-and-murder case of a minor in Kotkhai on July 4. These police officers were a part of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was set up to probe the rape and murder of the girl. They were arrested by the CBI on July 29 in connection with the custodial death of Suraj Singh, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal. In the 500-page charge sheet, filed in the the designated CBI court here, the accused have been charged with murder, conspiracy, wrongful confinement to extort confession, causing grievous hurt, framing incorrect record and destroying evidence, CBI sources said. Judge Rajinder Singh extended the judicial remand of the eight police officials and Superintendent of Police D W Negi, arrested on November 16 by the central probe agency, till December 7. Challan against D W Negi is yet to be presented. Suraj Singh, who was a suspect in the rape-and-murder of a minor school girl in Kotkhai area of Shimla in early July, was among six people arrested by the local police. He was allegedly killed by a co-accused at the Kotkhai police station on the night of July 18, triggering a massive public outrage. The CBI, which was later handed over the probe into the case by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, questioned several people before arresting IGP Zahur Haidar Zaidi and seven other police officials. The Class 10 student had gone missing on July 4 and her naked body was recovered from Haliala forests in Kotkhai on July 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today approached the Centre over the LDF government's decision to redraw the boundaries of the Neelakurinji sanctuary in Idukki district and alleged that it was "illegal" and an attempt to "legalise encroachments." Neelakurinji is a purplish blue flower which blooms only once in 12 years and the blossoming attracts a large number of tourists and nature enthusiasts from Kerala and outside. The 'Neelakurinji sanctuary' is proposed over 3,200 hectare land in Munnar of Idukki which is part of the biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats. A preliminary notification for the same was issued in 2006 by the LDF government but it is yet to become a reality due to resistance from locals. State BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan today met Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi and apprised him of the issue, a party release said here today. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests would soon convene a high-level meeting to discuss the matter, Rajasekharan said in the release. "The Centre will intervene in the state government's move to redraw the boundaries of the sanctuary. Senior officials of the Environment and Forest Department will take part in the meeting," he said. Claiming that any move to redraw the boundaries of the sanctuary was "illegal" and an attempt to "legalise encroachments," Rajasekharan alleged that there was also an ulterior motive to assign lands to the favourites of Chief Minister Pinarayi Viajayan. As per the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the state government cannot redraw the boundaries of a national wildlife sanctuary as the permission of the National Biodiversity Board is necessary for it, he claimed. The state BJP president also sought a CBI probe into the land deals related to the Neelakurinji sanctuary. The CPI(M)-led LDF government had recently decided to conduct a scientific study on the proposed sanctuary and redraw its boundaries to alleviate fears of locals. A high-level meeting, chaired by Vijayan, had entrusted Revenue Secretary P H Kurien with the task of carrying out a study on the status of populated areas, institutions and places of worship falling within the territory of the proposed sanctuary. He was also asked to submit recommendations on fixing the boundaries without shifting the people from the area. Besides the BJP, the Congress had also come out against the government's plan to re-fix the boundaries. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the move was part of the LDF government's plans to protect the encroachment by CPI(M) leaders in the hilly district. The redrawing of boundaries would destroy the biodiversity of neelakurinji, the leader added. The ruling LDF front partners, the CPI(M) and the CPIhad difference of opinion over the shifting of local people from the proposed sanctuary area. CPI leader and Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan had yesterday rejected Kurien's statement that the present plan to redraw the boundary would reduce the sanctuary area from the proposed 3,200 hectares. Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader from Idukki and Power Minister M M Mani said the government was committed to protect Neelakurinji but it would also consider the concerns of people in the area who have land title deeds. The government's move is being seen in the political circles as a fallout of the cancellation of title deeds of 20 acres of land possessed by LDF-backed Independent MP Joice George and his relatives at Kottakambur in Idukki that also forms part of the sanctuary. CPI(M) MLA from Devikulam in Idukki district, S Rajendran had also come out against Sub Collector V R Premkumar for cancelling the land title deeds of MP and family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala woman Hadiya, who has to depose before the Supreme Court on November 27 in an alleged 'love jihad' case, Sunday said she wanted to be with her husband, as she was whisked away by her parents and security personnel to board a flight to Delhi. Chaotic scenes prevailed as media persons, who tried to approach her, jostled with the policemen after she reached the airport in Nedumbassery amid tight security. "I am a Muslim. I was not forced. I want to be with my husband," the 25-year-old woman, wearing a headscarf, shouted as she was being taken inside the airport. Earlier, the woman, who converted to Islam and married a Muslim man Shafin Jahan, and her parents left from their house in a village near Vaikom in this district, accompanied by a police team which also comprised women personnel, for a two-hour long journey to the airport. The direction by the apex court for producing the woman for an interaction came amid an assertion by the Investigation Agency (NIA) that this was a case in which the woman was indoctrinated and she may be incapable of giving free consent to marriage. A Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, had asked senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing the father of the woman, to ensure she is produced before them to ascertain whether she had married of her own volition. The woman and her parents are likely to stay at Kerala House in New Delhi, sources said. The NIA, represented by Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, had said there was a well-oiled machinery working in Kerala that was indoctrinating and radicalising society in the state. As many as 89 cases of similar nature have been reported from the southern state, the ASG had said. Divan, appearing for woman's father K M Ashokan, claimed that Jahan was a radicalised man and several organisations like Popular Front of India were involved in radicalisation of society. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, counsel for Shafin Jahan, had opposed NIA's submission and that of the woman's father. Hadiya, a Hindu, had converted to Islam and later married Jahan. It was alleged that she was recruited by ISIS' mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge. Jahan had on September 20 approached the apex court seeking the recall of its August 16 order, directing the NIA to investigate the controversial case of conversion and marriage of a Hindu woman with him. Meanwhile, the Kerala government on October 7 told the Supreme Court that its police conducted a "thorough investigation" into her conversion and subsequent marriage to Jahan and did not find material warranting the transfer of probe to the Investigation Agency. Jahan had moved the Supreme Court after the Kerala high court annulled his marriage, saying it was an insult to the independence of women in the country. An armed squad of banned naxalite outfit CPI-Maoist attacked the base camp of an agency engaged in the construction of Jagdishpur-Haldia gas pipeline and set their many vehicles on fire in Bihar's Gaya district, police said today. The Maoists yesterday attacked the camp located at Darna village under Aamas police station of the district and indulged in arson in which many vehicles, including three trucks, were set on fire, Patna's Inspector General of Police (IGP) Naiyar Hussnain Khan said. "The ultras also beat up some staff of the agency," he said. The over 2,500 km gas pipeline from Jagdishpur in Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal will pass through Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha as well as the two states. Khan said he has asked Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) (Operations), Gaya, to camp at Aamas to carry out special operations against Maoists in the area. "City SP Gaya has been asked to submit a report on the incident," the IG said. "Besides, Aamas police station Station House Officer (SHO) has been suspended with immediate effect," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A municipal mayor in Mexico's violent eastern state of Veracruz was killed Friday, local authorities said, just four days after a mayor-elect was murdered in the same state. Victor Manuel Espinoza -- mayor of Ixhuatlan de Madero, located some 270 kilometers northeast of Mexico City -- "was killed with four others including his wife" in the attack, the state prosecutor's office said in a statement. Authorities did not provide details concerning a possible motive for the attack, which occurred yesterday night on a dirt road in a neighboring municipality near the state's capital Xalapa. The murders came days after a group of at least 30 armed men murdered Santana Cruz Bahena, mayor-elect of the municipality of Hidalgotitlan. That act was allegedly linked to a criminal gang that traffics stolen fuel. Three more mayors were assassinated in other Mexican states last month, while nearly 50 have been killed since 2003, according to figures from the National Association of Mayors. Violence in Veracruz has risen in 2017 compared to the year prior, with 1,382 murders documented from January to October -- a figure that already exceeds 2016's total 1,258 homicides. The state government ascribes the rise in violence to power struggles between crime gangs involved in drug smuggling, illegal immigration from Central America and the theft of fuel from pipelines. Around 190,000 people have been killed in Mexico since 2006, when the government launched a military campaign on the drugs cartels. The numbers do not show how many of the victims were linked to crime groups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The workers of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) today protested against Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam at a public meeting in suburban Ghatkopar. Nirupam and the MNS are at loggerheads since the Congress leader supported illegal hawkers against whom the Thackeray-led party launched an agitation after the Elphinstone Road stampede tragedy. Nirupam today addressed a meeting in Ghatkopar's Pant Nagar. He was in the area to meet slum dwellers whose houses are facing demolition. When he was getting down from the stage, some MNS workers shouted slogans against him. "Why is he (Nirupam) supporting illegal activities all the time? This time he came in support of slums which are illegal," said Sandeep Deshpande, an MNS leader. Nirupam, in a statement, claimed the slums were not illegal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A JetLite flight was delayed by about one-and-a-half hours today after its communication system developed a "technical" glitch just before its departure for Mumbai from the city. The JetLite flight S2 4166, scheduled to depart from the Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at 1720 hours here, left for Mumbai only at around 1845 after the airline engineers fixed the problem, a Nagpur airport official said. However, the number of passengers on-board the aircraft, a Boeing 737, could not be known. JetLite is a subsidiary of Jet Airways. Jet Airways confirmed the delay, saying it happened due to a "technical" reason. "The Boeing 737 aircraft system malfunctioned before it was to depart for Mumbai, forcing the airline to ground the flight. Subsequently, engineers were called in to fix the issue and make the aircraft airworthy," the official said. The Naresh Goyal-promoted private carrier Jet Airways has been facing frequent delays in its flight operations for quite some time now. A three-week-long protest over non-payment of salary hike dues by a group of the airline's pilots last month severely affected its punctuality. Later, the airline claimed of having the issue resolved. It performed poorly in terms of punctuality with nearly one-thirds of its flights failing to arrive or depart on time from four metro airports -- Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad -- in September. The airline's OTP (on time performance) was the worst from Mumbai (56.9 per cent) and Delhi (64.1 per cent), which account for most of its flights. Significantly, yesterday, Bollywood actress Sunny Leone and her husband, Daniel Weber, took to Twitter to complain about delays experienced on four Jet Airways flights this week. "Seriously, its crazy the amount of delays @jetairways is having everyday. Was on a plane all week and usually only with Jet (Airways) but everyday was delayed at least by 1 hour. Ruined my week of sleep (sic)! Something needs to be done," Leone wrote in a tweet. Weber posted that he received a call from the airline's customer care who sought to blame the airport for the delays. "Call from @jetairways this morning to me after a complaint about 4 flight delays this week -- sir, it is the airports fault , not the airlines, dont be mad at us !... Good response @jetairways," Weber wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the memory of martyrs of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack on its ninth anniversary, various events have been organised in the city tomorrow, including a 'Salutation Ceremony' by the city police. The Mumbai police have organised 'Salutation Ceremony' at Shahid Smarak (martyrs' memorial) at the Police Gymkhana at Marine Lines at 9.00 am tomorrow, said an official. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, DGP Satish Mathur, city police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar, ministers, senior bureaucrats, police officials and family members of martyrs would pay homage to those who were killed in the attack. Tributes would also be paid at the memorial of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale at Girgaum Chowpatty. It was at this spot that Ombale caught Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab alive while getting killed himself. Hundreds of people are also expected to offer tributes at the city landmarks targeted by Pakistani terrorists, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Taj Hotel at the Gateway of India, Cafe Leopold, Rang Bhavan Lane near Cama Hospital and St Xavier's College where then ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Inspector Vijay Salaskar were killed. Family members of martyrs will be felicitated at the Bombay Stock Exchange in the presence of chief minister Fadnavis, RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Union ministers Hansraj Ahir and Kiren Rijiju and Lt Gen Vishwambhar Singh, General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa. Seventeen jawans of the Border Security Force, who set out for Mumbai on November 14 on 'Martyrs' Ride', are expected to reach the Gateway of India tomorrow. On November 26, 2008 Mumbai was attacked by 10 terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. In the mayhem that followed for the next three days 164 people including 18 police officers and two NSG commandos were killed while 308 people were injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mahatma Gandhi's message that sanitation is more important than political independence was still relevant and showed the importance of the issue, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said here today. "Our tradition is unity in diversity. We are one nation, one people and one world. That should be our path. More than a century ago, Mahatma Gandhi had given a powerful message that sanitation is more important than political independence and that cleanliness is next to Godliness which are still relevant and show the importance of this issue. "Today, we need to protect this great 'sanskriti' (culture) of our country which is to serve and give to others before oneself -- his life was his message," Naidu said at the Gandhi Ashram here. Naidu was speaking at an event jointly organised by the Harijan Sevak Sangh, founded by Mahatma Gandhi, and the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance. A collective pledge for taking Mahatma Gandhi's vision for a clean India into mission mode was taken at the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today inaugurated archaeological excavation work at Lal Pahari near Jainagar in Bihar's Lakhisarai district. The excavation work will be carried out by Archaeological Survey of India under the banner of Bihar Virasat Vikas Samiti (BVVS) and Vishwa Bharti Vishwavidyalaya, West Bengal, a government release said. Academic documentation will be done of the items discovered in the excavation, the release said, and added that a MoU was recently signed between Bihar Virasat Vikas Samiti (BVVS) and Vishwa Bharti Vishwavidyalaya in this regard. Kumar also directed Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Department's principal secretary, Chaitanya Prasad and Lakhisarai District Magistrate to put in place better management for conservation of places of archaeological importance in the district. Lal Pahari has idols dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries installed at temples, besides a cave, archaeologist Anil Kumar said. Chaitanya Prasad added that a museum is likely to be constructed in Lakhisarai after identifying land for the purpose. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to improve credit guarantee for the micro, small and medium enterprises sector, the state will soon revive the Odisha State Financial Corporation (OSFC), MSME Minister Prafulla Samal said. Addressing a seminar on Initiatives to develop the sector at Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) here yesterday, Samal admitted that MSMEs were not getting the support it should from the banking system. "The MSME sector is not getting adequate support from banks. As a result, this vital sector, which provides substantial opportunity for employment, is gasping for financial support," the minister said. He also said the state government has constituted a committee to revive the OSFC, since it had a good track record of providing hand-holding support to entrepreneurs in the state. Taking into account the contribution of the MSME sector to the GDP, exports and employment generation, the Odisha government had formed a separate department for it, he said. "I will ensure more and more interaction with entrepreneurs in future to know their difficulties," he said. More efforts are being made to provide women entrepreneurs all necessary facilities to grow, Samal said. The state government, which is laying stress on skill development, has formed the Odisha Skill Development Authority, he said. A MoU has been signed with Singapore-based ITE Education Services (ITEES) for training of ITI instructors, Samal said. Steps will soon be taken to fill up all posts in district industrial centres that facilitate the process for setting up of new enterprises in the state, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Mohapatra, president of the UCCI, said finance is one of the major problems plaguing the sector in the state. The MSME space is responsible for about 40 per cent of the exports and 45 per cent of the total manufacturing output in the country, Mohapatra added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 1,200 people from Myanmar's restive Arakan state have crossed the border and taken shelter in neighbouring Mizoram's Lawngtlai district, officials said today. The people who crossed over yesterday are mostly Buddhists and Christians and speak the same tribal language as the locals. They fled their homes after the Myanmarese Army clashed with the 'Arakan Army' militants recently, they said. The government officials, on condition of anonymity, said 500 people took shelter in Laitlang village while Zochachhuah, Hmawngbuchhuah and Dumzautlang villages hosted 420, 200 and 120 people, respectively. "Several of them have put up at their relatives' place while the others were provided accommodation in village community halls and school classrooms," an official said. The official said that this is the fourth instance in recent months of Myanmarese people entering the state. Village leaders informed officials that the Arakanese people have said they heard gunshots even on Thursday night and expected more people to pour into the district. The locals volunteered to provide food to the Arakanese people and arranged shelter for them. As many as 1,240 people from Myanmar's restive Arakan state have crossed the border and taken shelter in neighbouring Mizoram's Lawngtlai district, officials said today. The people who crossed over yesterday were mostly Buddhists and Christians, and they speak the same tribal language as the locals. They fled their homes after the Myanmarese Army clashed with the 'Arakan Army' militants recently, they said. Deputy Commissioner, Lawngtlai district, Arun T told PTI over phone that elaborate security arrangements were in place and personnel from the Assam Rifles and state police were deployed in the area. The district administration has arranged food and medical supplies for the Arakanese, he said. The government officials, on condition of anonymity, said that 500 people took shelter in Laitlang village while Zochachhuah, Hmawngbuchhuah and Dumzautlang villages hosted 420, 200 and 120 people, respectively. "Several of them have put up at their relatives' place while the others were provided accommodation in village community halls and school classrooms," they said. This is the fourth instance in recent months of Myanmarese people entering the state, the officials said, adding that the Arakanese have claimed that they had heard firing on Thursday night. The locals volunteered to provide food to the Arakanese people and arranged shelter for them, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has justified the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, claiming that Islamabad was committed to the implementation of UNSC sanctions regime on terrorists. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder, who has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan yesterday. He is a UN and US designated terrorist. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Saeed's release confirmed once again the lack of seriousness by the Pakistan government in bringing to justice perpetrators of terrorism, including individuals and entities designated by the UN. "It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is visible for all to see," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi on Thursday. Responding to the comments made by the MEA, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan was committed to the implementation of UNSC 1267 sanctions regime and has taken several steps in this regard. "The (MEA) spokesperson took exception to self-serving insinuations," he said in statement issues late last night. Faisal said that courts in Pakistan, pursuant to their constitutional duty, were determined to uphold rule of law and due process for all citizens of Pakistan. Legal processes were anchored in rule of law, not dictates of politics and posturing, he said. "It is in the interest of all States to speak and act in a manner that is consistent with the imperatives of adhering to rule of law at the national and international levels," Faisal said. He said that Pakistan's resolve, actions and successes in the fight against terrorism, terrorist violence and terrorists are unmatched in the world. "Pakistan condemns and opposes all forms of terrorism by any individual or group," the FO spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif expressed deep anguish over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir and arrests of Kashmiri leaders, saying the intensified cordon and search operations are violative of the Kashmiris' dignity and the sanctity of their families. These operations are also designed to inflict collective punishment on the innocent and defenceless people, he said in a statement issued by the FO last night. "We will continue to steadfastly stand by them until the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people," Asid said. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. Saeed was individually designated by the UN under the Security Council Resolution 1267 in December, 2008. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him not to compromise while acting against corruption. Nobody will be spared if there is enough evidence, he said at the India Today Conclave East 2017. "There will be no discrimination ... Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked me not to compromise while acting against corruption," he said. "We (BJP government in Assam) had started acting against corruption from the first day ... No one will be spared if there is evidence. Even the CM will have to go behind bars if there is enough evidence," Sonowal said. His government has recognised the loopholes and weaknesses in the system and has tried to fix it, he said. Asked whether he is comfortable in working with Himanta Biswa Sarma, who joined the BJP in 2015 and is a minister in the state cabinet and is allegedly involved in the Louis Berger bribery scam, he said "We don't take action out of prejudice. It's impartial. If there is proof against someone, that person will be brought to book." The CBI has taken over the probe into the Louis Berger bribery scam in Assam on the orders of the Gauhati High Court, and registered an FIR. The US company had allegdly adopted illegal means for obtaining three water supply projects in Goa and Guwahati. Sonowal lauded the prime minister for focusing on the north east and said Modi is the first prime minister to consider all available resources in the region. Asked, the chief minister said there was no divide among communities in Assam. "We believe in Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas. We have four districts which share borders with Bangladesh and we are prioritizing growth in them. These are all Muslim majority areas. It is not about Hindu or Muslim, it is not about Assamese or Bengali. It is about everyone's growth and development. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind today attended the marriage ceremony of the daughter of Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria here. The President reached Ambala Cantt Airforce station here through a chartered plane this morning. Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ambala Municipal Corporation Mayor Ramesh Mal and senior officers of the Army and the Air Force were present to welcome him. Kovind went straight to a resort located on the Haryana- Punjab border near Ambala city to attend the marriage ceremony amid tight security. He later left for Kurukshetra, where he was to inaugurate the 'International Gita Mahotsav'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal claimed today that the hardline religious parties staging protest for than two weeks in Islamabad had "contacted India", and the government was investigating "why they did it". Iqbal did not give any details about his claim. In an interview to DawnNews, he said the hundreds of protesters gathered in the national capital were "not simple people". "We can see that they have various resources at their disposal. They have fired teargas shells [at security forces], they also cut the fibre-optic cables of cameras monitoring their protest," he told the network. Iqbal claimed that the protesters had also "contacted India". "Why they did it, we are looking into it. They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state." Nearly 2,000 activists of Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and other religious groups have been protesting in Islamabad since November 6, demanding law minister Zahid Hamid's resignation for changes made to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, or the finality of the prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. They have blocked the main roads connecting Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The Islamabad High Court yesterday asked Interior Minister Iqbal to explain by next week why he should not be charged with contempt for failing to act to end the protests. Today, a security official was killed and more than 150 others were injured in clashes after police and paramilitary forces launched an operation to disperse the protesters. "Our administration is acting on the court's orders and we are completely supporting them," Iqbal said. "We have made all peaceful efforts, but we are forced to act as the group has not budged. These people do not know that anti-Pakistan elements are using this to spread malice against Pakistan," he said. Iqbal also insisted that as Muslims "we all believe in" Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, and that the modification to the law has made it more effective than before. "The last thing Pakistan needs is the instigation of agitation using people's religious sentiment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poll-bound Gujarat today and alleged that the latter did not want the "truth" behind the multi-crore Rafale deal and Jay Shah issue to come out before the Assembly election in his home state. He also alleged that the NDA government was delaying the Winter Session of Parliament as Modi was not ready to discuss the Rafale and Jay Shah issues in the House before the Gujarat polls. "I would ask Modiji three questions (on the Rafale deal). First, is there a difference in the cost of planes in the first and the second contract (signed with a French firm) and did India pay more or less money as per the second contract? "And, has the industrialist (whose company has formed a joint venture with the French firm), who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?," he asked while addressing a public gathering here in Gandhinagar district. The Congress leader also sought to know if the due procedure was followed while inking the deal with France last year to procure the Rafale fighter jets. "And a more important question, did you follow the due government procedure? Why was the (then) defence minister seen catching fish in Goa? And, was an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security taken (for the mega-deal)?" he asked. Gandhi alleged that the prime minister was avoiding answering these questions due to the fear that the "truth" would come out before the crucial polls in his home state. "Narendra Modiji is not replying to these questions because he wants that the truth of Rafale and Jay Shah should not come before the public ahead of the Gujarat elections," he said. "Rafale is a matter related to the Indian Air Force, security, martyrs. Modiji will have to answer these questions before the people of the country and Gujarat," he said. The 47-year-old Amethi MP said while the media persons asked him a lot of questions, they did not do the same with the prime minister over the Rafale and Jay Shah issues. "Modiji will make many tours of Gujarat. Press reporters ask me various questions. Why don't you ask Modi about the Rafale deal and Jay Shah? The people should also ask Modiji about Rafale and Jay Shah when he comes to Gujarat," he said. The prime minister is scheduled to address a series of poll rallies in Gujarat in support of the BJP candidates next week. The 182-member Gujarat Assembly will go to the polls in two phases -- on December 9 and 14. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 18. "Generally, Parliament's (Winter) session is held every year in November and discussions (on crucial issues) take place in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. But, due to two reasons, Parliament is opening after the Gujarat polls this time. "First, (BJP chief) Amit Shah's son (Jay) converted Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in three months. Second, and a more important reason, is the Rafale deal. The entire procedure went on for the purchase of the planes and after all the discussions were over, Narendra Modi himself went to France to change the contract," he alleged. In September last year, India had inked an intergovernmental agreement with France for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The Congress had recently raised questions over the deal and accused the Modi-led BJP government of compromising on interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer. However, the BJP had rubbished the allegations. In an article published on news portal The Wire, it was alleged that the turnover of a company owned by Jay Shah grew exponentially from Rs 50,000 to Rs 8 crore after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014. Both Amit Shah and his son have denied any wrongdoing by the company. Jay Shah has filed a criminal defamation case against the news portal. The Chhattisgarh government has decided to take up water conservation works on a large scale in forest areas of the state, a senior official said today. Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda today gave the green signal to the Rs 250-crore plan while chairing a meeting of his department officials, he said. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) R K Tamta and other officials were present in the meeting. As per the plan, about 1,306 water conservation structures, including stop dams, canals, small ponds and waterholes, would be built at a cost of around Rs 250 crore in forest areas under the jurisdiction of the Van Prabhandan Samiti (forest management committees), he said. These structures will be constructed through several schemes, including the rural job scheme MNREGA and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), he added. In the first phase of the project, water conservation facilities will be developed in Raigarh forest division, under Bilaspur forest circle, which is currently facing an elephant menace, the official said. The water bodies will provide relief to elephants and stop them from straying outside the forests into villages and at the same time act as a source of irrigation for farmers, he said. The thick forested northern part of the state, comprising Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts, is known for human-elephantconflict. The region has witnessed several killings of tribals and widespread damage to houses and crops by rogue elephants in the past few years. According to forest officials, the forest area of the state is around 59,772 sq km, which is 44.21 per cent of the state's geographical area (1,35,191 sq km). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four girl students of a government higher secondary school here ended their lives by jumping into a well in a suicide pact after being allegedly chided by teachers for not being attentive in class, police said. The Class XI students of Panapakkam Government Higher Secondary School at the nearby Arakkonam town jumped into a farm well at Nangamangalam village yesterday. Fire and Rescue Services personnel fished out the bodies and sent them for autopsy to a government hospital last night. "Based on the preliminary inquiry, the headmistress and class teacher have been suspended," a district education official told reporters here today. The reason for the girls' suicide is yet to be ascertained, a top district police official said. "Four teams of police personnel are questioning the class students, teachers, and others and only after the conclusion of the enquiry would the cause of the suicide be known," he said. The official said no suicide note had been recovered. He said a preliminary enquiry revealed that 11 students were chided by teachers for not being attentive in class and were asked to bring their parents on November 24. "Yesterday, out of the 11 students, seven apologised and assured the teachers that they will be attentive. The other four students ended their lives," he told PTI. The seven girls who tendered apology too had not brought their parents, he added. Of the four girls who committed suicide, two came to school in the morning and left the premises immediately. They later joined the other two and all of them went to the farm in their bicycles. "Local people, including a cowherd, saw the girls going to the farm well," he said. Villagers alerted police and local officials after they spotted the abandoned bicycles near the farm well. Senior police officials and a district official placed wreaths on the bodies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The daughter of policeman Tukaram Ombale, who was killed while trying to capture terrorist Ajmal Kasab, says her family still awaits his return, nine years after the Mumbai terror attacks. "We feel papa will come home any moment, although deep in our heart we know that he will never be amongst us now," says a teary-eyed Vaishali Ombale, the eldest daughter of the Mumbai terror attacks hero. "We always think that Papa has gone out on duty and will return home. We have kept his belongings at the place they used to be in our home. Our family is proud of his supreme sacrifice," Vaishali Ombale, who has completed her M Ed (Masters in education) and aspires to be a lecturer, told PTI. Ombale, an assistant sub-inspector, was killed by Kasab's bullets in the early hours of November 27, 2008. In a daring act, he had pounced on Kasab without thinking much about the consequences. His bravery had made it possible for the police to overpower Kasab, the only 26/11 terrorist to be captured and hanged. "Not a day has gone by in the last nine years that we have not remembered him," said Vaishali Ombale, who stays at the Worli Police Camp with her mother Tara and sister Bharti, who is an officer in the state GST department. "For how long will police or armed forces personnel continue losing their lives in the name of supreme sacrifice," she asked. "This should stop somewhere. There should be a change in this scenario. Every citizen should always be alert and foil incidents in which we are losing our men," she said, ahead of the 26/11 attacks anniversary. Vaishali Ombale said citizens should know their responsibilities and must understand that when policemen or armed forces personnel get killed in the line of duty, it is not only the family's loss but also that of the country. "Satara district in Western Maharashtra from where my family hails has a long history of martyrs. Among the recent ones are CRPF head constable Ravindra Dhanawade, who was killed while fighting terrorists in Kashmir in August and Colonel Santosh Mahadik, who died while fighting terrorists in Kashmir in 2015. The list is unending, which disturbs me a lot," she said. "We treat every member of a martyr's family like our own family and we help them overcome the grief," she said. Vaishali Ombale gives tuitions to students from class 8th to junior college, which keeps her busy and makes her forget the pain of losing her father. On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived in Mumbai by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people on different locations, killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores. Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu today trained his gun on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for welcoming 'Padmavati' director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his team to her state, drawing an angry retort from the Trinamool Congress. Amu, who is up in arms against the release of the Hindi film, addressed a large gathering of the Rajput community in Bhondsi village in Gurgaon today. The gathering, which was also attended by Karni Sena president Lokendra Kalvi, unanimously decided to prevent the screening of the film in entire Haryana. "We have urged the Haryana chief minister to imposed a ban on the film in Haryana. We will make sure that the film is not screened in any city of the state. No one has courage to release the film here," Amu said. Targeting the West Bengal chief minister, the BJP leader said, "Mamata Banerjee should understand and respect the sentiments of the Rajput community. She should roll back the decision to release the film in her state and not test our patience." According to a Trinamool Congress leader, the Haryana BJP leader also threatened that Banerjee would meet the same fate as Surpanakha, the sister of demon king Ravana in Hindu epic 'Ramayana'. Surpanakha nose was cut off by Lakshman in the epic. Reacting to the BJP leader's remarks, senior TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said, "We condemn such regressive and derogatory remark against our chief minister. Either he should tender an apology or the people of Bengal will keep an watch on him and would protest against his remarks." Another TMC leader and state minister, Chandrima Bhattachraya said, "It is a reflection of the mindset of BJP which tells us they don't respect women. The people of Bengal will democratically protest against this such regressive and derogatory statement against our beloved chief Minister." Banerjee yesterday said that she would welcome 'Padmavati' director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his team to the state and make special arrangements for the film's premiere and release. Banerjee's statement came just days after she tweeted that the row over the film was a "calculated plan" to destroy freedom of expression in the country. The release of the film, which has been directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has been deferred indefinitely by its producers, Viacom 18. It was initially slated to release on December 1. Amu, the BJP's chief media coordinator in Haryana, earlier offered a bounty of Rs 10 crore to anyone beheading Bhansali and actor Deepika Padukone. Amu was booked by the Gurgaon police for his remarks and the BJP distanced itself from the comments and issued a show- cause notice to him. Amu later said he had made the remarks in his personal capacity and that he would resign if his party asked him to but would not tolerate any "insult" to his community. Amid rumours of a romantic dream sequence between Rajput queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji's characters in the film, many Rajput groups have been up in arms against the movie, alleging that it distorts history. Historians, however, are divided on whether Rani Padmavati existed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA) today welcomed increase of the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme rates for Readymade garments and Madeup from two to four per cent for November 1 2017 to June 30 2018 period. The announcement of MEIS increase is a relief to the ailing knitwear garment export sector, TEA President Raja Shanmugham said in a statement here He thanked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Textile Minister Smriti Irani and Commerce and Industry minister Suresh Prabhu "for crucial support at this hour of crisis." He also made a request to incorporate the embedded tax and announce the revised Rebate on State Levies and Duty Drawback rates as these were desperately needed to bring back exports' growth and boost confidence of garment exporters to take fresh orders and sustain themselves in global business. In another statement, Southern India Mills' Association Chairman P Nataraj also welcomed the announcement, which, he said, has given some relief to the industry. The government today announced post-GST rates for claiming rebate of state taxes under the scheme for Remission of State Levies (RoSL) on exports of readymade garments and made-ups, in a bid to support outward shipments. The government has also doubled the rates for incentives under an export promotion scheme -- MEIS -- to four per cent for readymade garments and made-ups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The third Indo-UK joint Army training exercise 'Ajeya Warrior' will be conducted in Rajasthan next month, a defence spokesman said today. "A training exercise between the armies of India and the United Kingdom will be held from 1st to 14th December at the Mahajan Field Firing Range. It will be the third joint military exercise between the two countries," defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha said. The first exercise was conducted in 2013 at Belgaum, Karnataka, where as for the second exercise in 2015, an Indian Army contingent had visited the United Kingdom. Approximately 120 personnel from the 20th Battalion of Rajputana Rifles and the 1st Battalion of Royal Anglican Regiment of the Royal British Army will participate in the exercise, Ojha said. "The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral relations and enhance interoperability while sharing experiences between the Royal British army and the Indian Army," he added. 20 Rajputana Rifles has extensive experience in counter- terrorist operations, while the 1st Battalion of Royal Anglican Regiment has been involved in combat operations across Afghanistan and Iraq. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Maanila Congress party president G K Vasan today said he was confident that party cadres would work towards making the TMC a prominent one and ruling party in Tamil Nadu. Vasan said the party enjoyed the support of all sections of people and would emerge as a ruling party in future. He was addressing the fourth anniversary celebrations of the party's formation here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police today claimed to have solved the murder case of a handloom trader, who was shot dead on November 21 night, by arresting the main accused. Gagan Khanduja (40) was killed when he was returning home after purchasing a cake for his son's birthday. He was shot from point blank range, the police said. SP City Akash Tomar said that acting on a tip-off, police and crime branch officials nabbed the main accused, Mintoo Tyagi, this morning from near a school. Tomar said that the pistol used in the crime was also seized from Tyagi. The police during interrogation learnt that Khanduja was not repaying Rs 2.5 lakh to the accused and had heated arguments with him, the officer said. Tyagi along with his two accomplices Ravi and Bunty, who are still at large, shot Khanduja twice. The trader was declared brought dead at a hospital here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump today called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the the two leaders discussed implementing UN Security Council resolution for a peaceful settlement to the Syrian crisis and defeat of ISIS, the White House said. Trump reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey, particularly in combating terrorism in all its forms and fostering regional stability, it said in a readout of the phone call between the two leaders. On Syria, the two leaders discussed the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 and supporting the United Nations-led Geneva Process to peacefully resolve the civil war in that country, the White House said. It said Trump and Erdogan underscored the need to end the humanitarian crisis, allow displaced Syrians to return home, and ensure the stability of a unified Syria free of malign intervention and terrorist safe havens. "Consistent with our previous policy, President Trump also informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete and we are progressing into a stabilisation phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return," the White House said. It said the two leaders also discussed the purchase of military equipment from the United States. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey expects US President Donald Trump to stick to his promise not to supply weapons to the Syrian Kurdish militia fighting Islamic State jihadists, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said today. "It is our most natural right to expect Trump to keep his promise," Cavusoglu said in televised comments in the southern Mediterranean resort of Antalya. "Naturally, as I said yesterday, we want to see this applied," he added. Ankara's top diplomat on Friday said Trump had told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he has given an order that weapons should no longer be supplied to the Kurdish YPG militia, during a phone call between the leaders. The YPG is the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units militia in Syria, which Washington views as the most effective fighting force on the ground against the IS extremist group. However, Ankara sees the YPG and its political wing, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), as "terrorists" linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Proscribed by Turkey and its Western allies including the US as a "terror" group, the PKK has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. But the White House was less explicit about the US military's intentions towards the YPG, only saying that Trump informed Erdogan "of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria". In recent months, the YPG has recaptured territory from IS, including the former de facto IS capital of Raqa in northern Syria. Ties between Washington and Ankara have been tense since the administration of former president Barack Obama over US support for the YPG and also the failure to extradite Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of masterminding last year's failed coup to overthrow Erdogan. Gulen vehemently denies the charges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two alleged drug-peddlers were arrested and heroin recovered from their possession in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, police said today. On a tip-off, a police team intercepted a bus and seized 110gms heroin from the bus driver Mohd Junaid and his companion Imran Zari, police said. A case has been registered against the two accused, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police today arrested two youths from upper Assam's Jorhat district for their alleged links with inter-state car lifters and seized a firearm and ammunition from their possession. Acting on a tip-off, police personnel picked up the youths from A T Road Borpool area, and seized a .22 pistol, two rounds of ammunition, one magazine and two mobile phones from their possession, Hemen Das, town sub-inspector of Jorhat Sadar police station said. Around 50 pain killer capsules were also recovered from their possession, he said. The youths, both residents of Dergaon in the neighbouring Golaghat district, worked at a vehicle dealer's showroom here, the police officer said. They used to meet members of car lifting gangs from Nagaland and Manipur at the showroom, he said, adding, interrogation is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying that Pawar 'served' Sonia Gandhi for 15 years despite being kicked out by the Congress president from her party in 1999. Thackeray addressed a rally at Sangli in western Maharashtra, ahead of the Sangli Miraj Kupwad municipal corporation election. "Today Pawar said he had not seen a coalition government such as ours (Sena-BJP) where we criticise the BJP but stay in power. He should know that both the parties are separate since inception. It was you, who back-stabbed then Congress chief minister Vasantdada Patil to become chief minister of Maharashtra. I haven't seen a leader like you. "Shiv Sena criticises BJP if there is a mistake and we both are capable of sorting it out. Pawar should not worry about it. Pawar did not leave the party, in fact he was kicked out of the Congress by Sonia Gandhi, still he served her for (the next) 15 years," the Shiv Sena leader said, in reference to NCP's subsequent alliance with the Congress. Pawar, while paying tributes to the first chief minister of Maharashtra late Yashvantrao Chavan at Karad this morning, took potshots at the Sena. "Shiv Sena is stuck to the power as if by adhesive. I have not seen such coalition government where one party continues to criticise another," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UN Special Envoy for Syria says he will be inviting the Syrian opposition delegation to Geneva for the intra-Syrian talks beginning next week. Staffan de Mistura's statement today came a day after the opposition named its delegation that includes internal and external groups to the Geneva talks which will start on Tuesday. The statement said de Mistura takes particular note that an opposition negotiating team has been announced and tasked to negotiate in Geneva without any preconditions, and that the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions is regarded as the sole reference for the negotiation. The opposition ended yesterday a three-day meeting in Saudi Arabia in which its representatives called for direct and unconditional negotiations with the Syrian government over the more than 6-year civil war. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people, including a teacher, were detained in Beijing amid a nationwide uproar in China over child abuse allegations in kindergarten schools in several cities. Two suspects in a recent child abuse case in Beijing's RYB school were detained by local police, state-run People's Daily reported today. The teacher surnamed Liu was under criminal detainment for alleged child abuse. A woman also surnamed Liu was held for fabricating misleading information. She expressed deep regret about her illegal acts, the report said. Yesterday China's central Cabinet called for nationwide inspections of kindergartens following allegations of child abuse at a Beijing private kindergarten that sparked public outrage. Kindergartens in several cities have reported child abuse. Such incidents show that some kindergartens have failed to implement measures and were poorly managed, a notice issued by the education committee of the cabinet called State Council said, state-run Global Times reported. The media has reported alleged child abuse cases at other kindergartens as well. A teacher at a kindergarten in Zhenjiang, in east China's Jiangsu Province reportedly punched the heads and pulled ears of children. The local education bureau said the teacher who allegedly committed the acts has been suspended. New World kindergarten is run by RYB Education in Chaoyang district where children were allegedly sexually molested, pierced by needles and given unspecified drugs, the report said. A senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) official has denied that the kindergarten has any links with the Chinese military. The kindergarten was not operated by the army or relatives of soldiers, and soldiers were not involved in the alleged molestation of children, Feng Junfeng, political commissar of a regiment of the PLA Army, told the PLA Daily. Feng said the kindergarten's head was a relative of a veteran of the regiment. Audio and video recordings, in which children claimed they were forced to take pills to sleep and given physical examinations by some "uncle and grandpa doctors," with one allegedly being naked, went viral on Thursday, sparking public outrage. Some netizens claimed that the kindergarten was allegedly run by Feng's regiment, and even soldiers from the regiment had allegedly molested children. RYB Education responded yesterday, saying the company has provided documents and surveillance footage to police, and that the teachers allegedly involved have been suspended. The company also told police it has been falsely accused and framed by some people. Founded in 1998, RYB Education is based in Beijing and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It has more than 1,300 day-care centres and nearly 500 kindergartens in 300 cities in China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump administration backtracked today on its decision to order the Palestinians' office in Washington to close, instead saying it would merely impose limitations on the office that it expected would be lifted after 90 days. Last week, US officials said the Palestine Liberation Organization mission couldn't stay open because the Palestinians had violated a provision in US law requiring the office to close if the Palestinians try to get the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis. The move triggered a major rift in US-Palestinian relations that threatened to scuttle President Donald Trump's ambitious effort to broker Mideast peace before it ever got off the ground. Yet the United States delayed shuttering the office for a week while saying it was working out the details with the Palestinians, before abruptly reversing course late today, as many Americans were enjoying a long Thanksgiving Day weekend. State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said the US had "advised the PLO Office to limit its activities to those related to achieving a lasting, comprehensive peace between the Israelis and Palestinians." Vasquez said even those restrictions will be lifted after 90 days if the US determines the Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in serious peace talks. The White House, in an effort led by Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been preparing a comprehensive peace plan to present to both sides in the coming months. "We therefore are optimistic that at the end of this 90- day period, the political process may be sufficiently advanced that the president will be in a position to allow the PLO office to resume full operations," Vasquez said. The reversal marked a serious departure from the administration's interpretation of the law only a week earlier. Officials had said then that, one way or another, the office had to close because Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a UN speech in September, had called on the ICC to investigate and prosecute Israelis. That same law, though, says that the president can let the office re-open after 90 days despite an ICC push if serious Israeli-Palestinian talks are underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I am a retired newspaperman. I am 69 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 45 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. More on who I am is here. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Clashes today broke out here as security forces launched a crackdown on protesters belonging to hardline religious groups who were blocking a key highway to the capital, leaving one policeman dead and over 200 others injured and triggering violent demonstrations in other cities. The government ordered suspension of private TV channels and blocked popular social media sites as police and paramilitary personnel fought pitched battles with the activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) who torched vehicles and attacked the houses of political leaders. However, the protesters regrouped agian and continued their siege of the capital that started about three weeks ago, demanding sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for changes in a law related to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (finality of prohpethood) oath in the Elections Act 2017. They alleged the action undermined Islamic beliefs and linked it to blasphemy. The government already amended the law and restored the original oath but the hardline clerics refused to go away until the minister was sacked. The siege played havoc with the more than half million commuters who daily travel between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The government was reluctant to use force, but launched operation after Islamabad High Court (IHC) yesterday issued contempt of court notice against interior minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. Islamabad city magistrate yesterday issued a warning to protesters to disperse by midnight or face consequences. More than 8,000 personnel of police and paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Constablary launched the crackdown to clear Faizabad interchange linking Islamabad with garrison city of Rawalpindi and the only international airport of the capital. In the morning hours, it looked that the police would clear the roads but the protesters regrouped by mid-day to re-occupy the interchange bridge, forcing the authorities to suspend the operation temporarily. They also pelted stones on the security personnel who used batons and teargas shells to disperse them. According to health officials, more than 200 people, including at least 95 security personnel, were injured in the clashes and shifted to various hospital of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. At least one policeman reportedly died due head injury, but the government has so far not confirmed the death. Private media reported that two protesters also died in the clashes, but it could not be independently confirmed. TV footage showed police firing teargas shells and security personnel in riot gears charging at the protesters dozens of whom were arrested and shifted to various police stations. Protesters also burnt some vehicles and thrashed several policemen and other security personnel. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) ordered media houses to stop live coverage and temporarily suspended several channels, including Geo TV, for failing to follow the directive. Pakistan blocked popular social media site including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to stop protesters from uploading their messages. Violent protests were also reported from several other cities including Karachi and Lahore. In the commercial hub of Karachi, at least 28 people were injured, according to local police. Protesters attacked the house of federal law minister Zahid Hamid in Pasroor area of Sialkot district of Punjab but no one was injured as the minister and his family were not present inside. The rioters also attacked the house of former interior minister Nisar Ali Khan in Faizabad area of Rawalpindi. They damaged the gate of his house and tried to enter the premises, but were prevented by police. Mian Javed Latif, a lawmaker of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, was thrashed by protesters in Sheikhupura area of Punjab and was being treated for injuries in the local hospital. In the midst of challenging law and order situation, interior minister Ahsan Iqbal alleged involvement of Indian hand in the mischief and said protesters "contacted India" and the government was probing it. "Why they did it (contacted India), we are looking into it. They (protesters) have inside information and resources that are being used against the state," he said. Iqbal said government was implementing court's orders to disperse the protesters. "We are trying to clear the area with minimum violence, but we also need to ensure the fundamental rights of people of twin cities," he said. A military spokesman said that army chief General Qamar Caved Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on telephone and urged for peaceful solution to the problem. "COAS [chief of army staff] telephoned PM. Suggested to handle Islamabad Dharna (sit-in) peacefully avoiding violence from both sides as it is not in national interest and cohesion," said spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor. Earlier, the IHC last Friday gave a 24-hour deadline to the government to clear the roads which was later extended till Thursday. However, the court yesterday expressed strong displeasure at government for failing to take action against protesters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Clashes today broke out between security personnel and protesters belonging to a hardline religious groups in the Pakistani capital following a government crackdown, leaving one person dead and over 150 others injured and triggering violence in other cities. The government blacked out all TV channels and blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to stem the spiralling violence. The police and paramilitary personnel tried to disperse the protesters who have been blocking main highways leading to the capital Islamabad for more than two weeks to press for the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid. The protesters are objecting to changes made in the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September, alleging the action undermined Islamic beliefs and linked it to blasphemy. The operation was launched after Islamabad High Court (IHC) yesterday issued contempt of court notice against Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. The protesters belonging to Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) attacked the house of former interior minister Nisar Ali Khan in Faizabad area of Rawalpindi. They damaged the gate of his house and tried to enter the premises, but were prevented by police, official said. Khan is a former minister and his house is located very close to Fiazabad interchanged which has been occupied by the protesters for almost three weeks. It was not known whether he was present inside the house at the time of attack. At least one security person was killed and over 150 persons, including protesters and security personnel, were injured, police said. TV footage showed police firing teargas and security personnel in riot gears charging at the protesters. Dozens of them were arrested and shifted to various police stations. Some of the security personnel were injured due to stone pelting by protesters. According to a security official, more than 8,000 security personnel took part in the operation against around 2,000 protesters. The operation was still going on and police were facing stiff resistance from the protesters, they said. Meanwhile, violence also erupted in many parts of Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city and financial hub, where normal life was paralysed by protesters who forced shut down of markets, shops and petrol pumps. At least 15 people were injured in the violence. Security forces fired in the air and baton charged the protesters who came out in many areas after a crackdown was launched at the Numaish roundabout on the M A Jinnah road. The protesters had also gathered at Al-Asif square and tried to block the roads leading to Hyderabad, traffic police officials said. A military spokesman said that army chief General Qamar Caved Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on telephone and urged for peaceful solution to the problem. As authorities struggled to contain the violence, the government sources said the decision to shut down private channels and social networking sites was taken in view of the experience of the military operation against extremists holed up in the Lal Masjid in Islamabad in 2007. "At that time some media channels glorified suspected terrorists and vandals and there was a backlash due to this," a source said. "In such a delicate situation there was also concerns that social networking sites would be used to spread unverified and false news/information and create panic and fear among the people," another source said. About 2,000 activists of TLYR and ST have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi for more than two weeks. Islamabad city magistrate yesterday issued a warning to protesters to disperse by midnight or face the consequences. Earlier, IHC last Friday had given a 24-hour deadline to the government to clear the roads which was later extended till Thursday. However, the court yesterday expressed strong displeasure at the government for failing to take action against the protesters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National Award-winning filmmaker Anand Gandhi says he feels "restless" and "anxious" when he sees fundamental rights of the artistes being attacked in the country today. The 37-year-old director says the kind of threats, both commercial and indie projects are facing from different sections of the society, the creative freedom is at stake. In an interview with PTI, Gandhi says, "Artistes, actors, filmmakers, journalists and even students are being constantly threatened. It has become completely acceptable for these communities to get threatened openly. We are being pushed towards silence, self-censorship and to accept the threats given to us. "As a producer, I will be deeply concerned to back a film dealing with a topical or social issue. Such environment causes anxiety to me. I am deeply affected and engaged by the policy of law in my country. The fundamental rights and the law & order situation in this country are under threat right now. When I see criminals being legitimised, it makes me very restless." The "Ship of Theseus" director believes no scope of dialogue exists anymore as few fringe elements have converted the debate into a "law and order situation". "There is a certain legitimisation of violence that is going on. Few groups have just crossed the line of debate or protest. All these things have crossed the dialogue on censorship as well. These are people who are inciting violence and leaders of political parties are backing them instead of condemning them. "This is a law and order situation. It is no longer a conversation around protests or sensitivity," he says. Gandhi, who faced a series of hurdles to get a censor certificate for his production "An Insignificant Man", is now supporting Malayalam film "S Durga", which was pulled out from the Indian Panorama section of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), by the information and broadcasting ministry. The director, who is a member of the steering committee of the festival, says supporting the movie is his personal choice as it a "well-made" project which needs to be promoted. "The jury has come out in support of the film. I saw the film at the London Film Festival. It is a film that needs to be seen. The idea of the title (originally called 'Sexy Durga') is essentially coming from the violator. The director is guiding our attention towards how the aggressor is looking at the woman." Gandhi says the movie's title addresses the dichotomy prevalent in the society, where every second woman's name is based on that of a goddess'. "The title shows this contradiction and the dichotomy of naming every second girl after a goddess and the violator looking at this girl as an object of sexuality, not a human being. It is this dichotomy that the filmmaker is commenting on with the title of 'S Durga'," he says. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A youth was injured after he was allegedly set on fire by unidentified men for objecting to them taunting his female friend in outer Delhi's Bawana, the police said today. The police said there were some contradictions in the statements of the girl and the victim, and the possibility of self-immolation cannot be ruled out. On November 23, the police were informed by the GB Hospital authorities that a 19-year-old man has been admitted to the hospital with burn injuries. The victim told the police that when he was walking with his female friend, a minor, on Kanjhawla Road, three persons came on a motorcycle and allegedly taunted the girl, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Rishi Pal said. When he objected to their taunts, the accused allegedly poured inflammable liquid on him and set him blaze, the officer said. The families of the girl and the victim have been staying on different floors of the same house in Nangloi for five years, the police said. Both the families, in their statements to the police, said that they were aware about their friendship. Around 50 letters, many of which written in blood, were found from the bags of the duo. The contents of the letters were found bizarre and some had mention of something he wanted to do to prove his love for the girl, the officer said. There are some variations in the statement of the victim and the girl about the exact sequence of events and further investigation is underway, Pal said, adding according to doctors a "petroleum product" had been poured on the victim. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The note ban in 2016, introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and anti-dumping structure have resulted in a decline in import of Chinese tyres, the chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association said. "Now you can say the Chinese imports have become less than half. During the demonetisation month (November 2016), it dropped by 20 per cent. GST coupled with anti-dumping duty, it has started to sink further," ATMA chairman Satish Sharma told reporters here today. Noting that import of Chinese tyres has started to 'decline', he said, "the imports of Chinese tyres stood at 1,50,000 units in May 2016. Today it is 50,000 units and still going down." Tyre dealers have become "confident" of not purchasing Chinese tyres as their "profitability" has also crashed, he said. To a query on the growth of the tyre industry, he said it was pegged at "high single" digit during the current financial year and would be "high double digit" in FY18-19. "My guess is that the industry this year would see a high single digit (growth) and then it should be in the double digit (as turnover)," he said. Referring to the recent interaction of ATMA's top office-bearers with Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, he said the Minister assured to take care of which can be done and also asked them to discuss again in "board rooms" the difficulties. "There have been restrictive trade practices which actually spoilt the case even further. They restricted the imports (raw materials) to a few ports. You can bring in through JNPT only. So we expect these things can be taken care of," he said. He said India signing free trade agreements would also give support to the industry. Stating that India was not producing radial tyres when the world was looking for radial tyres a decade ago, Sharma said, "now we are producing radial tyres, we are re-entering the world market and the world has taken note of this". The government has announced the post-GST rates for claiming rebate of state taxes under the scheme for Remission of State Levies (RoSL) on exports of readymade garments and made-ups, in a bid to support the outward shipments. The government has also doubled the rates for incentives under an export promotion scheme -- MEIS -- to 4 per cent for readymade garments and made-ups. In a series of tweets, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said post-GST rates for remission of state levies/taxes and Enhanced Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) rates will boost exports of garments and made-ups. In a release, the textiles ministry said post-GST rates of RoSL are up to a maximum of 1.70 per cent for cotton garments, 1.25 per cent for MMF, silk and woolen garments and 1.48 per cent for apparel of blends. The ministry said the notification of post-GST RoSL rates for rebate of state levies/taxes is in pursuance of the decision of the government to boost exports and employment generation in the labour intensive textiles and apparel sector. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has enhanced rates for garments and made-ups to 4 per cent of value of exports from 2 per cent under MEIS. New MEIS rates are effective from November 1. "Announcement on post-GST rates of RoSL will be effective from 1 Oct 2017. Post-GST rates for remission of state levies/taxes will boost exports of garments & made-ups," Irani tweeted. In another tweet, the minister said the enhanced MEIS rates will further boost exports of garments and made-ups from India. Under the MEIS scheme, the commerce ministry gives duty benefits to several products. It provides duty benefits at 2 per cent, 3 per cent and 5 per cent depending upon the product and country. The DGFT said the rates for incentives under MEIS for two subsectors of textiles industry -- readymade garments and made-ups -- have been enhanced to 4 per cent of value of exports with effect from November 1 till June 30 next year. As a result, the estimated annual incentives will be Rs 1,143.15 crore for 2017-18 and Rs 685.89 crore for 2018-19, the commerce ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, Several garment exporters' bodies from all over the country applauded the move. Commenting on the measures, H K L Magu, Vice Chairman of AEPC, said the garment exporters' body has been demanding the increase in rates of MEIS along with RoSL and duty drawback from a long time. AEPC said the increase in MEIS rates will help in the fulfilment of orders for the Christmas festival as it will help in unblocking the blocked capital. "We are also hopeful that the government will intervene and address the issue of restoration of the old duty drawback rates as the sharp reduction in the rates of duty drawback has dealt a huge blow on the competitiveness of the industry," he said. Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA) also welcomed increase of the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme rates for Readymade garments and Madeup from two to four per cent for November 1 2017 to June 30 2018 period. The announcement of MEIS increase is a relief to the ailing knitwear garment export sector, TEA President Raja Shanmugham said in a statement here He thanked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Textile Minister Smriti Irani and Commerce and Industry minister Suresh Prabhu "for crucial support at this hour of crisis." He also made a request to incorporate the embedded tax and announce the revised Rebate on State Levies and Duty Drawback rates as these were desperately needed to bring back exports' growth and boost confidence of garment exporters to take fresh orders and sustain themselves in global business. In another statement, Southern India Mills' Association Chairman P Nataraj also welcomed the announcement, which, he said, has given some relief to the industry. The government today announced post-GST rates for claiming rebate of state taxes under the scheme for Remission of State Levies (RoSL) on exports of readymade garments and made-ups, in a bid to support outward shipments. LOGAN A man in his 80s died Friday morning while crossing Main St. on his bicycle. The crash occurred at 11:15 a.m. near 1475 N. Main. Logan City Police Capt. Curtis Hooley said the elderly man was riding his bike across the street, going east to west, when he was struck. He crossed in front of a truck that was northbound on Main Street, a Ford F-150 pickup, said Hooley. The truck struck the male and the bicycle. The bicyclist was transported up to Logan Regional, where he was pronounced dead. The mans identity has not been released, pending notification of family. Hooley said both the bicyclist and driver of the truck are from Cache Valley. There are no crosswalks in the area. Officers believe the man was riding the bike, trying to cross the street. That is what it appears to be. It doesnt appear that there was any impairment on the driver of the pickup. So they are still working through the witnesses that they have, trying to determine what the circumstances were. Traffic was partially detoured for over 90-minutes while officers investigated the accident and cleared the scene.
will@cvradio.com Prof Brown made a complaint against the Raiders after two stints of major gambling after losing $226,050 over 18 months at the Raiders club in Belconnen, until the alert was finally raised by her bank at the beginning of this year. Prof Brown says she gambled on 160 nights from about 10pm to closing 4am, making 242 cash withdrawals from ATMs and 353 from the club's eftpos. On some nights she went back six or more time to withdraw more money, losing thousands of dollars on some nights. Mr McKenna said the taxpayer would now pay the legal bill to defend the three defendants as they had been forced into relying on the "unfortunately" limited legal aid resources for the most serious charge on the criminal calendar. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. She recalled that when she picked Hercules up he seemed uncomfortable and "in quite a bit of pain", but she was reassured pain relief had been given to him. One of the complaints upheld by the board was that the single x-ray was inadequate to diagnose the extent of the problem, the second was that inadequate and inappropriate pain relief had been provided. "The government mandated that you have to say at weddings that the marriage means the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others ... which we don't believe and it's discrimination towards our loved ones," Ms Stone said in March. British MP Tony Benn, in his farewell parliamentary speech, said there are five critical democratic questions to ask people in power: " 'What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?' If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system." She has performed credibly, if not brilliantly, as Foreign Minister, but has shown no particular aptitude in domestic policy, whether economic, welfare or defence. Her Howard-era career in education was undistinguished, and without lasting monuments; her brief foray as shadow treasurer was an embarrassment. She has repeatedly demonstrated a tin ear for political theatre witness her treason allegations over a Penny Wong staffer's New Zealand inquiries about Barnaby Joyce's citizenship status. She has some admirers, not least in a press gallery well-educated in the way she sees things, but she also has enemies out to get her, not least Abbott, who believes she was disloyal to him at the time of his downfall. Abbott would go out of his way to do her any disservice he could, even at a cost to himself. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Renault has been mulling with the idea of launching a cheap electric car in China for a few years, and its finally happening. Speaking to Autonews, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance CEO, Carlos Ghosn, confirmed an electric version of the Kwid, admitting that prototypes have already been built. In China, we cant sell the Leaf. Too expensive and too sophisticated. We cant sell the Renault Fluence. Too expensive. What sells in China? Low-cost electric cars, said Ghosn. So we are putting engineers from the alliance to develop a low-cost Kwid EV for China. I just test drove the car in China. It will be a very well engineered car at a very low cost. Renaults head honcho didnt give any insights into the launch date, power, range or pricing of the Kwid EV, but admitted that it will eventually make its way into emerging markets. Once it works in China, theres no reason youre not going to export the car to India, to Brazil, to the Middle East. Carlos Ghosn is looking at the Alliance as a whole when it comes to developing future products, especially electric vehicles, which will eventually help them achieve their objectives: mass marketing and profitability. In the beginning, it was Renault going by itself, because they were prototypes, and we didnt know exactly where we were going. The Nissan Leaf had its own technology. The Renault Zoe has its own technology. Mitsubishi started with its own technology. But now were saying: one platform, one set of batteries, one set of motors, Ghosn added. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi isnt the only automotive giant that sees China as a market with a huge potential when it comes to affordable EVs, as Volkswagen has a similar approach. However, the Germans wont use their own brands to breach into this segment, as they have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with Jianghuai Automobile Co. (JAC) to develop a cheap EV. PHOTO GALLERY Say hello to Abu Dhabi Motors, a place youre probably familiar with thanks to all the BMW Individual cars and M models that are being showcased in their theater on a regular basis. During a recent visit to the UAE, YouTuber Shmee150 stopped by the famed BMW dealer to not just check out some of the rides on display, but also drive BMWs flagship, the M760Li. In case you didnt already know, Abu Dhabi Motors houses both BMW as well as Rolls-Royce cars, and if youve been paying attention, youll recognize a lot of models weve previously shown, like that green Alpina B4 S or the Rolls- Royce Dawn Inspired by Fashion. Were also given a better look at the theater section of the showroom, which is an actual theater and wasnt just made to look like one. So you can go there and watch whatever car thats on display, or actually watch something on the projector screen. As for his ride behind the wheel of the M760Li, Shmee praised the car for its torque and effortless way of accelerating, saying its perfect for a high-speed Autobahn run. The M760Li is powered by a 6.6-liter V12, producing 610 PS (603 HP) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. VIDEO I am writing you in regards to how people become homeless even though we have a government office that says they are here to assist the low income community. Recently my husband and I have resulted in applying to Social Services to get by, our circumstances are a whole lot different than regular recipients that apply. You see for 51 years my husband worked hard however, after being a productive member of society, when we need help the government won't assist us. I guess being totally honest with the Ministry doesnt pay off. I myself am on their disability program but to them, so what. I'm just another number in the system, I have sleep apnea in which I need electricity for. I was in a wheelchair for ten years but have worked my way out of it. I have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. On top of that I have diabetes, PTSD, and now depression. However, they dont care. Im just a file number in the system. My husband is 67 and is ailing from typical old age aches and pains that come with years of working in construction as an electrician. He has been trying to find work but it's not easy for a man at his age. He's overqualified or too old. When we received a courtesy call from BC Hydro at 3:45 in the afternoon letting us know they will be disconnecting our power I was appalled. I asked for an extension but they denied, they said I have until midnight even after I explained to them I submitted the disconnection notice to the Ministry last week. They didn't care, they said well I suggest you call them. By this time it was after 4pm, the Ministry called back approximately around 5:30. They denied my request and told me they would send me forms to appeal their decision, no compassion what so ever. I have had my son's family stay with us, they have an eight year old and a two year old. They are here until the 25th when my daughters husband can drive up here to pick them up and move them down to the coast. I explained to hydro we had children here but no compassion here either. If the welfare rates dont go up there will be more tent cities being built. I saw a woman and her baby going down into tent city, God help her and that baby. This is a serious matter that Trudeau should be looking into instead of legalizing marijuana! Last Christmas I had my purse stolen, instead of retaliation I gave her a Christmas hamper with the help of Vernon police. Ive given the missing women a voice by writing and giving the community an insight to life downtown eastside, it was the Robert Pickton trial I was reporting on. Prior to that I came close to being one of the missing women, it was my husband who was a big part of me being here today. If you could imagine yourself living in your dwelling with no power to cook (what little food we have) or no heat, lights, warm water, let alone money how would you feel? What would you do? Why is welfare so low? When will poverty get help? Is building an apartment complex for 98 homeless people going to make a change? No! There needs to be more! Like how many of those people are druggies or alcoholics? How many are mental health? This is how the Ministry lets people live? It has been almost 20 years since either of us has picked up any mind altering substance. Ive been giving myself to those who need help since then, Id love to work at a legit paying job. As a lady of the night there arent benefits or EI, CPP, old age securities, RRSPs. I took care of 5 of my grandchildren. Ive volunteered because I dont have the education or skills to do anything else. Pauline Vankoll I would like to say a few things in regards to that article about a treatment that costs $ 700'000.00 per year. Why is the name of that pharma company not mentioned? It should be and in bold so everybody knows who the crooks are. To them it's either you pay or you die. I am sure that there is a patent on that drug and that way nobody can touch it. Well, I am also sure that we have labs in Canada that could make that drug at a price that is affordable. If they go to court over it, slam them with a second degree murder charge and see how they like that. This is not the first time a pharma company is pulling this stunt. What they do is criminal in my opinion. Does nobody have the guts to tell the truth about it and try to stop that. I realize that they most likely spent a lot of money to develop that medicine, however, if nobody pays their price, what are they going to do with it? Stuff like that is so sickening! Roger von Dach Photo: campingrvbc.com Nk'Mip RV Resort in Osoyoos. If you're planning on spending the winter in your RV and looking to do so in the South Okanagan, you probably won't have to look far. Competition is growing among RV parks in the South Okanagan that are looking to attract winter campers which is a growing business in the region, according to officials at several of those parks. Those who spoke to Castanet on Friday said there are multiple driving factors. Factors included the mild winter climate in the region compared to other parts of Canada, the relative availability of living in an RV permanently or temporarily and cheaper costs of spending the winter in Canada as opposed to travelling south. Katrina Baptiste, the general manager at NK'Mip RV Park in Osoyoos, said her park has undertaken a massive expansion in the past five years to accommodate the growing business. She said the park added 75 sites in 2012, giving them 165 sites available in the winter noting that, in an average year, 150 of those sites are occupied for the entire winter season. "We've definitely seen an increase, because we're still full and we have twice as many sites available." Baptiste estimated that 90 per cent of those occupants in the winter are retired snowbirds, and noted there are young working families or couples that live there year-round. Most of the snowbirds, she said, are from the Prairies and places with harsh winters, noting the better climate in the region is a draw. "A lot of people said there's a 20-degree difference in temperature from where they're coming from." Jamie Cox, the resort manager at Gallagher Lake RV Resort just north of Oliver, said the park wasn't open in the winter when he joined on in the spring of 2014. But with a growing demand, Cox said the park has opened 34 of 151 sites to operate during the cold season. "Last week, I did some quick research on eight resorts from Penticton to Osoyoos. And everybody's doing winter now," Cox said. He added that he noticed a considerable decrease in monthly rates at many RV parks that now operate year-round as opposed to seasonally. "Everybody's come down a couple of hundred dollars. There's a competition out there now that wasn't there a year ago." That competition is spoken for as well at Holiday Hills RV Park in Penticton. There, operator Dan Selles said the park with about 90 sites, which only opened this year, is close to three-quarters full currently. Many of those occupants, Selles said, intend to stay year-round. "We get all of the demographics. We have the retirees, the snowbirds, and we also have the working-class as well... And the job market out here is bringing people here that I would say wouldn't of happened a couple of years ago." Photo: Contributed Christmas shopping may be a little more convenient for some South Okanagan residents, thanks to an extra bus that will run on Fridays in December. The bus will be added to route 40 which runs from Osoyoos to Penticton, on Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The route makes stops in Oliver, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden before unloading at the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre in Penticton at about 9:45 a.m. A return trip from the mall to Osoyoos will run at 1:30 p.m. More information on bus routes in the region can be found here. EU concludes negotiations with Armenia for a new aviation agreement 24 November 2017 On the occasion of the Eastern Partnership Summit held today in Brussels, the European Union concluded negotiations with Armenia for a new aviation agreement. It is estimated that this agreement will bring an additional 87.000 additional passengers and will generate more than 16 million in the first five years. This agreement will improve market access for airlines, providing better connectivity, more choice and lower fares for travellers. More flights also mean more jobs and more wealth for all partners. Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said, "Today we are further delivering on our ambitious aviation strategy by taking our aviation relations with Armenia to the next level. This agreement will not only improve market access, it will also contribute to the highest safety, security and environmental standards. This is good news for European and Armenian travellers and businesses." Besides market access, these agreements will establish a common regulatory framework, for instance in the fields of aviation safety and security. This agreement was negotiated by the European Commission as part of its Aviation Strategy for Europe, a milestone initiative to give a new boost to European aviation and provide new business opportunities. Next steps: The Armenian delegation has agreed to recommend its authorities to sign the agreement following the completion of the necessary internal procedures. Background information The European Commission is currently negotiating new aviation agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nationals (ASEAN), Qatar, Tunisia and Turkey. Once signed, over 75% of all passengers flying in and out of the EU, or more than 240 million passengers per year, would be covered by EU-level aviation agreements. In addition the EU has already negotiated with partners like the US, Canada, Morocco, Jordan, the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Israel, Georgia, Moldova and Switzerland which have already brought significant benefits. For instance, passenger numbers have doubled with partners such as the Western Balkans, Morocco, and Georgia. For more information: Fact Sheet - Aviation Agreement with Armenia An Aviation Strategy for Europe Bill E. Buddy King of Hixson, Tennessee, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on November 22, 2017. He was 80. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Willie Mae and two sons; Charles Hal King II and a stillborn son. Buddy is survived by one son and two daughters, Bill and Joyce King, Tina Thorpe, and Viola and Tom Boruff, 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. A special thanks to TJ and Rhonda King, Jimmy King and Gene Burton. He was a wonderful and loving father and grandfather who will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all who knew him. We love and miss you. Pallbearers will be Wayne King, Ray Blakemore, Bobby Blakemore, David Raby, PJ Burton and Johnathan Haswell The family will receive friends on Sunday, Nov. 26 , from 12-2 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, Hixson. The funeral service will be on Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Brother Kevin Weaver officiating. Interment will follow in Chattanooga Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com It's all in the finish. Well, maybe not all. But the thing that makes Angel's Envy whiskeys, Angel's Envy whiskeys, is that the distillery finishes its whiskeys in used spirits barrels. That approach, common in the rarefied world of single-malt whiskey but a relatively unusual tack for a producer of bourbon and rye whiskeys, adds dimension and complexity to Angel's Envy's whiskeys. Take its bourbon. It is finished in port casks, which lend the whiskey dark berry and vanilla notes, along with a hint of spice. Advertisement Angel's Envy's whiskeys represent the vision of Lincoln Henderson, an iconic Brown-Forman master distiller who helped develop some of the company's most well-known brands, including Woodford Reserve, Gentleman Jack and Jack Daniel's Single Barrel. When Henderson and his son Wesley founded Angel's Envy in 2010, they wanted their whiskeys to be distinct but not too distinct. Advertisement "It's a fine balance," says Wesley Henderson, the distillery's chief operating officer. "You have to understand what your customer appreciates about bourbon and where you can and can't go." Lincoln Henderson, who died last year, recognized where to draw that line and how to make Angel's Envy bourbon stand out, says Wesley Henderson. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > That was important because Lincoln Henderson wanted to sell bourbon as soon as the distillery opened its doors in 2010. But since straight bourbon by law has to be aged at least two years, that meant it had to source the bourbon from another distillery. Finding the right bourbon balanced, not too woody, not too tannic took time. But the investment was worth it, Henderson says. As are the distillery's small-batch production techniques. It hand-blends batches of eight to 12 barrels at a time. The approach seems to be working. Its sales last year doubled from the year before, and it is positioned to soon be among the largest U.S. craft distillers. It also recently broke ground on a 100,000-square-foot production facility where it will soon be distilling its own whiskey. But that growth hasn't come at the expense of quality. The distillery has released three whiskeys bourbon, rye and cask-strength bourbon since opening up shop, and each has garnered rave reviews in journals such as Whiskey Advocate and Wine Enthusiast. Try it. Angel's Envy Bourbon: Finished in port casks, the bourbon is smooth, silky and complex, with notes of berries, toffee and vanilla and a hint of spice. Advertisement Angel's Envy Rye: Finished in Caribbean rum casks, the rye is spicy but sweet, with maple syrup, toffee and vanilla notes and a warm, spicy finish. Protesters calling for Chicago police reform marched along North Michigan Avenue sidewalks packed with post-Thanksgiving shoppers Friday, in a clash of activism and commerce thats become something of a Black Friday tradition in recent years. Marking the second anniversary of the release of a video showing the fatal shooting of black teen Laquan McDonald by a white police officer, about 100 people called for shoppers to boycott Magnificent Mile stores because Mayor Rahm Emanuel and aldermen wont take up the cause of civilian oversight of the Police Department. Advertisement Chanting Who do you serve? Who do you protect? the crowd stopped in front of the Water Tower Place mall and the Nike Store as dozens of police officers on foot and riding bikes flanked them and kept a path clear so tourists could get in and out of shops on the biggest shopping day of the year. Fridays event was smaller than last years Black Friday march. And it was dwarfed by the protest in 2015, when as many as 1,000 people stopped traffic and blocked the doors at many high-end retailers along Michigan while clashing with police and shoppers. That first march took place just days after a video was made public showing Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times. Advertisement By contrast, things were orderly and peaceful Friday. Protesters made plenty of noise, but there werent many confrontations or disruptions beyond some bottlenecks forming on sidewalks in front of stores. The groups list of grievances remains largely the same. They want aldermen to take up an ordinance to create a civilian police accountability council, an elected police watchdog group they say would give community organizations the power they need to punish officers who have done wrong. That ordinance has been buried in the City Council Public Safety Committee for more than a year. Yahama Tunson, 67, center, marches during a Black Friday protest on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago on Nov. 24, 2017. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) And they want Emanuel out of office for what they say is his complicity in covering up the McDonald video for more than a year until after he could win a second term. Charlotte Chung, in town from Miami with her husband, said she understands protesters targeting Chicagos highest profile shopping district when its at its busiest. We need to keep attention on these issues, and theres no better time and place to get that attention than here and now, Chung said. jebyrne@chicagotribune.com [ No more indictments against cops in handling of Laquan McDonald shooting ] [ Laquan McDonald timeline: The shooting, the video and the fallout ] [ Chicago Tribune coverage of the Laquan McDonald shooting ] Parishioners, many of them from Guatemala, who speak only the native Mayan language of Q'anjob'al, attend Mass at the Church of St. Mary in Champaign, Ill., on Nov. 5, 2017. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) In June 2016, Lucia crossed the border with her 3-year-old daughter into Texas. Their journey from Santa Eulalia, Guatemala on foot and by bus took nearly a month to complete. For Lucia who now lives in Champaign and said she was fleeing an abusive relationship it was worth it. Aqui la vida es bien, she said, in halting, imperfect Spanish. Here life is good. Advertisement Lucia, who asked that her last name not be used because she is living in the United States illegally and is in deportation proceedings, is one of about 550 people in the Champaign-Urbana area who speak Qanjobal, one of Guatemalas more than 20 indigenous Mayan languages. But with interpreters of uncommon languages like Qanjobal in short supply, effectively representing native speakers in immigration court can be challenging. When we dont have a decent interpreter who can communicate with them, and then you know you have to rely on a family member or someone in the community and youre asking these questions about prior gender violence or family violence, youre not necessarily going to get the correct information or the full picture, said Ashley Huebner, an attorney at the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago, a program with the Heartland Alliance that provides legal assistance to immigrants. So it really does impede the ability to fully represent these individuals and for these individuals to have access to protection. Advertisement The National Immigrant Justice Center began noticing an uptick in Qanjobal-speaking immigrants within the last eight months. While they attend immigration court hearings in Chicago, most of them live in the Champaign-Urbana area or in southern Indiana. In immigration courts across the country, Qanjobal was the 17th-most popular language in 2016, up from 25th just two years before, according to statistics from the Department of Justice. Two other indigenous Mayan languages Mam and Quiche were the ninth- and 10th-most popular languages, respectively, last year. A man in a t-shirt with a large image of Jesus Christ kneels in prayer. Parishioners, many of them from Guatemala who only speak their native Mayan language of Q'anjob'al attend mass at St. Mary Catholic Church in Champaign on Nov. 5, 2017, where the service is in Mayan, Spanish and English, but primarily in Mayan. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) Attorneys often scramble to find interpreters to help them prepare cases before arriving in court. In one act of desperation, Hillary Richardson, a staff attorney at the National Immigrant Justice Center, found a radio DJ in Guatemala who agreed to translate for her client via Skype. There is a Guatemalan community in Chicago, but as far as being able to find anyone who speaks Qanjobal and Spanish or Qanjobal and English to be able to help, its been difficult, Richardson said. In interviews with law enforcement officers when theyre detained and at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-ins, immigrants must bring their own interpreters. They often rely on their imperfect Spanish instead. Well come across kids where maybe their initial intake information was done in Spanish because they can speak enough Spanish to get through some initial questioning, but ultimately they figure out they cant go forward in Spanish, or theres just not enough Spanish there for effective representation, Richardson said. Relying on a friend or family member to interpret, when its allowed, also can pose problems for immigrants trying to attain asylum. If they are fleeing domestic or sexual violence, they may not want to share their story with someone they know, particularly if its a man, said Rebekah Niblock, a lawyer who represents Lucia and other Qanjobal-speaking immigrants in the Champaign-Urbana area. For immigration court hearings for which the government is required to provide interpreters for defendants Qanjobal interpreters are often flown in from other parts of the country. Sometimes two interpreters are required, complicating the situation further. Huebner said she has been in court proceedings with Qanjobal speakers when the court had to rely on relay interpretation, in which one person interprets from Qanjobal to Spanish and another person interprets from Spanish to English. Sometimes one of them interprets by phone instead of in person, Huebner said. Advertisement President Donald Trump has made immigration policy one of his top priorities, vowing to increase deportations and reduce border crossings. And some dont think providing interpreters should be the courts responsibility. I think its saying quite a bit that the American taxpayer has to pay for a translator, given the fact that removal proceedings are civil proceedings. Theyre not criminal proceedings, said Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Washington-based conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation. Many states, including Illinois, leave it up to the courts to determine whether interpreters are needed in civil proceedings. Lucia, 25, was detained by ICE officials at the U.S. border in Texas when she arrived last year. Authorities released her with an immigration hearing scheduled for December 2018. She is applying for asylum with her daughter, claiming domestic abuse and fear for her life in Guatemala, according to Niblock, her attorney. If Lucia is not granted asylum in court, she will be deported. In the meantime, Lucia checks in with ICE every two or three months in Chicago, Niblock said. Today, many Central American immigrants like Lucia come to the U.S. to escape gang or domestic violence. But in the 1980s, immigrants fleeing civil wars in Guatemala and El Salvador began arriving in Champaign-Urbana and seeking sanctuary in churches that agreed to protect them from deportation. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > While the close-knit community of Qanjobal speakers in Champaign-Urbana may not be able to assist one another in legal proceedings, they do help one another assimilate and make their way in a new country. Little by little, theyve helped one another to learn English and Spanish and get jobs. Most of the Qanjobal-speaking immigrants in the area today work in construction or lawn service or in restaurants, where Lucia hopes to work too. To assist immigrants with language acquisition and to help educate the rest of the local community about their Qanjobal neighbors, the linguistics department at the University of Illinois has created alphabet books and posters in Qanjobal for classrooms and booklets with simple translations for medical words for local hospitals. The Church of St. Mary in Champaign, which was part of the sanctuary movement in the 1980s, also has a weekly Qanjobal-language Mass. Advertisement Its unclear whether the Qanjobal-speaking community in Champaign-Urbana will continue to grow under the Trump administration and whether those already there will be allowed to stay. Looking to the future, Lucia says she doesnt want to return to Guatemala. She wants to get a job and stay in Champaign. Solo Champaign. Esta bien. Es bonito tambien, she said. Only Champaign. Its good here. Its beautiful too. coconnolly@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ColleenMConn RELATED: [ Spike in legal representation for immigrants in Chicago is attributed to $1 million city fund ] [ Chicago's history as a sanctuary city ] [ Judge in Chicago refuses to change ruling on sanctuary cities ] Chicago police on Saturday wouldn't immediately say whether two North Side robberies at the hands of a man with a knife were related. Authorities are searching for either a man or two men who robbed two stores while wielding a knife, officials said. The first incident happened about 10:50 a.m., according to a media notification from Chicago police. A man walked into a business in the 1200 block of North Wells Street in the Old Town neighborhood and pulled out a knife, authorities said. He took an undisclosed amount of money and fled, police said. The robber was described as a black man between 40- and 50-years-old, wearing a light brown skull cap and a black jacket. No one was injured and the robber took off in an unknown direction, police said. About 30 minutes later, in Lakeview, a man walked into a retail store in the 3300 block of North Ashland Avenue and announced a robbery, officials said. The man walked up to a female employee, demanded money from the cash register, and held the knife against her, police said. The woman complied and the robber took off on foot with an undisclosed amount of money, police said. No one was injured. The robber was described as a black man in his mid-30s, last seen wearing a tan knit ski cap, a black jacket and he was said to be carrying a large black backpack, officers said. Police said one armed robbery is being investigated by detectives from Area North and the other is being investigated by detectives from Area Central. When asked whether the robbers with similar clothing descriptions might be the same person, Chicago police did not immediately provide an answer. An image of a man wanted for questioning in the robbery of a 34-year-old woman on the CTA's Green Line. (Chicago Police Department) Police are asking for the public's help identifying a man wanted for questioning in the robbery of a woman on the CTA Green Line. The robbery happened about 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in the 4000 block of South Indiana Avenue in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, police said. Advertisement A 34-year-old woman was seated on the train when she was approached by a man who snatched her phone from her hand and fled. The robber is described as black, about 18 years old, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-10 and weighing between 150 to 170 pounds, police said. Advertisement Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call detectives at 312-747-8382. A Southeast Side man died Friday morning after his car collided with another vehicle on Interstate 57 in Matteson, authorities said. Dean Scalzitti, 51, of the 2900 block of East 103rd Street in the South Deering neighborhood, was pronounced dead at 9:06 a.m. Friday following the crash near Vollmer Road on I-57, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Advertisement State police were called to the scene about 8:20 a.m. after the two vehicles collided on northbound I-57 and the vehicle Scalzitti was driving went off the road, hit some trees and stopped in a ditch to the right of the road, state police said in an email. A passenger in Scalzitti's car and the driver of the other vehicle were taken to an area hospital, where their conditions were stabilized, police said. Advertisement No information on citations or the cause of the crash was immediately released. Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the date of the crash. We regret the error. Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, shown Aug. 24, 2017, who said she has pushed for electronic filing since taking office more than 16 years ago, acknowledged there may be some hiccups but said her office is prepared. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) More than 15 years after the federal court system went paperless, Cook County Circuit Court clerks still spend their days ferrying stacks of Manila case folders and entering handwritten judges orders into an antiquated computer interface. Advertisement Many judges and attorneys still use carbon paper a cotton-gin-era innovation for simultaneously making multiple paper copies. But after years of lobbying by frustrated attorneys, the county will soon take an important step toward catching up with a world that already does much of its business online. Advertisement Nearly all new court filings in Cook County and across the state must be submitted electronically starting Jan. 1. Its an important step experts say, but one that still leaves the state years behind the federal system, not to mention less populous states like Iowa and Wisconsin. E-filing is intended to cut costs, increase convenience and make tracking cases much simpler. Not every county is likely to make it. So far only one Illinois county DuPage has petitioned to be exempted from the New Years deadline mandated by the Illinois Supreme Court, a spokesman for the high court said. But the impending deadline has lawyers, judges and legal observers wondering if Cook County is really ready to make the switch and if the transition will save taxpayers money. The transition could be jarring only about 38 percent of Cook Countys roughly 178,000 civil case filings so far this year have been submitted electronically, though the number has climbed from about 21 percent last year, according to clerks office figures. Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, who said she has pushed for electronic filing since taking office more than 16 years ago, acknowledged there may be some hiccups but said her office is prepared. Were the second-largest unified court system in the country theres going to be some challenges, Brown recently told the Tribune. Were going to ask people to be patient. We were not given a pass or more time (by the Supreme Court) than someone with one courtroom in their county. Browns office, which the Tribune reported last year was under federal investigation for its hiring practices, does not exactly have a reputation for efficiency. County board members this year cited their lack of trust in her staff when they approved a $1 million contract for a technology company to oversee the rollout of a nearly $37 million case management system to replace the outdated mainframe system currently in use. The clerks office is also facing a federal lawsuit alleging that it takes days or even weeks for electronically filed lawsuits to become public even though paper filings are available the day theyre filed. Advertisement Figures provided by Browns office show the current e-file system has been down only six days this year, and Brown said that if the new system cant handle the caseload, her staff will shift filing to the old system. Courts have until this summer to work out the kinks in the new process. Already, some savings have been realized. In Cook County, the costs of printing court forms has dropped nearly 67 percent from last year to $145,000. Brown said clerks in her office will retire their file stamps and shift to helping customers e-file their cases. Non-lawyers who represent themselves will continue to have the option to file cases on paper. Requiring e-filing in Illinois will modernize and simplify the process of filing documents for everyone involved, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier told lawmakers during a budget speech this year. But although Browns office is frequently criticized, experts say much of the blame for Illinois slowness in moving toward e-filing is the balkanized structure of the states court system and a wait-and-see approach by the Supreme Court, which oversees court operations in all of Illinois 102 counties, some of which are too small to have their own dedicated courthouse. Lets just say the Supreme Court was very cautious, said Jim McMillan, the longtime courts technology guru at the National Center for State Courts. But it was the economics of Illinois courts system structure basically that resulted in delays and obstacles that had to be hurdled. The states court system is unified in name only said Marcia Meis, director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, which means that there is no cost-sharing or a statewide budget to cover technology expenses. Only last year, state legislators passed a law allowing court clerks to collect a $9 fee on all new civil filings to help cover the software costs of switching to an e-file system. Advertisement And while many practicing attorneys question why Illinois doesnt have a system like PACER the federal courts browser-based system that allows users to file or view public files anytime and anywhere that is most likely still years away. For starters, only a few counties have begun allowing criminal case documents to be filed digitally. We are slow-walking criminal e-filings, Meis said, citing a variety of concerns from prosecutors, public defenders and others who worry about crime victim or other sensitive information becoming available to anyone. Similar issues exist with civil filings, which is why the state is still formulating a policy for remote access to all types of cases. The more pressing and complicated issue is the concept of public records versus private information, Meis said. In court files we have what we call a practical obscurity. You could go in and ask for them and look at them, but how many people are going to ask for them? Its easier if you can look at documents on your computer. There have been cases where people use personal information like Social Security numbers from online court documents for identity theft, including two people who were charged in Alabama using the same e-filing system Cook County now uses. Brown said the responsibility for redacting those sensitive details falls on attorneys. Advertisement Cook County will be far from paperless even after the transition. Brown said she expects even after e-filing becomes mandatory for clerks to still print out documents for judges, who have said the terminals in their courtroom for viewing electronic records are difficult to read documents on. And it will remain the only large metropolitan court system in the nation where carbon paper is still widely found. Judges and attorneys still prefer to use it, but Brown hopes to eventually change the courthouse culture. Im encouraged by how far weve come, she said. sschmadeke@chicagotribune.com Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Twitter @SteveSchmadeke A woman reported that she was assaulted by two men while riding a CTA train on the North Side early Saturday, officials said. Chicago police officers responded to the Addison Red Line station in the 900 block of West Addison Street just before 4 a.m. to investigate the report, police said. They have classified the incident as a battery. Advertisement The woman told officers that two men, ages 18 to 20, verbally harassed her and touched her inappropriately, police said. The offenders fled, and no one was in custody. Advertisement Area North detectives are investigating. Abdallah Abdel Nasser, 14, receives medical treatment at Suez Canal University hospital in Ismailia, Egypt, on Nov. 24, 2017, after he was wounded during an attack on a Sufi mosque in Sinai during Friday prayers. (Amr Nabil / AP) ISMAILIA, Egypt They arrived in five SUVs, took positions across from the mosque's door and windows, and just as the imam was about to deliver his Friday sermon from atop the pulpit, they opened fire and tossed grenades at the estimated 500 worshippers inside. When the violence finally stopped, more than 300 people, including 27 children, had been killed and 128 injured. As the gunfire rang out and the blasts shook the mosque, worshippers screamed and cried out in pain. A stampede broke out in the rush toward a door leading to the washrooms. Others tried desperately to force their way out of the windows. Advertisement Those who survived spoke of children screaming as they saw parents and older brothers mowed down by gunfire or shredded by the blasts. Some marveled at their narrow escape from a certain death. Some families lost all or most male members in the massacre. So composed were the militants that they methodically checked their victims for any sign of life after the initial round of blazing gunfire. Those still moving or breathing received a bullet to the head or the chest, the witnesses said. When the ambulances arrived they shot at them, repelling them as they got back into their vehicles and fled. Advertisement Friday's assault was Egypt's deadliest attack by Islamic extremists in the country's modern history, a grim milestone in a long-running fight against an insurgency led by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group. Al-Rawdah Mosque was in a sleepy village by the same name in Egypt's troubled northern Sinai, near the small town of Bir al-Abd. A statement by the country's chief prosecutor, Nabil Sadeq, said the attackers, some masked, numbered between 25 and 30. Those with bare faces sported heavy beards and long hair, it added. Clad in military-style camouflage pants and black T-shirts, one of them carried a black banner with the declaration of the Muslim faith there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. The banner matched those carried by IS, which has not claimed responsibility for the attack. They also torched seven cars parked outside the mosque that belonged to worshippers, the statement added. The chief prosecutor's statement was the most detailed account given by authorities and it generally agreed with what witnesses told The Associated Press on Saturday in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, where some of the wounded are hospitalized. "We knew that the mosque was under attack by (militants)," said witness Ebid Salem Mansour recalling the intense gunfire. Mansour, a 38-year-old worker in a nearby salt factory, said he had settled in Bir al-Abd three years ago to escape the bloodshed and fighting elsewhere in northern Sinai. He suffered two gunshot wounds to his legs on Friday. "Everyone lay down on the floor and kept their heads down. If you raised your head you get shot," he said. "The shooting was random and hysterical at the beginning and then became more deliberate. Whoever they weren't sure was dead or still breathing was shot dead." The militants were shouting Allahu Akbar, or God is great, as they fired at the worshippers and the children were screaming, Mansour added. "I knew I was injured but I was in a situation that was much scarier than being wounded. I was only seconds away from a certain death," he said. Amid the shooting many worshippers recited their final prayers, he added. Friday's attack targeted a mosque frequented by Sufis, members of a mystic movement within Islam. Islamic militants, including the local IS affiliate, consider Sufis heretics because of their less literal interpretations of the faith. Advertisement President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi vowed that the attack "will not go unpunished" and that Egypt would persevere with its war on terrorism. He did not specify what new steps might be taken. On Saturday, he ordered that a mausoleum be built in memory of the victims of Friday's attack and cancelled a visit to the Gulf Sultanate of Oman that was scheduled for next week. The military and security forces have already been waging a tough and costly campaign against militants in the towns, villages and desert mountains of northern Sinai, and Egypt has been in a state of emergency since April. Across the country, thousands have been arrested in a crackdown on suspected Islamists as well as against other dissenters and critics, raising concerns about human rights violations. Seeking to spread the violence, militants over the past year have carried out deadly bombings on churches in the capital of Cairo and other cities, killing dozens of Christians. The IS affiliate is also believed to be behind the 2016 downing of a Russian passenger jet that killed 224 people over Sinai, an incident that decimated the country's already ailing tourism industry. Friday's assault was the first major militant attack on a Muslim congregation, and it eclipsed past attacks, even dating back to a previous Islamic militant insurgency in the 1990s. The death of so many civilians in one day recalls the killing of at least 600 in August 2013, when Egyptian security forces broke up two sit-in protests in Cairo by supporters of Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist president ousted by the military the previous month. Another witness to Friday's attack said worshippers tried to jump out of windows as soon as the militants opened fire. "The small door that leads to the corridor for the wash rooms was about the only one where worshippers rushed to escape," said a 38-year-old government employee who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation. "There was a stampede. I fell down and then bodies piled up on top of me," he said. Advertisement The local IS group affiliate has targeted Sufis in the past. Last year, the militants beheaded a leading local Sufi religious figure, the blind sheikh Suleiman Abu Heraz, and posted photos of the killing online. Islamic State group propaganda often denounces Sufis. In the January edition of an IS online magazine, a figure purporting to be a high level official in the Sinai affiliate of the group vowed to target Sufis, accusing them of idolatry and heretical "innovation" in religion and warning that the group will "not permit (their) presence" in Sinai or Egypt. Millions of Egyptians belong to Sufi orders, which hold sessions of ritual chanting and dancing to draw the faithful closer to God. Sufis also hold shrines containing the tombs of holy men in particular reverence. Islamic militants stepped up their campaign of violence in northern Sinai after the military ousted the elected but divisive Morsi. Authorities followed up with a fierce crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group, jailing thousands. The result has been a long, grinding conflict centered on el-Arish and nearby villages and towns in north Sinai. The militants have been unable to control territory, but the military and security forces have also been unable to bring security, as the extremists continuously carry out surprise attacks, mostly targeting outposts and convoys. The attacks have largely focused on military and police and, more recently, Christians. Hundreds have been killed, although exact numbers are unclear. The militants have also assassinated individuals the group considers to be spies for the government or religious heretics. Egypt has also faced attacks by militants in its Western Desert. Advertisement Hendawi reported from Cairo. Last week, U.S. officials said the Palestine Liberation Organization mission in Washington had to close because the Palestinians had violated a provision in U.S. law. But the State Department said Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, that the office can stay open, with restrictions. (Alex Brandon / AP) WASHINGTON The Trump administration backtracked Friday on its decision to order the Palestinians' office in Washington to close, instead saying it would merely impose limitations on the office that it expected would be lifted after 90 days. Last week, U.S. officials said the Palestine Liberation Organization mission couldn't stay open because the Palestinians had violated a provision in U.S. law requiring the office to close if the Palestinians try to get the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis. The move triggered a major rift in U.S.-Palestinian relations that threatened to scuttle President Donald Trump's ambitious effort to broker Mideast peace before it ever got off the ground. Advertisement Yet the United States delayed shuttering the office for a week while saying it was working out the details with the Palestinians, before abruptly reversing course late Friday, as many Americans were enjoying a long Thanksgiving Day weekend. State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said the U.S. had "advised the PLO Office to limit its activities to those related to achieving a lasting, comprehensive peace between the Israelis and Palestinians." Vasquez said even those restrictions will be lifted after 90 days if the U.S. determines the Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in serious peace talks. The White House, in an effort led by Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been preparing a comprehensive peace plan to present to both sides in the coming months. Advertisement "We therefore are optimistic that at the end of this 90-day period, the political process may be sufficiently advanced that the president will be in a position to allow the PLO office to resume full operations," Vasquez said. The reversal marked a serious departure from the administration's interpretation of the law only a week earlier. Officials had said then that, one way or another, the office had to close because Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a U.N. speech in September, had called on the ICC to investigate and prosecute Israelis. That same law, though, says that the president can let the office re-open after 90 days despite an ICC push if serious Israeli-Palestinian talks are underway. Asked how the Trump administration explains its new interpretation of about what must happen if the Palestinians call for an ICC investigation, Vasquez said: "These actions are consistent with the president's authorities to conduct the foreign relations of the United States." There were no indications that the Trump administration had initially moved to close the office as part of a premeditated strategy to strengthen its hand in eventual peace talks. Instead, officials explained the move by saying Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in a strict interpretation of the law, determined that Abbas' speech had crossed the legal line. The chaos that ensued after the announcement, with the U.S. unable for several days to explain if the office was truly closing and when, indicated it had caught much of the government off-guard. Still, the move led the Palestinians to issue an angry response last weekend threatening to suspend all communication with the U.S. Additionally, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused the U.S. of bowing to pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government "at a time when we are trying to cooperate to achieve the ultimate deal." Vasquez said the original position had never been intended to create leverage or impose pressure. The State Department said that the administration is actively working to pursue lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace. The requirement about the mission closing stems from a little-noticed provision in U.S. law that says the U.S. cannot allow the Palestinians to have a Washington office if they back the international court's move to investigate or prosecute Israeli nationals for alleged crimes against Palestinians. Advertisement Abbas said at the United Nations in September that the Palestinians had "called on the International Criminal Court to open an investigation and to prosecute Israeli officials for their involvement in settlement activities and aggressions against our people." The PLO is the group that formally represents all Palestinians. Although the U.S. does not recognize Palestinian statehood, the PLO maintains a "general delegation" office in Washington that facilitates Palestinian officials' interactions with the U.S. government. The United States allowed the PLO to open a mission in Washington in 1994. That required President Bill Clinton to waive a law that said the Palestinians couldn't have an office. In 2011, under the Obama administration, the U.S. started letting the Palestinians fly their flag over the office, an upgrade to the status of their mission that the Palestinians hailed as historic. Israel opposes any Palestinian membership in U.N.-related organizations until a peace deal has been reached. The Israelis and Palestinians are not engaged in active, direct negotiations. But Trump's team, led by Kushner, is working to broker a deal aimed at settling the intractable conflict. The Trump administration has not disclosed details about its effort to achieve an agreement that ostensibly would grant the Palestinians an independent state in exchange for an end to its conflict with the Israelis. Kushner and other top Trump aides have been shuttling to the region to meet with Palestinians, Israelis and officials from Arab nations. Advertisement The Palestinians, publicly supportive of the U.S. effort, are nonetheless skeptical because Trump's close ties to Israel suggest whatever deal he proposes might be unfavorable to them. M. Zia Hassan, dean of the school of business at the Illinois Institute of Technology who helped found the Islamic Foundation mosque and school in Villa Park, died on Oct. 29 at 84, his wife, Shakeela Hassan, said. (Jose More / Chicago Tribune) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement M. Zia Hassan was a professor and dean at the Illinois Institute of Technology who helped found the Islamic Foundation mosque and school in Villa Park in the early 1970s. Hassan went on to serve as the chairman of the foundation for 40 years, a period of significant growth. He was an enlightened soul among his peers and used his kindness to develop unity in the team he led, to reduce rivalry among various groups of donors, and to promote spirituality over religiosity, said Moon Khan, a member of the foundation and a former York Township trustee. His role was to provide sunshine after a heavy spell of snowstorm. Advertisement Hassan, 84, died of pneumonia Oct. 29 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after undergoing several surgeries, said his wife of 57 years, Shakeela Hassan. He had moved to Streeterville in July and previously had been a longtime Hyde Park resident. Born Mohammad Zia Hassan in what now is Pakistan, Hassan earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1956 to study at IIT. Hassan earned a masters degree in industrial engineering from IIT in 1958 and a doctorate in industrial engineering from IIT in 1965. Hassan began lecturing at IIT in 1960 and became a full professor before being promoted to become the dean of IITs Stuart School of Business, which was founded in 1969. Hassan focused his research on business policy and quality management, and he wrote more than 30 academic papers. He also cowrote a textbook in the early 1980s, BASIC Programs for Production and Operations Management. Hassan retired from IIT in 2014. Before his retirement, IITs Stuart School of Business endowed a $2 million professorship in Hassans name, and IIT professor Elizabeth Durango-Cohen recently was named the first educator to hold that position. In the late 1960s, Hassan helped establish the Muslim Community Center on Chicagos Northwest Side. He then joined forces in the mid-1970s with Abdul Hameed Dogar, who also died in October, to create the Islamic Foundation in DuPage County, consisting of a mosque and an adjoining school. Always strongly committed to education, Hassan worked to develop the Islamic Foundation even though his own home in Hyde Park was a meaningful distance from DuPage County. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 86 Dick Orkin, an award-winning radio advertising creator for close to a half-century who was perhaps best known for his syndicated Chickenman spoof, which aired on Chicago stations, died on Dec. 24 in California. He was 84. Read more. (Handout) Hassan was the Islamic Foundations chairman for 40 years, overseeing both the mosque and the school. In the early 1980s, the group bought the shuttered High Ridge School on High Ridge Road in Villa Park, which had closed as a public school in 1982 due to low enrollment. The Islamic Foundation then opened its own mosque and K-12 school on the site, which grew to now provide education for some 750 students. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Ali Ahmed, a foundation member and former chairman of the Islamic Foundations school who worked closely with Hassan, recalled meeting regularly at Hassans office at IIT and seeing him interacting with his graduate students and other IIT professors. His intent was to help others and to help to see the community grow and prosper, Ahmed said. And in both settings, he really was the driving force for getting the younger generation involved in things, whether graduate students in his program or the second or third generation of (Muslim) immigrants at the foundation. He really understood the needs of my generation and those younger, and he could understand balancing our community with our personal and professional lives. Hassan stepped down as the chairman of the foundation in 2014, his daughter Rubeena Mian said. Advertisement In addition to his wife and daughter, Hassan is survived by daughters Ayesha and Isra; five grandchildren; sisters Naseem Ahmed and Tasneem Bashir; and brothers Imtiaz and Iftikhar. Services were held. Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. Benjamin Trey Gruber, originally of Ohio, was the frontman of Chicago band Parent. He died of a heroin and fentanyl overdose in September. (Photo courtesy of Dan Geddes) I knew hed finally hit the vein when the blood back-filled the syringe. He fired the heroin, pulled out the rig and knocked the belt off his bicep, leaving a single, fat drop of blood behind. We were on speakerphone with an administrator from a detox facility at the time. My friend Trey Gruber didn't have a phone anymore, so he had texted me from a desktop computer asking if I would take him to detox. I went over to his apartment and started calling. Advertisement One facility was full, and a few wouldnt take his insurance. He said he would be better able to manage the insurance and intake questions if he used. To be honest, I didnt think he was leaving that building until those baggies were empty anyway. We finally found a detox that would accept him that night, and I drove him to it in Uptown. I filled out the paperwork when he couldnt hold the pen steady. He nodded in and out of consciousness. Advertisement He was out of detox after five days. A week later he scored some dope, probably south of Chicago Avenue between Homan and Pulaski. It had fentanyl in it. He shot that heroin and died. He was 26. My friend knew he could die if he kept using. Lots of addicts and alcoholics do, and in fact I told him so more than once, though I hedged the amount of time I gave him months and years, not the weeks and days he apparently had left. I still regret that. His illness was one that distorts thinking and emotions. Its a disease that turns human beings against themselves. It creates the calm delirium of using while on hold for detox. Its an active manifestation of the human capability for self-sabotage. Those who knew him remember Treys dedication to honesty, a painfully empathetic spirit and acerbic sense of humor. Someone for whom the small sacrifices a ride out of your way or a spare cigarette always felt right. Hed do them for you, and you knew it. He was the kind of person whose funeral was shoulder-to-shoulder, whose ex-employer, the cafe that fired him during a relapse, freely opened its doors for a large memorial service. And he was a brilliant musician, something of a genius, whose band I saw turn the heads of disinterested bar crowds. There are some recordings and pieces of songs, now in the process of being recovered and preserved by his family, that I hope one day find new listeners. The fact that no more of his music is possible will underscore the tragedy of his death. He was also a lifesaver. Literally. There are other addicts alcohol, heroin, whatever who are alive today because of his efforts to help them in their recovery. His memorial felt like a lifeboat, but one he unfortunately fell out of. Americans my age have been misinformed about drugs for most of our lives. I was taught in D.A.R.E. that addiction is simply the result of drug usage, and not a disorder. I was taught drug users were dangerous people to be avoided even though avoiding addicts only facilitates their addiction. I was taught that marijuana is more harmful and devoid of therapeutic use than cocaine or methamphetamine. Advertisement All the while, pharmaceutical companies were producing legal drugs, marketing them to doctors despite evidence such practices would cause addiction, as the LA Times and The New Yorker found in a groundbreaking series of reports. A billionaire pharma founder with Chicago connections was recently indicted for allegedly bribing doctors to prescribe a fentanyl product so powerful it is supposed to be reserved for serious cancer-related pain. Corporate America profited off addiction, while political America arrested and stigmatized the addicted. Treys first dope fix? Three pilfered OxyContin. Drug overdoses now kill more Americans per year than car crashes did in the 60s and 70s, or guns did at the peak of Americas violent crime boom, or HIV/AIDS did at the height of the crisis. They killed more Americans in 2016 than died in the entire Vietnam War. What can we do better? Are we going to start teaching kids that addiction is a disease whose cause lies not in the drugs used, but in the mind that uses them? Are we going to educate them about the warning signs and genetic markers for addiction? Are we going to stop incarcerating low-level drug offenders and open treatment centers with that cash instead? Are we going to force the makers of opioids that often lead to heroin addiction to clean up the mess theyve made, as we did tobacco manufacturers? Advertisement It took the Trump administration nearly three months to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency, a half-measure by his own commissions estimation, bereft of new federal funding. Democrats have unveiled a $45 billion anti-opioid abuse bill. Would Donald Trump sign it? Treys mother told me she spoke to a Chicago police officer who responded to Treys death, a man used to encountering suffering and tragedy. He told her that as soon as word got out, her sons apartment was flooded with mourners. He told her he remembered thinking, This one still has lots that loved him. He was right. Struggling with drugs or alcohol? Contact Chicagoland Narcotics Anonymous at (708) 848-4884 and Alcoholics Anonymous at (312) 346-1475. charjohnson@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @Charliemagne An apartment building in Summit is considered a total loss following an early morning fire, officials said. Nov. 25, 2017. (Frank Vaisvilas / Daily Southtown) A resident and a firefighter were injured Saturday in an early morning fire that destroyed a Summit apartment building, Summit Fire Chief Wayne Hanson said. Firefighters called to the 7600 block of West 61st Place about 2:30 a.m. found "heavy smoke and fire" coming from the building, he said. Advertisement All 12 occupants of the three-unit structure escaped, but one needed to be treated for smoke inhalation. A firefighter was treated for exhaustion, he said. "The building at this point will be considered a complete loss," Hanson said. Advertisement A man named Eduardo, who identified himself as the building's owner but declined to give his last name, said he felt badly for his tenants, who are now displaced during the holiday season. Hanson said the Red Cross provided housing assistance to the residents. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Several other fire departments provided mutual aid, including Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park and North Palos, he said. Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Naperville City Councilwoman Patty Gustin has requested the number of seats on Napervilles Sister Cities commission be reduced from 15 to nine. (Jon Langham/Naperville Sun ) With more than half its 15 positions empty, the Naperville Sister Cities Commission has been unable to meet because they lack enough members for a quorum. That could change by the end of the year if Naperville City Councilwoman Patty Gustin's request to reduce the number of seats on the mayoral-appointed commission to nine. Advertisement The commission, created by ordinance in 1977, has had 15 seats since its inception. Eight members must be present for there to be enough to hold a meeting; the current commission only has seven. The purpose of the mayoral-appointed commission is "creating greater understanding and of fostering a lasting friendship between the people of Naperville and its sister cities," according to city code. Naperville has two sister cities Nitra, Slovakia, established in 1993, and Patzcuaro, Mexico, established in 2010. Advertisement In July, the commission submitted a request to Mayor Steve Chirico asking they have a voice in the process of approving new commission members in order to be "more strategic" about filling empty seats. The commission now interviews prospective members before applications go to the mayor, commission Chairwoman Patty Lindstrom said. The commission has already vetted three applicants who could be options for filling two vacant seats if City Council members approve reducing the the number of seats from 15 to nine, Lindstrom said. "Over the past two years, four of the seats have been consistently open," she said. "I asked they not be filled because I felt they weren't being filled strategically in regards to looking at what talents we didn't already have around the table." Chirico is in agreement with the request from Lindstrom and Gustin, who serves as the council's liaison to the commission. Reducing the number of seats will make the commission "more consistent with other boards and commissions," Chirico said. Naperville's Sister Cities commission has more seats than any other of the city's 19 board and commissions. The Riverwalk Commission can have up to 12 members, transportation advisory board and advisory commission on disabilities up to 11 and and historic preservation commission can have as many as 10 members, according to city documents. All other commissions can vary in size from five to nine members. Gustin was named council liaison to the commission in July. Prior to that, former Councilman Kevin Gallaher was the liaison and did not attend any Sister Cities meetings, Lindstrom said. Naperville City Council members Tuesday also approved a Special Events and Cultural Amenities 2018 funding plan that denied the Sister Cities Commission's request for $42,950 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Naperville Sister Cities in 2018 will not receive any money from the SECA fund, which gets its money from the city's 1 percent tax on food and beverage. Advertisement "When we don't get this kind of support, it's disappointing," Gustin said. "There's so much going on and changing in the world we need to be abreast of it. That's what this commission does." ehegarty@tribpub.com Park district seeks public input on Oakton Park The Park Ridge Park District is holding a public input meeting to help form a master plan for Oakton Park. Advertisement The meeting will take place on Thursday at 7 p.m. inside the O'Connor Community Building at Prospect Park, 733 N. Prospect Ave. in Park Ridge. According to the park district, members of the public are invited to provide ideas to help "sculpt future potential park amenities and facility improvements at Oakton Park." Advertisement The park board has discussed potential improvements to the Oakton Ice Arena building and park itself, and is working with consultant Wight & Company to form a master plan. Maine South Orchesis dances in annual show Maine South High School's Orchesis Dance Company will present its annual show "Admit One," on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium, 1111 S. Dee Road in Park Ridge. Tickets are $7 and will be sold at the door. The movie-themed show will feature contemporary, jazz, tap, lyrical, and musical-theater dance styles choreographed by Orchesis members. This year's Orchesis dance company is made up of 35 students. Maine East concert features Marine musicians Two trumpet soloists from the United States Marine Band will perform during Maine East High School's Winter Concert on Dec. 3. Advertisement The concert, featuring performances of holiday-themed music by the school's band, orchestra and choir students, will take place at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium, 2601 W. Dempster St. in Park Ridge. Joining the students are Marine soloists Staff Sgt. Barndon Eubank and Gunnery Sgt. Brad Weil, said Maine Township High School District 207. St. Paul hosts St. Nicholas Party St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church will host its annual St. Nicholas Party on Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon in the church's Morello Parish Life Center, Washington and Summit avenues. Children are invited to meet with Santa and also bring an unwrapped gift for a child in preschool through eighth grade that is approximately $10 in value. Gifts will be sent to local charities for children in need, the church said. The event will also feature a bake sale and a Santa's workshop with gifts for children to buy for their family and friends. Advertisement jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @Jen_Tribune Tikyle Yates, 17, of East Garfield Park was born with a particularly severe case of Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare craniofacial condition that affects bone and tissue development in the face, which often including the ears and cheekbones. Yates was unable to open his mouth more than a few millimeters until two rounds of intense surgery at Rush University Medical Center. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Tikyle Yates said he wouldn't cry while watching "Wonder," yet the 17-year-old's eyes welled at the film with a protagonist whose atypical face and surgical scars so closely mirror his own. "It was very emotional," Yates said after the theater emptied, a few tears still staining his cheeks, which were recently reconstructed during a life-altering surgery. "I'm proud of who I am." Advertisement Based on the best-selling novel of the same title, the drama "Wonder" chronicles the first year of school for 10-year-old Auggie Pullman who has a form of Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare craniofacial condition that affects the development of bones and other tissues in the face, often including the ears and cheekbones. Yates, of East Garfield Park, was born with a particularly severe case of the disorder, which rendered him unable to open his mouth more than a sliver until two rounds of intense surgery in the last year at Rush University Medical Center. Since then, the Young Magnet High School senior has eaten food for the first time after subsisting on the meal replacement drink Ensure for much of his life. He is able to breathe better and is learning to speak more clearly. Advertisement Yet the teen sometimes still wears a hoodie to conceal his profile from strangers, who often stare at his facial structure and then quickly look away. Many kids with craniofacial anomalies and their families are hopeful the burgeoning popularity of "Wonder" which unexpectedly collected an estimated $27 million its first weekend in theaters could allay some of the social stigma around faces that appear different from the norm. Yates' mother, Tonyana Rockett, believes the tale will inspire confidence in her son. She's also optimistic the public will gain a better understanding of conditions like his, which alter the looks but not minds of those afflicted. "All he wants to do is to be accepted," she said. There is a scene in "Wonder" where Auggie is in his bed crying over reactions to his appearance. His mother, portrayed by Julia Roberts, tries to comfort him. "Is it always going to matter?" the little boy asks her. "I don't know," she responds. This was where Yates' mom broke down. Advertisement "This is our story," she said. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Senior Tikyle Yates, 17, on Nov. 17, 2017, at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicagos Near West Side neighborhood. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The other is not so different The surgeon touched an acrylic model of Yates' skull made before his most recent operations, her fingertips sweeping across cheekbones that were almost entirely absent and without any arch. The bones around the eyes were partially missing and underdeveloped. The lower jaw also didn't form normally. Before the surgeries, Yates' mouth could open only 2 millimeters, and his nasal passage was too small to breathe, said Dr. Christina Tragos, reconstructive surgeon and co-director of the Rush Craniofacial Center. "It's your face," she said. "When you meet somebody, within seconds it's how people interpret who you are. And that's reality." Tragos keeps a copy of the novel "Wonder" in her waiting room for her patients, children with various complex craniofacial conditions. While function drives her work helping kids eat, sleep, breathe and hear she's aware of the impact of aesthetics, particularly on self-esteem. "This is a story I know so well," she said. "This is every kid I treat." Advertisement Tragos believes people tend to be scared of the unfamiliar, but that instinct isn't innate. Reactions to people who look different are learned behaviors, she said, and books and movie likes "Wonder" can help a mass audience rethink these tendencies. "They remind you that the other is not so different from us," Tragos said. "I think it will make an impact on this entire generation of people." Another patient of hers, Dominika Tamley of Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood, watched "Wonder" with her parents last week. She has Apert syndrome, a genetic disorder in which certain bones in the skull prematurely fuse together, altering the shape of the head and face. "I have a craniofacial difference, but I'm just like you," said Dominika, 11. "I'm unique." Before a major midface surgery over the summer, she said other kids sometimes gawked at or followed her around while whispering to their friends. She hopes the film will teach others not to stare or make rude comments, which can be deeply hurtful. "We love how Dominika looks," said her father, Kevin Irvine. "We wouldn't do anything to change her looks, other than to improve functionality. She's our beautiful girl. On the other hand, we know we don't live in her body. We can't own her experience for her. She has to own her experience." Advertisement Watch the trailer for "Wonder." (Handout) "Wonder" review: Julia Roberts, Jacob Tremblay show the importance of being kind, empathetic His one criticism of the movie is that the main character wasnt played by a child with a craniofacial condition. Seventeen-year-old Peter Dankelson of Libertyville attended the films Hollywood premiere this month and met the cast. The high school junior has Goldenhar syndrome, a rare congenital disorder often marked by incomplete development of the ear, nose, soft palate, lip and jaw. Peter often speaks at school assemblies to students who are reading Wonder in class. His mother, Dede Dankelson, is on the board of the nonprofit Childrens Craniofacial Association. Peter is understanding about passers-by who do double takes, especially when he's without his prosthetic ear. "It's not everyday people see someone without an ear," he said. But he does hope more people make the connection between his appearance and the journey of Auggie in Wonder. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "Maybe if they see the movie, they'll have a better understanding," he said. "They'll remember that I'm just a regular person." He came from my body Yates' mom was told something was wrong around the middle of her pregnancy, when her first and only child was found to be undersized. Although given the option, she chose not to terminate. Hes my baby, he came from my body, Rockett said. Whatever comes with him, its all mine. After an emergency Caesarean section at 34 weeks, Yates was born weighing just over 3 pounds and rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit. Rockett recalled that someone from the hospital brought her a photo of the newborn her first glimpse at his face but she thinks she was too numb to process anything right away. He was later diagnosed with Treacher Collins syndrome, which occurs in an estimated 1 in 50,000 births. Yates uses hearing aids and is legally blind, but with glasses can see well enough to park a car when he plays the video game Grand Theft Auto. He has an infectious laugh: His mom didnt see anything funny about his favorite episode of Family Guy, in which a giant chicken fights the title character, but she always seems to double over once her son starts laughing. Hes always been self-conscious but has grown more outgoing since two rounds of reconstructive surgery at Rush in February and June. Tragos changed the contours of Yates face and inserted two titanium hinge joints that connect the jaw to the skull, allowing him to open his mouth. Fewer than 30 children nationwide have this kind of custom titanium joint, according to Rush. His face is now more symmetrical and appears rounder and fuller in the middle. The position of his eyes is more even and his jaw line is more pronounced. Advertisement Rockett sometimes catches her son looking at his profile in the bathroom mirror, and hes begun posting photos of himself on Instagram. I looked like a new person, he said, his words a little muffled, but Rockett interprets for him. His speech is becoming clearer, though he still often communicates with sign language. He tasted food for the first time, still in pureed form as his mouth muscles continue to strengthen. He loves macaroni and cheese but hates ravioli. Yates wants to eat chicken wings some day. He also longs to remove his tracheotomy tube, which is below the vocal cords in his neck and allows air to enter the lungs. Rockett wants him to go to prom in the spring. Hes not so sure; he says he needs to find a girl to take. Right off, sometimes people look at him and shun him, Rockett said. You look different, I dont want any part. Maybe a few people will see the movie and say hi, introduce themselves and be more friendly to him. Theres nothing at all wrong with asking questions. I would prefer people ask questions instead of staring and making faces. Just come up and ask. eleventis@chicagotribune.com Twitter @angie_leventis All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week China's oracle bone scripts, an ancient type of Chinese characters inscribed on animal bones or turtle shells, have successfully entered the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, according to the Chinese Ministry of Education on Friday. A piece of oracle bone script [Photo/CCTV] Launched in 1997, the Memory of the World Register of the UN organization was aimed at preserving and making better use of the aging documents and files that have been dying out from the human history. So far, China has 11 pieces of documentary files on the list, including the documents of Nanjing Massacre, which recorded the history of 300,000 Chinese victims murdered by the Japanese invaders during World War II and were enlisted in 2015. Yin Xu, relics of the Shang Dynasty in Anyang City, Henan Province [Photo/Radio of Anyang] The oracle bone scripts, originally discovered from relics of the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC 1046 BC) in Anyang City, Henan Province, is an ancient type of Chinese language used for divination. It was discovered by epigraphy expert Wang Yirong from the Chinese medical materials he bought, since the animal bones and turtle shells were usually used as medicines in China. Wang was therefore dubbed as the "Father of Oracle Bone Scripts." The characters inscribed on the bones and shells have contributed greatly to the Chinese civilization, enabling the Chinese culture to be passed on from generation to generation and become the only civilization to last up to the present. However, in the past 100 years since being discovered, only around 2,000 characters from the oracle bone scripts have been decoded. There are at least 3,000 more remaining to be deciphered. According to published materials, there are about 150,000 pieces of unearthed oracle bone scripts, and about 100,000 were preserved in the Chinese mainland, 30,000 in Taiwan and the other 20,000 were scattered across the world. It is expected that by entering the Memory of the World Register, the archaeological study of the ancient characters could be encouraged. "It is only a new beginning," said Song Zhenhao, director of the Oracle Bone Scripts Study Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, hoping that the new achievement could inject a vigor into the ancient study. The Financial Dreamworks Chengdu is believed to be China's first financial co-working space. [Photo by Zhang Lulu/China.org.cn] The financial technology startup BankLink had a choice among Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu to locate. Despite Beijing and Shanghai being the favorites for many Chinese entrepreneurs, the fintech company eventually decided they would settle in Chengdu, capital of western China's Sichuan Province. The reason, according to heads of the company, was the city's new focus on developing its finance sector. Known for its spicy cuisines and as home of China's giant pandas, Chengdu has now put the stakes on the financial industry, trying to attract ambitious financial entrepreneurs from across the country. Financial Dreamworks One of the flagship establishment for Chengdu's developing finance sector is the Financial Dreamworks Chengdu, a three-story, 7,000-square-meter co-working space, said to be China's first financial startup incubator of this size. The space opened a year ago, and has since attracted more than 40 financial startups, filling the building in just six months. With about 500 people filling the building's capacity, some companies had to make over a few recreational places and turn them into work space, according to people working there. Chen Zhengting, co-founder and CIO of BankLink, said the fintech company opted for the Financial Dreamworks instead of rent-free space because it matched their ambition. The Financial Dreamworks, according to its general manager Zheng Kuang, focuses on the red-hot fintech industry, and occupants of the co-working space have formed a complete financial ecosystem that includes a diverse mix of companies working on credit-based payment, blockchain technology, cloud computing, big data-based financial risk control, and others. "Entrepreneurs of different teams working here can interact with each other and share precious information among them," said Zheng. In addition, Chen said he also trusted in the government-backed incubator as it sets higher bars for companies that settle in. Instead of admitting companies that only want to make a quick buck, the space's lessor made sure to allow in ones with longterm prospects, creating a genuinely friendly environment for serious entrepreneurs. The incubator also invites representatives from government agencies and financial institutions to come and visit, so that the teams here can get first-hand information on the latest policies and possible reforms, Chen said. Since it set foot at the incubator in June, the firm has now reached industries including catering services, tourism, and automobile after-sale services. It serves, for instance, more than 2,000 chain catering service providers, Chen said. The 23rd Conference of Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded last week in Bonn. The delegates held crucial talks to prepare the ground for the COP 24 next year which will sum up the details, also termed as the Paris "rulebook" about implementation of the Paris agreement. China's special representative on climate change affairs Xie Zhenhua delivers a speech during the high-level forum on south-south cooperation on climate change held in the China pavilion at the 23rd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn, Germany, on Nov. 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] The historic agreement reached in Paris in December 2015 will direct efforts after 2020 to control global warming in view of the cataclysmic impact it could have on the global environment and its habitants. The agreement plans to control global climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also has set a worldwide target to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above that of the pre-industrial age The deal was result of a common understanding between countries that global warming was a reality and the common responsibility of all humanity to take part in efforts to curtail the deadly consequences if left unchecked. The challenge is huge and is impossible for a single nation or exclusive group of nations to deal with. This realization helped to clinch broad agreement in Paris with NDCs or nationally determined contributions as its basis. For the first time, the small island nation of Fiji was given the Presidency of COP 23 in Bonn, where all logistic support was arranged by the German government. The gesture amplifies the commitment made by a world recognizing this tiny nation could not be allowed to be swallowed up by the cruelly rising sea waters. Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama warned of looming natural disaster at the conference opening ceremony and asked to "preserve the global consensus for decisive action enshrined in the Paris Agreement" to check the global temperature. The drastic impact of the temperature rise was noticed in the last century. It led to global concern about the collective future of humanity. The fight against climate change began in earnest from 1992 with the UNFCCC. Efforts made in this direction so far can be divided into pre-2020 phase and the years after the Paris deal is set to be implemented. The efforts to carry forward the Paris consensus suffered a severe jolt when U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of the agreement. He is among the group of naive people who have shut their eyes like a pigeon and insisted that the deadly cat of global warming is just fiction. However, unlike the pigeon that, according to the story risked only its personal safety through inaction, the Trump cult is endangering the entire globe. Trump's unilateral action is a major disappointment, as his country is one of the major polluters and his dithering could certainly dilute the efforts to clean the environment of poisonous materials. The U.S. decision to turn its back on global commitments has created space for China to come forward and play a role for the sake of coming generations. China under President Xi Jinping has exhibited enormous vision to foresee the danger of global warming and show commitment to provide leadership in implementing the Paris deal. China took part in the Bonn conference and reiterated its intention to push ahead with global efforts. Lu Xinming, a negotiator from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and part of the delegation, told media that the Bonn meeting was crucial in defining the implementation guidelines of the Paris deal and battling climate change. Lu said that China had submitted five proposals to the meeting on implementing the Paris Agreement, demonstrating the country's "proactive attitude in participating in and guiding the global climate negotiations." China emphasized flexibility for the developing nations under the principal of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and also highlighted the comprehensive approach to mitigation, adaptation, finance and capacity building. China has taken local initiatives to meet national targets and is also playing role promoting south-south cooperation in joint and integrated efforts to tackle global warming. China in collaboration with other nations has paved way for the COP 24 scheduled to be held in December 2018 in Poland to compete the process. As the world moves forward to deliver on the global commitment, Trump is further isolated on the climate change challenge, as the U.S. is now the only country out of the Paris deal after Syria announced during the Bonn meeting it would sign the agreement. Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash China is ready to work with France in a joint and positive effort to deal with climate change while maintaining multilateralism and an inclusive world economy, Premier Li Keqiang said. Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] Li spoke when meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Li said relations between China and France have been advancing well, and China puts strategic emphasis on Sino-French ties and is willing to work with France to advance bilateral ties with a healthy and stable development momentum. He said China is willing to enhance cooperation with France in areas including civilian nuclear energy. China supports European integration and hopes cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries will boost balanced development of the European Union, Li said. Le Drian also met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, and they jointly talked to reporters. Wang said the two countries are ready to seek common ground while maintaining differences, and are preparing for French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China in early 2018. Wang said the key lesson from the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in the past two decades is that when confrontation and misunderstanding persist, all stakeholders miss the chance for a peaceful dialogue. "The pressing task is to fully implement decisions made by the UN Security Council and spare no efforts to start consultation on the issue as soon as possible," Wang said. You are here: Home Flash The death toll in an attack on Friday on a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai province rose to 235, Egypt's state TV reported. A man injured in a mosque attack in Egypt's North Sinai province receives medical treatment at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, on Nov. 24, 2017. The death toll in an attack on Friday on a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai province rose to 235, Egypt's state TV reported. [Photo/Xinhua] At least 109 others were wounded when suspected militants attacked the mosque, the report said. Earlier report said at least 115 people were killed in the attack. An explosive device planted outside the mosque near Arish city went off, before militants opened fire at the prayers, an official security source told Xinhua. The attack occurred in the village of Rawda in Beir el-Abad, 40 km from Arish, the source added. Some 50 ambulances rushed to the scene after the attack. Most of the wounded were transferred to the Arish Hospital for treatment. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi will chair a meeting of the security committee on the attack, official MENA news agency quoted presidential sources as saying. The meeting will be attended by the ministers of defense and interior in addition to the heads of general intelligence and military intelligence services, the report said. The Egyptian presidency declared three-day mourning across the nation. The presidency in a statement condemned that terrorist attack as treacherous and heinous action that wouldn't be passed without punishment. "The pains that the Egyptians are suffering now wouldn't be overcome without strict response, and the hand of justice will reach all those took part in the attack," the presidency statement added. Egypt will continue its war against the black terrorism with hope and willingness and will uproot it, it added. Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed el Tayeb denounced "the terrorist attack" stressing the importance of working to eliminate terrorists. Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, Ambassador Ivan Surkos, also condemned the attack. "Media bringing news on attack against mosque during today's Friday prayers in Rawda, Northern Sinai, reporting many injured," Surkos tweeted. "I condemn this barbaric terrorist act against innocent civilians," he added. Egypt is suffering a wave of terrorist attacks, mostly centered in Sinai where militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers since the army-led ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Most of the attacks, which recently expanded the city and some other cities, have been claimed by the Islamic State branch in Sinai. Flash Brazilian prosecutors charged 213 prisoners Friday with involvement in the murder of 56 other inmates on Jan. 1 at a prison in Manaus, the second worst massacre in Brazilian history. The 213 prisoners at the Anisio Jobim penitentiary in Amazonas were charged with the murder of six people, the torture and destruction of bodies of 26 more, and others. Prosecutors sent to the court a 110-page document, describing the facts of "extreme barbarity, with scenes of horror and perversity that cannot remain unpunished." The killing happened on the first day of 2017, after a rebellion at the prison lasted over 17 hours. Several of the prisoners were dismembered and burned. The riot was sparked by the internal fight of two rival criminal gangs fighting for control of drug trafficking in the region. It then spread to other Brazilian prisons, plunging it into a crisis that lasted for months, and leaving over 100 dead, hundreds injured and causing dozens of riots. China and Canada's Ontario province have inked 25 deals worth almost C$600 million ($472 million), mainly in technology, e-commerce, finance and healthcare sectors, as the two countries continue to deepen economic and trade ties. Highlights of the signed deals included technology giant Tencent's cooperation with Ontario's OTT Financial Group to build a business accelerator center in Toronto and to develop the tech company's cloud market, as well as China CITIC Bank's agreement to provide education services to Ontario's U Education Group. "Partnerships with international leaders like China are critical to Ontario's economic success," said Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, Canada's largest province by population and economy. "Ontario's diverse and innovative economy makes it one of the best, most competitive places in the world to invest, and we encourage Chinese businesses to take advantage of what Ontario has to offer," she said. In 2016, China was Canada's second largest trading partner and its second largest source of imported merchandise. Ontario's trade with China has surged by nearly 40 percent over the past five years, totaling C$42 billion in 2016. Science and technology are two priority areas of cooperation. In these sectors, bilateral trade between China and Ontario accounted for 42 percent of the total, according to the Ontario government. Lepu Medical Technology Co signed an agreement with Ontario's Communication & Power Industries, valued at C$2.85 million, under which the latter would supply Lepu with a high-voltage generator producta key component in angiography and cardiovascular X-ray systems for medical applications. "Ontario spends about C$50-55 billion every year to strengthen the medical sector," Michael Chan, Ontario's minister for international trade, told China Daily. "It's good to reach out to the world including China. As Chinese population is aging, there's tremendous potential for Ontario and China to collaborate in bioscience, medical devices and healthcare." CHANGCHUN - A subsidiary of Chinese trainmaker, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), said Saturday it had established an Asia-Pacific headquarters and a research & development center in Australia. The Melbourne-based headquarters will help provide technology support for train design, manufacturing and maintenance in the region, according to CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Company in Northeast China's Jilin province. "The office will create more job and export opportunities for local train manufacturers," said Wang Run, chairman of CRRC Changchun. The office employs 41 local workers. In November 2016, CRRC Changchun signed a deal with Victoria to build high-capacity metro trains worth $1.5 billion, the biggest metro train purchasing project in the Australian state's history. CRRC Changchun has more than 18,000 employers and annually manufactures more than 8,000 trains. BAKU - Azerbaijan's Smart Systems Technology company and Chinese telecom giant ZTE signed an agreement here on Thursday to enhance cooperation in the telecommunications market of Azerbaijan. As part of bilateral cooperation, the large projects implemented by Smart Systems Technology will make use of the Enterprise-class equipment, which will strengthen the position of the leading Chinese telecom equipment maker in the Azerbaijan market. "Cooperation with ZTE will allow the company to expand coverage of broadband services both in Baku and in the country's rural areas in a short period of time," general director of Smart Systems Technology Firudin Akberov told local media. "Based on the price-performance ratio of ZTE equipment, we will be able to expand the coverage of broadband services using GPON technology, which will also allow the development of IP-TV and telephony services," he said. ZTE Vice-President Yang Jun said that Smart Systems Technology has a huge technical and engineering potential, which was highly appreciated by ZTE. ZTE is also a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the mobile Internet. Azerbaijan's Smart Systems Technology is a software development and telecommunication solutions provider. Shoppers reach out for television sets as they compete to purchase retail items at a store in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday.[Photo/Agencies] Major cross-border e-commerce players are betting big on Black Friday, the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States, to boost Chinese online purchases overseas. They are wooing Chinese consumers with a wide range of authentic and high-quality overseas products and quicker delivery services, as the demands of country's middle class shoppers are becoming increasingly diversified and personalized. Amazon.com Inc kicked off its biggest-ever Black Friday promotion by gathering deals from Amazon China and four overseas sites including the US, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany, as well as speeding up logistics and delivery operations. Chinese consumers will enjoy authentic deals from overseas markets and purchase authentic products shipped directly from Amazon's overseas fulfillment centers, the company said. "At present, Amazon Global Store has covered the top destinations of China customers' cross-border shopping, a result of efforts to provide Chinese customers with authentic international products," said Elaine Chang, president of Amazon China. She added that Amazon Prime members can enjoy exclusive deals with up to 50 percent off on some of the best Prime-eligible products. They are also available at just 288 yuan ($43.8) for various benefits, including extra coupon packages. Last October, Amazon launched Amazon Prime service in China, the first unlimited free cross-border shipping membership program globally. The Shanghai-based cross-border e-commerce site Ymatou.com provides a more diversified shopping service during this year's Black Friday carnival. "With users' demands becoming more and more personalized and diversified, not only more high-quality goods are needed, all-round services are also necessary," said Zeng Bibo, chief executive officer of Ymatou. The company will recommend products with excellent quality and reasonable prices to customers by utilizing big data technology and analyzing commodity sales, user ratings, brand influence and price information. It also announced a strategic cooperation with Eastern Air Logistics Co Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines Co Ltd. Ymatou said more than 40,000 orders were transacted during the first minute, and it sold 100 million yuan worth of goods in seven minutes 53 seconds when the sales started last Friday, a week earlier than the official start of the shopping season. Chen Tao, an analyst with Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys, said: "Black Friday, as a cross-border shopping carnival has been growing in popularity in China, but its size is small compared with China's homegrown online shopping festival Singles Day." Li Jiayue contributed to this story. Two customers head for the exit after shopping at a 24-hour Carrefour supermarket in Shanghai. Carrefour is the second largest retailer in the world behind Walmart.[Photo provided to China Daily] A partnership between French retailer Auchan and internet giant Alibaba could push Carrefour further behind in China and could even persuade its new boss to pull out of the country. Alexandre Bompard took the helm at Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer behind Walmart, in July; on Jan 23, 2018, he will unveil his turnaround plan for the French company, which issued a profit warning in August. Bompard has to decide whether to stay or go in China, where Carrefour has spent years trying to fix a business whose sales still fell 5.4 percent in the third quarter amid fierce competition from local players and a buoyant online market. Asked whether he had made a decision on China, the CEO told Reuters on the sidelines of an investment conference in Paris on Tuesday: "I will speak about it very soon." He confirmed that the subject would be included in his January presentation. "Until now, the only Western retailers to have successfully established themselves in this country have done so via partnerships with local retailers, like Auchan with Sun Art Retail," Bryan Garnier analysts said in a research note. "A combination of offline and online is also an option, as seen with the recent agreements between Walmart and JD.com ... and Auchan and Alibaba ... Failing the rapid conclusion of such a partnership, a decision could be taken at Carrefour to sell assets in China," they added. On Monday, Alibaba announced a HK$22.4 billion ($2.9 billion) investment for a stake in Sun Art, China's top hypermarket operator, in which Auchan has the biggest stake. Carrefour has been trying to reposition in China, where it makes 5 percent of group sales, having been too focused on large hypermarkets. It has been expanding into e-commerce and convenience stores and opening logistics centers to cut costs. Former CEO Georges Plassat repeatedly said Carrefour would stay in China and did not rule out a deal with a local partner, although nothing materialized. Brick-and-mortar retailers have taken action to forge alliances with e-commerce players. Among international retailers, Walmart and Carrefour have begun to see market share recovery on a quarterly basis though they are still closing non-performing stores; they are proactively reformatting their existing stores to be more competitive and appealing to shoppers, according to Kantar Worldpanel China. They are introducing new stores that are 30 percent to 50 percent smaller than the old ones to make their merchandise more accessible and reduce the sales area for nonfood, according to the report. In June, Carrefour opened its first Easy Carrefour store in Wuxi and this is the first time the retailer introduced the smaller format store outside its home base in Shanghai. More recently, it launched its own digital wallet, called "Carrefour Pay," together with UnionPay to facilitate more mobile payments in store. "Carrefour is seeing more recovery lately, as they are making efforts to move from (a) hypermarket only model to a multi-format strategy by opening more Easy Carrefour and launching compact hypermarkets," said Jason Yu, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel. However, on e-commerce, Walmart and RT-Mart are likely to get upper hand with the JD and Alibaba alliance," he said. China Daily-Reuters By Zou Shuo in Beijing and Sun Ruisheng in Taiyuan | China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-25 09:32 Shanxi, China's major coal-producing province, is planning to step up energy cooperation with East China's Jiangsu province. The coal-rich northern province is expected to transfer shares of its State-owned coal-fired power plants to enterprises in Jiangsu, according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shanxi. State-owned Jiangsu Guoxin Investment Group Ltd will take a major share of coal-powered power plants in the province, Shanxi SASAC said on its WeChat account recently. It is the first time that Shanxi has opened its coal-fired power sector to outside investment. There will be no limit in terms of how many shares can be transferred to enterprises in Jiangsu, said the post. "The partnership will bring capital, technology, management experience and talents to Shanxi," said Wang Yixin, vice-governor of Shanxi. "More importantly, by building a market-based environment in the coal sector, we can ensure more scientific decision-making and standard management of coal enterprises in Shanxi," said Wang. Han Xiaoping, chief information officer of China Energy Net Consulting, said: "The two provinces are highly complementary in power cooperation." "Jiangsu is an economically developed province with high demand for energy consumption and insufficient energy resources, while Shanxi has large amounts of coal power resources," Han said. Xiao Xinjian, a researcher from the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, said: "This cooperation can better connect the upstream and downstream enterprises of energy consumption, so they can better fend off risks from price fluctuation." "The market, rather than the local governments, should decide the mergers or shareholding between enterprises of the two provinces," Xiao said. Earlier this month, a framework agreement on electricity transmission was signed between the two provinces, signaling the launch of the Jinbei (Northern Shanxi)Nanjing 800kv High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission project. The project, which aims to transmit up to 45 billion kWh of electricity from Shanxi to Jiangsu every year, went into operation on June 30. Stretching 1,119 km and crossing six provinces, the Jinbei-Nanjing HVDC project is one of the 12 power transmission channels listed in China's National Action Plan on Air Pollution Control and Prevention. TIRANA - Business representatives from Albania and China met Friday afternoon in Albania's capital, Tirana, to discuss ways of strengthening and expanding business cooperation in different fields. The meeting was held with the presence of Albania's Minister of state for enterprise, Sonila Qato, Chinese Ambassador to Tirana Jiang Yu, Secretary General of China's Council for Promotion of International Trade Yu Jialong and a significant number of Albanian and Chinese business representatives. The B2B meetings between businesses of the two countries are organized at the same time of the international fair "Klik Ekspo Klik" in Tirana where Chinese companies have a high presence with around 20 stands. In her opening remarks, Albanian Minister Qato thanked the Chinese companies for coming to Albania, noting that such high presence confirmed the good will to explore Albania and further develop the business ties between two countries. She also praised the great presence in the trade fair saying that the fair would serve as a direct contact point for Albanian and Chinese businesses as well as an opportunity to get to know each other. Qato noted that China is a story of success from which Albania can learn a lot. She further said that China remained a key trade partner of Albania. However, she said that there was still room for further development of trade relations so that Albania imports and exports more from/to China and on the other side, China might increase its investments here. Then, Qato made a summary of the reforms undertaken by the Albanian government in the field of doing business. She also assured Chinese entrepreneurs that the Albanian government would take concrete initiatives and measures to assist the Chinese companies as well as to create a favorable and stable business climate. Chinese ambassador Jiang Yu stressed in her speech that the meetings held in Tirana would serve the businesses of both countries to jointly explore development opportunities and further advancing the economic-trade cooperation that exists between China and Albania. Jiang noted that China's investments in Albania exceeded the value of $700 million, by employing at least 1,500 local residents and by contributing actively in Albania's tax revenues as well as promotion of exchanges in the field of technology, markets' management and human resources. "China is Albania's third largest trade partner, but also its largest trade partner from the non-European Union countries," Ambassador said. She added that Chinese companies are cooperating with Albanian businesses in the fields of telecommunications, mineral resources, energy sources, road infrastructure, etc. Further, she noted that many other companies were studying Albania and its resources as well as seeking for cooperation with Albanian investors. The Chinese Ambassador voiced hope that the Albanian government would take effective steps to provide a greater support to the foreign investors, including Chinese companies as well as establish a fairer, more stabilized, predictable and more transparent business climate. Jiang also mentioned the fact that Albania is part of "One Belt, One Road" initiative and "16+1" cooperation mechanism launched by the Chinese government. "China and Albania have signed Memorandum of Understanding for building together of "One Belt, One Road" as well as many other agreements in bilateral trade, investments, etc," she noted. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of CCPIT Yu Jialong highly appreciated the interest shown by Albanian Premier Edi Rama in Chinese companies' stands a day ago during the fair launching ceremony. According to Yu, Rama's attention to Chinese companies showed the friendship that existed between the two countries and for this, he also thanked the Chinese ambassador here for the outstanding work. In his speech, Yu also presented four main proposals to the Albanian government. First proposal related to the need to have more direct contacts and B2B meetings between Albanian and Chinese businesses to strengthen their ties. Second one was to encourage entrepreneurs to cooperate even in the framework of global economy. The third put the emphasis on a more favorable business climate. He highlighted that Chinese companies were strongly encouraged to visit Albania and see investment opportunities here. In the end, he asked the Albanian government to protect the interests of Chinese companies in Albania so more Chinese companies would come in the future. Later on, representatives of businesses continued meetings with each other. Meanwhile, talking to the representatives of Chinese companies attending the fair in Tirana, many of them said that they felt good to have visited Albania while voicing hope for cooperation opportunities with Albanian companies. "We really hope to cooperate with Albanian companies as we are looking for business partnerships here which would also contribute to the strengthening of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries," Xuan Huashi, Sinotruk chief representative of Eastern Europe and Turkey office told Xinhua. Meanwhile, companies from other countries which are also present at the fair said that they felt good to see a great number of Chinese companies in Tirana. This shows that China has great interest in Albania, they added. SHENZHEN - The mission of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support infrastructure investment is good for the world's economy, and the institution is operating "to the highest international standards," according to Sir Danny Alexander, the bank's vice president and corporate secretary. Alexander was a cabinet minister in the British Treasury from 2010 to 2015. He was appointed as vice president and corporate secretary of the AIIB in February 2016. In an interview with Xinhua, Alexander said he was one of the senior ministers in the British government at the time "who advocated strongly that the UK should join the AIIB." In March 2015, Britain became the first major western country to announce its intention to join the new multilateral development bank, which started operations in January 2016 and has grown to 80 approved members from around the world. "The AIIB seems to us to be a very good initiative to create a new framework for countries to work together and to further that common interest in infrastructure investment," he told Xinhua in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. He noted that there had been more than 20 countries choosing to join the AIIB since the founding of the bank. The fact shows that "they [members] can see that the bank is developing in the right way and to the highest international standards," said the former British politician. Great responsibility In the interview, Alexander said that it is "a great responsibility" to work for the AIIB. "It is very rare for new multilateral development banks to be set up. Ours is the first in the 21st century, and it is the first ever to be headquartered in China, so it is a great responsibility to do that well and to get it right," he explained. As vice president, he is responsible for the bank's relations with its members, the board of governors, the board of directors and other aspects of governance, including the admission of new members. "I have a role as part of the senior management team in the bank, with a particular responsibility for the governors of the bank, making sure the board of directors, the board of governors and so on operate in the right way," he said. "We have a very good team ably led by President Jin Liqun. And I think together we are helping to ensure that the AIIB is built in a way that fulfills the vision that our institution is lean, clean and green," he said. Highest standards In the interview, Alexander repeatedly stressed that the AIIB is committed to "operating to the highest international standards." The bank is focused on its work "to ensure high standards in everything that we do: high standards of governance, high standards of environmental and social management and high standards of project development," the AIIB vice president said. By focusing on investing in "good projects" that have strong safeguards on environmental and community impact, the AIIB "can help to ensure through those investments that we spread the high standards and that we share better practice," he noted. "That helps to ensure that there is a good business environment, so I think that is the main way in which the AIIB can make that contribution." Priorities In January, the AIIB unveiled its three priorities for the year ahead, namely sustainable infrastructure, cross-country connectivity and the mobilization of private capital, according to a statement on its website. Alexander said sustainable infrastructure helped to support the transition for Asian countries to be "more environmentally sustainable," which requires renewable energy and sustainable cities. On connectivity, the vice president said it meant "improving the connectivity between Asian countries, and through Asia, and other parts of the world." "That means transport projects, like roads, railways, airports and ports, but also things like electricity transmission and energy pipelines," he said. "The scale of the need for infrastructure in Asia is so huge that all of the national government resources and all of the international financial resources are too small," he said, highlighting the need to mobilize private capital. "We must mobilize more private capital, so we also have a role to play in helping to make infrastructure more attractive for private sector investors as well as institutions like ours," he urged. Shared aim In the interview, Alexander also shared his views on the links between the AIIB and the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes. He said that though the AIIB and the initiative are two separate initiatives, they also overlap at certain intersections and share a similar goal. "There is overlap and there is mutual interest and mutual benefit in terms of their shared aim to promote productivity within the Asian region," he told Xinhua. The AIIB, together with five other major multilateral development banks, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Ministry of Finance at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in May this year. "That created a framework for all of the major international financial institutions to work with the Belt and Road Initiative," Alexander said. He stressed, however, the AIIB would invest in good projects, "according to its own strategy" and would apply the same high standards and tests to its investment projects. BEIJING/SHANGHAI - Chinese police are investigating claims of sexual molestation and needlemarks on children at a Beijing kindergarten run by RYB Education Inc, the latest case in a booming childcare industry to spark outrage among parents, sending the company's New York-listed shares tumbling on Friday. The official Xinhua news agency said late on Thursday that police were checking allegations that some teachers and staff at the kindergarten had abused children, who were "reportedly sexually molested, pierced by needles and given unidentified pills". Shares in RYB plunged 38 percent on the New York Stock Exchange early on Friday, almost wiping out most of the 44 percent rise in the Chinese company's stock since its IPO in September. Parents said their children, some as young as three, relayed troubling accounts of a naked adult male conducting purported "medical check-ups" on students, who were also unclothed, other media said. Some parents, who gathered outside the school to demand answers on Thursday, said their children gave matching accounts of being fed unidentified tablets and of punishments where students were "made to stand" naked in class, media said. The welfare of children in professional care has become a hot-button issue in China, where a string of high-profile cases of abuse has underlined lax regulations and supervision in the childcare and early learning industry. "We deeply apologise for the serious anxiety this matter has brought to parents and society," RYB said in a statement on its official microblog on Friday, adding that it was helping authorities. "We are currently working with the police to provide relevant surveillance materials and equipment; the teachers in question have been suspended and we are co-operating with the police investigation," it said. SPECIAL INVESTIGATION The school's principal had lodged a police report against "individuals who have engaged in false accusations and framing", it said, without elaborating. Beijing police did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. In a statement before its shares opened trade on Friday, RYB said it was planning a $50 million share buy-back programme and had established a special task force led by independent company directors to do a "thorough self-inspection across all teaching facilities". China's education ministry has begun a special investigation into the operation of kindergartens, it said in a statement on Thursday, and told education departments nationwide to "take warning from these types of incidents". Separate incidents in China of children being slapped, beaten with a stick and having their mouths sealed shut with duct tape have also gone viral and fuelled anger online. News of the investigation into the Beijing kindergarten triggered a wave of outrage on social media, with more than 76 million mentions of "RYB" on Tencent Holdings Ltd's WeChat messaging service on Thursday. "These may be individual cases but the deeper problems they reflect cannot be overlooked," a Xinhua editorial said. "Laws must be enforced, supervision strengthened, teacher wages increased. The childcare industry cannot be allowed to grow in an uncivilised fashion." HOT SECTOR Chinese education providers have been attracting major investment, while others have sought global listings, latching onto fast-growing demand from parents for high-end education services. Before Friday, shares in RYB had been up about 44 percent since a September New York listing, giving it a market value of nearly $766 million. This was not the first case of alleged abuse at an RYB school. In 2015, a court in Jilin province found two teachers guilty of physically abusing children at one of its kindergartens in the city of Siping. In that case, staff at the school on "multiple occasions used needles and intimidation tactics to abuse many of the children under their care", according to the court ruling document. Earlier this year, RYB said it had found "serious mistakes" at another one of its Beijing schools and had asked the principal to step down after videos emerged showing teachers hitting and pushing children. State television broadcast images of police and angry parents gathered outside the school in Beijing on Thursday, calling for answers. On Friday, one father leaving the school said he had been there to cancel his son's enrolment and demand a refund. Another parent, 36-year-old Wang Siqi, said she took the day off work to demand answers, even though her six-year-old son does not attend the school. "As a mother when I saw this news I really couldn't take it," she said. "This is unforgivable." RYB says on its website it runs a network of more than 1,300 directly owned and franchised play-and-learn centres and nearly 500 kindergartens for children up to age six in about 300 Chinese cities and towns. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, will address a high-level dialogue meeting at which leaders of political parties and organizations from around the world will gather on Dec 1 in Beijing. Delegates from more than 120 countries and more than 200 leaders have confirmed their plans to attend the meeting, Guo Yezhou, vice-minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told a news conference on Friday. This is the first major multilateral diplomacy event hosted by Beijing after the recently concluded 19th CPC National Congress, said Guo, a major official of the Party department in charge of party-to-party exchanges. The upcoming high-end gathering, the first of its kind, is scheduled to convene through Dec 3 for political parties to collect wisdom for tackling global challenges, to boost exchanges on governance experiences and to learn from one another. At the meeting, the CPC's leaders and major officials of departments concerned will brief guests on the Party congress as well as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Guo said. In addition, the meeting will present the Party's idea about building a community with a shared future for mankind and jointly building a beautiful world, Guo added. In addition to the first plenary session of the meeting on Dec 1 and the second plenary session on Dec 3, seminars will be held on Dec 2 on such topics as the new thoughts introduced by the 19th CPC National Congress. Four seminars will convene to discuss boosting party building, promoting governance, jointly building the Belt and Road and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China aims to address concerns of the global community by building such a global, high-level dialogue platform for political parties, Guo said. Su Ge, president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the gathering will be one of the most important diplomatic moves taken by Beijing following the Party congress and will highlight the new features of China's diplomacy in the new era. By hosting the gathering, China is honoring its commitment to contributing to global prosperity and development at a time when the world faces challenges to peace, development and governance, Su said. "The world is looking forward to China's voice and experiences," Su said, adding that China has played a major role in boosting exchanges. The 44-year-old Chen Kebiao attends one of his classes at a college in Cangzhou, Hebei province, on Nov 16. [Photo by Fu Xinchun/China Daily] A 44-year-old man from Cangzhou in North China's Hebei province has enrolled as a freshman at a local college for more than two months, realizing his old dream. Chen Kebiao, a herb planter, didn't expect to be admitted by a college. "I read books with my daughter, only to encourage her and give her company, because she failed last year's college entrance examination," Chen said. He borrowed some books he was interested in about planting herbs and agricultural technology. "With more than 10 years of experience in planting herbs, I always wanted to gather some professional knowledge," he said. But as he began reading more books, he remembered his old dream of going to college, which he was not able to realize when he was young because of poverty. "All of my family members objected to the idea at first, saying that if I went to college at this age, I would become a huge joke," Chen said. He added even his daughter didn't want him to take this year's college entrance examination together. "I also didn't think I would succeed, and just wanted have a try," he said. When the result showed that he was accepted at Cangzhou Technical College, he felt like he had won a lottery. His daughter was admitted to another university. Majoring in modem agricultural technology, Chen said he has learned a lot during the past two months. "I believe it can be helpful for my planting," he said. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 China hopes to help safeguard stability in region, Xi tells visiting military chief Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, president of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, greets Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Myanmar's Defense Services, before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY China would like to play a constructive role in Myanmar's domestic peace process and safeguard the safety and stability of the border region, President Xi Jinping said on Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Myanmar's Defense Services, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. China respects the sovereignty of Myanmar and pays strong attention to Myanmar's domestic peace process, Xi said. Noting that the traditional friendship between the two sides has a long history, Xi called for joint efforts with Myanmar to enhance strategic communication and to take each other's major concerns into consideration. The military relations between the two countries are at the best level in their history, Xi said, adding that China supports military exchanges and cooperation with Myanmar. The CPC's 19th National Congress has provided the blueprint for China's economic and social development, which will not only inject powerful impetus into China's development, but also bring new opportunities for other countries, including Myanmar, to cooperate with China, Xi said. Min Aung Hlaing congratulated Xi on the success of the CPC's 19th National Congress as well as Xi's re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He expressed gratitude for China's long-term support toward the national and military development of Myanmar and its support for Myanmar's peace process. Myanmar would like to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and enhance cooperation in all areas with China, he added. BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a congratulatory message to Zimbabwe's new president Emmerson Mnangagwa, a foreign ministry spokesperson said. Xi said in the congratulatory message that China and Zimbabwe are good friends, partners and brothers. Bilateral ties have withstood the test of time and changing international situation. China values the traditional friendship with Zimbabwe and stands ready to work together for strengthening all-round cooperation and advancing bilateral ties, so as to bring benefits to the two countries and two peoples, according to spokesperson Geng Shuang. Mnangagwa was sworn in as the president of Zimbabwe Friday. View of the RYB Education Kindergarten in Beijing, Nov 23, 2017. [Photo/IC] China's top education authorities ordered on Friday an immediate inspection of all kindergartens across the country amid a number of reported child abuse cases. The recent cases reflect management problems in some kindergartens, and education authorities at all levels must attach greater importance to preschool education, establish a regular supervision mechanism for the operation of kindergartens and improve the accountability system to punish those involved in child abuse, the Education Steering Committee of the State Council, China's Cabinet, said in a statement. At least three incidents have been reported this month in which children were assaulted or were suspected of being abused. In the most recent case, RYB Education Kindergarten, a well-known chain of preschools, has been the focus of a huge public outcry since Thursday. On Wednesday night, some parents whose children attended the Xintiandi branch of RYB Education Kindergarten in Beijing's Chaoyang district called the police, alleging that their children were pricked with needles and fed unidentified white pills at the kindergarten. Some claimed that their children were molested or forced to strip as punishment, according to Xinhua News Agency. Beijing police and the education commission said they were investigating the case but had reached no conclusion. RYB Education Inc, the parent company of the Xintiandi branch kindergarten, said in a statement on Friday that the accused teachers had been suspended and the company was cooperating with police. Its shares slumped by 42 percent at the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, almost wiping out all of the 44 percent rise in the stock since its IPO in September. In response to rumors on social media that the Xintiandi branch's headmaster is a family member of an active-duty soldier at a regiment of the People's Liberation Army, and that the soldier was involved in the abuse case, the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday that a preliminary internal investigation found no involvement of any PLA staff in the case. "The headmaster of the kindergarten is a family member of a veteran," said Feng Junfeng, political commissar of the regiment. "So far, we've found that no one from the regiment has ever participated in the operation of the kindergarten or been involved in sexually assaulting children." Feng said the regiment will assist the investigations, and if the accusation about the PLA is proved to be false, those who made the accusations should be held legally liable. Tank destroyers from the People's Liberation Army's base in Djibouti participate in a live-fire exercise at a range in the African country's capital on Thursday. ZHANG QINGBAO/FOR CHINA DAILY The Djibouti Logistics Support Base of the People's Liberation Army conducted a live-fire exercise on Thursday with its heavy-duty weapons, according to the Chinese military. Several wheeled tank destroyers and wheeled infantry fighting vehicles from the base in the Horn of Africa took part in the exercise at a local shooting range and fired dozens of shells, according to a news release published late Friday by the PLA Navy, which administers the logistics support base. Infantry practiced assault maneuvers with the armored vehicles, it said. It quoted Senior Captain Liang Yang, commander of the base, as saying that the move was intended to verify the combat capability of troops and their weapons and to improve their adaptability in the local environment. The PLA established its Djibouti Logistics Support Base, the first of its kind for the Chinese military, on July 11 and put it into formal operation on Aug 1. Located in Djibouti City, the African nation's capital, the base will support the Chinese military's naval escort, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in Africa and western Asia, the Navy said. It will also help China improve its capabilities in international military cooperation, joint exercises, emergency evacuations and overseas rescue. It will enable the nation to better guard the safety of international strategic maritime passages with other countries, it said. President Xi Jinping, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, had a teleconference with troops at the Djibouti base this month during an inspection of the CMC Joint Command Headquarters in Beijing. Xi told them to gain a good reputation for Chinese soldiers and to contribute to regional peace and stability. On Friday, Premier Li Keqiang met with Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh in Beijing. Calling Djibouti a major partner in East Africa, Li said China is willing to work with the nation to make use of each other's advantages to foster economic cooperation and to build a regional hub of trade and logistics. Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] China is ready to work with France in a joint and positive effort to deal with climate change while maintaining multilateralism and an inclusive world economy, Premier Li Keqiang said. Li spoke when meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Li said relations between China and France have been advancing well, and China puts strategic emphasis on Sino-French ties and is willing to work with France to advance bilateral ties with a healthy and stable development momentum. He said China is willing to enhance cooperation with France in areas including civilian nuclear energy. China supports European integration and hopes cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries will boost balanced development of the European Union, Li said. Le Drian also met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, and they jointly talked to reporters. Wang said the two countries are ready to seek common ground while maintaining differences, and are preparing for French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China in early 2018. Wang said the key lesson from the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in the past two decades is that when confrontation and misunderstanding persist, all stakeholders miss the chance for a peaceful dialogue. "The pressing task is to fully implement decisions made by the UN Security Council and spare no efforts to start consultation on the issue as soon as possible," Wang said. Federations at all levels called to back public, nonpublic development Federations of industry and commerce at all levels were called to promote the integrated development of the public and nonpublic economy and the sustainably continuous growth of private investment, Premier Li Keqiang said in a congratulatory letter on Friday. Li read the letter on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee at the opening ceremony of the 12th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. The letter said nonpublic parts of the economy have played a vital role in boosting steady economic growth, technological innovation and employment opportunities. It said federations at all levels have made crucial contributions to the healthy and sustainable development of the national economy. Federations were called to motivate the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of nonpublic businesses, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They also were called to boost the ability to serve enterprises, provide immediate help for them, encourage private businesses to shoulder social responsibilities and bolster livelihoods. All such institutions nationwide were called to adhere to the new development concept to contribute wisdom and strength to achieve higher quality and more efficient, fairer and more sustainable development. Founded in 1953, the industry federation is a key unit of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and connects the nonpublic economy with the CPC and the government. China has about 25 million private enterprises, with registered capital exceeding 150 trillion yuan ($22.7 trillion) and contributing more than half the country's taxes, according to the industry federation. These enterprises also contribute more than 60 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, fixed asset investment and outbound investment. More than 70 percent of new products and technological innovations have been developed and produced by private enterprises, creating more than 80 percent of urban jobs and contributing more than 90 percent of the new jobs being created. In the next five years, the industry federation will do its utmost to strengthen cohesive affinity, influence and execution while taking the initiative in leading nonpublic businesspeople to render patriotic dedication, legal operations and innovation, according to Wang Qinmin, the federation's chairman. A former vice-minister of health dismissed the possibility of clinical trials in China involving a human head transplant, adding that an experiment done in China had severely violated ethical rules. "We will never allow such clinical trials to be carried out in China," Huang Jiefu, chairman of the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee and former vice-minister of health, told China Daily in an interview on Friday. "(A live head transplant) is technically impossible, and violates Chinese laws and regulations on organ transplants," he said. Huang made the remarks following a heated controversy stirred in the past few days by the announcement of completion of a human head transplant on a corpse in China. The procedure was carried out last week by a team led by Ren Xiaoping, a surgeon at Harbin Medical University in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. During the 18-hour operation, Ren said, he and his assistants successfully reconnected a severed head with the spine, nerves and blood vessels of a corpse. Italian professor Sergio Canavero, who worked as a partner with Ren in the past few years to make a head transplant feasible, said the transplant was the first such surgery in the world and a similar operation on a live human would take place "imminently", according to a report in the Daily Mail. The transplant caused widespread controversy, and doctors and scholars in China have been critical. Huang said the committee is also taking measures that could hold Harbin Medical University accountable for allowing Ren to do such an experiment. "Repair of damaged spinal nerves and brain cells is a challenge that has not been overcome in any part of the world," he said. "It's a meaningless and ridiculous activity to draw attention by experimenting on a corpse." While there are many disabled people with spinal cord damage, doctors cannot produce any evidence proving that damage to the spinal cord can be repaired, he said. Even with organ transplants that are routinely performed, rejection after transplantation remains a challenge, he said. In addition to the technical barriers, a head transplant would come with serious ethical questions, Huang said. "A patient's identity does not change after having received an organ such as a kidney or liver donated by others, but who will the patient be after having the head changed?" Huang said he has received phone calls from some top transplant experts in other countries who also suggested similar tests be banned. "China's organ transplant technologies in the liver, kidney, heart, lungs and small intestine have reached a world-class level," Huang said. "China's organ transplants should progress following indisputably high ethical standards." There was no response on Friday to calls to Ren and Harbin Medical University from China Daily. Chinese-made drone capable of reconnaissance/combat missions China recently flight-tested an unmanned reconnaissance/combat helicopter on a plateau in Qinghai province, according to Aviation Industry Corp of China, the State-owned aircraft giant. The AV500W unmanned autonomous helicopter was flown for the first time on Saturday on a plateau test base in Golmud of the northwestern province of Qinghai, which has an altitude of 4,300 meters. Air-to-ground missiles were fired by the drone and hit targets during the test, the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, said in a news release sent to China Daily on Thursday. The test showed that the AV500W is capable of conducting reconnaissance or strike operations on high-altitude regions, paving the way for deployment of such aircraft on plateaus, according to the institute, the helicopter's developer. The 7.2-meter-long drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 500 kilograms on plains, but the carrying capacity would be reduced to 430 kg on plateaus, said the release. It has a maximum speed of 170 kilometers per hour, and is able to fly four hours in a single mission. The helicopter can carry up to 120 kg of weapons and equipment, according to the release. The institute said that there are many users in the international market wishing to employ unmanned helicopters to serve civilian and military purposes, noting such demand has been "especially urgent" for China's plateau areas. The helicopter is good in terms of mobility, deployability, penetration capability as well as automation. It also has a stealth design. A typical mission would be a precision attack on light-duty armored vehicles and personnel, the institute said, adding it can be useful in counter-terrorism, riot control, communication relay, and drug and smuggling suppression. All of the military drones China has offered to the international market have been fixed-wing models, making the AV500W the first Chinese unmanned military helicopter available in that market, industry observers said. Materials about the AV500W previously distributed by the institute show that an armed AV500W typically carries four air-to-ground missiles. Each missile weighs 8 kg and can hit a target 5 km away. The aircraft can also carry bombs or a machine-gun pod. Jiang Taiyu, one of the chief designers of the AV500W, said all of the helicopter's tests will be finished before the end of this year and it will be ready for mass production in 2018. He said only the United States and Israel have developed unmanned armed helicopters, such as the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout in the US. The aircraft can take off and land autonomously on any landform, according to Jiang. Its target market will be countries dealing with terrorism such as those in the Middle East, he said, adding the institute plans to develop a shipborne variant. BEIJING - Studying President Xi Jinping's new book on governance will deepen the understanding of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, said senior official Wang Huning Friday. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a symposium on the second volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," which was published and put up for sale earlier this month. "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is considered as the Chinese Marxism of the 21st century, which shows its originality and reflects the features of the times," said Wang. "According to the 19th CPC National Congress, it is an important strategic task to equip the whole Party with Xi's thought." The first volume was published in September 2014 and received widespread attention and praise from readers at home and abroad. The second volume, covering 17 topics, collects 99 of Xi's speeches, conversations, instructions and letters between Aug. 18, 2014 and Sept. 29, 2017. Sales are likely to exceed those of the first book, which has sold about 6.6 million copies worldwide in 24 languages, according to the Foreign Languages Press, the book's publisher. The new volume depicts the practice of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core in uniting and leading Chinese people to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era. According to Wang, the new book reflects the development and achievements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It also provides Chinese wisdom and solutions for developing a community with a shared future for mankind and in promoting peace and development. Wang called for deep understanding of the historical background that has produced Xi's thought, the original contributions it has made to Marxism and the guidance it provides for the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. "Studying and publicizing the newly-published volume will further ingrain Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in people's hearts and enhance the international community's understanding of Xi's thought," Wang said. "The main reason why foreigners should read these books is that they are the first time that a Chinese leader has sought to capture his whole philosophy and communicate it to the international audience in so many languages," said David Ferguson, the English editor of both books, with the Foreign Languages Press. "There is everything you need to know about where China is now, and where China is trying to go." XINING - Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli has underlined the importance of environmental protection in northwest China's Qinghai Province. Zhang made the remarks during a visit to Qinghai between Thursday and Friday. As an important shield for China's ecological security, the province should make clear areas that are off-limits for development and the rules for access to create natural space in which people and nature co-exist in harmony, Zhang said. Qinghai should build a green and sustainable industrial system with its own distinctive features and push ahead construction of projects including the Qilian Mountain water conservation area and the region surrounding the Qinghai Lake, Zhang said. He also said that the environment supervision system and the natural resource asset management mechanism must be improved. NANCHANG - Mao Haofu, 28, has returned from studying in Britain to his hometown in Ciping in east China's Jinggangshan City, which was the first rural revolutionary base established in 1927 by the Communist Party of China (CPC). He is now an on-site teacher at Jiangxi Executive Leadership Academy. Although most tourists are Chinese, he is prepared to tell the Party's story in English. He has been influenced by his father and grandfather, both masters of Party history, as well as his colleagues who have devoted themselves to teaching despite poor living conditions. "I felt a sense of achievement when I saw more foreign officials come to our academy. They were keen to know more about our country," he said. Kuang Sheng, vice president of the China Executive Leadership Academy of Jinggangshan, said the world is eager to know more about the CPC and the Chinese path and experience, as China offers Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach to solving problems. To introduce the former residence of Comrade Mao Zedong, Mao Haofu studied materials in a local museum and the authoritative English versions of the works of Mao Zedong, rather than directly translating the tour guide introduction. The Jinggangshan Mountains are known as the birthplace of the Chinese Red Army, and the cradle of the Chinese revolution. Liu Hong, Party chief of Jinggangshan, said that the city is developing an open economy led by tourism. It has been visited by delegates from several foreign countries, including Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and African countries. Liu said a leader of an African delegation told him that China's experience in helping people get rid of poverty were worth learning from. Red tourism sites have attracted more visitors in recent years and are receiving huge investment from the country. China's National Development and Reform Commission has encouraged more efforts to preserve revolutionary sites and released a list of red tourism sites in 2015. In 2016, a total of 1.55 billion yuan (about $228.3 million) was spent to support "red tourism," according to the Ministry of Finance. At another revolutionary site, Xibaipo, in Pingshan County of north China's Hebei Province, Duan Keqian, a tour guide of the Xibaipo Memorial Hall, was busy preparing an English version of her speech. Xibaipo is an old revolutionary base where the leadership of the CPC was garrisoned from May 1948 till early 1949, drawing up the blueprint for a new country and preparing for the CPC's new role as the ruling party. "We have been really busy in the last month, but are happy to introduce more information to our audience," said Duan, adding that she has witnessed a growing number of visiting foreign teachers, doctors and business people who work near Xibaipo. "We have taken exams to qualify as guides. Each of us should focus on a certain field, and I focus on people's daily lives," Duan said. "People will be fired if they get poor regular assessments." According to Duan, there are about 80 such guides at the memorial hall, as well as at the revolutionists' former residences, working in Chinese, English, Russian, Italian and Japanese languages. Russian Andrey Lyakh, 45, visited Xibaipo after doing business in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province, about a two-hour drive away. He listened carefully to his interpreter and nodded at times, walking in the yard of the former residences. "I have heard of Lenin and Mao Zedong since I was a child, and I think they are all great men," said Lyakh. "The site impressed me very much." HOHHOT - Chinese archaeologists have found evidence of an ancient ethnic minority group following Confucianism over 1,000 years ago in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Remains of Confucian temples have been found in the ruins of Shangjing, the upper capital of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125), said Dong Xinlin with the research institute of archaeology of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The team of archaeologists from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Inner Mongolia archaeological institute started excavation of the site in 2011 with Dong as the team leader. Dong said the first Confucian temple was built as early as the Khitan started building the upper capital. Besides Confucian temples, Buddhist and Taoist ones were also found at the site. "The Khitan had an inclusive culture," he said. The Liao Dynasty was founded by the nomadic Khitan and ruled the northern part of China. Shangjing, now located in Bairin Left Banner in Inner Mongolia, was first built in 918. The capital was the dynasty's political, economic and cultural center on the prairie for over 200 years. The ancient capital was also found to be divided into two parts, with the Khitan living in northern part and Han Chinese people in southern part. "This showed Khitan's respect for the Han population and its culture," said Dong. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a message of condolences to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after a terror attack on a mosque in North Sinai Province killed at least 235 people. In the message, Xi offered his deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to President Sisi, the families of the victims and the injured. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns the attack, Xi said. China is steadfast in supporting Egypt's efforts in fighting against terrorism and safeguarding its national security and stability, the message added. A teacher from a RYB kindergarten was detained for alleged child abuse in Beijing on Saturday. The suspect, surnamed Liu, a 22-year-old woman from Hebei province, was sent to criminal detention, according to the police. Several parents reported to police on Wednesday night that their children, all around 3 years old and enrolled at the RYB Xintiandi branch, had needle marks on their bodies and were repeatedly fed unidentified white pills. An investigation was launched immediately. On Saturday, the police also detained another woman, 31, also surnamed Liu, for spreading rumors about the incident. The government of Chaoyang district has ordered the head of RYB Education to immediately fire the head of the kindergarten where the incident occurred and punish others found responsible. On Saturday night, RYB issued a statement, saying the teacher surnamed Liu and the head of the kindergarten have been fired. RYB will also actively cooperate with police in further investigation. It will also communicate with parents and invite mental health experts to provide help for children involved. The education commission of Beijing's Chaoyang district, which oversees the kindergarten, strongly condemned the incident and asked districts and kindergartens concerned to cooperate with judicial authorities for improvements. "We consider this was an extreme case that harmed children with serious social repercussion," said the spokesman from Chaoyang district. A thorough investigation was conducted in Chaoyang district and a special inspection to regulate the kindergartens' qualification was also launched, the district government added. The Ministry of Education has started a special inspection of the management of kindergartens nationwide and asked local education authorities to take effective measures to improve teachers' morality and tighten supervision, according to a ministry release late Thursday. RYB Education Kindergarten was China's largest early year education service provider in annual revenue last year, according to the Frost & Sullivan report. This has been the third reported child abuse case in a month. On Nov 13, Shanghai police detained a person surnamed Zheng who was in charge of a day care center where staff were caught on camera abusing toddlers. Three other staff members were detained, according to Shanghai police. Almost at the same time, Golden Cradle Education and Technology Group, which has more than 700 kindergartens and schools nationwide, also became involved in a similar accusation as parents said teachers at one of its kindergartens in Beijing abused children. Police are investigating, but so far no details have been released. As a national symbol of France, the Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris, also known as the Chateau de Versailles, is actively extending its global horizons in a bid to enhance its international standing. For example, Versailles recently joined with 12 other top-level French museums to become part of an ambitious cultural project to loan portions of its collections on a long-term basis to the newly-opened Louvre Abu Dhabi in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, the museum, seat of France's permanent royal court from 1682 to 1789, also intends to forge closer ties with China. Zhai Haijun / For China Daily On Nov 17, Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero announced that a team led by him and Ren Xiaoping, a professor at Harbin Medical University, had performed the first human head transplant on a corpse, and mentioned the prospect of doing such a surgical operation on a living human being. Is there even a hint of possibility in his claim? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang. Excerpts follow: Should not call it a 'surgical operation' It is misleading to call what Canavero and Ren have done a "surgical operation". "Surgical operations" are done on living human beings or animals to help sustain life or improve the patients' physical abilities. "Transplanting" the head of one corpse on the body of another should more properly be called "dissection". Besides, Canavero claimed the 18-hour "operation" showed it is possible to reconnect the spine, nerves and blood vessels, without mentioning whether he had succeeded in doing so on the corpse. In practice, the most difficult part of transplantation is not in repairing blood vessels or muscles, but in reconnecting the nerves and reactivating them, so that the signals from the brain can be transmitted through the reconnected nerves. Unless there is a breakthrough in reviving the impaired nerves, it would be irresponsible to do such an "operation". Canavero also said it is "imminent" that his team will try to transplant the head of a living person paralyzed from the neck down. According to medical ethics and standards, enough tests and trials should be conducted on animals before trying out a new surgical operation on a human body. But Canavero said he and his team conducted only a few tests on animals. For example, last year his team successfully grafted a monkey's head on the body of another monkey, but Canavero has not revealed the total number (of such "tests"). Nor has any medical authority claimed to have given approval for doing so. Therefore, the attempt to do such an "operation" on a living person must be put under strict regulation. We may hold a more tolerant view toward experimental "operations", but when it comes to such operations on humans, professionals, the media and supervisors must all be cautious. Wang Yue, a professor at the Institute of Medical Humanities, Peking University A highly complicated and dangerous affair Canavero said he would transplant the head of a living human. Let us assume he succeeds in his efforts and the patient survives after the operation. The problem that will arise is: Who is the "new person"? Will he or she be identified with the head or the body? Plus, the physiological, ethical, psychological and legal problems carry unprecedented complications. Physiologically, the new person's mind (the brain) should control the body, but since the body would be that of another person, it might not respond accordingly. The result could be utter internal chaos. Ethically, if the new person marries and begets children, whose DNA will the children inherit? And psychologically, the new person could develop a split personality, torn between the dictates of the mind and the calling of the body. But none of the problems would be as troubling and complicated as the legal one. Whose identity should he/she inherit, the head's or the body's? Whose property should he/she inherit? Whose family would he/she belong to? Would the person get a new social security number, or should he/she use one of the two old ones? Luckily, none of the above is likely to happen in the near future, because no medical authority is yet ready to grant approval for a head transplant on a living human. And I hope the medical authorities will be as cautious as they always have been, because such a transplant would create many, many more problems than solutions. Zhang Tiankan, deputy chief editor of Encyclopedia magazine and a former medical researcher Japan's Princess Mako arrives before a meeting with Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes at the presidential residence in Asuncion, Paraguay September 8, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Japan's imperial family has been catching the headlines in recent times. On Wednesday, Japan's Imperial Household Agency announced that 25-year-old Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, will marry her college sweetheart Kei Komuro, a commoner, on Nov 4, 2018. Under Japan's Imperial Household Law, which governs the succession of emperors, women born into the imperial family must officially leave it once they marry commoners. Mako's aunt, Sayako, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito, renounced her imperial title for love, tying the knot in 2005 with a town planner. Mako's love story has melted the hearts of her peers and drawn praise from the Japanese people. But Emperor Akihito's is the more touchy story. In a rare televised address in August 2016, the octogenarian emperor informed the nation of his desire to abdicate the throne due to failing health. But the Imperial Household Law, which has no provision for abdication, only allows posthumous succession. Opinion polls have shown the vast majority of Japanese people sympathize with the emperor and respect his desire to retire, and the Japanese government and parliament have approved one-off legislation for his abdication. Eventually, a special panel will decide the dates for Emperor Akihito's abdication and the enthronement of his elder son, Crown Prince Naruhito. Emperor Akihito would be the first living Japanese emperor to abdicate in 200 years. The emperor is a symbol of Japanese unity, but without any political power. His duties include constitutionally defined tasks such as the opening of parliament. The hallmark of the emperor's reign has been travels with Empress Michiko, including visits to domestic disaster sites to cheer the survivors, and trips to foreign countries to soothe the wounds of Japan's aggression before and during World War II. The imperial couple visited Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai in 1992. "I felt that most of the Chinese people hope for friendly relations between our two peoples," Emperor Akihito said in Shanghai on the eve of his departure for Tokyo. "If people deal sincerely with each other heart to heart, I believe borders can be bridged." Now that Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate, the Japanese government and business organizations have tons of work to do to prepare for a new era. Despite using the Gregorian calendar in most aspects of everyday life, Japan has maintained its ancient imperial-era system in which a new emperor ushers in a new era that the Japanese Cabinet defines in two auspicious Chinese characters. The current era is Heisei, which began in 1989 when Emperor Akihito succeeded to the throne upon the death of his father Hirohito. This is the 29th year of Emperor Akihito's reign, or Heisei 29. Heisei literally means "achieving peace". Many institutions, such as banks, city halls and driving schools, are not interested in your date of birth according to the Gregorian calendar; they need you to put your date of birth according to the imperial calendar on their forms. Of course, their employees are ready to help if you have difficulty in figuring out what year of the Japanese imperial era you were born in. The Japanese government is expected to announce the name of the new era months before Emperor Akihito abdicates, allowing time for the switch to be made in official forms, calendars and computer programs. The government is considering April 30, 2019, as the most suitable date for the emperor to abdicate, the Japanese media reported, and Prince Naruhito to be enthroned the following day. Though a change in the imperial era causes some inconvenience to the Japanese people, it also helps them to cherish their history and tradition. A country is known for its economic prowess as much as its culture. The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn The author visiting Pingtang International Experience Planetarium in Guizhou Province. [Photo by gog.cn] I've had my fair share of travelling around China, and a recent week-long trip to Guizhou was my first time to the province. It was a true learning experience. I must admit, it is one of the most endowed regions in China in terms of natural beauty - fascinating environment with rich culture and history. I tried looking up the meaning and significance of the name Guizhou () before embarking on the trip, basically to have a reasonable idea of what was in store for me but that was a hard task so I inquired from a Chinese colleague among a group of local and foreign journalists on the trip. From what she said, the province was named after a famous mountain called "Gui" (), sort of noble in literal translation and zhou()which simply means province in Chinese. With that in mind I set out on a journey of discovery and what I found was mind blowing, a photographer's paradise. Generally described as a mountainous province in southwestern China, with Guiyang as its capital, the province is truly one of natures best kept secrets. I recommend road transport - awesome breathtaking views dotted along the highway throughout the province will leave first time visitors spellbound. Compared to other leading provinces in China, with regards to development, Guizhou has some catching-up to do, however the province remains unique not only for its amazing landscape, but for the role it played in the political history of modern China and the role it is to play in the world, in mankind's search for life beyond our planet, later to be explored in another article. The author in Guizhou Province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Our trip began in Zunyi city, north of Guizhou province, where the group played host at a ceremony to commemorate the famous 'Zunyi Conference'. Not much is known about this famous conference in Africa and the western world, but apparently it was at this conference that China's first leader and Chairman of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong, was elected by the Politburo to lead the Communist forces (Red Army) on the historical Long March in the fight against Nationalist forces led by Chiang Kai-Shek from 1934-35. The location of the conference has been well preserved, the original two-storey wooden-building, the conference hall where the meeting took place, the furniture and various items used by officials who were present at the meeting are all intact to this day. We continued our journey the next day to two adjoining villages, Gouba and Huamao. The two villages played key roles in Chairman Mao's grand strategy in the fight against Nationalist forces. It is for this reason that I believe Guizhou's role in the victory against the Nationalist forces and China's eventual liberation cannot be easily overlooked and neither can it be dismissed. I am confident that the China we are witnessing today wouldn't have achieved the height and success it is experiencing- confident, ambitious, and a leading power in the world if Gouba and Huamao hadn't welcomed the Red Army. Chairman Mao chose to position his forces at the base of a mountain in Gouba to prevent Nationalist forces from attacking their camp from behind and subsequent bombardment, that way; the Red Army could meet enemy forces in a frontal attack. According to historical accounts, it was a matter of life-and-death. That was the breaking point. Defeat could have meant the non-existence of the People's Republic of China we know today. As we toured the living quarters of the soldiers I tried to visualize the tension during the encampment. Facing the enemy boot-for-boot, I believe, was the sort of guerrilla tactics Chairman Mao was noted for. Standing at that historical site where the Red Army stationed gave me a better understanding of the resilience of the Chinese nation. To that end, it is important to preserve and protect these sites as a form of political, historical and cultural education of the younger generation. Buildings and structures in the two villages have been upgraded with support from local government to compliment the improved standard of living of resident peasant farmers whiles the original station of the Red Army have been renovated, restored and now called the "Red Army village". Local wine making, horticulture, pottery, and umbrella making using the original paper making technique are contributing immensely to wealth creation in the area. Our last stop was in Guiyang, the provincial capital where massive infrastructural development has already taken shape and will soon catch-up with top tier cities. This is where the world's largest telescope, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) is located. Situated in a deep valley in Pintang county, southwest of Guizhou, I call it the "Earth's Ear". We were granted an exclusive tour of the facility. As a general rule and strictly observed, no cameras, mobile phones or any electromagnetic device are allowed within a five-kilometre range of the facility- the reason being that such devices could disrupt the debugging process of the telescope. The telescope is on a mission to seek the origin and evolution of our universe. Since the beginning of time, man has been fascinated about life beyond our planet. Historical accounts of the Egyptians, Mayans, and ancient Chinese philosophers using devices to explain astral phenomenon and the existence of extraterrestrial beings "aliens" abound in numbers. In our current technological world, Guizhou is leading the charge in man's search for life beyond our universe with FAST, said to be 10 times as sensitive as the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico. The province is also home to one of China's national big data centres, whose core objectives are data storage, data collection, data processing and analysis, cloud platform construction and operation services, data security, data exchange and transaction, and artificial intelligence. Big data has been described as the diamond mine of the 21st century, I prefer to call it the "new virtual economy", and Guizhou is one of the cities at the forefront of the "big data revolution". For a general understanding, the big data industry supports smart health, smart logistics, internet finance, e-commerce, smart tourism, smart agriculture, energy, education, and public security. Statistically, the province has been one of the top performing regions in China in recent years. Guiyang clinched the number one position among the top 20 cities in the Rising Stars: China emerging city rankings compiled by The Economist Intelligence Unit in 2015. In the 2016 top 10 Chinese cities with best performance released by The Milken Institute, Guiyang again placed first, with Shanghai and Tianjin in second and third position respectively. I have seen it myself, Guizhou's rise is visible. The region welcomes both local and foreign enterprises, as well as talents, with the establishment of an international talent park to support industries. I'm positive that the contribution of Guizhou to the sustenance of the national economy is the reason why Chinas economy has sustained the momentum regardless of predictions of decline. Jesuit missionaries to China Schall von Bell (Germany). [Photo provided to China Daily] Jesuits who arrived in China to preach the gospel between the 16th and 19th centuries left an indelible mark on the country, and it was there that they spent the rest of their natural lives. Li Xiumei loves snow. "It purifies and silences everything, especially in this part of the campus," says the associate law professor at the Beijing Administration Institute. "After one snowy night I came here early in the morning to sink my footsteps into the spotless white sponge cake, footsteps that took me to a group of men that has occupied my imagination and much of my time for the past decade." To be precise it is repeat visits to the tombstones of these men that have kept Li in their thrall. These tombstones, standing quietly on a patch of land measuring about 200 sq meters, are in tight formation. The intimacy is evocative, because centuries ago, when those to whom these monuments are dedicated arrived in China after months, or even years, at sea, they were essentially alone, with almost no one to turn to but themselves and their God. They were Jesuit missionaries who journeyed to China from countries including Portugal, Spain, Italy and France between the 16th and 19th centuries, and they had at least two things in common: undoubted talent, including personal and diplomatic skills, and unwavering dedication to spreading the gospel message. Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi, a Ming Dynasty politician and scientist who Ricci befriended. [Photo provided to China Daily] Missionaries in China from the 16th century had royal reins placed on their work. "The moment they sought help from a Chinese emperor was the moment they placed themselves in the hands of these powerfuland often equally intelligentmen. But the manipulation, if that's what you want to call it, was mutual," says Zhang Xiping, whose book Following the Steps of Matteo Ricci to China offers tantalizing glimpses into a group of adventurer-missionaries who arrived in between the 16th and 19th centuries. Most would never see the land of their birth again. One example involves Emperor Shunzhi (1638-1661), the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty to enter Beijing, and Johann Adam Schall von Bell, a German Jesuit missionary who so impressed the young emperor that he regarded him as his mentor and confidant. In 1652 the religious leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, planned to travel to Beijing and pay tribute to Shunzhi. As with the preparation of every major event of the time, a close reading of the stars was required. The task was traditionally reserved for the emperor's Astro-Calendric Bureau, an organization headed by von Bell and later by his missionary successors who, too, were astronomers. Von Bell reported to Shunzhi that sunspots had appeared and that a "threatening meteor" was seen close to the polestar. The sunspots were interpreted as representing the Dalai Lama, who was about to obscure the radiance of "the sun"the emperor himself. And the now "threatened" polestar, in the north, was a symbol of royal authority in feudal China. Louis-Samuel Berger, Palace of Versailles deputy managing director [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily] As a national symbol of France, the Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris, also known as the Chateau de Versailles, is actively extending its global horizons in a bid to enhance its international standing. For example, Versailles recently joined with 12 other top-level French museums to become part of an ambitious cultural project to loan portions of its collections on a long-term basis to the newly-opened Louvre Abu Dhabi in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, the museum, seat of France's permanent royal court from 1682 to 1789, also intends to forge closer ties with China. "It is true that Versailles shares the Forbidden City's extravagance," Louis-Samuel Berger, deputy managing director of the institution, tells China Daily, citing a comparison with between the French palace and Beijing's Palace Museum. "Versailles is ultimately a work of art. Its walls, its contents, and the space in which it is built ... everything is work of art," Berger says proudly. Berger came to Tsinghua University in Beijing last week to join the cultural heritage panel at the Tsinghua Culture Creativity Forum, an occasion that invited professionals from all over the world to share their case studies in successful cultural development. In 2016, the Palace of Versailles received 668,000 Chinese tourists, or 13 percent of the total number of visitors to the museum annually, after France and the United States, according to Berger. "The interesting thing was that 29 percent of the guidance pamphlets were given to Chinese visitors, which shows they are more willing than other nationalities to read and learn about Versailles," Berger smiles. Perhaps, that explains why the museum opened a public account on WeChat, the popular Chinese social media app, as early as in 2015. In 2014, an exhibition called China in Versailles was held in the museum to display French artworks which particularly reflected Chinese characteristics. "In the 17th and 18th centuries, the French (royal) court was very fond of China, and Versailles was greatly influenced by Chinese culture at that time," Berger recalls. "We gathered those works especially for our Chinese visitors." CAIRO - At least 235 people were killed when gunmen set off a bomb and opened fire at a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai Peninsula on Friday, state television reported. The report also said at least 125 people were wounded in the attack. Egypt's government declared three days of mourning after the attack - one of the country's deadliest in recent memory. Security officials said four men in four off-road vehicles opened fire on worshippers during Friday prayers at Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, about 40 kilometers from the North Sinai provincial capital of el-Arish. No group had claimed responsibility for the assault. A tribal leader and head of a Bedouin militia that fights Islamic State extremists said the mosque is known as a place of gathering for Sufis. The IS group views Sufis as heretics. State media showed images of bloodied victims and bodies covered in blankets inside the mosque. Eyewitnesses reported about 50 ambulances ferrying casualties from the scene to nearby hospitals after the attack. "They were shooting at people as they left the mosque," said a local resident whose relatives were at the scene. "They were shooting at the ambulances too." President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi convened an emergency security meeting soon after the attack. The meeting was attended by the ministers of defense and interior in addition to the heads of general intelligence and military intelligence services, MENA state news agency reported. IS insurgency Egypt's security forces have battled an IS insurgency in north Sinai, where extremists have killed hundreds of police officers and soldiers since fighting there intensified over the last three years. Aside from the IS group, Egypt also faces a threat from al-Qaida-aligned extremists who operate out of neighboring Libya. Extremists have mostly targeted security forces in their attacks, but have also tried to expand beyond the peninsula by hitting churches and pilgrims. In July, at least 23 soldiers were killed when suicide car bombs hit two military checkpoints in Sinai Peninsula, an attack claimed by the IS group. In May, gunmen attacked a Coptic group traveling to a monastery in southern Egypt, killing 29. Reuters - Afp - Xinhua - Ap TOKYO - The mayor of Japan's second city of Osaka said on Friday he would end sister-city relations with San Francisco after the US city decided to accept a donated memorial to wartime sex slaves. Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura said trust between the two, which have been "sister" cities for 60 years, had been "completely destroyed "by the incident. "The sister-city relationship with San Francisco will be terminated," Yoshimura said. Japan's government has stepped in to urge San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee to reject the memorial. But Lee signed a document on Wednesday formalizing the city's acceptance of the memorial. About 200,000 women in Asia were forced to serve as "comfort women" during the war, mostly from the Korean Peninsula and China. In recent years, dozens of statues have been set up in public venues around the world, many of them in the ROK, in honor of the victims. The statues have drawn the ire of Tokyo, which has pressed for the removal of one outside its embassy in Seoul. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who also faces criticism of attempting to gloss over the nation's wartime acts, has previously said San Francisco's "extremely regrettable" plan was "in conflict" with Japan's position. In 2015, Japan signed a deal with the ROK, offering an apology and $9 million to open a foundation for those sex slaves still alive. However, ROK President Moon Jae-In has said most ROK citizens cannot accept the agreement as it is, although he has not so far formally called for it to be renegotiated. The ROK parliament on Friday passed a bill to make Aug 14 as a special day for victims to sexual slavery for Japanese military brothels during the war. Afp - China Daily - Xinhua Jessica Gopar (center), the wife of one of the 44 crew members of a missing Argentine submarine, expresses her grief in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on Thursday. [Photo/Agencies] MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina - An explosion apparently occurred near the last known position of an Argentine submarine, the navy confirmed on Thursday, dashing any last hopes of finding the vessel and its 44 crew members. Relatives of the missing sailors reacted with grief to the news after holding out hope since the sub was reported overdue at its Mar del Plata base on Nov 17, two days after the explosion. "An anomalous, singular, short, violent and non-nuclear event consistent with an explosion," occurred shortly after the submarine's last communication, Navy spokesman Captain Enrique Balbi said in Buenos Aires. Underwater sounds detected in the first days of the search by two Argentine search ships were determined to originate from a sea creature, not the vessel. Satellite signals were also determined to be false alarms. The ARA San Juan, a 34-year-old German-built diesel-electric submarine, had reported a battery problem on Nov 15 and said it was diverting to Mar del Plata, but did not send a distress signal, according to the Navy. Balbi admitted on Wednesday that the situation for the sub and its crew appeared to be worsening. However, he refused to speculate at that point on the origin of what he initially described as a "hydro-acoustic anomaly" detected in the ocean almost three hours after the sub's communication and 50 kilometers north of its last known position. Balbi said that information about the unusual noise only became available on Wednesday after being relayed by the United States and "after all the information from all agencies reporting such hydro-acoustic events was reviewed". Explaining the lack of debris on the surface, Baldi said "nothing will end up floating to the surface" because a submarine "implodes". Gustavo Mauvecin, director of the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine at Mar del Plata, said hydrogen "is always an issue with submarines with electric engines". The San Juan "has 500 tons of lead-acid batteries, which release hydrogen if there is an overcharge in the battery, hydrogen in contact with oxygen is explosive". Argentina is leading an air-and-sea search with help from several countries now including Brazil, Britain, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Peru, Russia, the US and Uruguay. Russia was the latest navy to volunteer help, sending an oceanographic research ship as the operation shifted from rescue to recovery. Afp - Xinhua - Ap Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that the situation in Syria has reached a new stage focused on political settlement, with anti-terrorism, dialogue and reconstruction as priorities. "Dialogue and negotiation are the only ways to solve the Syrian issue," Wang told Bouthaina Shaaban, political and media adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Beijing. Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be safeguarded, and the Syrian people should remain at the core of any political settlement, he said. Wang also said that the recent intensive interaction among related parties on future political arrangements in Syria will contribute to the United Nations-sponsored Syrian political talks in Geneva. On Wednesday, the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey expressed support for a comprehensive dialogue on Syria, stressing the ongoing coordination to reduce violence in Syria and provide help for Syrians to restore the unity of the country, Xinhua News Agency reported. Syria's Foreign Ministry said it welcomed the outcome of the trilateral talks between the three powers. Wang said, "China hopes Syria will seize the opportunity, show flexibility and push for substantive results from the talks." Wang called anti-terrorism the foundation, dialogue the way out and reconstruction the guarantee to solve the Syrian issue. He said the fight against terrorism in Syria is ongoing although the international community has achieved important results in anti-terrorism cooperation. Wang called for concerted global efforts to fight the remaining forces of extremist groups. Only by steadily advancing reconstruction can we give hope to the people and guarantee the long-term stability of Syria, he added. "The international community should pay attention to, and actively support, the reconstruction of Syria," Wang said. Shaaban agreed with Wang's proposal, and spoke highly of China's position. Syria is willing to actively take part in the process of political settlement and welcomed a bigger role by China in this regard, she said. Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh in Beijing, Nov 24, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING - Premier Li Keqiang said Friday Djibouti is an important partner for China in east Africa, and he encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest there. "China and Djibouti will continue to deepen mutual trust and partnership to become a model for South-South cooperation," Li said when meeting with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh. China will work with Djibouti on infrastructure and industrial production capacity cooperation to make the African country a regional trade and logistics hub and improve its economy and people's livelihoods, Li said. "China encourages well-established enterprises to invest in Djibouti and hopes the country will offer security and convenience to Chinese companies," the premier said. Guelleh hailed the productive, mutually beneficial cooperation since the two countries established diplomatic ties 38 years ago. He thanked China's support for Djibouti's development and said the country will use its geographical advantage to further cooperate with China. Guelleh was on a state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday. WINDHOEK - A senior member of the Angolan ruling party, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), on Friday praised China for helping to develop the southern African country's economy. MPLA Politburo member and Member of Parliament, Luisa Damian, who is in Namibia to attend the ruling SWAPO Party Sixth Elective congress - which started on Thursday and ends on Sunday - told Xinhua that her country is happy with its relationship with China. "China is helping us to develop our country and our economy and we have already started seeing the benefits of this co-operation between China and Angola. We hope that this relationship between China and Angola will continue to develop," Damian said. She said many of the Angolan students who studied in China have already started participating in the development of sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest economy. Damian added that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and MPLA share the same ideals of peace, prosperity and improving the wellbeing of citizens. "We have the same common objectives of ameliorating the lives of our people in our respective countries," Damian said, adding that Angola looks forward to China's support in helping Angola modernize. The Angolan lawmaker further said that, like China, Angola - Africa's second-largest oil producer - is trying its best to rid itself of corruption. "We are also working to fight against corruption just like in China," Damian said. "In the last election that we won, our main goal was to do better what we are doing well and to correct what is wrong. This is proof that our party has acknowledged that there are many things that need to be corrected. One of those things is corruption." According to Cui Aimin, Chinese Ambassador to Angola, China is Angola's largest trading partner while Angola is China's second largest trading partner in Africa as well as the largest source country of imports in Africa. MAPUTO - China's liquor giant, Maotai Group, has donated nearly $500,000 on Friday, for the expansion of a primary school in the Ka-Tembe district of Maputo city in Mozambique. The launching of the first stone of the construction project in the Lewi Pethrus Primary School was chaired by the mayor of Maputo City, David Simango, the general manager of the Maotai Group, Li Baofang and the Chinese ambassador to Mozambique, Su Jian. Li Baofang said it was a special occasion because Mozambique is the first African country to benefit from the Maotai's social responsibility and charity. "In our social responsibility initiative, we decided to help the Ka-Tembe district community in the expansion of the Lewis Pethrus School, where children study in a condition that is not very good," the general manager said. The fund donated will be used on the construction of classrooms, teacher offices and recreational facilities, which will be operated by the Guizhou Chamber of Commerce in Mozambique. "Our desire is that once the school has been expanded, it will be able to accommodate more students than it is today, and the learning condition for children will be better," he added. The mayor of Maputo City, David Simango, hailed the donation in his speech and said that the country is making significant progress resulting from cooperation with the Chinese people. Simango acknowledged that the quality of teaching for now is limited due to scarcity of resources, so the Municipality praises the Maotai initiative. "As a result of the friendship between China and Mozambique, we see the participation of the Maotai group as the only viable alternative to quality education in this country," he said. China's ambassador to Mozambique, Su Jian, said the construction of classrooms is part of the cooperation between the two countries in the field of basic education. "This project we are witnessing today will help the community here at Ka-Tembe district," said Su Jian, adding that "another project of school desks is under consideration". The ambassador said that with more cooperation efforts, the infrastructures of primary and secondary schools can be improved, and not only that. "The projects that are to be installed in Ka-Tembe, namely the construction of the cross-sea bridge, roads and schools, will stimulate development in this area," he said. An unemployed graduate is suing Oxford University because he did not get a first-class degree, which he claims hindered his chances of a lucrative legal career. Faiz Siddiqui began his court case at London's High Court on Tuesday over allegations of "inadequate" teaching he received on an Indian special subject, part of his modern history course, which he said resulted him in getting a second-grade 2:1 degree in June 2000 instead of a "first" or high 2:1. He claimed that had he received adequate teaching and achieved his higher grade, he would have gone on to become an international commercial lawyer. The 39-year-old blamed staff members being absent on sabbatical leave and is claiming damages of 1 million pounds ($1.3 million). Siddiqui, who studied at Brasenose College, also alleges that a tutor failed to submit medical information about him to examiners. He claimed that his clinical depression and insomnia had been worsened by his "inexplicable failure". The London court heard that Siddiqui was a "driven young man" as a student, aiming at a postgraduate qualification from an Ivy League university before a career at the tax bar in England or a major US law company. Second rate His barrister Roger Mallalieu told Mr Justice Foskett that, "while a 2:1 degree from Oxford might rightly seem like a tremendous achievement to move, it feels significantly short of Mr Siddiqui's expectations and was, to him, a huge disappointment". Under the UK's university grading system, a first, or first class, is the highest honors degree achievable. A second-class degree is split into two divisions, the higher of which is the upper second class, commonly known as a 2:1. Mallalieu said that Saddiqui's employment history in legal and tax roles after Oxford was "frankly poor" and he is now unemployed. "Mr Siddiqui has been badly let down by Oxford. He went there with high, perhaps extraordinarily high, expectations," he added. After graduating from Oxford, Siddiqui trained at a major law company, Clifford Chance, according to court filings, but was not kept on at the end of the program. He worked for three other law firms and then as a tax adviser at the accounting company EY but was dismissed in December 2011 "essentially for poor performance", court papers said. The university asked last year for his case to be struck out, but a judge ruled that a trial should take place. Oxford University denies negligence and said the case was brought "massively" outside the legal time limit. Julian Milford, representing the institution, told the court that Siddiqui complained about insufficient resources, but had only described the teaching as "a little bit dull". Probe launched into an alleged limit on Asian-American students Harvard University t-shirts are displayed for sale in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. JESSICA RINALDI/REUTERS BOSTON - The US Justice Department is investigating complaints that Harvard University intentionally limits the number of Asian-American students it admits, according to a report on Tuesday. The department has also accused the university of failing to cooperate with the probe into the relevance of race in its admission practices, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing documents it reviewed. A Nov 17 letter from the department gives Harvard until Dec 1 to turn over a variety of records that Justice officials requested in September, including applications for admission and evaluations of students. The department said Harvard has pursued a "strategy of delay" and threatened to sue if it doesn't meet the department's deadline. The inquiry is related to a federal lawsuit filed by a group of students in 2014 alleging Harvard limits the number of Asian-Americans it admits each year. A similar complaint was made to the Justice Department. Diversity push Harvard has previously said its admissions process is consistent with the legal precedents set over the past 40 years by the Supreme Court, which have allowed universities to consider race as a factor in admissions to obtain the benefits of a diverse student body. A statement from Harvard on Tuesday said it will "certainly comply with its obligations" but also needs to protect confidential records related to students and applicants. The university said it has been "seeking to engage the Department of Justice in the best means of doing so". Many elite schools defend admissions approaches that consider race among other factors as a way to bring a more diverse mix of perspectives to campus. Harvard has previously said its practices are legally sound. The Supreme Court last year upheld race-conscious admissions at the University of Texas but said the ruling didn't necessarily apply to all other schools. Edward Blum, the legal strategist behind the 2014 lawsuit against Harvard, applauded the investigation into what he called "discriminatory admissions policies". "Harvard's Asian quotas, and the overall racial balancing that follows, have been ignored by our federal agencies for too long," Blum said in a statement on Tuesday. "This investigation is a welcome development." The school's early correspondence with Justice officials suggested that the department only wanted to weigh in on the lawsuit, but later letters revealed Harvard is the target of an inquiry. A Nov 7 letter from a Harvard attorney said it was "highly unusual" for the department to open an investigation into a complaint more than two years after it was filed and while it's still being decided in court. Xinhua - Ap NEW DELHI - An all-female police motorbike squad is set to take to Delhi's streets next month, a senior police official said, as reports of violence against women rise in the Indian capital. The 'Raftaar' or 'Speed' squad of 600 policewomen will ride in pairs through the streets on state-of-the-art motorbikes, equipped with guns, pepper sprays and body cameras. "Basically it is a robust street criminal containment strategy," Delhi police spokesman Dependra Pathak told The Hindustan Times. "There will be a specifically designed helmets with earpieces. The pillion will carry a weapon like an AK-47 rifle and the rider carrying a 9 mm pistol. "They will have all the accessories to make them effective on the ground." Women and girls in India face multiple threats - from rape, abduction and dowry-related murder to sexual harassment and acid attacks. An October poll by Reuters found New Delhi, along with Brazil's Sao Paulo, was the world's worst megacity for sex crimes against women. Reports of violence against women in the city have almost doubled since 2012, with 11,588 crimes, such as kidnapping and assault, recorded up to Nov 15 this year, police data shows. Backlash Public awareness of violence against women in Delhi, particularly sex attacks, has surged since the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old student on a bus in 2012. The case triggered a wave of public protests across the country, throwing a global spotlight on gender violence in the world's second most populous nation. Indian authorities enacted stricter punishments for gender crimes, and set up a 24-hour women's helpline, fast-track courts for rape cases and a fund to finance crisis centers for victims. Women's desks in many of Delhi's police stations have been established, thousands of police received gender sensitization classes, and Delhi has more patrols, surveillance and checkpoints at night. Reuters CAIRO -- The death toll in a terrorist attack on a mosque on Friday in Egypt's North Sinai has risen to 305 killed, including 27 children, and 128 others were wounded, state news agency MENA reported on Saturday. "The attackers of the mosque were carrying Islamic State (IS) flag," MENA quoted the statement of the country's general prosecutor as saying. "Some 25-30 militants have gunned down the worshippers while performing the Friday prayer," it added. The attack took place after the mosque's preacher started his speech, when the terrorists threw bombs from the windows and doors of the mosque, besieging the worshippers inside, the statement said. Later, some masked men, carrying black flags reading "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet," broke into the mosque with automatic weapons, it added. Long queues of the victims' relatives were laid on the ground, some covered with blankets, outside the Suez Canal Hospital in Ismailia. "My 23-years old nephew, Amir, who was working as a nurse has passed away in the attack," said Samy Mahmoud, who came from Delta Monofiya province to get the license of burying Amir. The father of Amir, Magdy, a 45-year-old teacher has also been wounded in the attack by three bullets, two in his leg and one in his right arm, Mahmoud told Xinhua while waiting outside the hospital. "I couldn't get the body of Amir and he was buried in collective graves with the others," he said while weeping. But Mahmoud was waiting to ensure the status of the father who underwent some surgeries. Magdy said the terrorists for the first time attacked mosque because they failed to cause rift between the Copt and Muslims and also found difficulties in targeting more security men. North Sinai province, a mostly desert area bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, has been experiencing waves of anti-security attacks that killed hundreds of police and army men since the army-led ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 in response to mass protests against his rule. Now they started to target the Muslim worshipers at mosque for the first time, which is an unprecedented development in terrorist tactics in the country, according to security experts. Lee Hyuk, RoK Ambassador to Vietnam, spoke at the event. (Photo: ATP) Attending the event were Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and representatives of some Ministries, agencies and localities, along with Hanoi-based diplomatic corps and international organizations. In his speech, Ambassador Lee Hyuk reviewed the achievements that the RoK has obtained during national development, along with the progress in the two countries cooperation. He affirmed that his country is ready to join Vietnam in promoting win-win cooperation and deepening bilateral relations. Besides, the Ambassador strongly believed that the target of reaching USD100 billion two-way trade revenue between Vietnam and his nation will become reality in 2020. For his part, Minister Dung congratulated the RoK on its development accomplishments while voicing his delight at the development of Vietnam-RoK relations since they set up diplomatic ties 25 years ago (December 22nd). He stressed that Vietnam is willing to boost strategic cooperative partnership with RoK, effectively implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, and foster substantive cooperation in all spheres, especially economy-trade and high technology, thus benefiting the two peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world as well./. home World Archaeologists uncover well-preserved 1,500-year-old Georgian church mosaic in Israel The Israeli Antiquities Authority has announced the discovery of well-preserved remains of 1,500-year-old colored mosaic from a Georgian church or a monastery in Israel's coastal city of Ashdod. According to The Jerusalem Post, the mosaic was discovered at the ancient tel, or archaeological mound, of Ashdod-Yam in August during an excavation headed by Dr. Alexander Fantalkin of Tel Aviv University's Archeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations Department, and Prof. Angelika Berlejung of Leipzig University. The mosaic floor features a Greek inscription indicating the year of the church's construction and dedicating the building to a prominent bishop in the sixth century. "[By the grace of God (or Jesus)], this work was done from the foundation under Procopius, our most saintly and most holy bishop, in the month Dios of the 3rd indiction, year 292," the inscription stated. According to Dr. Leah Di Segni, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the date on the inscription corresponds to the year 539 A.D., making it the earliest known appearance of the use of the Georgian calendar in Israel. Leading archaeologists believe that the new discovery could be part of the long-lost ruins of Ashdod-Yam, a Byzantine city known in the classical sources as Azotos Paralios. Breaking Israel News noted that Ashdod-Yam, or Ashdod by the Sea, was one of the most important coastal cities in Israel during the Byzantine period. It was said to be an outpost and the sister city of the Biblical Ashdod, which stood a few kilometers inland to the north, but it became its own entity during the Iron Age and expanded to a city known as Azotos Paralios in the Byzantine period. "Ashdod-Yam, known in sources from the period as Azotus Paralios, covered a large area, and the renowned Madaba Map shows it with public buildings, including churches and a street flanked by colonnades," the Antiquity Authority said. The authority's Ashkelon district archeologist Sa'ar Ganor said that this would be the first time that a Georgian church or monastery has been unearthed on the Israeli coast. Experts believe that the rest of the Byzantine city could be hidden beneath the dunes by the modern southern Israeli city of Ashdod. "We know from historical sources and a representation on the Madaba map (a contemporary mosaic map located in Jordan, from the sixth century) that the region's center of gravity shifted from Ashdod to Ashdod-Yam during the Byzantine period," Fantalkin said. "Obviously, the ruins of the Roman-Byzantine city of Ashdod-Yam are waiting beneath the dunes," he added. The archaeologists are hoping to learn more about the roles of Ashdod and Ashdod-Yam in the history of early Christianity in their further investigation of the complex. home World China orders travel agencies to stop sending tourists to Vatican The Chinese government has reportedly banned tour groups from visiting the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica as the Holy See struggles to improve its diplomatic relations with Beijing. According to a report from Radio Free Asia (RFA), travel agencies in China have received a directive dated Nov. 16 instructing them to delete or cancel the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica from their list of destinations. "Travel agencies are required to cancel any tours that include the Vatican or St. Peter's in the itinerary," the directive said. "Any travel agency found to be advertising these destinations in their promotional literature or other products will be fined up to 300,000 yuan [US$45,466]," it continued. Asia News reported that its correspondents in China have confirmed that the directive is in effect, although there are doubts that it will be observed. An employee at Phoenix Holidays International Travel Agency suggested that the order was based on the fact that China does not have "diplomatic links with the Vatican." The Chengdu branch of Phoenix Holidays, as well as other travel agencies, also said that they have received similar orders. An official at the Guangdong provincial branch of the State Tourism Bureau told RFA that the order was issued at the highest level of government. "We didn't send this out; it was the central government. The Vatican, as a sovereign state under the rule of the Pope, hasn't legally recognized us. This is a diplomatic issue, so only the ministry of foreign affairs or the State Tourism Bureau would have the authority to [to decide this]," the official said. The directive came after China and the Vatican took part in an artwork exchange for the first time, a move that has been hailed as a sign of warming relations between the two countries. Forty items have been lent to the Vatican's museums while 40 pieces from the Holy's collection of Chinese bronzes, ceramics and paintings are scheduled to tour four cities in China beginning in March next year. Both Pope Francis and his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI have enthusiastically sought to improve diplomatic ties with China. However, relations between the city-state and the communist regime have come under repeated strain under the administration of President Xi Jinping due to the Vatican's insistence that the pope should have the authority to ordain Chinese bishops. Human rights activists and some academics have speculated that Xi will take a tougher stance on religious freedom in China, following his appointment to a second term as leader of the ruling Communist Party. The wucai fish jar: A gem of the Eastern Renaissance Liang-Lin Chen, specialist in Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art at Christies in Hong Kong, explains the deceptively simple composition of this vessel made for the Jiajing emperor In the Jiajing period, an era of the Ming dynasty that stretched from 152266, the production of wucai, or five enamel vessels, reached new heights in both quality and quantity. Prior to the reign of the Jiajing emperor, Imperial kilns primarily produced small objects suitable for handling. But in the Jiajing reign, porcelain began to be produced on a larger scale a major breakthrough in porcelain technology. This fish jar is the earliest type of large polychrome-decorated porcelain made by the Imperial kilns. With a height of 46cm, it was made in sections. Painted in wucai with underglaze blue, it required firing at least three times because of its complex colour scheme. The technique conveys an auspicious message, wishing the Emperor fortune as vast as heaven. Vietnamese Chief Justice Nguyen Hoa Binh (L) and Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari (Photo: VNA) At a meeting with Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vietnamese Chief Justice Nguyen Hoa Binh briefed his host about the outcomes of his talks with Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal Gopal Parajuli and their commitment to enhancing cooperation between the two countries courts. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to the cooperation with Nepal. Binh also delivered President Tran Dai Quangs invitation to visit Vietnam to the Nepalese leader, adding that delegation exchanges at the head of state level will be a great stride in promoting diplomatic relations. President Bhandari said Vietnam is always an example of national development for her country. She also highly valued Vietnams successes in reinforcing ties with nations around the world, especially neighboring countries. She noted Vietnam-Nepal relations have obtained many new achievements, and bilateral ties will be strengthened in the time ahead. The leader added the opening of a direct air route between the two countries will facilitate trade and investment activities. President Bhandari also asked Binh to convey her invitation to visit Nepal to Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang. At the previous talks, chief justices Binh and Parajuli looked into the development of the law system in each country, judicial reforms, courts manpower, judicial training, and IT application in courts. They shared the view that as the two countries are making efforts to foster diplomatic ties, it is necessary for the two court systems to build and step up bilateral cooperation. They can negotiate and sign memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the fields that both are interested in, like law making, judicial training, smart court building, and trans-national crime prevention. The two sides should also exchange high-ranking delegations and create favourable conditions for high-level courts cooperation, the officials said. During their stay, the Vietnamese delegation also visited the Vietnamese Honorary Consulate in Nepal and the Nepal Bar Association./. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK - The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned Friday and named his own successor, leading to an open conflict with President Donald Trump - who announced a different person as acting head of the agency later in the day. That means there are now effectively two acting directors of the CFPB, when there should only be one. Typically an acting director position would be filled according to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. But Richard Cordray, along with his resignation, elevated Leandra English, who was the agency's chief of staff, into the deputy director position. Under the Dodd-Frank Act that created the CFPB, English would become acting director. Cordray - an Obama appointee - specifically cited the law when he moved English, a longtime CFPB employee and ally of his, into that position. Within a few hours, President Donald Trump announced his own acting director of the agency, Mick Mulvaney, who is currently director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mulvaney had widely been expected to be Trump's temporary pick for the bureau until a permanent one could be found. Mulvaney is a longtime critic of the CFPB and has wanted the agency's authority significantly curtailed. The person nominated to be director of the CFPB requires confirmation by the Senate, and it could be many weeks or months before the person would be able to step into the role permanently. Cordray's move was aimed at allowing his favored successor to keep running the agency for as long as possible before a Trump appointee is confirmed by the Senate. Cordray had announced earlier that he would resign by the end of this month. There is wide speculation that Cordray, a Democrat, is resigning in order to run for governor in his home state of Ohio. The CFPB was created as part of the laws passed following the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession. The agency was given a broad mandate to be a watchdog for consumers when they deal with banks and credit card, student loan and mortgage companies, as well as debt collectors and payday lenders. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK - Lawmakers who sped a bill through the U.S. House this month may have handed a few more goodies to Wall Street's wealthiest than they realize. Investors in billion-dollar hedge funds might be able to take advantage of a new and lower tax rate touted as a break for small businesses. Private equity fund managers might be able to sidestep a new tax on their earnings. And a combination of proposed changes might allow the children and grandchildren of the very wealthy to avoid income taxes in perpetuity. These are some of the quirks that tax experts have spotted in the bill passed by the House on Nov. 16, just two weeks after it was introduced. Whether they were intentional or accidental, it will be up to congressional tax writers to keep or revise them before a final bill makes it to President Donald Trump's desk - assuming both chambers can work out a compromise. Senate leaders plan to vote on their own version of tax legislation by the end of this month. "There sure are a lot of glitches and loopholes, in large measure because there's so much complexity in this bill that's being raced through," said Steven Rosenthal, a senior fellow with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, a Washington policy group. Loopholes aside, the biggest features of the Republican tax plans in both chambers bear a mix of news for wealthy investors. The good: a potential cut in the top marginal income tax rate; big cuts in business taxes; an end to the alternative minimum tax; and a cut or repeal of the estate tax. The bad: limits or the outright end of individual deductions for state and local taxes and tax hikes on the debt financing that fuels private equity deals. The loopholes are deep in the details. The House bill contemplates a major shift in how most American businesses are taxed. Right now, profits from "pass-through" entities, like sole proprietorships and partnerships, show up on their owners' individual income taxes. The House bill replaces that with a new, 25 percent top tax rate on pass-throughs' business income. Supporters describe the change as a boon for small business owners, a way to keep them relatively even with corporations, which stand to see their tax rate drop to 20 percent from 35 percent. The bill's drafters probably didn't mean for investors in partnerships like hedge funds to use the new pass-through rate, according to David S. Miller, a tax partner at Proskauer Rose in New York. Capital gains, the kind of income these funds tend to generate, would be excluded. 'Drafting glitches' But there may be a workaround. In a note published on Nov. 13, Miller highlights what he calls "an unusual set of drafting glitches." Here's how it would work, according to Miller: A fund could choose to be taxed the same way a securities dealer is. It would have to mark its portfolio to market regularly and record any profits as ordinary income. Doing so would allow it to characterize the money it makes as "business income" rather than investing income, and qualify for the pass-through rate. For a hedge fund that generates short-term capital gains, this strategy could have the effect of dropping an investor's tax rate to 25 percent from 39.6 percent. The manager of the fund probably wouldn't get the full benefit, Miller said. The Senate plan, which is still under discussion and hasn't yet been put into legislative language, would overhaul taxes for pass-through businesses in a completely different way. Another provision in the House bill is aimed squarely at fund managers. It targets the so-called carried interest tax break that Trump called for ending during his campaign when he said "hedge fund guys are getting away with murder." Hedge fund and private equity managers typically get some of their pay in the form of carried interest - a percentage of their investors' profits. Under current law, if those underlying profits stem from investments held for more than a year, the managers enjoy the same preferential, lower rate on the carried interest that their clients pay on their investments. The House bill preserves this break, but limits it by extending the holding period from one year to three. Even that tax hike might be avoidable, according to Monte Jackel, a senior counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. Jackel notes that the provision doesn't apply to corporations that hold carried interest. So a fund manager could collect his carried interest through a type of corporation that doesn't itself pay taxes. "It looks like that's what they've written," Jackel said, adding that it's the type of discrepancy that's likely to get fixed once someone notices it. The Senate is working on a similar change in carried-interest taxation, but hasn't released detailed language. Estate tax Another quirk in the House bill is so glaring that Richard Levine, a special counsel at Withers Bergman in New Haven, Conn., says he can't believe it was accidental. This one involves the estate tax, a 40 percent levy that applies to the estates of a few thousand of the richest Americans each year. The House bill would limit the tax to even fewer estates right away and then eliminate it entirely in 2025. But it leaves in place a related measure that allows heirs to sell assets without having to pay income tax on the appreciation that took place before they inherited them. Taken together, that means that a family whose fortune derives from a long-held asset - think Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway or the Walton family's Wal-Mart Stores - might never have to pay tax on the bulk of that wealth at all. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Oil on Friday briefly surpassed $59 a barrel in New York for the first time in two years as OPEC and Russia were said to have crafted the outline of a deal to extend their oil production cuts. Futures closed 1.6 percent higher, just 10 cents below a fresh two-year high. After days of talks, Moscow and Saudi Arabia now agree on the need to announce an additional period of cuts at their meeting next Thursday, although both sides are still hammering out crucial details, according to people involved in the conversations. Moscow had been hesitating over the need for an extension because the current deal doesn't expire until the end of March. "Russia has been scared of higher prices and has been sort of unwilling to commit to a nine-month" extension of cuts, said Sam Alderson, analyst at Energy Aspects in London. Oil market strength comes from "the more positive signs from Russia." Also affecting prices was the shutdown of the Keystone pipeline, which is expected to last for several weeks. Without the pipeline, oil inventories will lose more 500,000 barrels a day, more than enough to stir optimism in the market, said Andy Lipow, an analyst and Lipow Oil Associates. The TransCanada Corp. pipeline was shut down last week after it leaked 5,000 barrels of oil, roughly 210,000 gallons, in South Dakota. The line carries Canadian crude to Cushing, Okla., the main pipeline and storage tank hub in the U.S. "It's a fluke that is significantly impacting the price of West Texas Intermediate," he said Friday. "And combine that with continue inventory declines here in the U.S., that's painting a picture of somewhat higher prices in 2018." The U.S. benchmark this week has traded at levels last reached in mid-2015 on heightened optimism that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies will agree to prolong cuts until the end of next year. Prices are up more than 8 percent in November, heading for a third monthly gain in what would be the longest winning streak since May last year. "Everyone is in favor of extending the deal to reach its final goals. Russia also supports these proposals," Energy Minister Alexander Novak told RBC TV. Novak and minister from other top exporting countries gathered at a summit in Bolivia this week before their meeting in Vienna. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said at the sidelines of the event that "the path" taken by OPEC and its allies must continue. "It is good news the use of these spaces of permanent dialog to reach agreements to continue establishing the prolonged stability of oil prices," he said. West Texas Intermediate for January delivery rose by 93 cents to $58.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after touching $59.05. There was no settlement Thursday because of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., and all transactions will be booked Friday. Brent for January settlement climbed 31 cents to $63.86 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $4.91 to WTI. The oil market is being driven by Russia, said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group. The oil producer has been sending mixed signals. "At the end of the day, Vladimir Putin kind of favored" an extension, Flynn said. "It's definitely supportive of the market." Ryan Maye Handy contributed to this report. People who cheered the Federal Communications Commission's move to reject Obama-era net neutrality rules last week say the government already has all the power it needs to regulate internet service without more regulations. And that power lies in the courts, as evidenced by the Justice Department lawsuit to block AT&T's purchase of Time Warner, also announced last week. Antitrust law can keep the internet free, they say. "There's no reason for anyone to panic," said Randolph May of the Free State Foundation, which calls for limited government. "The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission will be able to more than adequately perform that oversight function. The case that has been filed is a good example." Critics aren't convinced and have promised to mount an aggressive campaign against FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's decision to seek the elimination of the net neutrality rules. "Antitrust cannot replace the value of open internet rules," said Gene Kimmelman, the president and CEO of the policy group Public Knowledge. Internet service providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon didn't like the way the FCC imposed its open-internet rules, concerned that the broad power the agency adopted to regulate broadband service could be used to justify future regulation, including how much the companies charge for access. Those companies lobbied for a move away from the rules established by a Democratic-run FCC and found a champion in Republican Pai, who said his draft order would restore freedom and eliminate "heavy-handed" regulations from the internet, requiring service providers to only be "transparent." Pai also said he would turn over enforcement of these policies to the FTC to "police ISPs, protect consumers and promote competition, just as it did before 2015." Pai acknowledged in an interview with Fox News that the free market may allow companies to charge extra for fast Internet. "In some cases, you can imagine that kind of arrangement being pro-competitive, being good for startups and consumers. And in other cases it might not be so worthwhile. And that's exactly why the FTC is the better agency to investigate it," he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fiction 1. The Midnight Line: By Lee Child. Jack Reacher tracks down the owner of a pawned West Point class ring and stumbles upon a large criminal enterprise. 2. The Rooster Bar: By John Grisham. Three students at a sleazy for-profit law school hope to expose the student-loan banker who runs it. 3. Origin: By Dan Brown. A symbology professor goes on a perilous quest with a beautiful museum director. 4. Two Kinds of Truth: By Michael Connelly. While he investigates the murder of two pharmacists, an old case comes back to haunt Harry Bosch. 5. Typhoon Fury: By Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison. Juan Cabrillo chases a Filipino insurgent during a megastorm. 6. The Noel Diary: By Richard Paul Evans. A romance writer delves into a stranger's past when his estranged mother leaves her extremely stuffed house to him. 7. Every Breath You Take: By Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. Laurie Moran investigates the murder of a wealthy widow who was pushed from the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 8. The House of Unexpected Sisters: By Alexander McCall Smith. During an investigation, Precious Ramotswe encounters a man from her past and a nurse who has her last name. 9. In This Moment: By Karen Kingsbury. A lawyer defends a public high school principal who starts an after-school Bible-study program. 10. Uncommon Type: By Tom Hanks. Seventeen short stories, each incorporating a typewriter, by the Academy Award-winning actor. Nonfiction 1. Obama: By Pete Souza. More than 300 pictures of the former president by his White House photographer, with behind-the-scenes stories. 2. Leonardo da Vinci: By Walter Isaacson. A biography of the Italian Renaissance polymath that connects his work in various disciplines. 3. Bobby Kennedy: By Chris Matthews. The New York senator's journey from his formative years to his tragic run for president. 4. Grant: By Ron Chernow. A biography of the Union general of the Civil War and two-term president of the United States. 5. Sisters First: By Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush. How the twin daughters of former President George W. Bush grew up in the public eye. 6. Hacks: By Donna Brazile. An account of the Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee and the fights within the party during the 2016 campaign. 7. Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: By Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson takes on the British in Louisiana. 8. What Unites Us: By Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner. A collection of essays that define the historical changes and essential institutions of America to suggest ways to overcome divisions within the country. 9. Killing England: By Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Major events and battles during the Revolutionary War are told from several perspectives. 10. We Were Eight Years In Power: By Ta-Nehisi Coates. A series of essays that cover each year of the Obama administration and the writer's own journey. New York Times A man was fatally shot during a drive-by shooting in southwest Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. The shooting occurred around 5:45 p.m. in the 7100 block of South Gessner Road, police said. A Houston police officer was taken to the hospital early Saturday after a reported drunk driver crashed into her car in downtown Houston, according to police. The police officer was driving south on Fannin around 1:20 a.m. when a person driving east on Pierce ran a red light and collided with her vehicle, according to HPD Sgt. Thomas Fendia. Dear Abby: I have hearing loss. My insurance isn't very good, and the monthly payments for hearing aids are the equivalent of a car payment, so I try my best and do without. People who know about my hearing loss will talk louder for me or let me know when they need my attention. Even strangers will repeat themselves or talk louder if I say I'm hard of hearing. The problem is that my husband refuses to talk louder for me or make any attempt to improve our communication. He has gone as far as to threaten that he just won't talk to me anymore because he's sick of repeating himself. It's like he's taking my hearing loss personally. I feel depressed and isolated, and I'm not sure what to do. I Can't Hear You in California Dear Can't Hear: Of course you feel depressed and isolated! Your husband either doesn't like or hasn't accepted the fact that you have a hearing disability, so he's punishing you for it. What he's doing is emotionally abusive. Please have your hearing checked by an audiologist to determine how much of your hearing you have lost. Take your husband along so a professional can explain it to him. And be sure to ask if there may be lower-cost options for an assistive device. Dear Abby: When I was 17, I was engaged to a serviceman. I broke the engagement because my mother disapproved. I was young, naive, had no job or money, and I had never disobeyed my mom. Big mistake! I have paid for it for more than 50 years. I have raised a family, but my heart is still with my young military man. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking of him. I've dreamt about him all these years. I still love him. Thoughts of him are consuming my life. I don't want to risk disturbing two families by contacting him in another state to apologize. Please advise me about what to do. Seeking Closure Dear Seeking Closure: There is no magic wand I can wave to make those feelings go away. I can, however, point out that your memories of that young man are from the perspective of a 17-year-old girl with little life experience. Viewed from that perspective, the life (and person) you have idealized may be far from reality. Because these thoughts have become obsessive, it would benefit you to talk them through with a licensed mental health professional. DearAbby.comDear Abby P.O. Box 69440 Los Angeles, CA 90069 Andrews McMeel Syndication This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Bexar County jury awarded $43.5 million to a Lytle woman injured in 2015 after her vehicle was rear-ended by an SUV driven by an employee of an oil field services company using a hands free cellphone immediately before the accident. Tuesdays jury verdict against JC Fodale Energy Services, a now-defunct oil field services company based in Shreveport, Louisiana, included $30 million in punitive damages. The employee, Mickey Hunt, was directed to pay $2.5 million in punitive damages. Personal injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry, who represents plaintiff Jenny Hennes, said the verdict sends a message to companies that they need to be responsible for developing and implementing policies addressing cellphone usage in vehicles. RELATED: Driver crushed to death in rollover crash at North Side H-E-B Now Playing: It looks like itas not just Teen drivers we need to worry about being distracted on the road, Parents do it to. Video: Brandpoint This case really represents setting a standard for companies and people making sure theyre not using their cellphones (while) driving, Henry said in a phone interview Wednesday. He cited studies that show the impairment level of talking on a cellphone while driving is the same as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08 considered to be legally intoxicated in Texas. JC Fodale and Hunt will appeal the verdict, according to their lawyer, Brian Cano of Houston. I just dont think this verdict is going to stand, Cano said. We think this thing will probably end up getting retried. We didnt agree with some of the things that went on in the trial court. State District Judge Stephani Walsh presided over the trial, which started Nov. 6. Just how much Hennes will be able to collect if the verdict stands isnt clear. JC Fodale filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in February 2016, though Henrys firm indicated in a bankruptcy court filing that they would not pursue any claims against the companys bankruptcy estate. That leaves the firm to pursue JC Fodales insurance coverage. Cano didnt know the amount of JC Fodales insurance coverage, but Henry said its about $30 million. Hennes suffered neck, back and shoulder injuries as a result of the wreck and likely will have trouble obtaining employment, according to Henry. RELATED: 3 suspects at large, 1 detained after police chase through Bexar County Hennes was driving a 2009 Cadillac STS in stop-and-go traffic on I-35 in San Antonio when she was rear-ended by a 2012 GMC Yukon driven by Hunt, according to a court filing. The SUV was owned by JC Fodale. Jurors were told that Hunt had texted more than 2,000 times while he was driving in the five-month period leading up to the wreck, Henry said. He described Hunt as a company executive in charge of safety, which Hunt disputed. He had been in a phone conversation for two minutes just before the incident and he had been texting within four minutes before that, Henry said. Henry said they discovered JC Fodale had numerous different cellphone policies while driving for both executives and nonexecutives. Jurors decided the wreck was caused by the companys lack of safety management and Hunts failure to drive carefully, according to Henry. There are many companies now, Fortune 500 companies, that have 100 percent cellphone bans, which is great because it protects all of us, Henry said. The jury verdict included almost $7.3 million for physical pain and mental anguish, $2.9 million for physical impairment, almost $1.3 million for medical expenses and $1.1 million for loss of past and future earnings. READ MORE: Driver allegedly told police he was texting when he hit man at San Antonio bus stop and then fled pdanner@express-news.net, News researcher Misty Harris contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mayor Sylvester Turner mentioned the Super Bowl, Hurricane Harvey and the city's "pension crisis" during Friday night's opening of "A Christmas Carol" at the Alley Theatre in downtown Houston. It was the first show there since storms caused an estimated $18 million in damage to the theater. But the loudest response came when he shouted out the Houston Astros winning the World Series. It was indicative of the city's spirit, a reminder that despite so many obstacles, Houston not only perseveres but keeps on winning. Photos: Alley Theatre destroyed by Harvey 'A Christmas Carol' When: Now through Dec. 30 Where: Alley Theatre, Hubbard Theatre, 605 Texas Tickets: $26 and up; 713-220-5700 or alleytheatre.org See More Collapse "This has been a very special year for the city of Houston," Turner told the crowd. "Many thought this night would not happen. "Tonight demonstrates that we are very much Houston strong. The theater district represents the soul of our city. And regardless of the storms, the show still must go on." It was bustling and busy throughout the theater, and spirits were indeed bright. Just up the first red staircase, a quartet of carolers zipped through holiday tunes in front of several Christmas trees. Turner counted down the lighting of approximately 40 trees located throughout the theater just before Friday's performance of "A Christmas Carol" inside the Hubbard Theatre. It was part of the Alley's annual Deck the Trees - A Season of Giving fundraiser, expanded this year to help cover renovations. The most popular? An orange and blue, Astros-themed tree, of course. GIVE A LITTLE: Houston arts groups on precarious footing as holiday season nears Butch Mach, Alley board president, said this year's donations tripled previous efforts "and, boy, do we need it." The Neuhaus Theatre, Mitchell Lobby, props storage and basement dressing rooms were completely flooded during Harvey. The water was so powerful that it knocked down a cement block wall and pushed open locked doors. The theater took in approximately four million gallons of water. The Hubbard Theatre and Long Lobby, where Friday's events took place, were not damaged. They received the majority of the upgrades from a $46.5 million renovation in 2015. There were no signs of damage or ongoing work at Friday's events. The Alley temporarily moved productions to the University of Houston after Harvey. The smaller Neuhaus Theatre is expected to reopen by Valentine's Day for the world premiere of Suzanne Vega's and Duncan Sheik's "Lover, Beloved." The work is still not done. Several calls for donations were included in the "Christmas Carol" playbill, including emotional letters from artistic director Gregory Boyd and managing director Dean Gladden. (Donate at alleytheatre.org/alleydays.) AMERICAN DREAM: 'On Your Feet!' musical celebrates el sueno Americano A spirit of giving, of course, is what ultimately helps Ebenezer Scrooge become a better man in "A Christmas Carol." Jeffrey Bean, who plays the reformed miser, played on that theme during Friday night's curtain call. "You may have noticed that as a part of Scrooge's redemption that he has an awareness of the community around him and the importance of that community to his own well-being and his responsibility back to that community," Bean said. "For us as a community to come together so that we can rebuild and become whole again, there are times when we must ask for help. And this is one of those times." Cast members then took to the lobby with buckets as people left the theater. And just as the city has done time and again this year, Houston reached into its pockets to give a little hope, spread a little love and give a bit of Christmas cheer. 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 Houston's favorite celebrity couple, Houston Astros ace pitcher Justin Verlander and model Kate Upton just celebrated their first Thanksgiving together as a married couple. Both Upton and Verlander shared the same cute picture on their social media pages that show the couple casually posing with their family on Thanksgiving Day. Roman Forest Police Department has partnered with the Mathew Hill Foundation for No-Shave November, bringing cancer awareness and to raise funds to battle cancer. "If you can wear pink in October, then you should be able to handle growing a beard to initiate a conversation about men's health and cancer," said Chief Stephen Carlisle. "I was inspired to participate in No-Shave November due to many of my friends being diagnosed with cancer and the recent loss of a friend to cancer." What is No-Shave November? For 30 days, men, are encouraged to grow out their beards to help raise awareness for cancer. The goal of the No-Shave November campaign is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, something that many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. The tradition had been there for years, but the children of Matthew Hill, who passed away from colon cancer back in November 2007, took it a step further by using the cause to raise money for charity. No Shave November asks men to participate by growing a beard, cultivating a mustache, and skipping that waxing appointment and donate the money saved to help battle cancer. Grooming and trimming are perfectly acceptable for people with a strict dress code at work. No Shave November also focuses its efforts on benefiting cancer research for all cancers. This web-based, non-profit organization, which has partnered with the American Cancer Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, donates no less than 80 percent of the donations it receives to participating charities. Participants are asked to donate the money they would otherwise spend on grooming, like razors and trips to the barber shop. According to statistics provided by Roman Forest PD, the No-Shave November campaign worldwide has successfully raised over $3.5 million dollars to combat this disease. To make a donation to Roman Forest PD's campaign, go online to www.no-shave.org/member/RFPD. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 17-year-old Texas girl was rescued from trafficking and forced prostitution in the Houston area after Harris County deputies went undercover and arrested three people Thanksgiving Day. The girl, a runaway from La Grange, was reported to have been trafficked to the Express Inn Motel at 16720 North Freeway, officials wrote in a press release Friday. The alleged traffickers posted Backpage ads to social media, deputies say. READ ALSO: +250 people arrested in Houston area in sweeping prostitution, trafficking sting Now Playing: Houston has long been known as a major hub for human and sex trafficking. Video: John-Henry Perera Tevin Brown, 25; Kendra Kimball, 23; and Jaimian Sims, 25, were arrested in connection to the case. Sims was charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution and unlawful possession of a firearm. Kimball faces a charge of compelling prostitution of a minor and Brown was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon. One of them reportedly threatened the girl by holding a gun to her heard to make her submit to prostitution. The teen was released into the custody of her mother and grandmother. "Rescuing this teen on Thanksgiving Day by our law enforcement was something to really give thanks for," Constable Mark Herman said in the release. "I am very proud of our law enforcement men and women who worked on this special day." Half an ounce of marijuana and $6,467 in cash were also recovered from the scene. See mugshots of the people arrested in a recent prostitution bust at a Houston brothel. Tulsi Kamath is a Digital Producer for Chron.com and Houston Chronicle. You can find more of her stories here and follow her on Twitter @tulsi_kamath. A 34-year-old man was arrested Thanksgiving morning after a woman caught him having sex with her 16-year-old granddaughter in her bathroom, police said. The suspect, Stephen Sawyer of San Antonio, now faces a charge of sexual assault of a child. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a $75,000 bond. RELATED: Driver crushed to death in rollover crash at North Side H-E-B According to his affidavit, Sawyer met the victim on Mocospace, a social network. The two then began chatting on Facebook for a couple days, during which time he solicited nude images from the victim, authorities said. Now Playing: Former USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is pleading guilty to sexually abusing scores of women Video: People On Nov. 22, Sawyer asked to come over to the victim's house on the far North Side, police said. The two then went to a downstairs bathroom, where they allegedly had sex. RELATED: 2 police cruisers damaged while officers respond to West Side crash The victim's grandmother heard commotion going on in the bathroom and tried to open the door, but it was locked, according to the affidavit. The grandmother demanded the victim open the door, and when she did, the grandmother found Sawyer hiding behind the door, officials said. She ordered him out of the house and notified police. During interviews, the victim reportedly told police what happened, and they later obtained a warrant for Sawyer's arrest. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns Shenandoah Lighting of Angels set for Tuesday The city of Shenandoah is kicking off its holiday season with the 20th annual Lighting of the Angels this month. The event takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the Shenandoah Public Works building on the south side of Municipal Complex between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. The civic club, which sponsors the event, is asking attendees to bring an unwrapped gift for the Toy Drive. The toys and any donations collected will go to the Montgomery County Women's Center. The city is inviting residents to it's final town hall meeting of the year. City Council and city staff will provide updates to residents regarding Toddler Park, water and trash rates and a possible dog park. Oak Ridge North Tree lighting Sunday night The city of Oak Ridge North is getting into the spirit of the holiday season by hosting a series of events in the coming weeks, starting with the lighting of a 35-foot Christmas Tree Sunday. The free event begins at 5 p.m. when the city also plans to light up the accompanying sign, which reads, "Merry Christmas from the City of Oak Ridge North." The tree and the sign are located at Robinson Road and the Interstate 45 frontage road. The Silver Belles, a senior ladies choir from the Oak Ridge Baptist Church, will lead the crowd in singing Christmas carols. Parking is available in the AT&T parking lot behind Sears, but shuttle service is also provided and starts at the iFly. Light up the Night Dec. 4-8 As Christmas gets closer and closer, Oak Ridge North residents are already showing off their spectacular display of holiday lights. During Light up the Night, which takes place Dec. 4 through Dec. 8, anonymous judges will go through town and choose the most festive and wildly decorated homes throughout the neighborhood. Mixer, Hayrides slated for Dec. 14 & 15 On Wednesday, Dec. 14, the mayor and city council are inviting residents, businesses and others in Montgomery County who wish to "mix-n-mingle" with city officials, said Sarah McClure, community programs coordinator. Refreshments will be provided. The city is hosting its Hometown Christmas Hayride and Santa in the Park on Dec. 15 following the release of students that day from schools. Children are invited to hop on board scheduled hayrides that roam the streets of the city hitting the homes of those who won in the Light up the Night event. Hayrides depart from the Marilyn Edgar Park every hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. A professional photographer will be on site at the park. Pictures will then be posted online on the city's Facebook page, where parents can download them. Admission to the event is one non-perishable food item that will be located to the local food bank. Public invited to council meetings Mayor Jim Kuykendall is inviting residents to attend city council meetings to voice their opinions and concerns. In the city's winter newsletter, Kuykendall said citizens should take the time to come to city hall and "be involved in either serving on a committee or attending meetings to give input and help out" The council meets every twice a month on the second and fourth Monday. Officials with The Woodlands Township are warning residents about what's being termed a misleading advertisement making its rounds on social media that boasts of the supposed approval of solar panel installations throughout the community. In a statement posted on the township's web site, officials say The Woodlands Township Board of Directors has not endorsed or approved the use of solar panels in the community. The statement also notes the Development Standards Committee, or DSC, is responsible for enforcing standards on property use and maintenance, including approving improvements on properties in the township. Authorities are trying to identify a man who robbed a bank on Friday afternoon in Midtown, according to a news release from FBI Houston. The man wore a navy-blue hooded sweatshirt as he robbed the Wells Fargo Bank around 1:30 p.m. in the 2700 block of Smith Street, the release said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON - Beyond the slick, Hollywood-style cinematics, the Islamic State is targeting Western recruits with videos suggesting they, too, can be heroes like Bruce Willis' character in "Die Hard." That's the conclusion of The Chicago Project on Security and Threats, which analyzed some 1,400 videos released by ISIS between 2013 and 2016. Researchers who watched and catalogued them all said there is more to the recruitment effort than just sophisticated videography and it's not necessarily all about Islam. Instead, Robert Pape, who directs the security center, said the extremist group is targeting Westerners - especially recent Muslim converts - with videos that follow, nearly step-by-step, a screenwriter's standard blueprint for heroic storytelling. "It's the heroic screenplay journey, the same thing that's in Wonder Woman, where you have someone who is learning his or her own powers through the course of their reluctant journey to be hero," Pape said. The project at the University of Chicago separately has assembled a database of people who have been indicted in the United States for activities related to ISIS. Thirty-six percent were recent converts to Islam and did not come from established Muslim communities, according to the project. Eighty-three percent watched ISIS videos, the project said. The group's success in using heroic storytelling is prompting copycats, Pape said. The research shows al-Qaida's Syria affiliate has been mimicking ISIS's heroic narrative approach in its own recruitment films. Not a new tactic Intelligence and law enforcement officials aren't sure the approach is all that new. They say ISIS has been using any method that works to recruit Westerners. Other terrorism researchers think ISIS' message is still firmly rooted in religious extremism. Rita Katz, director of SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks messaging by militant groups, agrees that ISIS makes strong, visual appeals resembling Hollywood movies and video games, making its media operation more successful than al-Qaida's. "However, these features of ISIS media are only assets to a core message it uses to recruit," Katz said. "At the foundation of ISIS recruitment propaganda is not so much the promise to be a Hollywood-esque hero, but a religious hero. There is a big difference between the two." When a fighter sits in front of a camera and calls for attacks, Katz said, he will likely frame it as revenge for Muslims killed or oppressed somewhere in the world. The message is designed to depict any terror attack in that nation as justified, and allow the attacker to die as a martyr, she said. The promise of religious martyrdom is powerful to anybody regardless of whether they are rich or poor, happy or unhappy, steeped in religion or not at all, she said. Pape said he knows he's challenging conventional wisdom when he says Westerners are being coaxed to join ISIS ranks not because of religious beliefs, but because of the group's message of personal empowerment and Western concepts of individualism. How else can one explain Western attackers' loose connections to Islam, or their scarce knowledge of ISIS's strict, conservative Sharia law, he asked. ISIS is embracing, not rejecting, Western culture and ideals, to mobilize Americans, he said. "This is a journey like Clint Eastwood," Pape said, recalling Eastwood's 1970s performance in "High Plains Drifter" about a stranger who doles out justice in a corrupt mining town. 12-step storytelling Pape said the narrative in the recruitment videos targeting Westerners closely tracks Chris Vogler's 12-step guide titled "The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers." The book is based on a narrative identified by scholar Joseph Campbell that appears in drama and other storytelling. Step No. 1 in Vogler's guide is portraying a character in his "ordinary world." An example is a March 25, 2016, video released by al-Qaida's Syria branch about a young British man with roots in the Indian community. It starts: "Let us tell you the story of a real man Abu Basir, as we knew him, came from central London. He was a graduate of law and a teacher by profession." Vogler's ninth step is about how the hero survives death, emerging from battle to begin a transformation, sometimes with a prize. In the al-Qaida video, the Brit runs through sniper fire in battle. He then lays down his weapon and picks up a pen to start his new vocation blogging and posting Twitter messages for the cause. Matthew Levitt, a terrorism expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says it doesn't surprise him that ISIS would capitalize on what he dubs the "zero to hero" strategy because the organization is very pragmatic and accepts recruits regardless of their commitment to Islamic extremism. Heroic aspirations are only one reason for joining the ranks of ISIS, he said. Criminals also seek the cover of ISIS to commit crimes. Others sign up because they want to belong to something. "I've never seen a case of radicalization that was 100 percent one way or the other," Levitt said. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the U.S. would stop arming Kurdish fighters in Syria, Turkey's foreign minister said Friday, ending a policy that had inflamed tensions between the two nations. Trump and Erdogan spoke by telephone following a summit on Syria that took place earlier this week in Sochi, Russia, between Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The gathering focused on discussions for a Syria peace settlement. Putin's plan, which largely excludes the U.S., got a boost on Friday when Syria's opposition agreed to form a single bloc to negotiate with President Bashar Assad. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a news conference that Trump said weapons would no longer be given to the Kurdish group, known as the YPG. Cavusoglu said that Trump called the arming of the YPG ridiculous. The White House had no immediate comment on details of the Trump-Erdogan call. The Kurds received U.S. backing as the most effective local proxies against Islamic State in Syria. But the policy of arming them, which began under former President Barack Obama, has been a point of tension with America's NATO ally. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization because of its link to Kurdish rebels in Turkey, and has been requesting that the U.S. take the weapons back now that the fight against Islamic State is winding down. Erdogan has also threatened military action against the Syrian Kurds, who control about a fifth of the war-ravaged country's territory. Defense Secretary James Mattis said last week that American forces will maintain a presence in Syria even as the jihadist threat diminishes. "We're not going to just walk away right now," he said, citing the need to ensure progress toward a viable peace. The Russia-Iran-Turkey bloc has called for U.S. troops to go home. Trump spoke with Putin earlier this week to discuss the situation in Syria, shortly after Putin met with Assad in Sochi. Russia and Iran are Assad's main allies, while Turkey has backed armed groups seeking to overthrow him. The three powers, who've joined forces in cease-fire efforts in Syria, are the dominant players now, though differences remain between them. While the Obama administration had demanded the Syrian leader step down, Trump now says Assad's departure isn't a precondition for peace talks. "Will be speaking to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey this morning about bringing peace to the mess that I inherited in the Middle East," Trump said on Twitter before the call. "I will get it all done, but what a mistake, in lives and dollars (6 trillion), to be there in the first place!" Yi-Chin Lee/Staff Add the fight over net neutrality to a list of issues U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke is determined to debate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz over. O'Rourke, a Democrat from El Paso, spent Friday on social media slamming the Federal Communications Commission actions to potentially end net neutrality rules created during the Obama administration. He also used the issue to offer another contrast with Cruz, a Houston Republican who has supported ending the policy. O'Rourke's campaign also launched a fundraising email to supporters vowing to use the issue to help defeat Cruz in 2018. The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- Abandoned vehicle, receiving stolen property, animal (miscellaneous); Gates Mills Boulevard: After the staff at Friendship Circle reported a dog being left in a car shortly before 4 p.m. on Nov. 19, police found that the car itself had been entered as stolen in Cleveland. The car was towed to Mooney's and the dog was taken to the police station, where it was returned to a west side Cleveland man, 37, also the owner of the car, which was removed from the crime computer. Unauthorized use of a credit card, Creekside Drive: Police are working with officers in Brooklyn Heights after they discovered on or around Nov. 21 that a Pepper Pike resident had about $4,000 run up in fraudulent credit card charges. Disturbance, Chagrin Boulevard: An officer responded to the Pepper Pike Learning Center shortly after 9 a.m. on Nov. 20 regarding a possible custody issue, with a man attempting to check on his daughter. Police checked his identity, noted that he was not yet registered in the child's file, and explained the registration procedure. Driving under suspension, warrant served; Cedar and Brainard roads: A Euclid man, 30, was stopped around noon on Nov. 20 for a marked lanes violation that almost caused an accident at the intersection. He was turned over to Euclid police after he was found to have an active warrant from that city, as well as a suspended license, for which he was cited. -- An East Cleveland woman found to be driving on expired registration on Nov. 21, was held on an active warrant from the city and was also cited for driving on a suspended license. Neighbor trouble, Shaker Boulevard: Police responded to a Nov. 22 dispute over a retaining wall. The neighbors were advised to confer with officials in the City Building Department. Fraud (impersonating), Botanica Lane: An officer spoke with a resident on Nov. 17 about fraudulent activity involving her personal information. Followup investigation, fraud, illegal use of credit cards; Legends Way: In addition to unauthorized charges on her credit card account, a resident reported Nov. 15 that she'd received a letter from PayPal indicating an account had been opened in her name. Car crash, SOM Center Road: A postal worker, 57, from Chagrin Falls was taken to Hillcrest Hospital with possible injuries on the evening of Nov. 16 after his truck was rear-ended by a 2006 Ford Explorer south of Cedar Road. The driver, a Pepper Pike man, 62, told police he was reaching for a water bottle he dropped on the floor at the time of the collision. He was cited for failure to maintain assured clear distance. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The 12-year-old son of a Cleveland liquor store owner was killed by a stray bullet late Friday when he stepped outside the store with his dad to investigate a gunfight. The shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. at East 116th Street and Buckeye Road, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. Five other teenagers were injured in the shooting. Officers responded to the area and found the 12-year-old boy unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the torso, Ciaccia said. The five teenagers were taken to University Hospitals. One remains confined at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators learned the teenagers were on Buckeye Road when three to four males began shooting at them, Ciaccia said. The 12-year-old boy and his father went outside to see what was happening, Ciaccia said. They went back in the store and realized the 12-year-old was shot. Police have not said if any arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call 216-623-5464. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section. PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- A man was injured and a dog died in a Thanksgiving fire in Painesville, authorities said. The man, who was not immediately identified, suffered burns to his hands after his home in the 400 block of Bank Street in Painesville caught fire Thursday, the Painesville fire department said in a news release. The fire began about 4:52 p.m., the department said. The man was taken to a local hospital, then flown to MetroHealth for treatment. A dog was killed in the fire, officials said. Authorities said firefighters attempted to put out the blaze from the outside. The fire was eventually contained just after 6:30 p.m. Officials did not give a reason for the fire. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Six juveniles were shot, one fatally, Friday evening on Buckeye Road between East 116th and 117th streets. While most families were giving thanks before the holiday weekend, relatives of the victims were left to mourn and worry. A group of men and women broke down in tears and wailing at the shooting scene. They spoke briefly with investigators before leaving. Mayor Frank Jackson and Police Chief Calvin Williams visited the site of the shooting as the blustery night wore on. They addressed the media but could shed few details on what caused the seemingly senseless violence. "Condolences to the family who lost a child," Jackson said. "These are all young people. These are all juveniles. We know that when things happen out on the street there's a lot of conversation and we would like to have as much information as we can get in order to find out who did this." Williams said the investigation was fresh and would need time to develop. He implored anyone who was in the area between 7 and 7:30 p.m. to call homicide detectives or Crime Stoppers. The chief said preliminary information indicated all the victims were boys between the ages of 12 and 16. The slain child's identity was not released. The other victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment, Williams said. Williams said it appeared the juveniles crossed paths with another group and shots were fired on the street. Descriptions of the possible shooters were vague. As onlookers gazed on, investigators worked behind a roped off area numbering shell casings well into the evening hours. There was no indication the shooting was gang-related, the chief said. Anyone with information can call the homicide unit at 216-623-5464 or Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463 (25-CRIME). If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section. (2) the President makes an appointment to fill a vacancy in such office during the recess of the Senate pursuant to clause 3 of section 2 of article II of the United States Constitution As an initial matter, there's the question of what "exclusive" means. Does it mean that if an exception applies the FVRA is an alternative or does it mean that if an exception applies the FVRA gives way? The legislative history sheds some light on this, as we'll see, but for now suffice it to say that there are problems with the reading of the FVRA as generally being an alternative. More importantly, however, even if the FVRA were to stand as an alternative, what says that it is the President's choice? That assumption is not consistent with section 3347(1)(A), which contemplates statutes that authorize either "a court, or the head of an Executive department, to designate an officer or employee" to serve as the acting official temporarily. Such a delegation of authority to a court or a head of an Executive department would be meaningless if the President had the ability to override it by invoking the FVRA as an alternative. Thus, it's hard to see how the FVRA could be an alternative method of succession that is always available to the President. 2. Legislative History. The White House was borderline dishonest in its press briefing this morning. For starters, the White House called this a "typically routine move". It's not. It's a naked usurpation of power by the Executive. Routine operating procedure would be (1) to have the Deputy become the acting Director, whether under the CFPA or the FVRA (where it is the default setting), (2) not to act without having first gotten an opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel, and (3) not violating the separation of powers by appointing a cabinet member who is removable at will, to simultaneously head an independent agency whose head is removable only for cause. Whatever this is, it's not routine. But let's get into the real problem here. A representative from the White House Counsel's Office stated at a press briefing this morning that: the Vacancies Reform Act is available, even when an agencys governing statute provides an alternate default regarding who should serve as the acting. In the VA legislative history, at the time it was enacted, the Senate said there are 40 agencies where the agency statute says X person shall become the acting, or may become the acting. And in all of those cases, that route continues to be available as a sort of default. But the Vacancies Act is there as a way the president can supersede the way those agency statutes work. The 9th circuit has sort of agreed with that approach in a case last year about the NLRB. The problem with this argument is that it relies on an expressly inapplicable part of the legislative history of the FVRA. The Senate Report on the FVRA explains that: [Section 3347] does allow temporary appointments to be made other than through the Vacancies Reform Act in three narrowly delineated exceptions. First, where Congress provides that a statutory provision expressly provides that it supersedes the Vacancies Reform Act, the other statute will govern. But statutes enacted in the future purporting to or argued to be construed to govern the temporary filling of offices covered by this statute are not to be effective unless they expressly provide that they are superseding the Vacancies Reform Act. Second, the bill retains existing statutes that are in effect on the date of enactment of the Vacancies Act of 1998 that expressly authorize the President, or the head of an executive department to designate an officer to perform the functions and duties of a specified office temporarily in an acting capacity, as well as statutes that expressly provide for the temporary performance of the functions and duties of an office by a particular officer or employee. (This includes statutes that provide for an automatic designation, unless the President designates another official). The Committee is aware of the existence of statutes specifically governing a vacancy in 41 specific offices, 40 of which would be retained by this bill... The 40 agencies, and the 9th Circuit case cited by the White House Counsel's office all fall into the second exception, which deals with existing agencies. (I'll note that nothing in the statutory language makes clear that this exception even exists...) The CFPB, however, falls into the first exception, for post-FVRA statutes. This is something a first semester 1L would catch, so it's really not a good faith argument for the White House Counsel's office to make. The FVRA could not possibly bind future Congresses from passing exceptions, so it's pretty obvious that the first exception holds, and all that exception requires is that there be a statutory provision that expressly supersedes the FVRA. That is exactly what we have the CFPA, and by making the claim that the FVRA is an alternative option, the White House has conceded that the CFPA is a statute that expressly superseded the FVRA. The only issue is whether the FVRA stands as an alternative. The FVRA's legislative history makes clear that it does not, and, as noted above, the structure of the FVRA makes no sense if it is an alternative. 3. Logic. Legislative history of the FVRA aside, it's important that CFPA was passed after the FVRA. Legislative history of the FVRA aside, it's important that CFPA was passed after the FVRA. As the CFPA's legislative history shows , Congress considered having FVRA apply to the CFPB and rejected it. I dont think its possible to read that rejection as a decision to have alternative succession mechanisms among which the President can choose. Remember that the FVRA has itself three alternative succession mechanisms: (1) the deputy director, (2) another Senate-confirmed individual, (3) an agency employee at the GS-15 pay scale or higher. The default setting under the FVRA is that the the Deputy Director becomes Acting Director. It would make no sense for Congress to have said when passing the CFPA that "The FVRA does not apply, but instead the President gets a choice between the FVRA and a provision that mirrors one of the three FVRA prongs." In other words, for the White House's argument to hold, Congress would have had to have said, Not a choice of <1, 2, or 3>, but instead a choice of <1, 2 or 3> and <1 again>. That choice adds nothing as option <1> is already on the menu, so that couldnt have been what Congress was doing. The White House is attempting an internal putsch of the CFPB. This is going to end up in court, and the White House's legal arguments are looking pretty threadbare. Contributed Photo / Connecticut State Police / Contributed Photo Saturday marks 95 years since Connecticut State Police lost their first trooper in the line of duty. Trooper Pearle Roberts died on Nov. 25, 1922. State Police said he was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident while on duty in New Haven. NEW HAVEN, Conn. Leroy Harris spent Thanksgiving with his family for the first time in nearly 30 years after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to kidnapping and robbery and walked free. Harris, now 57, was sentenced in 1989 to a 99-year prison term, according to reporting at the time by the New Haven Register. Labeled then by prosecutors as a "career criminal" for whom a harsh penalty was meant to serve as a message, Harris was sentenced to 80 years for convictions of robbery and rape stemming from an arrest in 1983, and 19 years for twice escaping city courthouses. A rare deal known as the Alford plea resulted in his freedom this week, according to a report in The New York Times. Since his rape conviction, Harris has spent his time fighting to reverse the verdict, filing five appeals over the last three decades. The Connecticut state's attorney's office recognized earlier this year that the evidence against Harris in the rape case might be tainted. It was discovered that the prosecutor who tried Harris's rape case in the late '80s had not disclosed exculpatory evidence, the Times reported, and testing showed DNA on the victim's clothes could not have come from Harris. Additionally, the victim could not identify Harris as her attacker in a photo array. Instead, she identified him for the first time in court. The Connecticut judicial system has since ruled that prosecutors can no longer use witnesses whose only identification of the suspect happens in court. Prosecutors agreed to let Harris go free if he took a deal. The Alford plea required him to plead guilty to a set of lesser charges in exchange for his freedom. Prosecutors could get what they wanted a conviction, at least on paper. Read the complete New York Times report here. As for Harris he got to eat Thanksgiving dinner in New Haven with more than 100 family members. 24 Kasm 2017 Cuma, 10:49 Iklim Ongel Members of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission Prison Sub-Commission, CHP Deputy General Chair Veli Agbaba, CHP Istanbul MP Gamze Ilgezdi, AKP Istanbul MPs Fatma Benli and Mehmet Metiner and HDP Diyarbakr MP Sibel Yigitalp, visited detained MP Berberoglu in his cell in Maltepe Prison. The MPs who took part in the visit imparted information about Berberoglus prison conditions and cell. Berberoglu apparently replied to his MP colleagues question as to when detention will end by saying he believed this unjust and unlawful detention would end by 1 December at the latest. From what has been gleaned, Berberoglu is being held on his own in a six-person room. On the right-hand side at the entrance to Berberoglus cell there is a bedroom and one more empty room. In the daily living area used as a common space, on the other hand, there is a 37"-screen television and a small plastic table covered in books, two plastic chairs, a large bucket, a laundry basin, a fridge and a small water bottle. There is a small samovar in the rooms kitchen section. The walls of Berberoglus cell are covered with pages from newspapers. 15 July poster There is also a poster containing the photographs of the 15 July fallen on the wall. With the AKPs Metiner expressing astonishment at this poster, Berberoglu apparently said, Everyone who struggles and gives up their lives for democracy is sacred to me. Be they civilian, or be they soldiers or police officers, everyone who came out into the open for democracy is a martyr and is patriotic. It is not important who came outdoors that day, be they AKP or CHP supporters. Everyone who came out onto the street was fighting against the coup. On the wall where the table and television are situated, there are photographs of Berberoglus daughter Dilara and wife Oya Berberoglu and a small wooden model ship. Hanging on the same wall are the front pages of the 10 July 2017 Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet and Sozcu newspapers devoted to the Maltepe Rally. Youd think that a very few things might remain sacred, and therefore safe from the post-Weinstein wrecking ball. Say, fairy tales. We love fairy tales, indeed need fairy tales, to fill little childrens hearts with hope and wonder and dreams (and also to fill newspapers with happy speculation that one day a handsome prince will come and marry a beautiful girl called Meghan). And hugs. Along with fairy tales, these are two of our favourite things, so they must be OK, right? Wrong. Nothing and no one is safe any more. Two examples from last week. Sarah Hall, from North Shields, claimed Sleeping Beauty promotes an 'inappropriate sexual' message to young children The Girl Scouts high command in the US issued a Thanksgiving reminder captioned: Your Daughter Doesnt Owe Anyone A Hug. Not Even At The Holidays. It went on: Holidays and family get-togethers are a time for yummy food, sweet traditions, funny stories, and lots and lots of love. Are you ready for the but yet? Coming right up. But they could, without you even realising it, also be a time when your daughter gets the wrong idea about consent and physical affection. To summarise: girls must not be encouraged to give dear Uncle Billy Bob a hug, even though hes flown thousands of miles for one night only to eat pumpkin pie with the folks, and has even brought pressies. It could lead to an ingrained expectation in the child, you see, that men must be rewarded for being nice or generous with sexual favours, as the organisation went on to explain. Ms Hall argued Sleeping Beauty teaches children that it is acceptable to kiss a women while they are asleep As if that wasnt drear enough. A mum in Northumberland called Sarah Hall who claimed to be very much affected by the #metoo movement and Weinstein revelations decided, after reading her six-year-old boy the story, that schools should retire Sleeping Beauty from libraries. Why? Because the slumbering princess did not give verbal consent to be woken with a kiss by the prince, sillies! My fathers right at home in the jungle Everyone kindly asks me how my father is getting on in the jungle on Im A Celebrity... Well, so far hes been excused the high dive on medical grounds, and only done the Dingo Dollar Trial to win meal tickets, so no bushtuckering yet. He seems to be taking it in his stride, as I predicted he would last week: making bad puns, pretending not to know what Coronation Street is or who Ant and Dec are, and talking about the things he loves most endangered species, and the last remaining wildernesses on this Blue Planet. I think hes giving a jolly good audition to be commercial tellys David Attenborough. He looks healthy and well and, best of all, itll all be over by Christmas. Advertisement She tweeted her epiphany without clearly understanding the first thing about the magical fairy tale, which is that the princess was asleep and had been for hundreds of years and had to be woken by the kiss. Mrs Hall reluctantly conceded the much-loved story could be retained as a resource but only for older children to have a conversation around consent, and how the Princess might feel. Like you, what I feel is that we could all indeed have a conversation following her intervention, about what is more damaging for a six-year-old boy: reading a sweet traditional fairy tale, or discovering that your mother has managed to unite the country for the first time since Brexit in thinking the world has gone mad. But that might not be productive, as there is a more important issue at stake here, and no, its not consent. Its this. Not all contact is sexual. The princes smacker was more like the kiss of life, as applied to a drowning man. What next? Do we have to formally ask permission to give people who have had heart attacks chest compressions, or to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on a choking diner? A little girls hug is, again, not sexual contact, whatever the Girl Scouts might say. I dont want to live in this Age of Inappropriate, an unsafe and unpleasant space where innocent contact between family members, and beautiful tales of sleeping princesses, have to be dirtied by bonkers new diktats, which insist all men are potential predators and all females and children, too are potential victims. Far more importantly Ive had my life! I dont want our kids to live in it either. This madness must stop. Otherwise obsessive adults will conspire to rob innocent children of their precious childhoods before theyve even had them. Master Billy, TVs king of cuteness Billy Jenkins, who plays a young Prince Charles in The Crown, stole the show at the premiere last week The breakout performance of the next series of The Crown comes courtesy of Master Billy Jenkins, ten, who plays Prince Charles. He bragged he was one of the stars and mugged to the flashbulbs so cutely that he almost stole the limelight at the premiere from the real stars of the show the two corgis PS: If the Duchess of Cambridge wears the same coat twice in three years, she hasnt recycled it. She has had a garment thriftily tailored to accommodate her bump, thereby giving it a new lease of life, just as Her Majesty upcycles old sofa covers into cushions. Is Paul Hollywoods divorce after two decades news? Id have been far more shocked if tellys blue-eyed baker boy had remained married, tbh. Anyway, 20 years is a decent stretch (as my husband commented on our 25th, you get less for murder). It is the era of conscious uncoupling, not the pity party when it comes to splitsville. Time for a Paul Hollywood commemorative Unwedding Cake to be rolled out on the high street. Love them or hate them, November tends to mark the start of the continuous flood of Christmas songs on the radio. But with the golden classics that never get old, or the new tracks hoping to secure themselves on the Christmas chart for years to come, a definitive favourite has been revealed. Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl has been named the nation's most-loved festive song because, according to experts, it's a more realistic representation of how Christmas usually is. According to music experts, the reason Fairytale of New York is such a success is because the lyrics are easy to relate to, as opposed to other loved up tunes (stock image) Over the past few years, Fairytale of New York has pipped the likes of Mariah Carey, Wham! and Slade off the charts, and this is because it avoids the 'fluffy' version for Christmas. Sam Sutton, senior lecturer in music technology at London College of music said: 'It's the distinctly edgier offering from The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl that most appeals to our sensibilities'. 'Perhaps the rousing squabble between the two appeals to Brits because it's somehow more real and closer to our actual experience of Christmas - a heady and sometimes tense mix of friends, family and booze' After several recording attempts and re-writes, the song was finally released in 1987, but never managed to get to the UK number 1 spot by The Pet Shop Boys. Speaking to The Guardian, Shane MacGowan from the Pogues said: 'Every night I used to have another bash at nailing the lyrics, but I knew they weren't right. 'It is by far the most complicated song that I have ever been involved in writing and performing. The beauty of it is that it sounds really simple.' But despite never quite getting that number one spot, according to The Telegraph it still went on to be the most-played Christmas song in the 21st century. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. From A Short Guide To A Happy Life by Anna Quindlen (b. 1952) Advertisement Dear Bel, I was always close to my youngest son, but last Christmas he announced he was quitting university after one term and we had a bit of a falling out. This was a massive shock, as it took a lot of effort to get there and he was so happy, texting me to say so. Yet for a few years hed worshipped (from afar) this girl from school, but she had a boyfriend. She went off to a different uni, but by November 2016 shed decided to quit. So he did, too. He said hed been unhappy and thought about suicide, but I didnt believe him. He then started living with her at her parents (calling it home) and they havent been apart since. Mothers Day was ruined because she kept phoning during our meal, so he said he had a panic attack and left! All summer they worked and saved to go travelling in Europe. Before they left, he was to have tea with his brother and me on the Wednesday, then we would take her out for dinner the next night. He said he wanted to bring her to tea, too; I suggested it would be nice for us three to have a bit of time together (I split up from his father 11 years ago and brought them up single-handed). He didnt like this. My eldest protested that she isnt part of the family just like his own girlfriend, and his gran, his aunt etc. It wasnt a slight on her, because I was taking them out next day! But the girlfriend took umbrage and cancelled our meal. I have tried to be friendly and I bought her a lovely birthday present a basket filled with things for their travelling but she didnt even text me thank you. Her parents are meeting them from the airport etc and my elder son is angry because his brother makes no time for us at all. They have quite a tense relationship. I feel really rejected and texted him to say so. I need him to know he is being hurtful to me. The girl seems to have a hold over him so that he is incapable of saying no to her. This behaviour is very unlike him, he is normally a very thoughtful boy. Shall I not contact him and let him come back to me? I am very worried that he may think I dont care. Or shall I put up and shut up, even though I dont agree with what he is doing and as a mother I still need to steer him on the correct path? SANDRA There comes a point when 'no mother on earth' can steer a child on the 'right path', says Bel Oh, you have no idea how sympathetic I feel. Many years ago, when my son (then 23) called off his wedding, then went to live with a different lady, I didnt see him for six months. We had always been very close, indeed. It all seems like a bad dream to me now and from that standpoint I do want to counsel you to be very, very careful. I cant emphasise it enough, because your letter makes me worried, especially your last thought. I can understand how disappointed you are that your son gave up his university course, but perhaps it wasnt the right thing for him to do. Yes, I was there, too but my response was to tell my son that I didnt require him to have a degree and we must work out something else he could do. That took the heat off right away. Believe me, I absolutely see why you after a terrible experience in your marriage (mentioned in your longer letter) clung to your boys and a brave determination to give them a good life. Of course you want the best for them both. Nevertheless, there comes a point (Im afraid) when no mother on earth can steer a son or daughter on the right path. Not if that person thinks its time to drive themselves. As parents, we have to accept that. I know how hard it is, but this is the only way to avoid terrible, terminal conflict. In your position, I would be mad and worried as hell that this girlfriend seems to be a bad influence on your son, and Id also wish her parents had perhaps been more sensible. But Id do some deep breathing and tell myself that I must play it carefully to avoid losing him for ever. I would contact him cheerfully, saying you hope to see them both soon. I wouldnt bang on about how hes hurting and neglecting you (martyrs can be a pain, you know) and Id warn his big brother off nagging, too. None of it will do any good not when he is in the throes of his first great love. You must be patient and think long-term. The best you can hope for is that this relationship fizzles out in time and that he is strong enough to accept that and pick up his own life again. He will always need you (especially as he doesnt sound a very strong character) so for now to put up and shut up will be the most helpful strategy. Apart from perhaps asking what he suggests you could give her parents, as a Christmas gift for the household. Dear Bel, My problem seems trivial, but its worrying me. Last October, my sister lost her partner of over 30 years. My husband and I have tried to give her support. She was at our house almost every weekend and spent last Christmas with us not a great house guest hardly speaking and not joining in. We encouraged her to try new things and also carry on her volunteering work. Things are a little better, but she still looks to us for social life. When her partner was alive, her life revolved around him and she dropped friends. We invited them to stay with us for Christmas six years running, but they never came. My problem is that my wonderful second husband has three lovely sons and six grandchildren all very close who have welcomed me into their lives. Theyve invited us for a big family Christmas, but have not included my sister. We have also a large group of friends and one has asked us to their house at Christmas. Gently, Ive tried to ask my sister if she has any plans for the Christmas period. She said: I suppose Ill come to you. When I mentioned we may be away, I got a stroppy reply: Dont worry about me, do what you want. I care about my sister a lot but also think my husband should be able to stay with his son in Scotland and see his family. I wont enjoy Christmas if my sister is sitting on her own over the festive period.I feel stuck in the middle and dont know what to do. Any advice? ANNA The holiday season may mean family problems for some. One reader doesn't want her sister to be alone during the festive period Theres nothing trivial about your poor sisters ongoing grief and isolation, nor your dilemma. Regular readers may remember last weeks And Finally how sustaining active relationships can help to keep loneliness at bay. AND FINALLY: Sometimes, tough love is the answer My goodness, did I get into trouble with one reader! TC slammed last weeks reply to Tessa as harsh and uncaring. Apparently, Im a right bitch and an ignorant woman. Why? Because when Tessa complained that her husband never loved her, that her marriage is over, that hes unfaithful, I was fairly brusque. Reminding her about self-fulfilling prophesies I said: Please try to change your mindset. Investigate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and try a couple of sessions with a local therapist. Do the exercise of flipping all your negative statements to make positive ones. Yes, I thought her too full of pessimism and self-pity. But TC thinks I should have called her husband a horrible man and advised her to kick him out. According to this cross lady, I talk hogwash and have no compassion at all. Yet I feel sad for TC, because its clear shes been bitterly hurt, probably by a husband. And she speaks the truth: Some people have no one, no money, no family, no friends, nowhere to turn. Indeed. And if only she could see some of my letters and witness my sorrow on reading them, she would not sneer at me for lack of compassion. Nevertheless I think tough love can be useful. Every week I could switch on auto-pilot along these lines: Oh-you-poor-thing-how-awful-you-dont-deserve-it-boo-hoo. But I truly believe each of us (apart from those with mental health problems) can take control of our own life. Yes, even when things are very tough. I dont believe we should give in to the victimhood that seems to overwhelm so many people these days. This is about my respect for the individual. If a friend is troubled, I dont just murmur blandly: Oh, thats terrible. Instead, I try to work out the issue, saying: Have you thought of it this way? Why should I treat my readers differently? Of course, each story is complex, yet sometimes a simple, bracing response can be very useful in pushing people to think and act. Advertisement Your email underlines my point; describing a woman who didnt bother with friends or family, but lavished all love and attention on her partner. Like a machine, the heart can become rusty with lack of use. Now, without him your sister feels she is nothing and this has made her less than brilliant company. Its a painful truth, but not your fault. Its hardly surprising your sister was poor company last Christmas, since shed lost her partner just two months earlier. Since then you say shes a little better nevertheless the one-year anniversary last month must have opened the wound of her grief. Do you really understand that and I mean really understand? I ask in that way, because Id like you to interpret her morose reply to your Christmas question as not so much stroppy as sad. Sometimes we look for a negative connotation in somebodys words, in order that we may allow ourselves to feel cross or frustrated with them. Im not suggesting you feel cross with your sister, but suspect youre a bit frustrated as well as torn. Youre right your husband should be able to spend Christmas with some of his wonderful family, and Im delighted you are so blessed with love and friendship. Have you asked your husband what he thinks? It may be that he, being a kind man, will want to ask his lovely family whether your sister can be included. Could you three stay at a hotel near the family in Scotland, joining the others for part of the day? That way you could have dinner on Christmas Eve, exchange gifts in the morning, then visit. If this wont work, then do you know someone else in your wide circle of friends who will be alone? You could book them Christmas dinner at a local hotel as your treat. If these suggestions fail, you might have to face the fact that she will stay home. Maybe one of your friends would stop by for an afternoon visit? Or is there a local soup run or charity meal she could volunteer at? You cannot force your sister to reach out to others, but you can try. If she chooses to stay home, then a shortish trip to Scotland and a Christmas phone call to her on the day is all you can do. You could offer her a merry New Year with some of your friends. Bel answers readers questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. A pseudonym will be used if you wish. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. A genuinely handsome man, in my experience, is a truly rare and valuable thing. But as I dressed that summer night in London, three years ago, I was aware that the man Id be seeing would not have been out of place amid the statues and paintings of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. A classically fashioned Englishman, with green flecked eyes and a profusion of fair hair that curled at the nape of his neck, he was someone I had hankered after for a decade. He had been married, but was now divorced. I had not seen him for five years, and when he called me and suggested I come over to his house for dinner, I accepted. Terrible trauma: But Petronella is determined she will not be silenced I dressed carefully. My long-sleeved short dress was designed to show off my slender legs and distract attention from my arms, which are too long. I enlarged my mouth into a Bardot pout with lip-liner, and artfully arranged my hair to tumble about my face. I used every trick, as a trapper does to catch a hare, and my arrival at his house had the desired effect. I could tell he was succumbing by the warmth in his eyes and the removal of a chilled bottle of champagne from the fridge. On Wednesday night, I appeared on a debate on Channel 5, part of an all-female panel which would discuss #metoo, and its rights and wrongs I half lay and half sat on a sofa, kicking off my shoes. He sat beside me, so that we were pressed together. We drank two glasses of champagne and then two or three more. I could feel my inhibitions, or rather that inner voice which tells us when we are doing something foolish, receding. The room was swimming when I put on a CD and we danced. We moved unsteadily, drank some more and danced again. I do not remember who instigated the first kiss. To my surprise, I didnt like it as much as I had expected. His breath was a little rancid and when I saw his face close up, there were red veins that had not been there before. Moreover, his once-luxuriant hair was receding. But when he suggested we go upstairs to the bedroom, I didnt demur. I wanted to lie down. I felt intolerably hot and tired. He lay down beside me and the kissing began again. I was neither repelled nor interested. I longed, most of all, for sleep. What happened next did him no credit. I had not been drugged because I had drugged myself with alcohol. But he knew I was the worse for wear and there are unwritten rules about that sort of thing. Rules of chivalry. I remember little until I woke up at three. He was still asleep, snoring. I dressed and tiptoed out of the house. I hailed a taxi in the London dawn and when the driver pulled into my street, I caught sight of my face in the rear-view mirror. My make-up was smudged and my eyes were those of dying marsupial. Tears and fury vied for my emotions. Some women, at this point, might have gone to the police or, more recently, joined the growing number who have made allegations via the controversial #metoo hashtag. Doubtless some women would have viewed the actions of my date as a sexual assault or even rape. Did I have a grievance? Yes. I had not wanted him to go as far as he had. But I did not go to the police, nor did I tell a soul. Instead, I looked at my own reflection and I flinched. I had led him on at every turn. Should a mans life be ruined because he had turned out to be unattractive, or because my drinking had made me unable to behave with any sense? Petronella Wyatt faced abuse after suggesting it was unwise to mix heavy drinking with sex I was not 18, I was a woman in my 40s. I knew, in my heart, that I bore some of the responsibility for what had taken place. This is a deeply unfashionable view. In fact, as I found out this week, to express it in public is to risk being vilified, slandered and abused to the point of breaking. Worse, it is my own sex at the forefront of this gathering mob, cheering like Madame Defarges as the heads of their victims of both sexes tumble from their shoulders. On Wednesday night, I appeared on a debate on Channel 5, part of an all-female panel which would discuss #metoo, and its rights and wrongs. Or so I thought. My section was entitled Blame And Shame. Let me say in advance that the audience had been told not to heckle, and to respect everyones views. Yet, as it turned out, I was the one who would be blamed and shamed. I have appeared on many TV panels, but never experienced such aggression, hatred and inhumanity. The majority of the studio audience were female, young, and militant, who seemed to make little differentiation between a touch on the knee and the crime of rape. There was a token young male who looked slightly dazed and who described himself as reformed. Like a character in The Manchurian Candidate, he denounced his own sex to the rowdy satisfaction of those watching. I began by making the reasonable point that allegations of crime, including sexual crimes, are better made in a police station than on social media. The audience didnt like it. When I went on to say that women should be aware of how they present themselves and that revealing clothes may well send out a sexual signal, they began to hiss, cat-call and boo. I was momentarily stunned but, recovering myself, I suggested, drawing on my own experience, that it was unwise to mix heavy drinking with sex. The noise from the audience became something like an animal roar. I could hear the sound of fast approaching tumbrils. Even as I left the studio, the heckling and abuse continued. I was lucky a kindly producer found a car to take me home, and once there I poured myself a large vodka, my hand shaking, believing the ordeal was at an end. When I woke the following morning, however, it was to internet headlines and comments normally reserved for serial killers. I was Vile Petronella Wyatt, according to one national newspaper website. Others traduced me, too, with one wrongly claiming I had said that some women were asking for it. Tweets were published about me that made me glad that my father was not alive to read them. All were defamatory, many made false claims about my personal life, and some were X-rated. And here is a significant and worrying thing: the majority of these threatening, bullying tweets were composed by women, enraged because I had stepped out of line. The abuse continues, still. The predominant view in the TV studio was that all powerful men, including MPs, were by nature vicious predators. Politicians, it was claimed, felt entitled to do with women what they pleased. My blood is still boiling. My late father, Woodrow Wyatt, was a Labour MP who then sat in the House of Lords. If anything, he had been a victim of women. Born in 1917, he married a fellow Oxford undergraduate and then fought in the Second World War. While he was away, his wife left him for a pacifist. His second wife was the daughter of a Soviet Red Army officer who used to execute White Russian generals. My father had to be taken to hospital after she threw a frozen leg of lamb at his head. He was scared of his third wife and terrified of his fourth, my mother, who is Hungarian. From an early age. I was introduced to my fathers male friends, including Rupert Murdoch, Kingsley Amis, Peter Ustinov and numerous politicians, among them John Major, Douglas Hurd and Norman Lamont. Not once did any of them say or do anything inappropriate or intimidating in my presence. And it was not, I am ashamed to say, for want of my trying. Young women are sometimes manipulative and the challenge of having a famous man in thrall can be irresistible. On family holidays, I paraded before them in hot pants and revealing bikinis. Sometimes it worked. They blushed and agreed to do things for me. Kingsley Amis helped me with my homework, and much later Douglas Hurd agreed to arrange for a plaque to be erected outside the London house of my political hero, Sir Robert Peel. As a young journalist I was with politicians frequently. I attended Tory and Labour party conferences. Occasionally an MP would make a fruity remark or invite me to his hotel room for a drink, but on the only occasion I was seriously bothered, I had, in part, brought it on myself. I used to pick out short skirts for dinners with politicians I wished to impress, or whom I was interviewing. Men are simple creatures and they generally became more expansive. On one occasion, I paired a short skirt with fishnet stockings and boots. The Tory MP in question, who resembled something on a fishmongers slab, couldnt believe his luck. We were dining in a seafood restaurant in Brighton, where the conference was being held. Once again, I over-imbibed. I told the poor man he was brilliant, dashing, talented. I complimented him on his horrible tie, which was polyester and as limp as something on a washing line. He then placed his hand on my thigh. I moved my leg, pretending not to notice. When he asked me back to his room for a nightcap, I refused, rather rudely. He was confused and upset. He called me a tease. After I returned to my own room, he kept calling me on the phone. I was annoyed, not because I was scared for my safety, but because he had become lachrymose. My conscience was pricked and for that reason I began to loathe him. At this point, I must reiterate that I decry rape or sex assaults of any sort. They are unforgivable. But I have sometimes observed female colleagues behaving in a way that would put Messalina the sexually voracious wife of the emperor Claudius to shame. As for myself, I have few complaints against men. Naturally, I find it mildly unpleasant if a man shouts something lewd on the street, and no one cheers when the peony-faced office bore tells another dirty joke. But these are more a symptom of bad manners and immaturity. British women, moreover, have never been drinking more. According to the police, there is a direct correlation between rape and alcoholic intake. Excessive drinking makes women vulnerable not only to unwanted advances, but to all sorts of unpleasant occurrences, and not least to their health. Doctors have always maintained that mens bodies can tolerate alcohol better than womens. But even saying this angers the apostles of the new religion, which is based on the fallacy that men and women are the same. Science has been subsumed by the simian gabble of the internet, which is no longer considered gabble but wisdom of an occult and superior sort. The bilge of this new and intolerant religion is running through the veins of our society, as I discovered when I took my seat before the assembled studio audience. Democracy is founded on free speech. If chains are put on our tongues and our minds, we take a step towards tyranny. But there is a new, young elite who cannot tolerate the expression of any opinion that is contrary to their own. All my life, I have managed to cope with any unpleasantness from men and, as someone who was brought up to take responsibility for her mistakes, I took equal responsibility for that date which turned so sour. Now I know how it feels to be the victim of something even worse: a witch-hunt that is not constrained by any law or any sense of decency. I cannot laugh this one off and I will not be silenced not just for my sake, but for others who wish to tell an unpopular truth. Nothing a man has ever done to me was as traumatic as what a largely female studio audience did last week. As the years go on, weddings become more lavish than ever, with money seemingly being no object. But one particular couple may have created new expectations as they had a cake that was almost five metres tall built for their wedding day. Le Novelle Cakes, who created the masterpiece, are based 150 kilometres away from where the wedding was being held, so they had to transport the deconstructed dessert. 'As we are based in Jakarta but the wedding itself was held in Bandung we had to transport all the cakes and decoration parts in pieces, then my team and I built it up on site for about six hours,' Miyo Minaki, who works at the company, told FEMAIL. Scroll down for video One couple may have created new wedding day expectations as they had a cake that was almost five metres tall built for their special day (pictured) Le Novelle Cakes met the couple earlier this year and they worked together to design a Grand Budapest Hotel themed cake. 'They originally wanted to make a castle wedding cake, with the parliament building as the reference,' Miyo explained. 'Then we discussed further as I proposed several designs and then they finally decided to use this see through wedding cake design - it is unique and has all the elements they like.' Within the cake itself stands an intricate castle made entirely of sugar, complete with spires, chapels, cherubs, flowers and a moat Within the cake itself stands an intricate castle made entirely of sugar, complete with spires, chapels, cherubs, flowers and a moat. The structure is made from metal frame and everything else is handmade and handcrafted. As if all of this isnt magical and impressive enough, the creation is also lit from within. The structure made from metal frame and everything else is handmade and handcrafted The incredible structure took 30 days to build with a team of 15 people, which included the sugar decorations. 'I actually did not expect it to be so tall and we couldnt arrange it in my kitchen earlier because of the size,' Miyo said. 'The couple was also surprised to see how tall it was but really happy on how it turned out.' It is the most common form of cancer found in men in Britain, with 50,000 new cases diagnosed every year. And now doctors are able to spot signs of prostate cancer with a simple but highly accurate urine test to avoid unnecessary invasive biopsies. The test can detect two markers of the cancer found in urine levels of which have shown to be eight times higher in men who have the disease. Doctors are able to spot signs of prostate cancer with a simple but highly accurate urine test to avoid unnecessary invasive biopsies Scientists claim it could prevent 41 per cent of unnecessary biopsies, and it is 98 per cent accurate in distinguishing men who do not have the disease from those who do. Researchers at the Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands reported that the test, known as SelectMDx, is more effective at detecting biomarkers of prostate cancer, than the current, commonly used blood test and biopsy combination. It is also capable of distinguishing between chemical markers of low grade, and potentially fatal, aggressive prostate cancer. Every year in Britain, prostate cancer claims 10,000 lives. The disease is difficult to spot early, given that symptoms pain when urinating and frequent, urgent trips to the lavatory tend to arise only when the tumour has grown large enough to put pressure on the urethra. This is when men may first go to their GP with a problem. There is no universal screening, but many men opt for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate, and concentrations in the blood often increase if someone has prostate cancer. But there are other reasons why PSA levels may be raised, such as a benign growth or an infection or inflammation. And in some people with cancer, levels are not raised at all. Scientists claim it could prevent 41 per cent of unnecessary biopsies, and it is 98 per cent accurate in distinguishing men who do not have the disease from those who do If high PSA levels are detected, men can be referred for a biopsy, during which up to 20 samples of tissue are taken from the prostate to be examined. But as biopsies sample only about one per cent of the gland, there is a 30 per cent chance that the cancer could be missed. Biopsies are also carried out with a needle, so carrying a small risk of infection afterwards. The problem with the PSA test is that it is indicative only, says Dr Jan Groen, chief executive of Belgian-based developers MDxHealth. The test we have developed is cancer-specific. Men become eligible for the urine test if they have been identified as being at risk of prostate cancer due to their PSA level. A doctor puts pressure on the gland, causing cancer cells to shed. A urine sample is collected immediately afterwards to test for the biomarkers. The 225 test is now available privately in the UK through the Lab21 Clinical Laboratory. Professor Raj Persad, consultant urologist at the North Bristol NHS Trust and Bristol Urology Associates, says: The challenges in prostate-cancer diagnosis include finding a test which is accurate enough so that only patients with potentially significant disease go forward for biopsy. If a non-invasive liquid biopsy can help minimise biopsies, this will be a great contribution. If this new test is more accurate at picking up clinically significant cancers, it could be offered as a screening test for prostate cancer. He added: This will need more rigorous clinical testing. Julia Roberts was so moved by the tale of a boy who hides his deformed face under a helmet that she begged to be in the film of the book. Here, its author reveals the devastating real-life encounter that inspired her... boy wonder When Raquel Jaramillos youngest son encountered a little girl with a terribly deformed face outside an ice-cream parlour, he burst into tears in his pushchair. She bustled away, causing her eldest to spill the shakes hed just been to buy and creating a scene with her frantic efforts to avoid one. As she fled, she heard the mother of the girl say sweetly to her own family: OK guys, I think its time to go Jaramillo, then working for publishers in New York, was ashamed of the way shed handled the situation. What followed was an extraordinary public act of atonement. She wrote the childrens novel Wonder, about a ten-year-old boy with a facial deformity who is also funny, brainy, a Minecraft geek, a Star Wars obsessive and a big fan of pizza. The childrens novel Wonder, about a ten-year-old boy with a facial deformity, has been turned into a Hollywood film The book, which has sold eight million copies in 50 countries, has now been made into a film starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. The 54-year-old, who uses the pen name RJ Palacio, explains: I was trying to spare everyones feelings but I guess we looked like we were running away. My heart broke for both the girl and her mother because this must happen to them a million times a day. I obsessed about the incident for hours afterwards, creating alternate realities in which I turned to the girl and started chatting to her, showing my son there was nothing to be afraid of. Wonder is a makeover of the moment when I didnt do that. What Jaramillo did do that night was to write the opening lines of her first novel. Its a work of such resonance and wisdom that it has become a global teaching tool, lauded by charities and the medical profession for its barrier-breaking narrative about what its like to face the world without normal features. In the book, August Auggie Pullmans eyes droop, his cheekbones are undefined, his outer ears are missing. His shrunken jaw means he eats like an elderly tortoise. He drools and has hearing aids. I wont describe what I look like, he says at the start. Whatever youre thinking, its probably worse. (Although Jaramillo doesnt explicitly label his condition, it is usually understood to be Treacher Collins syndrome.) Auggie has been home-schooled in the Pullman familys cosy Brooklyn home by his mum Isabel (played by Roberts in the movie), mostly while hiding his head under a toy astronauts helmet. Wonder tells what happens when he starts at his local school, Beecher Prep, where he is, in the words of his father Nate (Wilson), like a lamb to the slaughter. What follows are lessons in resilience, kindness, courage and acceptance that do not appear on any school timetable. It says much about their influence that Roberts took her familys battered copy of the book on set and asked Jaramillo to autograph it for her own children, as did Wilson. Wonder stopped me in my tracks, said Roberts. I read it with my kids, I loved it, they loved it. I hurled myself on the mercy of the producers and said, Please, let me be in this movie. I wanna be the mum. Jaramillo, on set in Vancouver as an extra with husband Russell and their sons Caleb and Joseph, now 21 and 13, was thrilled by the A-listers admiration, if a bit overwhelmed. She shuns the celebrity circuit, has yet to publish another book and originally wrote under a pseudonym because she didnt want to embarrass any colleagues in publishing. Talking to her in London ahead of the movies UK opening, I find an author whos as enthusiastic about being an ambassador for children like Auggie and managing the global grassroots campaign for kindness and empathy inspired by Wonder as she is writing her next novel. It comes as no surprise to learn she lobbied hard to have a child with Treacher Collins syndrome star in the film. It was a fight she lost, with the role going to Jacob Tremblay, the award-winning child star of the Oscar-nominated Room. Even under heavy prosthetics, the cherubic 11-year-old looks far more facially normal than the Auggie described in the book, whose shocking appearance is the pivot for key scenes with friends and enemies. Not that Auggie himself is defeated by his problems. After 27 operations to repair and improve his face, he is asked by a classmate if hed consider plastic surgery. Dude, this is after plastic surgery, he deadpans. It takes a lot of work to look this good. Jaramillo is honest about the artistic, and ultimately commercial, decision to cast Tremblay. She says: The production team issued a nationwide casting call for an unknown boy with cranio-facial differences. One boy, Nathaniel, came close. The studio flew him to California for a screen test. But acting can be tough. You have to read the lines 30 times, in different ways, with 100 people watching you, opposite Julia Roberts. Nathaniel had physical limitations, he was hard to understand, and if you have a $20m movie you have to make that call. The family did become consultants on the movie, though, and during filming his dad said to me, Thank God they didnt cast Nathaniel. It would have been too much. In the end they had to go with someone they knew could bring Auggie to life. I think they made the right decision and Jacob plays the role beautifully and with respect. From that dreadful day at the ice-cream parlour it took Jaramillo 18 months to write Wonder. Initially rejected, it quickly grew a huge following among teachers and librarians after its 2012 publication, and has since become a modern classic of childrens literature. Its crammed with scenes from the lives of Caleb and Joseph, such as a lesson in which Auggie lets his best friend copy his test answers. Isabels protective mothering is a straight-up copy of Jaramillos style. Im Latin, she laughs, my parents were from Colombia. We like to know where our kids are and what theyre doing every single minute of the day. Helicopter-mothering? Guilty! Even Auggies best friends name, Jack Will, is made up from two brothers who used to come and play at our house. Other names came straight out of my kids school directory. I never thought Wonder would be big. If I had, I would have disguised people a bit better! Julia Roberts was so moved by the tale of a boy who hides his deformed face under a helmet that she begged to be in the film of the book Wonder isnt just big, its a phenomenon, and the new movie will amplify its message, which moved Roberts and Wilson so profoundly that they led a standing ovation for Jaramillo when filming wrapped. Director Stephen Chbosky had secretly rewritten Wonders closing speech given by Mr Tushman, the principal of Beecher Prep, who is played by Mandy Patinkin (CIA chief Saul Berenson in Homeland). Jaramillo had no inkling of what was to follow. She says: I was just sitting there thinking they were re-doing the scene and then I realised the speech sounded different, that it was about me. My name was called and I went down the aisle towards Mandy Patinkin and one by one people stood up to give me a standing ovation. It was an out-of-body experience, like I was floating. Auggie thinks everyone should have a standing ovation once in their life. I guess that was my Auggie moment and it was wonderful. Wonder by RJ Palacio is published by Puffin at 7.99. The film is out on Friday The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is back to its 2014 dream team to ensure victory for the party in the crucial Gujarat elections. National president Amit Shah has brought in 10 experienced leaders, including Union ministers, from the 2014 Lok Sabha election team who he believes could help the party win the state convincingly. Party sources say that the coming assembly elections in Gujarat are going to be different and difficult from the past as the BJP, for the first time, is facing the polls without Narendra Modi as chief minister. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat with BJP National Chief Amit Shah Sources in the party, however, add that both PM Modi and Amit Shah are aware of this fact and are taking all steps to ensure that this does not affect the partys poll prospects. To take the feedback on the functioning of over 10 lakh Panna Pramukhs and 58,000 booth handlers, Shah has handed over the task to the organisation in-charge, Bhikubhai Dalsaniya. He is the man who co-ordinates with the partys foot soldiers and helps Shah and his core team form key strategies from time to time. Dalsaniya has been working in the party as the organisation in-charge since 2004, and has extensively worked in two Lok Sabha elections and as many Assembly polls. Based on the feedback, the core team devises its social media strategies that are implemented by the partys global convener, Vijay Chauthaiwala, who with Pankaj Shukla has been managing the social media for PM Modi since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall are greeted by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad House during a visit to India on November 9, 2017 in New Delhi, India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (stock image) Chauthaiwala is seen to be very close to both Shah and Modi. The responsibility of media management and representation of any issue in the media is bestowed upon Sanjay Mayukh, BJPs national media head, along with Bhupendra Yadav, partys secretary general. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley gives verbal briefs on what should be the official statement on any issue. Anil Jain, national general secretary, takes the feedback from all call centres in the 182 Assembly seats. He decides where and which ministers or chief ministers rally should be organised. Accordingly, all the arrangements pertaining to rallies are done as per Jains instructions. The problem solvers for all candidates and district heads are Ram Lal and Bhupendra Yadav. BJP is taking no chance as it is facing polls for the first time without Modi as CM They are directly in touch with them and solve all any issues they face. The BJP has divided Gujarat into four zones, each under the command of a Union minister. Narendra Singh Tomar, for instance, has been told to look after Central Gujarat and 50 seats in Ahmadabad. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman is handling 36 seats in Surat, 45 seats of West zone and 42 seats of north zone and Ahmedabad. As for Shah, he is busy conducting meetings with chief minister Vijay Rupani, deputy chief minister Nitinbhai Patel, along with Bhupendra Yadav, national general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal, Anil Jain and Bhikubhai Dalsaniya. If other senior ministers become part of the campaigning process, they too are involved in the meeting. Shah takes a note of the development during the day and decides about the next days election strategy. Interestingly, this is the fourth time in a row that finance minister Arun Jaitley has been made the partys in charge of the state polls. A policeman was killed and over 200 people were injured when a clearance operation became violent in Islamabad. On Saturday, Islamabad Police launched a clearance operation against protesters from Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, who have camped at the Faizabad interchange for weeks. Protesters have been demanding the resignation of Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid for changes made in relation to Khatm-iNabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. But, the situation escalated into violence, resulting in the death of a policeman and injuries to over 200 people. Pakistani protesters from the Tehreek-i-Labaik Yah Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLYRAP) religious group shout slogans against government during a protest on November 25 As a result, the government blacked out all television channels and blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to stem the escalating violence. There were protests reported from Karachi, Lahore, Faislabad, Peshawar and the SilakotWazirabad road in Punjab province. Police and paramilitary personnel tried to disperse the protesters, who have been blocking main highways leading to the capital, Islamabad, for more than two weeks. Pakistani police officers carry an injured protester during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, November 25, 2017. Police launched an operation to clear an intersection linking the Pakistani capital Islamabad with the garrison city of Rawalpindi where an Islamist group's supporters have camped out for the last 20 days The operation was launched after Islamabad High Court on Friday issued contempt of court notice against interior minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. Aside from Tehreek-i-Labaik Yah Rasool Allah Pakistan, the protesters also belonged to Tehreek-i-Khatm-iNabuwwat and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan. They attacked the house of former interior minister Nisar Ali Khan in Faizabad in Rawalpindi and damaged the gate of his house while trying to enter the premises, but were prevented by police. Pakistan's Geo News reported that in Islamabad, protesters were firing tear gas shells at the security forces. They also burned vehicles and thrashed several policemen and other security personnel. Pakistani security officials clash with supporters of a religious group According to a security official, more than 8,000 personnel took part in the operation against around 2,000 protesters. A military spokesman said that army chief General Qamar Caved Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi by telephone and urged for a peaceful resolution. COAS [chief of army staff] telephoned the PM. Major General Asif Ghafoor said that during the conversation, it was suggested that the Islamabad Dharna (sit-in) should be handled peacefully, avoiding violence from both sides as it is not in the national interest, and does not foster cohesion. The main group of protesters linked to the countrywide turmoil and unrest being seen in Pakistan was in 'contact with India', Pakistan interior minister Ahsan Iqbal has sensationally claimed. Speaking to Pakistani news channel Dawn News, Iqbal said his government has already begun investigating 'why the protesters contacted India'. 'Why they did it, we are looking into it. They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state. They (the protesters) are not simple people,' the Dawn News' online publication quoted Iqbal, who is the Pakistani equivalent of a home minister, as saying. Pakistani protesters 'We can see that they have various resources at their disposal.' The protesters, Iqbal added, had themselves fired teargas, usually the weapon of choice of most riot-control forces, at policemen trying to quell violence that has spread to cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. Later in the day, the Pakistan government called in the army to take control of the situation. The interior ministry issued a statutory regulatory order authorising the deployment of the army to help the civil administration regain control of law and order in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The army would be deployed for an indefinite period to maintain peace in Islamabad, the ministry said. The government acted under article 245 of the Constitution to deploy the army to control the situation. The development came hours after Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi over the telephone and discussed the security situation. Lindy Chamberlain's name has sparked strong emotions among millions of Australians since she claimed a dingo took her baby girl Azaria from an Uluru campsite 37 years ago. To some she was the hard-faced, cold-blooded killer of an innocent child. Others saw a loving mother who had been wrongly jailed for her nine-week-old daughter's murder. Those reactions are widely known, as is the fact a dingo did take Azaria Chamberlain and that Lindy was the victim of one of the worst injustices in Australian criminal history. Less well known is that more than 20,000 people put their thoughts on paper in letters and cards they sent to Lindy and, extraordinarily, that she kept them all. Lindy Chamberlain pictured with her nine-week-old daughter Azaria at Uluru, then known as Ayers Rock, before the infant disappeared from the family's campsite in August 1980 Merry Christmas: 'Lindy, you have committed the greatest sin of all, CHILD MURDER. May God commit your soul to Satin (the Devil), for torture in Hell throughout eternity' A poem written to young mother Lindy Chamberlain while she was wrongfully imprisoned in the Northern Territory for the murder of her daughter Azaria at Uluru in August 1980 Michael and Lindy Chamberlain on the steps of Alice Springs courthouse holding a photograph of Lindy with Azaria after the first inquest into the nine-week-old's disappearance Many of those letters, all of which Lindy donated to the National Library of Australia (NLA), have been compiled in a book written by author Alana Valentine. Most were written by strangers with messages ranging from offers of support to damning the young mother to hell but some were penned by friends and family. One note in the book was written by Lindy's second-eldest son Reagan, who was six when his mother was jailed for life. 'Dear Mummy, I love you. On Monday I watched Superman II and I am not feeling very well,' Reagan wrote. 'The last few nights I couldn't go to sleep because I was sick and I am up with auntie powell. 'On Wednesday I am playing with David and Davina and my eye is getting better each day and I have been getting tadpoles and some have got big eyes and some are just about into a frog. 'Hugs and kisses. Love Reagan,' Reagan Chamberlain wrote this note to his mother Lindy when she was serving a life sentence for the murder of her daughter Azaria, who was taken by a dingo at Uluru in August 1980 Reagan Chamberlain with his mother Lindy and sister Kahlia, who was born in Darwin Hospital while Lindy was still imprisoned over her wrongful conviction of murdering baby Azaria This letter included a lullaby the author had written for Azaria Chamberlain: 'O sing the child to sleep now, And sanctify the hours; In a contrite coming touch her, And cover her with flowers' The letters began arriving as Mrs Chamberlain and her then husband Michael were mourning the loss of Azaria late in 1980. They continued through her years in prison and have kept coming to this day. Having remarried, the now Mrs Chamberlain-Creighton still receives almost a thousand pieces of correspondence every year. Alana Valentine, the author of Dear Lindy: A Nation Responds to the Loss of Azaria, explains in the book's introduction how Mrs Chamberlain-Creighton came to donate the letters to the NLA. 'Lindy remembers that the library first approached her about acquiring the letters in 1986, just a few weeks after she got out of prison,' Valentine wrote. Mrs Chamberlain-Creighton recalled for the book: 'I was in the backyard. Apparently they'd knocked on the front door and I hadn't heard them so they'd thought, we'll try the back.' Lindy and Michael Chamberlain leaving Alice Springs Court after a coroner ordered her to face trial for the murder of the couple's baby Azaria near Uluru in August 1980 'I know I cannot express, in words, the depth of emotion our family is feeling for you and Michael. The shock and disbelief at the jury's decision has rebounded to everyone...' Former Sydney Morning Herald reporter Malcolm Brown wrote letters of support to Lindy Chamberlain, whose innocence he had always proclaimed in private and in print 'And there I was standing next to a big 44-gallon drum burning letters. And they didn't say hello or anything else; they said, "What are you doing?" 'And I said, "I'm burning letters. Why?", and they said, "Well we're from the National Library and we'd really like to have them." 'There were 11 filing cabinets to begin with that had been filed but that didn't include the four or five tea chests, the letters under the bed, in every drawer of the house, on the veranda. They were everywhere. 'So I said to the NLA people, "You can have them but I need to sort them. I'll call you when I'm ready." 'But then it was not until after I had first published my autobiography in 1990 that I called them and said, "OK, I'm ready to give them to you now".' 'Dear Lindy, A short note to let you know we are thinking of you constantly, life seems to have fallen flat since we heard the news. We know that God has his arms of love around you...' This 1986 letter from Scotland says the author has written to the British judiciary and Parliament including the House of Lords about Lindy Chamberlain's legal plight Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton arrives at Darwin Magistrate's Court in February 2012 for the first day of the fourth coronial inquest into the disappearance of her daughter Azaria Some of the letters are filled with love, others drip with hate. One family even sent Lindy a bib made from old lace for her daughter Kahlia, who was born while she was still in jail. 'Also enclosed is a small gift for your baby,' Geoff and Marg wrote in 1982. 'When my little baby was born 4 months ago I got carried away making bibs - he hasn't even dribbled enough yet to use half of them. 'I have never been too well with words but you must know we care and there are thousands of Australians who feel as we do and we are all with you in Spirit.' Another letter addressed Lindy as 'Murderer' and asked 'Will you also cut this babe's throat? You deserve life with hard labour.' 'Lindy, you have committed the greatest sin of all, CHILD MURDER. May God commit your soul to Satin (the Devil), for torture in Hell throughout eternity.' Valentine, a playwright and award-winning author, interviewed Graeme Powell, NLA curator at the time the papers were acquired in 1992. 'The first time we went out there it was this chaotic heap of paper,' Mr Powell told Valentine. 'Don't give up! Someday soon you will be freed from all this trouble and heartache. Remember Lindy Jesus sees your tears and He cries out with you. He feels your heartaches too' Elizabeth Guy sent this poem: 'A sensitive, lovely, radiant thing Whose beauty the years can never face - God's Hands lovingly forming pearls From which the gates of Heaven are made' Baby Azaria Chamberlain, who was taken by a dingo from her family's tent near Uluru on August 17, 1980; her mother Lindy was wrongly convicted of the nine-week-old's murder 'But when I came back a few months later, it was transformed. Lindy had devised this filing system and she didn't like the idea of even one bit of loose paper. 'I spent two or three days there and, if she came across a loose piece of paper, she'd immediately grab a file, do one of those yellow stickers, summarise and find the right place for it. 'And she drove us all very hard. She had the children all working on it. And her parents at one stage.' The author was originally granted permission by Mrs Chamberlain-Creighton to view her letters for what would become a stage play and is now a book. She spent three months looking through what the NLA held from May 2013. 'From the entry in the NLA catalogue, these letters promised to be a unique insight into the way in which Azaria Chamberlain's disappearance had resonated with and polarised an entire nation and, indeed, provoked responses from across the globe,' Valentine wrote in the introduction to the book. Dear Lindy: A Nation Responds to the Loss of Azaria features some of the 20,000 letters written to Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton after the disappearance of her daughter in 1980 Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton pictured with Alana Valentine, the author of Dear Lindy: A Nation Responds to the Loss of Azaria, published by the National Library of Australia THE LINDY CHAMBERLAIN CASE: OVER THE YEARS August 17, 1980 Lindy Chamberlain discovered her daughter Azaria missing from her family's tent during a camping trip at Uluru in the Northern Territory. December 1980 An initial inquest supported Lindy and Michael Chamberlain's claims their daughter was taken by a dingo. December 1981 A second inquest was ordered after the Supreme Court quashed the initial inquest's findings. September 1982 Lindy was charged with Azaria's murder and Michael was charged with being an accessory after the fact. October 29, 1982 The couple was found guilty of their respective charges. Lindy was sentenced to life in prison and Michael received a suspended sentence. Early 1986 The jacket Azaria was wearing when she was killed was found by authorities in a dingo lair after a British tourist fell to his death in the same area. 1986 The Northern Territory government ordered Lindy to be released from prison. 1988 Lindy and Michael were acquitted of Azaria's death by the Supreme Court and their convictions were overturned. The couple received a $1.3million pay-out for their wrongful imprisonment. 1991 Lindy and Michael divorced. 1995 A third inquest into the infant's death was held and returned an open verdict. 2012 A fourth inquest was held and a coroner ruled a dingo did in fact take Azaria from the family's campsite. Michael said he and his ex-wife had no contact. Advertisement The librarians took Valentine to 199 boxes of correspondence stretched across 'endless steel-reinforced shelves'. 'Inside those boxes was the most extraordinary panoply of human nature,' Valentine wrote. 'Poets, supporters and vicious detractors. People sending apologies, advice, theories and frequent admonishments. 'People who had been touched by God to write, had been moved with fury to write, had had their lives changed or indelibly affected by their encounter with Lindy and her story. 'Pornographers, eccentrics and hundreds of children. People who spent thousands of hours writing to newspapers and politicians and raising funds. 'People who donated their savings and their time and every ounce of their energy. Many of these letters, the ones I was particularly attracted to, were sent to her from strangers.' A letter to Mrs Chamberlain-Creighton from now retired Sydney Morning Herald reporter Malcolm Brown in 1990 declared the journalist's ongoing support. Lindy and Michael Chamberlain with eldest son Aidan (right), second son Reagan (left) and youngest daughter Kahlia (front) who was born when her mother was in prison The tent near Uluru from which Azaria Chamberlain was taken by a dingo on August 17, 1980 Lindy Chamberlain walks through scrub near Uluru during the first coronial inquest into the disappearance of her nine-week-old daughter Azaria at what was then called Ayers Rock 'Even though I remain a journalist and not a public relations man, and have my first loyalty to my employer, I am still prepared to pledge the services available through me to do whatever I can for the welfare of you, of Michael, and of your three beautiful and long-suffering children,' Brown wrote. Valentine was surprised at how many of the letters from strangers started the same way: 'Dear Lindy', and 'May I call you Lindy?' A letter from Ginny and Barry French written before Kahlia's birth is signed-off 'lovingly'. 'Dear Lindy, I know I cannot express, in words, the depth of emotion our family is feeling for you and Michael,' the couple wrote. 'The shock and disbelief at the jury's decision has rebounded to everyone to whom we have spoken. 'We pray for you as you approach the birth of your new baby and we hope you will be able to find serenity and peace and that your baby will bring you comfort. 'We cannot know what you have suffered, but we can admire your strength and your courage; you are a wonderful lady.' Dear Lindy: A Nation Responds to the Loss of Azaria, by Alana Valentine, NLA Publishing, RRP $39.99. A former Yazidi sex slave who was beaten and gang-raped in every way imaginable on a daily basis by ISIS terrorists during four months of hell has finally found happiness after getting engaged to a fellow refugee. Fareeda Khalaf, who was 16 when she was kidnapped by Islamic State, feared she would never be able to live a normal life after being tainted by the sexual abuse she suffered in captivity. She was so badly beaten that her skull was broken in three places, she temporarily lost her eyesight and was so desperate she tried to kill herself several times to escape her tormentors. But five years on, Fareeda, now 21, has learned to trust again and found love with fellow Yazidi refugee Nazhan Elias, 23. I never thought Id find happiness with someone, after what Id been through,' she told MailOnline. 'Now Im planning an engagement party and a wedding. Fareeda Khalaf, a former Yazidi sex slave who was beaten and raped in every way imaginable on a daily basis by ISIS terrorists during four months of hell, has finally found happiness after getting engaged to fellow refugee Nazhan Elias (above) The 16-year-old was kidnapped by Islamic State in 2014 and feared she would never be able to live a normal life after being tainted by her life in captivity Crying as she recalled her horrific experience, she told MailOnline: For 10 days I hid while men selected us for all kinds of sexual and physical violence, day and night' Nazhan added: Im so proud of her. Ill always do all I can for her so she can do whatever she wants with her life now. Fareeda - who has written a book called The Girls Who Beat ISIS - lived a simple teenage life going to school and dreaming of becoming a maths teacher in Kocho, northern Iraq. That life fell apart in August 2014 when Islamic State fighters rounded up everyone in her village, saying theyd be killed if they didnt convert to Islam. The Yazidis - a minority Kurdish group in Iraq - follow an ancient pre-Islamic faith. All the women and girls were kept in a school. The men were taken away and Fareeda unwittingly heard her father being shot and killed alongside the other men. The teenager then became one of 7,000 Yazidi women and girls forced into sexual slavery when the militia took over her communitys heartland in Sinjar, northern Iraq, and slaughtered 5,000 people. She was taken to Solag in northern Iraq where the pregnant and older women were removed and shot, with 80 of their bodies eventually found in another mass grave. Fareeda, her mother, two brothers and 150 girls aged eight to 30 were taken to Mosul, with other Yazidis. She was separated from her family when she was sent on to Raqqa in Syria. Crying as she recalled her horrific experience and sexual abuse, she said: They did everything imaginable that you wouldnt want done to an animal. We were raped, humiliated and passed around daily. 'For 10 days I hid in Raqqa while men selected us for all kinds of sexual and physical violence, day and night. Fareeda was so badly beaten that her skull was broken in three places, she temporarily lost her eyesight and was so desperate she regularly tried to kill herself to escape her tormentors 'They did everything imaginable that you wouldnt want done to an animal,' she said. 'We were raped, humiliated and passed around daily.' When I heard what they were about to do to me I found some glass and slashed my wrist. I thought Id die but they saved me. There were five or six men at a time, there was nothing I could do to stop them when they found me. 'They did everything you can imagine. Theyd taunt us, sell us, give us as gifts and switch slaves. Ive tried to kill myself at least four times, once taking an overdose and another time hanging myself, and I tried to escape.' Fareeda, who now lives in Germany, regularly defied IS and was punished as a result. My father always told me I was strong, that I should believe Im strong whatever. His words made my hold my head up high, so they beat me more because I challenged them and made them angry. I wouldn't become a Muslim. I told them real men would fight other men. Id also protect a nine-year-old girl from them, so theyd just beat me instead. Recalling the group attacks, she said: I was taken away to a room where six - including the commander - beat me repeatedly and raped me. Five years on, Fareeda, now 21, has learned to trust again and found love with Nazhan: I never thought Id find happiness with someone, after what Id been through,' she told MailOnline. 'Now Im planning an engagement party and a wedding' Fareeda - who has written a book called The Girls Who Beat ISIS - lived a simple teenage life going to school and dreaming of becoming a maths teacher in Kocho, northern Iraq. Pictured before she was kidnapped by IS Her life fell apart in August 2014 when Islamic State fighters rounded up everyone in her village, saying theyd be killed if they didnt convert to Islam. The Yazidis - a minority Kurdish group in Iraq - follow an ancient pre-Islamic faith. Pictured as a young girl It went on for such a long time. They broke my skull in three places, I lost the sight in one eye temporarily and I couldnt walk afterwards for two months. Only surgery stopped the headaches but I still have pain sometimes.' After four months in captivity, Fareeda and eight others were taken to a boarded-up house in another part of Syria to wait for ISIS men who threatened to pass them around again and kill them. Fareeda eventually persuaded the other girls to follow her through an unlocked door over what the militants had claimed was mined ground. They fled to Kurdistan, northern Iraq, where she was reunited with her brother whod survived the mass shooting which had killed their father. She discovered the 15-year-old had played dead in the same mass grave as his father, covered in a family friends blood. Fareeda arrived back in Iraq on 17 December 2014, a date she describes as her real birthday, the date I was free from ISIS. Six months later she fled to Germany - with her mother and brothers who had also escaped IS - and met her fiance there a year ago. Now 21, she campaigns globally for the Yazidi people, for justice in their name and to preserve the mass graves - so one day she can find the remains of her father. The teenager then became among 7,000 Yazidi women and girls forced into sexual slavery when the militia took over her communitys heartland in Sinjar, northern Iraq, and slaughtered 5,000 people Now 21, she campaigns globally for the Yazidi people, for justice in their name and to preserve the mass graves - so one day she can find the remains of her father. Pictured with Nazan 'I campaign to free other Yazidis still held, to get justice, to get misplaced Yazidis a permanent home and to protect our mass graves,' she said. Looking to her future, she said: I didnt think anyone would ever want me after all that Id been through. But now Ive found my fiance I have his support to go on. Nearly 3,000 Yazidi women and children remain in captivity and the UN has called the killings of thousands of Yazidis a genocide. Its Security Council is collecting evidence to use against Islamic State. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney represents another Yazidi campaigner Nadia Murad, 24, whos also written a book on her captivity, and is pushing for the Islamic group to be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court. Jailed for 472 years: Sex trafficker Brock Franklin A U.S. court has sentenced a man to 472 years in prison for sex trafficking children, a court official said on Friday. Brock Franklin, 31, was the leader of a human trafficking ring that reportedly recruited its victims, several women and girls, on Facebook. The gang then drugged them and sold them online for sex that took place in hotels. He was found guilty in a Colorado state court earlier this year on 30 counts including human trafficking of a minor, human trafficking of an adult and soliciting of child prostitution. His sentence is being described as the longest in U.S. history for a case of human trafficking. 'A 400-year sentence sends a strong message across the country that we're not going to tolerate this kind of violence,' Janet Drake, a spokeswoman with the Colorado Attorney General's Office, told FOX 31. 'I can't begin to even explain what he did to my life,' one of the victims told local media. 'He deserves every single minute in those walls.' The sex trafficking ring counted seven members, four of whom have already been sentenced, it was reported. Among them was David Fullenwiley Jones, who received and 18-year sentence after pleading guilty to human trafficking for sexual servitude. Another was Isis Debreaux, who was handed a four-year deferred sentence after she pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Franklin used violence and narcotics to control his victims and set rules they had to follow, including daily earning quotas. Members of Franklin's ring Isis Debreaux, left, and right, David Fullenwiley Jones He would then take all of the money earned to support himself and further his criminal business. One juvenile victim, known as D.Y., told authorities that Franklin recruited her between April and July 2015 after persuading her to leave her parents' home. The victim said that during this time Franklin supplied her with ecstasy and repeatedly punched her in the face, causing serious bodily harm to her right eye and her ears. Another juvenile victim, known as C.W., who was recruited by Franklin's ring for around five weeks between January and February 2015, said the leader required her to perform oral sex acts on him in front of other gang members. Both victims said they were encouraged to advertise themselves for sexual services on classified ad website Backpage.com. One adult victim said that Franklin used the GPS on her cell phone to monitor her location and, on more than one occasion, choked, pistol whipped and forced her to have sex against her will. Anti-slavery group Polaris said it had received reports of more than 22,000 sex-trafficking cases in the United States over the last decade. Globally, more than 40 million people are victims of human trafficking, according to the International Labour Organization. An estimated 4 million of them are forced into sexual exploitation. An American diplomat was shot in the foot during an attempted robbery while traveling outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian police said Friday. Stephanie Bohlen, a vice consul, and a man identified as her partner were attacked after stopping at the side of the road while driving Thursday night on a coastal highway in Angra dos Reis, federal highway police said. The man was not hit. Bohlen was brought to a nearby hospital and then transferred to a hospital in Rio for surgery, according to civil police. Stephanie Bohlen, a vice consul pictured here, was shot in the foot during an attempted robbery while traveling outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian police said Friday The U.S. Consulate in Rio confirmed in a statement that a consulate official had sustained injuries that were not life-threatening 'in an incident involving gunfire'. It provided no further details. The diplomat and her partner had pulled over on the side of coastal highway BR-101, when they were approached by unidentified individuals,O Globo reported. The attackers then fired two shots at their vehicle, with one of them hitting the diplomats foot. Pictured here is the car Stephanie Bohlen and a man identified as her partner were driving The violence in Rio has escalated over the past few months, forcing President Michel Temer to deploy thousands of army soldiers to help patrol the slums of its capital. Earlier this year, a British tourist was shot and wounded in Angra dos Reis, when she strayed into a rough neighborhood. The popular vacation destination is about 90 miles (150 kilometers) from Rio. Stephanie Bohlen (above) and a man identified as her partner were attacked while driving Thursday night on a coastal road in Angra dos Reis, federal highway police said This photo provided by Chesterfield County, Va., Police shows Christopher R. Gattis. Police say Gattis shot and killed three people late Thanksgiving night A youth pastor from Virginia was arrested Thanksgiving night after he allegedly killed three people, police say. Christopher R. Gattis, 58, was found at the Chester home when officers reported to the scene where his wife, Jeanett Gattis, 58, her daughter, Candice Kunze, 30 and the daughter's boyfriend, Andrew Buthorn, 36, were shot dead. Startled neighbors heard the gunshots just before midnight. When officers scoped the scene, they discovered the women's bodies inside the home and the man's, in the front yard. The suspect was a full-time cleric at Grace Lutheran Church on Harrowgate Road, according to his Facebook page. 'This incident appears to be domestic related,' Chesterfield Police Sgt. P.H. Zoffuto confirmed in a news release Friday. A neighbor and friend to the pastor described the suspect as 'a gentle man,' local WTRV reported. Mike Brown said: 'We were all friends; we hang out sometimes [and] cook out in the back. Scroll down for video Jeanett Gattis, 58 and her daughter, Candice Kunze, 30, are shown together. They are two of the victims in the alleged domestic murder Thursday (L to R): Andrew Buthorn, 36, alongside girlfriend Kunze, Jeanett Gattis and alleged killer, Christopher Gattis Christopher Gattis is shown with his wife Jeanett on Facebook. Police are investigating the suspicious Thanksgiving night murders at the couple's Virginia home Candice Kunze is pictured above in a Facebook image. Kunze's body was found inside the home, along with her mother's 'I mean, every time I see them, they're always the same way. [I] had no clue that they were having problems that I knew of, but behind closed doors is behind closed doors.' A church deacon, in disbelief of the horrific news, said Gattis was 'an excellent man.' Meanwhile, members of the parish expressed their mourning message after learning of the community deaths. 'Members of Grace Lutheran Church are deeply saddened by the loss of life last night as a result of three individuals being shot in Chester and this tragedy included members of Grace Lutheran Church,' the statement read. Kunze's boyfriend Buthorn is shown. His body was dumped in the front yard of the Virginia home last night The late Kunze is shown smiling next to her mom and the youth pastor accused in the murders The horrific incident took place at the family home (shown) in the 14000 block of Dogwood Ridge Court in Chester 'Grace Lutheran Church has experienced many hardships over the years, but this heartbreak has unique challenges. '[We] ask for the prayers from the community as our congregation begins the process of addressing the grief being experienced by everyone involved.' The pastor has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He is being held without bond in the Chesterfield County Jail. 'It's just sad that their Thanksgiving ended that way,' said family friend, Larry Patton. The holiday murder investigation is underway. President Donald Trump has told Turkey's president that the United States will cut off its supply of arms to Kurdish fighters in Syria. The decision is sure to please Turkey, but further alienate Syrian Kurds who bore much of the fight against the Islamic State group. Word of the change in policy came in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Early Friday morning, Trump took to his Twitter page to announce his plans. 'Will be speaking to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey this morning about bringing peace to the mess that I inherited in the Middle East,' Trump said. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the U.S. Coast Guard at the Lake Worth Inlet Station Thursday in Riviera Beach, Fla. Trump spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday morning Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks with people after Friday at his presidential palace in Ankara Friday. The Turkish leader discussed the Syrian crisis and other regional issues with Trump 'I will get it all done, but what a mistake, in lives and dollars (6 trillion), to be there in the first place!' A Turkish official announced Trump said he'd 'given clear instructions' that the Kurds will receive no more weapons. The White House confirmed the move in a cryptic statement about the phone call. In the conversation, Trump informed Turkey of 'pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria.' Trump boasted about diplomacy as he spoke to the Turkish leader and announced U.S. will drop support for Kurds The move could help ease strained tensions between the U.S. and Turkey. In a previous statement, the White House said Trump told Erdogan the United States is making 'adjustments' to its military support for partners in Syria. It's was a reference to the U.S. halting the supply of arms to Syrian Kurdish fighters. Erdogan speaks during Russian-Turkish-Iranian talks at Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, November,22,2017. Trump told Erdogan the United States is making 'adjustments' to its military support for partners in Syria The White House said the decision comes as the Syria conflict moves into a 'stabilization phase' of ensuring the Islamic State group can't return. That phase follows the recent fall of the extremist group's self-declared capital in the Syrian city of Raqqa. The Trump administration moved earlier this year to arm the Kurds to help them liberate Raqqa. That move incensed Erdogan's government. The White House said Trump and Erdogan also discussed the political process for ending the Syrian civil war and Turkish purchases of U.S. military equipment. When Amazon officially launches its Australian website next week, major electric appliance, clothing and cosmetic retailers could be in for a shock. The global e-commerce behemoth is predicted to snatch a large chunk of the retail business from Australian giants Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi, David Jones and Myer - after it's 'soft launch' on Friday. At least 60% of Amazon's revenue is expected to be made up by electronics, clothing and cosmetics by 2023, and the company is expected to significantly 'accelerate' Australia's online shopping market, new UBS research revealed. At least 60% of Amazon's revenue is expected to be made up by electronics, clothing and cosmetics by 2023, USB research revealed The global e-commerce behemoth is predicted to snatch a large chunk of clothing and shoe business from Australian stores like Myer and David Jones The financial services company revealed more than half of surveyed Australian shoppers would be spending their money on Amazon, as a desire for more - and better quality - online stores still exist. More than 40% said they'd ramp up their online spending once Amazon's full website was in action, despite small volumes and limited amounts of product expected to be available initially. While most still prefer an in-store experience over buying online, particularly when wanting to touch a product or seek advice, Amazon will likely accelerate Australia's major shift to online shopping - much like it did in Italy, Spain and Mexico. Not all is lost for Australian stores however, with analysts reporting a huge drop in market share of international online stores in recent times when local retailers amped up their online presence. At least 60% of Amazon's revenue is expected to be made up by electronics, clothing and cosmetics by 2023 USB research revealed While most still prefer an in-store experience over buying online, Amazon will likely accelerate Australia's major shift to online shopping Amazon is expected to significantly 'accelerate' Australia's online shopping market Stores like Baby Bunting, Supercheap Auto and the big supermarket chains are among those expected to dodge Amazon's disturbance to Australian business. While shoppers are still expected to swarm to large malls long into the future, high-street and boutique retailers have a grim path ahead, UBS says. UBS also predicts the global company will encourage shoppers to price check online before heading in-store, creating a sense of 'customer empowerment', Sydney Morning Herald reports. Stores like JB Hi-Fi (pictured) have tough times ahead, with Amazon expected to cause serious disruption to its business with customers predicted to chase bargains with the global giant Major electric appliance retailers, like Harvey Norman (pictured) could be in for a very rude shock when Amazon launches in Australia next week Supercheap Auto is clear of the wrecking ball heading towards Australian business in the face of Amazon's launch While Amazon Australia's launch was predicted to be the 'biggest shake-up in retail in a generation' - customers were faced with mark-ups of almost 1000% during its 'soft launch' on Friday. Tech products were on sale for prices up to ten times more than local retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman. Logitech surround sound speakers were being sold by Amazon for $504, while the same speakers could be bought for $369 at Kogan or $397 at Harvey Norman. Baby Bunting is also clear form destruction, with shoppers still likely to make baby-related purchases in-store Amazon Australia's launch was predicted to be the 'biggest shake-up in retail in a generation' - but instead customers were faced with mark-ups of almost 1000% Logitech surround sound speakers were being sold by Amazon for $504, while the same speakers could be bought for $369 at Kogan or $397 at Harvey Norman The biggest mark-up appeared to be a laptop bag made by software company HP, which Amazon had on sale for $267 compared to JB Hi-Fi's $29.95. While the Olympus Tough TG5 camera was marketed as $796 by the online giant, despite retailing for just $598 at Harvey Norman. Analysts from Deutsche Bank said Amazon's soft launch would 'undoubtedly have been disappointing' and confusing for customers expecting a full catalogue. 'Entire categories such as televisions, mobile phones, and grocery segments such as hair-care were missing,' analysts for the bank wrote, reported Business Insider. While the Olympus Tough TG5 camera was marketed as $796 by the online giant, despite retailing for just $598 at Harvey Norman The biggest mark-up appeared to be a laptop bag made by software company HP, which Amazon had on sale for $267 compared to JB Hi-Fi's $29.95 'Searches for Apple products such as iPhones, or Sony does not produce the hardware results we intended (the results would mostly be books). Indeed, we observed a number of anomalies on Amazon's Australian website.' However, Amazon managed to out-price their competitors with some items, including a $1,289 Yamaha surround sound bar that was $200 cheaper than Harvey Norman's offering. And while the Brother PT-E110VP label printer was more expensive than the same one offered at Officeworks, an Epson Workforce printer was 21 per cent cheaper. Amazon Australia Price Comparison Item Amazon JB Hi-Fi Harvey Norman Officeworks Alternative Retailer Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z906 $504.47 $399.00 $397.00 $478.00 $369.00 Olympus Tough TG5 Camera $796.13 599.00 $598.00 N/A $599.95 Epson Workforce WF-2750 Printer $150.22 $128.00 $178.00 N/A $182.25 Yamaha Sound Bar YSP-2700 $1,289.00 N/A $1,496.00 N/A $1,399.00 HP Value Top Load Laptop Bag $267.95 $29.95 N/A N/A $40.90 Brother PT-E110VP Label Printer $103.25 N/A N/A $99.00 $86.93 Source: Business Insider Amazon did manage to out-price their competitors with some items, such as a $1,289 Yamaha surround sound bar that was $200 cheaper than Harvey Norman's offering The 'soft launch' of Amazon Australia began with promises the marketplace giant would forever change the face of shopping in this country. The 'internal testing phase' was limited to a small number of customers who were able to order from the local site, with the full launch expected on Friday. Despite the hype, Amazon Australia's website still looked the same on Friday afternoon as it has in recent years. The home screen remained as the Kindle book store, with avid buyers unable to access the new products. Senator Pauline Hanson has clashed with a Labor candidate in the lead up to the Queensland state election. The party leader was filmed confronting Adrian Tantari, the Labor Candidate for Hervey Bay, and accusing him of bullying. Queenslanders head to the polls on Saturday to decide who will lead the new state parliament, voting for candidates in a newly-expanded 93 seats. Scroll down for video Pauline Hanson's (pictured) One Nation is tipped to perform well in regional seats, but a return to full preferential voting in the state has made predictions difficult Hervey Bay is a safe LNP seat, held by Ted Sorensen since 2009. Polling from early November had Sorenson in the lead, followed by Labor's Adrian Tantari (pictured) and One Nation's Damian Huxham 'You are nothing but a bully,' Ms Hanson told Mr Tantari, as an onlooker tried to block the camera with a Labor pamphlet. 'Don't be such a bully and don't you put your finger up at me, we don't need people like you on the floor of parliament,' Ms Hanson continued. 'Prove it, Pauline,' replied Mr Tantari. 'How am I a bully? Say it on film, Pauline, how am I a bully?' Queensland Labor volunteers hand out 'How to vote' cards to voters at a polling booth at Inala State School in Brisbane Queensland Labor and LNP volunteers hand out 'How to vote' cards to voters at a polling booth at Inala State School in Brisbane Voters arrive at a polling booth at Inala State School in Brisbane on Saturday during the election Queensland Labor volunteers hand out 'How to vote' cards to voters at a polling booth Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls and his wife Mary Nicholls vote at St John Catholic Church in Hendra in his electorate of Clayfield Voters stand by a "stop One Nation - vote Labor" sign in Graceville, near Brisbane on Saturday Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, member for the seat of South Brisbane at a voting station at West End State School, Brisbane Ms Hanson posted the clip on social media, with a caption stating: 'I hate bullies!' (pictured) Ms Hanson posted the clip on social media, with a caption stating: 'I hate bullies!' 'My candidate for Hervey Bay has been subjected to constant, grubby behaviour by Labor's candidate, Adrian Tantari,' she wrote. 'I wasn't going to take him giving me the finger as I drove off from the polling booth in Hervey Bay. 'You're damn right I got out of the car and cornered the coward. 'Annastacia Palaszczuk, I'm publicly calling on you to disendorse this horrible man you have standing for you in Hervey Bay. Queensland One Nation leader Steve Dickson (centre) at a polling station in Buderim, Sunshine Coast This time, the resurgence of One Nation and return of compulsory preferential voting will further complicate Labor and the LNP's chances of winning a majority government Ms Hanson accused Mr Tantari of abuse earlier in the campaign (pictured), posting screenshots appearing to show comments made by the Labor candidate on Facebook 'F*** Damian Huxam[sic],' read one comment, 'F*** all you racist bogan trash,' said another 'Where is your vetting process Labor, because this horrible grub slipped through a giant hole in your net.' Ms Hanson accused Mr Tantari of abuse earlier in the campaign, posting screenshots appearing to show comments made by the Labor candidate on Facebook. 'F*** Damian Huxam[sic],' read one comment. 'F*** all you racist bogan trash,' said another. After 28 days on the hustings, three million Queenslanders are finally heading to the polls today. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls will join the battlers, city slickers and undecided in the fight for their political lives. Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, member for the seat of South Brisbane at a voting station at West End State School, Brisbane Cricket fans are seen posing for a selfie outside East Brisbane State School polling booth as people vote in the Queensland election on Day 3 of the First Test match between Australia and England at the Gabba Greens candidate Amy MacMahon votes at the Brisbane State High School during the Queensland election on Saturday But it could be days before a final result is delivered, with counting of booths and pre-polls to be get underway on Saturday. The calculation of hundreds of thousands of postal and absentee votes begins on Sunday. It took more than a week before Labor could claim power in 2015, after the LNP was resoundingly dumped after a single term. This time, the resurgence of One Nation and return of compulsory preferential voting will further complicate Labor and the LNP's chances of winning a majority government. Ms Palaszczuk and Mr Nicholls are both in for a tough fight, with Labor claiming a narrow lead over the LNP in the latest polling. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) and Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls will join the battlers, city slickers and undecided in the fight for their political lives Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, member for the seat of South Brisbane at a voting station at West End State School, Brisbane Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls is surrounded by Anti Adani protestors as he arrives to vote at St John Anglican Church in Hendra in his electorate of Clayfield The premier will start the day on the Gold Coast before returning to her southwest Brisbane electorate to cast her vote at Inala State School. Mr Nicholls will help his 78-year-old father, Peter, at a polling booth in his blue-ribbon Clayfield seat. A total of 93 seats are up for grabs, up from 89 after electoral boundary changes earlier in the year, the first in 32 years. Pauline Hanson's One Nation is tipped to perform well in regional seats, but a return to full preferential voting in the state has made predictions difficult. Hervey Bay is a safe LNP seat, held by Ted Sorensen since 2009. Polling from early November had Sorenson in the lead, followed by Labor's Adrian Tantari and One Nation's Damian Huxham. The minimum investment in maintaining the stable operation of Ukraine's gas transportation system (GTS) is $200-300 million annually with the existing volumes of transit work, Chairman of Naftogaz Ukrainy Andriy Kobolev has said. "The Ukrainian GTS has been audited by Mott MacDonald, which clearly defined the minimum amount of investment needed to maintain the system in case of transit at the existing level. This is approximately $200-300 million per year," he said on the air of the Priamy TV Channel. Kobolev noted that revenues received from gas transit in 2017 will amount to about $3 billion. "It is mathematically absolutely possible to find $300 million from $3 billion. Therefore from the point of view of payback, from the point of view of self-sufficiency, this is a self-sufficient and financially stable business at the current level of income," he said. According to him, statements about the cost of modernization of the Ukrainian GTS from the Russian side are overstated. "I think that if to give the contract to upgrade Ukraine's GTS to Mr. Rotenberg, the figure could be $30 billion, it could even $50 billion," he added. Police found nine Eritrean boys in a lorry at a motorway service station in Surrey. Officers made the discovery as they opened the rear doors to the vehicle, which witnesses said had a foreign plate. Surrey County Council took the children into care but says it is struggling financially, with more than 130 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASCs) already under its wing. The children, who were with an adult, were found at the M25 Cobham services where the driver stopped and called police. The adult was taken to an immigration facility. Surrey County Council took the children into care but says it is struggling financially, with more than 130 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASCs) already under its wing The children, who were with an adult, were found at the M25 Cobham services where the driver stopped and called police. The adult was taken to an immigration facility. This image shows a South Sudanese refugee child stand at a UNHCR camp in Sudan's White Nile state A lorry driver who witnessed the incident on October 13 said: It was a foreign registered lorry and a policeman came along and opened up the back, then within about ten minutes there were three or four more police cars and you could actually see the people in the back. They looked African and quite young. A source said they were from Eritrea. More than 4,200 child asylum seekers were in council care last year a 54 per cent increase on the previous year. The surge has had a significant impact in Surrey, said council leader David Hodge. He said the care and support needed for UASCs, who can suffer from psychological problems, costs more than 50,000 a year per child and that the amount of money received from Whitehall was not enough. He said he has written to immigration minister Brandon Lewis, demanding more funding. Refugees and migrants have been trying to find a way to Europe in the hope that their lives will be better there. These men were pictured leaving the Calais Jungle camp today Mr Hodge said: As you can imagine, finding the right care and support for these vulnerable young people arriving alone from countries around the globe is difficult and expensive work. The Home Office said that last year it increased funding to local councils by 20 per cent for unaccompanied asylum seeking children under 16. Highly respected surgeon Colin Baillie was accused of sexism after using the word 'manfully' in a letter to a patient The toddler in Colin Baillies consulting room at the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire had blonde hair and a bubbly personality. Jessica Martin was, in the words of paediatric surgeon Mr Baillie, a lovely young lady. He said so in a follow-up letter to her parents; it was a nice touch which typified Mr Baillies warm bedside manner, a quality not all consultants possess. Jessicas condition, it should be stressed, was not critical, nor were her symptoms causing her discomfort. Nevertheless, her GP took the precaution of referring her to Mr Baillie. Mr Baillie is actually based at the renowned Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, Liverpool, but holds regular clinics at the Royal Preston; he has more than 30 years of experience and is widely respected in his field. This is evident from the messages of thanks left on Alder Heys own website. One glowing testimonial is from the parents of a little girl who was born with a heart condition and had to undergo a series of operations at Alder Hey last year. The doctor they singled out was Mr Baillie. Jo Martin, pictured here with her husband Billy, daughter Jessica and sons George and Sam (centre) took offence to the word and said the word 'manfully' was so sexist Freelance typist Mrs Martin had been too ill to attend the consultation at a hospital in Preston so her husband went along instead You saved my daughters life, they wrote. Thank you you will never know the gratitude we have for you. Nor is it an isolated tribute. Mr Colin Baillie is fantastic surgeon and I can never thank him enough for saving my beautiful daughter, were the heartfelt words of another grateful mum. So Jessica, aged three who lives in Chorley, Lancashire, with her mum and dad, Jo and Billy Martin, and her two brothers could not have been in safer hands. Mrs Martin, 33, a freelance typist, was unable to attend the consultation about her daughter with Mr Baillie on October 20, because she was ill. Jessica was accompanied instead by web designer Mr Martin. The examination went well. And Jessicas family were assured there was nothing to be unduly concerned about. Why are we telling you about Jessica Martins routine appointment at the Royal Preston? Because of what happened next: an almost farcical chain of events which, for many people, epitomises the kind of world we now live in, where all too often offence is sought, where none really exists, and common sense has all but disappeared. This is the letter that caused a top surgeon to be accused of sexism and a hospital trust to issue a grovelling apology Mr Baillie's letter was headed 'NEW APPOINTMENT' and in it he described three-year-old Jessica as a lovely young lady The letter went on: Unfortunately, her [Jessicas] mum could not be at the clinic as she has not been well and father stepped in manfully Exactly how such a dedicated doctor like Mr Baillie became the victim of what can only be described as politically correct fanaticism is the cruel irony at the heart of this story and will be revealed in due course. But the very fact he became a story in the first place, culminating in the health trust that runs the Royal Preston apologising on Mr Baillies behalf, is an indictment in itself. So, back to the events in question. Some weeks after Jessicas appointment, the familys GP received a standard letter from Mr Baillie informing him that he would need to see Jessica again in three months time. A copy also landed on the doormat of the Martins terrace house. The correspondence from Mr Baillie, under the utterly uncontroversial heading NEW APPOINTMENT, consisted of just three paragraphs in which, as already stated, he described Jessica as a lovely young lady. Yet, by the time Mrs Martin had put the letter down, she was practically shaking with indignation, judging by her comments last week. I could not believe it when I read it, she said. I dont know what the consultant was thinking. What had Mr Baillie done to elicit such a reaction? What heinous crime had he committed? What terrible insult had he hurled at Mrs Martin to make her feel this way? The answer, it emerged, was in the second sentence. It read: Unfortunately, her [Jessicas] mum could not be at the clinic as she has not been well and father stepped in manfully. Confused? You certainly wouldnt be alone. In fact, it was Mr Baillies use of the last word manfully that left Mrs Martin in a state of shock. I read it out loud, she added, and I was like: What? Surely I read that wrong. I thought: They cant have put that. Mrs Martin was left in a state of shock after reading the letter Now, to the vast majority of us, manfully is a perfectly inoffensive, everyday adverb. According to the Oxford dictionary, it simply means brave and resolute. Here it was clearly applied or intended in a fairly light-hearted way. Mrs Martin, who has started her own parenting blog chronicling the daily challenges of bringing up three young children, saw things rather differently. Manfully was loaded with sexist connotations, she claimed. So sexist was the phrase she actually used. She could not imagine, she said, Mr Baillie using womanfully in the same context. The consultant, she added, did not know that I was the one who was supposed to be taking her. 'As far as he should be concerned, fathers and mothers should have equal responsibility for taking their children to hospital. 'I couldnt take her because I was ill and was already distressed about not being there. It made me feel guilty because I could not attend and it was like they were pointing it out. Distressed. Guilty. Sexist. Strong words. All because of one harmless word Colin Baillie used to humanise a bland letter in which, remember, he also referred to her daughter as this lovely young lady. How many other paediatricians would have bothered to say that about one of their patients? Even if a semantic some might say, pedantic justification could be found for Mrs Martins argument, it should have been perfectly obvious to anyone that Mr Baillie meant no offence. Mrs Martin is a devoted mother, of that there is no doubt, which is apparent from her blog. Married to Billy, mum to Sam, Jess and George, it begins. She says she is usually to be found under a mammoth pile of ironing we have a dog named Toby and a hamster named Nibbles. The family, including Mrs Martin, are popular with their neighbours. But wouldnt most women, even the most strident of feminists, have overlooked Mr Baillies use of manfully, if indeed there was anything to overlook? Instead, Mrs Martin made her feelings very public on her own Facebook page, with an extract of the incriminating sentence, around midday on November 12. This sentence, she wrote, was in a letter we received yesterday from Jessicas hospital consultant! Father stepped in manfully! Surely father brought her to the hospital because he was her dad?! Wth!! [what the hell/heck]. Mrs Martin agreed to be interviewed by a press agency in Liverpool. Their story ended up splashed across newspapers and websites around the country At 7.20 pm on the same day, Mrs Martin shared the same concerns on Unmumsy Mum, a popular parenting site on Facebook. The initial reaction on Facebook was supportive. Wow, wrote one woman. Jeez, wrote another. Seriously? was the response of a third, who read Jo Martins manfully post. The post was also spotted by a local press agency in Liverpool. Jo and Billy Martin agreed to be interviewed and photographed along with Jessica. The next day (November 15) the story was splashed across newspapers and websites. Hospital accused of sexism after praising father for manfully bringing daughter for treatment, read one headline. Underneath was a picture of the family holding Colin Baillies offensive letter aloft for the camera. What went unreported was the fact that Mrs Martin was even considering making an official complaint about Mr Baillie to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Royal Preston Hospital. I have not decided whether to or not, she told the journalist from the press agency. The Trust, it transpired, did not receive a complaint. But and this is crucial when it comes to analysing the kind of world we are now living in it apologised anyway. The apology was given added weight because it came from Chief Executive Karen Partington. Since the story broke, the Martins have been on the receiving end of a backlash online, with one person saying: Stop taking offence at imagined slights The wording of the apology, which the trust said was also on behalf of Mr Baillie, read: We apologise if any offence was taken, that was not the intention. Our priority is to provide excellent care with compassion for our patients and make them feel as comfortable as possible while they are being treated. Isnt that precisely what Colin Baillie did? He didnt know anything about the story until his mother showed him the coverage the next day, said Mr Baillies wife Christine when we called at her home on the Wirral. The Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said that it did try to get in touch with Mr Baillie and left a message for him to contact them. Clearly, he couldnt have got it. Nevertheless, it is perhaps typical of Mr Baillie that, according to his wife, he has no complaints about the apology either way. By now, the initial positive support for Mrs Martin on social media had died down and instead turned into an angry backlash. There is no excuse for the abusive comments which were then directed at her. But many others, it has to be said, went to the heart of the matter. Too many people are enjoying taking offence over the smallest thing, read one. Too easy to complain about nonsense these days, read another. We really have lost all sense of perspective . . . Stop taking offence at imagined slights... Should be writing to thank the surgeon. On they went. All pointed to the uncomfortable truth that there is more than a hint of McCarthyism around the culture of political correctness that holds sway today. Despite not receiving an official complaint, the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust issued an apology over the incident But surely there could not be a more unlikely, or less deserving, victim of the new orthodoxy than Mr Baillie, a man with an unblemished career who is widely respected both inside, and outside Alder Hey and the Royal Preston hospital. Mr Baillie, who is in his 50s and himself the father of three children, was among a group of doctors who swam across the English Channel to raise money for charity back in 2008. He is also an active member of his local church in the village of Upton, a few miles from Birkenhead, where he sings in the choir and where he wrote about his work in the parish newsletter. I suppose if someone was to ask me what I do, I would reply that I am first and foremost a paediatrician and lastly a surgeon totally dependent on the skills of those around me (nurses, radiologists, anaesthetists, and other hospital staff) to practise, he said. Working at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital is a team effort, and a genuinely humbling experience. Doesnt this say everything about Colin Baillie both the man and the doctor? As does the way he has handled the recent controversy. He doesnt blame the parents, said Mrs Baillie. He doesnt think they understood what would happen [once they voiced their views] and he has no problem with them. His main concern now is for their welfare. 'He is upset about the treatment the mother, in particular, has received on social media. It has been blown totally out of proportion. Maybe so. Some might say, though, that Colin Baillie has behaved rather manfully in the circumstances. The Environment Secretary (pictured outside Downing Street) hit out at online firms after two million web users read misleading claims that MPs had voted against treating animals as sentient beings Michael Gove launched an attack against social media yesterday for 'corrupting and distorting' politics by spreading fake news. The Environment Secretary hit out at online firms after two million web users read misleading claims that MPs had voted against treating animals as sentient beings. Celebrities helped to share the story that MPs had voted that animals cannot feel pain or emotions. Former Great British Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins tweeted that MPs were 'shameful b******s', while broadcaster Ben Fogle retweeted the story. Both have now retracted their claims. And late on Thursday night, the online Independent newspaper grudgingly retracted its original story. On Radio 4's Today programme yesterday, Mr Gove blamed social media for presenting a false impression after the Commons rejected an amendment to Brexit legislation which would have brought EU animal protection provisions into UK law. The Environment Secretary said: 'On social media there was a suggestion that somehow MPs had voted against the principle that animals are sentient beings. 'That did not happen. That was absolutely wrong. There's an unhappy tendency now for people to believe that the raw and authentic voice of what's shared on social media is more reliable than what is said in Hansard or on the BBC. Celebrities helped to share the story that MPs had voted that animals cannot feel pain or emotions. Former Great British Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins (pictured) tweeted that MPs were 'shameful b******s', while broadcaster Ben Fogle retweeted the story. Both have now retracted their claims 'We've got to stand up against the way in which social media corrupts and distorts both reporting and decision making.' Mr Gove insisted there would be no gap in Britain's animal welfare provisions after Brexit 'because I think what we are going to do is ensure we have stronger protection written into law in order to ensure that there is no gap. 'It is better to have an absolutely well-designed piece of UK legislation, rather than a poorly designed piece of EU legislation'. The row came after an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill which would have transferred an EU protocol on animal sentience into domestic law was voted down last week. Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas, who tabled the amendment, had raised concerns that current rules risked dropping out of UK law by accident once Britain leaves. Countdown's Rachel Riley (pictured) posted a link to a web article saying the Government had decided to 'exclude the status of animals as sentient beings'. She wrote: 'The possible reasons why Tory MPs would have voted [for this] baffle and worry me.' She did not respond to requests for comment The Independent was accused of spreading fake news after it published a story headlined: 'The Tories have rejected all scientists and voted that animals don't feel pain.' In a clarification, the paper said its report 'was not right'. 'Put simply, what happened is this MPs did not vote that animals are not sentient creatures,' it said. Yesterday Mr Gove said Brexit could lead to stronger animal welfare measures in areas such as live exports and puppy farming. 'There is a particular concern that outside the European Union our democratic institutions can't do better than we did in the EU Parliament is an effective and vigorous institution which can ensure protection for human rights and for animal rights.' He added that 'some of those who have shared some of these messages on social media have been generous to acknowledge that in their zeal to be sure we maintain the very highest standards they may have unwittingly passed these messages on'. Tory MP Zac Goldsmith described the reporting by some organisations as 'absurd, fabricated and a non-story'. 'Most people believed this stuff But it was fake news,' he told LBC radio. 'Clearly there is not a single MP in Parliament, not one from any party, who doesn't believe animals have feelings.' He added: 'I don't think we should kid ourselves that EU environment law is some kind of panacea you can produce foie gras, you can do veal farming, donkey torturing in Spain and fur farming all over Europe.' Fellow Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'Some rather gullible people have forgotten that the EU allows bull fighting and that its fine words are less important than the practical steps the British take to protect animals.' The Green Party's home affairs spokesman Shahrar Ali said the story 'would be a good candidate for what has been described as fake news'. Luvvies forced to say sorry for animal slur Former Great British Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins last night deleted three tweets relating to the fake story, and praised Michael Gove. On Monday Miss Perkins tweeted: 'Shameful b******s, denying what is obvious animal sentience. Let's not take this one lying down. #resist' She included a link to an article on the i newspaper's website entitled: 'Moment MPs voted that 'animals cannot feel pain or emotions'.' Miss Perkins posted a link to the theyworkforyou.com website, writing: 'Here you can see how your MP voted. Am truly disgusted by this.' She also tweeted a link to an online petition claiming MPs had 'put animals rights at risk by voting that no animals have feelings or the ability to experience pain'. After the Daily Mail contacted her publicist yesterday, the three tweets were removed. She then tweeted: 'Good to see @michaelgove promising 'no gap' in principle of #animalsentience after Brexit.' After retweeting links to the story, TV host Ben Fogle said on Thursday that he had 'deleted the misleading threads' and was 'happy to apologise'. Yesterday he tweeted: 'I have apologised. It would be interesting to turn the focus on the national newspapers who printed the story.' Countdown's Rachel Riley posted a link to a web article saying the Government had decided to 'exclude the status of animals as sentient beings'. She wrote: 'The possible reasons why Tory MPs would have voted [for this] baffle and worry me.' She did not respond to requests for comment. When I got home from tours of duty in Afghanistan and Lebanon in the summer of 2006 I thought my days in the desert were over. At last I could marry my fiancee Dawn, the mother of my little boy. That was on a Saturday. We began our honeymoon on the Sunday. I got a phone call on the Wednesday and by Friday I was back in Afghanistan. Id been deployed to Kajaki, a village in the north of Helmand Province, which in all honesty I regarded as a bit of a resting post. My sergeant major was trying to help me out, knowing Id worked my arse off on previous tours. So he thought hed send me down to Kajaki for a bit of R&R, because there wasnt much happening there. The base was on top of a hill, looking down on the Taliban so we had a good overview. I used to get up every morning and go with a couple of the boys down to the dam, where wed wash a bit of doby [laundry], have a bit of a swim. Lance Corporal Paul Tug Hartley served with 23 Air Assault Medical Squadron in Afghanistan But there was something inside me that told me not to go that morning, September 6. It was good I didnt, because at around 11 oclock Corporal Mark Wright came running in, saying a landmine had been detonated on the far side of the neighbouring hill. I remember grabbing my T-shirt, webbing, medical kit and rifle. It was about a kilometre and a half down our mountain, up the next hill and down the other side. Going up that hill was probably the most physical and demanding thing Ive ever done. I did fall behind the rest of the pack. They moved like machines, knowing that one of their blokes was injured, but my Bergen medical pack weighed about 70 pounds, and I was carrying rifle and webbing as well. As we reached the site of the explosion, some of the guys had already set up cordons around the mines. I could immediately see Stu Hale, a sniper, had lost his leg and had damage to one of his fingers. Jarhead, one of the Paras, had done an excellent job with the tourniquets. I believe he saved Stu Hales life. We went into the minefield to Stu and I administered morphine, re-attached the tourniquets and put some dressings on him. The guys from 3 Para were amazing: they were all assisting me and did a real good job. Meanwhile, Mark Wright, Sgt Stu Pearson and Jarhead were making a plan. I was trying to get a cannula into Stus arm and as I struggled to find a vein I remember looking around and seeing anti-personnel mines on the surface, some partially dug in. As I composed myself, my good friend Alex Craig, another medic, came running down the hill to help. He had heard the first call on the radio and thought it was me who was injured. He had actually run through a minefield to assist us. Between the two of us, we got Stu bandaged up and stable, on oxygen; Id even written up my report it was stuffed down the front of my shorts and we were literally just waiting for a helicopter with a winch to come and airlift us out to Camp Bastion Hospital. Mark Wright served in the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan and took part in the rescue of a fellow para, who lost a leg in a minefield Time went on and more people started to notice the other mines around us. Mark and I decided we had to move Stu to a safe location from where he could easily be winched out without the downdraft from the helicopter causing any further problems by setting off more mines. Stu Pearson got a couple of guys to clear a safe path through the mines using bayonets and their own eyes. It took them a while in the blistering heat, but they plodded away, with no fear or emotion showing. The guys just got on with the vital job they had to do. Eventually, a path was cleared and Stu Pearson walked back to make sure it was all OK. Some of us picked up the stretcher and carried it to the safe location. Mark and I decided that, with four others, I would stay to load Stu Hale on to the winch and everyone else should pull out. A lot of the guys walked straight back across the safe marked path and Stu Pearson was the very last man to go across it. He got about ten to 20 metres away from us, and then he just detonated on the path. As he detonated, I remember looking and thinking: I have just walked from there. Medic Alex Craig and Mark Wright jumped straight in to help. Alex told me to stay where I was and he would manage Stu Pearson. Again, it worked. We now had two guys whod lost legs, but it wasnt the first time wed dealt with these kinds of things. It was OK. It was all right. Both guys were stable. Time dragged on. I was shouting to Mark: Where is this helicopter? We kept getting told, ten minutes, ten minutes. Ten minutes turned into 30 minutes and 30 minutes turned into hours, and the hours just went on and on. In the film 'Kajaki: The True Story', Paul Hartley was played by Mark Stanley. He was wounded in the incident Eventually, we could hear a helicopter in the distance, a Chinook. It flew in over the top of us and round the back of the hill then came in a second time, low. It was 70 metres away from me when it started to touch down, landing on its back wheel and ramps. The loader came to the door and started waving to us to come on. I stood up and gave him the finger. Not a f***ing chance! Two of the boys had already got blown up I wasnt going to risk carrying the two casualties 70, 75 metres through a minefield for anybody. Over the deafening noise of the Chinooks engines, we started using hand signals to warn him about the mines. But the loader didnt understand and eventually the helicopter took off again. It caused a total brown-out. I couldnt see anything eyes and mouth full of sand and dust. It turned into a scene from Star Wars, with people shielding themselves from the dust and suddenly the inevitable happened mines started going off all around. I remember lifting my head up, looking over to where Stu Pearson was and seeing a blast go off around waist height. And then it all went quiet. The dust settled and the helicopter disappeared. I looked at Alex, my fellow medic the colour had gone out of his skin and he had small wounds across his chest. I looked at Mark he had a severe injury to his torso and an injury to his face. I could see Stu Pearson had been hit again. Then the shouting and screaming started. People were begging for help. I remember thinking: Its ten metres away. I cant go across to them. Its the day before my sons first birthday. I looked down and saw my rifle. I bent down and felt the coldness the part of the rifle between the trigger housing and the magazine housing, and for a split second I was going to execute Alex Craig, Mark Wright, Stu Pearson. It was a split-second, but it seemed like an eternity to make the decision. Thank God I never did. Stu Hale, the very first casualty of the day, had my medical pack under his leg. I remember grabbing it and thinking, F*** it, Ive got to do something. A young Fusilier, Andy Barlow, stepped on a mine, instantly losing a leg. He is depicted in the film 'Kajaki' I threw it. It didnt go bang, so I jumped on it and slid it out from underneath my feet. I repeated this, trying to cross the minefield to get to where they were. I remember falling off it at one point and everyone panicking nobody more than me. If I had fallen backwards, I would have got hit by a mine. If I went forward, I would probably get hit, too, but I had to risk it for the boys. I pulled the pack out again and threw it. Nothing went bang, so I jumped on it. I was about a metre and half away. Young Andy Barlow, a Fusilier kid, was in there trying to give first aid. He was in a state; he had never seen anything like it. Someone threw a bottle of water to Andy and he caught it. Then he was thrown a second bottle, but he missed it and when he turned to pick it up, he stepped on a mine, instantly losing a leg. The blast lifted me up and dumped me on my arse. Again it was a brown-out. I couldnt see anything and I thought: This is it, this is what it feels like to be dead. Its not that bad. Theres no pain or anything, just silence. Not as bad as people make out. Then, all of a sudden, I had a burning pain in my chest and I sucked in a big breath and it hurt like f***. And I knew I was alive. I was bleeding heavily from my left shoulder. My chest was killing me. At that point I accepted that I was going to die. And when you accept that, things get easier. But if I was going to die, I was going to die doing the best I could for the other guys. I picked up my medical pack and simply walked the remainder of the way. I went straight to Mark, who was hammered hed taken by far the most direct hits. I threw a tourniquet to Andy who, in spite of losing a leg, was still able to assist others. I told him how to apply a tourniquet to his badly injured leg. I gave Stu more morphine and checked his tourniquet. I grabbed a bandage to try and dress the wound on Marks chest, but it was too small, so I took off my T-shirt and packed it into the wound. His arm was barely hanging on, from just above the wrist the inside of his bicep and tricep had been blown away. His face was damaged, his teeth partially gone, burns down his throat. I remember Andy screaming that the morphine wasnt working, then Mark laughing and telling me I was going to get a VC for being crazy and crossing a minefield. Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment drive a Jackal vehicle providing security along a convoy route in Kajaki Time dragged on. I kept shouting: Wheres this helicopter? Ten minutes, they said. Ten minutes never came. It seemed like a lifetime, with the pain in my chest and the blood I was losing from my arm and my shoulder. I kept wanting to pass out but the boys kept shouting, stimulating me to keep me awake. Mark said some inspirational things. You wouldnt believe someone with injuries that severe could come up with it. But he did, to keep everyone else stimulated and awake. Dave Prosser, another young lad, spoke to me hed caught a little bit of shrapnel on the chest earlier on. He went on about it being his birthday, so I got the boys to sing Happy Birthday, for me to check peoples levels of consciousness. And then Mark was talking about getting married to Gillian, so we talked about what it would cost, would she still recognise him, things like that. Stu Pearson was shouting that he wanted more morphine. But Id run out of everything. Mark started to complain he was thirsty, but Id got nothing. The water that had been dropped in had been blown up with Andy. I remember looking down and seeing an old bag of saline. Its not the best thing to drink, but I moistened his lips, got rid of some of the sand and rubbish inside his mouth. I cut the corner off and as I poured it into his mouth, I watched it come out the side of his neck. He saw my reaction and I think he knew. But he didnt give in. He kept cracking on with his jokes, making inspirational comments, keeping everybody motivated. Eventually we were told there was a helicopter coming in ten minutes again. Within two minutes we could hear the rotor blades of a Black Hawk. There were two of them; again they flew past and around the hill. I was shouting to the guys who were in communication with them, telling them to look for the fat bloke in the blue shorts, meaning me. The film showed how soldiers tended to their wounded comrades in the minefield I started signalling to them which casualties needed to go first. The Black Hawk came in, and one of the Para rescue men fast-roped down with a six-foot stretcher. Everyone was shouting at him: Its a minefield, its a minefield! Mark grabbed my hand, saying to me: If I die, please tell Mum, Dad and Gillian that I love them. Tell my uncle, who is Regiment Sergeant Major in Special Air Service; tell them I died being a good soldier, and a good paratrooper. He made me promise. I told him not to be silly, I was going to see him again and he made me promise him I would come and see him back at Camp Bastion. As they winched him up, I remember our hands separating and as he got up into the air, I remember being rained on with his blood. Everyone else got taken out of the minefield, I was the last one there. I was thinking: When they lift me up, Im going to be on a mine and Im going to bring this helicopter down with me, but at least I knew Id done my best. I remember getting into the back of the Black Hawk. We just put our arms around each other and no one spoke, no one said a word. I remember a tear rolling down my cheek, tears rolling down the other boys cheeks. Still no one said a word. We got back to the helicopter landing site and the boys all got off. I went to climb in the back of a Land Rover and as I grabbed on to the frame to pull myself up, blood squirted out some of the little holes that I had, but nothing massive. I remember being picked up by the scruff of my neck and thrown back on the Black Hawk with this bloke shouting to the guys to take me to Bastion. I remember getting off the helicopter and getting an oxygen mask on. I was burnt, I was dirty, I was bleeding. I walked into the field hospital and in my hand I had a T-shirt that I had pulled from the minefield. The wings on the T-shirt were different from what the Para Reg wore. I knew it belonged to Alex Craig, one of my best friends and fellow medic. I walked to the ward and I could hear Alex screaming. They were putting a chest drain into him and I pushed them all away and I gave him his T-shirt. He just threw his arms around me; I put my arms around him. Again without saying a word, we shed a few tears. Corporal Mark Wright was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his bravery I walked across to the other ward to see Stu Pearson lying there. He was unconscious, tubes hanging out of him. There was a bed sheeted off and I could hear someone shouting and screaming. I pulled the curtain back and it was Dave Prosser. He was shouting: Hes dead, hes dead. I said: Whos dead? He said: Marks dead. That feeling left me empty. Like my whole life had been sucked out of me. If anyone was going to die that day, it was going to be me. But it wasnt: I was alive and Mark was dead. Id promised him Id see him back at Bastion. I had failed my promise. I was treated for my wounds. Nothing too serious. Someone there said it had come across the radio that a medic had died; everyone presumed it was me. So when I walked in, they all thought they had seen a ghost. But it was Mark who was dead. Hed gone unconscious on the Black Hawk and they revived him. And once he was on the Chinook with the Medical Emergency Response Team, he asked if everyone was on. The doctors said yes. And he just closed his eyes. He timed his death to perfection. He made sure everyone was saved. Mark Wright is by far one of the most heroic men Ive ever served with. His determination, his selfless sacrifice, his sense of humour is what kept everybody else alive that day. As the Paras say, every man is an emperor. Every man who was in Kajaki was an emperor that day and more people should have been recognised for the service that they gave. Because of Marks leadership and dedication and heroism, I wanted to make true the promise I made him that Id see him back at Bastion. So when the Chinook came to take Marks coffin back to the UK, I pulled a few strings and managed to ride in the ambulance with his body. I remember lifting the lid of the coffin and putting my hand on his chest and thanking him. I know I probably sound a little bit emotional right now telling it, but Im not emotional thinking of the badness, the horror or anything like that. Im emotional because of the heroism, the dedication, brotherhood and bond that was formed that day. I thank all of them for what I witnessed, what they demonstrated, what I saw. Mark received the George Cross posthumously. For the rest of us, young boys became men, and men became legends in that minefield. And that will live with me for ever. Lance Corporal Tug Hartley was also awarded the George Medal for his courage. Adapted from The Paras: From The Falklands To Afghanistan In Their Own Words by Max Arthur, published by Hodder at 25. Max Arthur 2017. To order a copy for 20 (offer valid to December 2, 2017, p&p free), visit www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640. Tobias Ellwood is understood to have concerns about proposals which could see the Army's full-time strength reduced to 70,000. A defence minister who battled to save a Westminster terror attack victim has threatened to resign if cuts are imposed on the Army. Tobias Ellwood, the minister responsible for defence personnel and veterans, is understood to have concerns about proposals which could see the Army's full-time strength reduced to 70,000. Mr Ellwood, who was pictured coming to the aid of police officer Keith Palmer after he was fatally stabbed by Khalid Masood, has shared his 'deep discomfort' with colleagues about a list of cost-saving options faced by the Ministry of Defence, the Times reported. A Whitehall source quoted by the newspaper said the Ministry of Defence was 'beginning to try and push back' against the cuts. The MoD said no decisions had been made and dismissed reports about the options being considered as 'speculation'. But Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was said to be shocked by the 'completely awful' headline proposals drawn up by military chiefs, according to a Times source. Other measures thought to be under consideration include reducing the order for Ajax armoured vehicles and delaying upgrades to other tanks. Mr Ellwood was pictured coming to the aid of police officer Keith Palmer after he was fatally stabbed by Khalid Masood during the Westminster attack Mr Ellwood, who served in the Royal Green Jackets from 1991 to 1996 with tours in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kuwait, Germany, Gibraltar and Bosnia and is now in the Army Reserve, has indicated he would have to step down if the military was not shielded from the proposed reductions, the Times said. Asked if Mr Ellwood was known to have concerns about the prospect of cuts, a senior defence source said: 'Absolutely.' Speculation about defence cuts has mounted in recent months since the launch of a review led by Theresa May's national security adviser Mark Sedwill. Other options reportedly under consideration include the axing of amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, alongside the loss of 1,000 Royal Marines. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was said to be shocked by the 'completely awful' headline proposals drawn up by military chiefs An MoD spokesman said: 'We have the biggest defence budget in Europe and are one of very few countries to not only meet but exceed NATO's 2 per cent spending target. 'In the face of intensifying threats, we are contributing to the cross-government review of national security capabilities and looking at how we best spend the rising defence budget to protect our country. 'No decisions have been made and any discussion of the options is pure speculation.' Stunned magistrates watched in disbelief as a man they had banned from driving got into his car and sped off just minutes after the hearing. George Fothergill, 60, had been disqualified for 12 months following a number of traffic offences when he ignored the ban. At a subsequent court case he initially denied driving while disqualified claiming someone else had been at the wheel. But since the magistrates had seen him in his car from the window of their retiring room at Mansfield Magistrates Court, this defence was instantly branded a lie. Stunned magistrates watched in disbelief as a man they had banned from driving got into his car and sped off just minutes after the hearing. George Fothergill, 60, was spotted by magistrates through the window of a retiring room at Mansfield Magistrates Court (above) At a hearing on Thursday, Michael Treharne, prosecuting, said that Fothergill who was previously banned from driving in 2009 was spotted jumping into his car after the earlier hearing on July 19. The magistrates were taken aback when they went into the retiring room which overlooks the car park, he said. They saw the defendant go to the side of his car and speak on a phone. This is idiocy at its best Lucy Jones, defending Having made the phone call, they were surprised to see him get into the car and drive off fairly rapidly. It was as plain as day. Lucy Jones, defending, added: This is idiocy at its best. Jailing Fothergill for ten weeks, district judge Andrew Meachin said: This was absolutely flagrant. He walked out of court and got into his car. He had been disqualified literally minutes before. Your defence was that someone else was driving, which was a lie. Fothergill, from Stoke-on-Trent, was ordered to pay a 115 victim surcharge, and banned for 57 weeks. University vice chancellors who are paid many times the average staff salary will be named and shamed, the new watchdog has vowed. Sir Michael Barber, chairman of the Office for Students, said the body would bear down on pay levels that look out of kilter with an institutions performance. It comes amid a growing row over vice chancellors generous pay packets and whether they provide value for students. Sir Michael Barber (left) has warned highly paid university vice chancellors will be named and shamed. Dame Glynis Breakwell (right) is the highest paid VC in the country on 468,000 Dame Glynis Breakwell, the highest paid vice chancellor in the country on 468,000, has faced calls to resign over the largesse and the university has been criticised by the spending watchdog over her pay. Sir Michael told BBC Radio Fours Today programme: One of the particular things we will do is look at the ratio between the vice chancellors pay and the average pay of the staff in an institution. 'That will make it very visible where certain pay packets stand out like a sore thumb. Unions have said it is inappropriate for vice chancellors to get pay rises when ordinary staff wages remain stagnant. Dame Glynis, vice chancellor of Bath University (pictured), has faced calls to resign over the largesse and the university has been criticised by the spending watchdog over her pay However, Sir Michael said that universities would still have the independence to set their own pay rates. I have said publicly to universities and to vice chancellors, the best form of regulation is self- regulation. See among yourselves where the pay packets stand out and see whether you should reduce them. He added: We arent going to interfere directly with university autonomy which is fundamental to the success of British universities. Angela Jay, the young doctor who was stabbed 11 times and doused in petrol by her crazed ex-boyfriend, has revealed she doesn't plan on wasting her 'second life'. The 28-year-old has spent the last year campaigning against domestic violence after Paul Lambert, a man she met on Tinder and briefly dated, tried to kill her in her Port Macquarie home. Standing alongside another victim of domestic violence Dr Jay declared herself a warrior for women on White Ribbon Day, and called for others to do the same. 'We have both stared death in the eyes and lived to tell the tale,' Angela Jay captioned this picture - her own personal post for White Ribbon Day - a year after her ex-boyfriend tried to kill her in her Port Macquarie home The young doctor has become a White Ribbon ambassador and 'warrior' against domestic violence She was stabbed 11 times and doused in petrol by her ex-boyfriend before escaping to a neighbouring property 'We have both stared death in the eyes and lived to tell the tale,' she said. 'We won't waste what I call my ''second life.'' We are unbreakable warriors using our best weapons - our voice. 'We stand together on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence toward Women and Girls, stand with us!' Dr Jay previously spoke exclusively with Daily Mail Australia about her struggle getting 'back to reality' following the attack on November 3. Her 36-year-old attacker was shot-dead by police which is the only reason she feels comfortable telling her story. She is still haunted by his memory. Her attacker, Paul Lambert, pictured, was shot dead by police after fleeing the scene The young woman said he haunts her every day - but she can tell her story because he is dead 'Even though my attacker is no longer here, the memory of him and what he did terrifies me every day,' she said. The young woman can't look at photos of the man who hurt her, and is left shaken if she comes into contact with men who look like him. The one salvation for Dr Jay is that she will never come face-to-face with Lambert. He was shot dead by police shortly after attacking her. However, the traumatic incident has forever changed the way the once independent woman lives her life. 'We won't waste what I call my ''second life.'' We are unbreakable warriors using our best weapons - our voice.' 'I am definitely too afraid to live alone or with strangers, and I have a real issue with closets,' she said. 'My bed is on the floor, there is no closet in my room now, there is nowhere for anyone to hide. 'I think the recovery of any major trauma takes time I am coming to terms with the fact that I will never be the same person I was before,' she said. 'I think about the attack every day sometimes it is brief, sometimes it's not. 'We stand together on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence toward Women and Girls, stand with us!' 'And of course I have the scars every time I see them it brings me back. One of the scars on my arm is very painful and uncomfortable when touched, which also brings me back.' On the night of the attack Dr Jay managed to escape her would-be-killer ex and get help from a neighbour. She talked him through what he needed to do to save her life in the moments before paramedics arrived. A cop-killer gunned down her fiancee just months before their dream wedding. But Nikki Salgot decided she would show her devotion to the love of her life by posing for poignant photos of her in a wedding dress on her own. Salgot, 29, was due to wed Wayne State University police officer Collin Rose on October 14, 2017. But Rose was tragically shot while on duty in Detroit last November. Instead of being overwhelmed by grief, Salgot chose to be defiant, according to NBC's Today. She asked a friend, who's a professional photographer, to help her pay tribute to Rose by posing for pictures in a white wedding dress that she had already bought. A cop-killer gunned down her fiancee just months before their dream wedding. But Nikki Salgot decided she would show her devotion to the love of her life by posing for poignant photos of her in a wedding dress on her own Salgot, 29, was due to wed Wayne State University police officer Collin Rose on October 14, 2017 But Rose was tragically shot while on duty in Detroit last November. Instead of being overwhelmed by grief, Salgot chose to be defiant She asked a friend, who's a professional photographer, to help her pay tribute to Rose by posing for pictures in a white wedding dress that she had already bought The photographer, Rachel Heller, hadn't spoken to Salgot in 10 years. But when she heard about what happened to Rose on the news, she decided she wanted to help In a few of the photos, her face emits sadness and grief. But, in others, she is playful and smiling. 'She had an ease about her,' said Heller Salgot is seen with her fiancee in this undated picture before his tragic death nearly a year ago Rose lost his life while on duty for the police force at Wayne State University in Detroit Rose, 29, was shot in the head in a west side neighborhood a few blocks from Wayne State while investigating possible thefts of navigation systems from cars The photographer, Rachel Heller, hadn't spoken to Salgot in 10 years. But when she heard about what happened to Rose on the news, she decided she wanted to help. Heller is the owner of Rachel Smaller Photography, a brand based in Detroit. Last month, Heller and Salgot met in the woods to conduct the photo shoot. Heller didn't mention to Salgot that she was a week away from her own wedding. 'I remember being in tears on the way there, thinking, "How am I going to do this? How am I going to find a way to take photos that will do this justice, not just for her but for him?"' said Heller, 28. 'When she got out of the car, it was clear as day,' Heller said. The alleged killer, Raymond Durham (left), 60, was charged this past August in the shooting. Durham was charged in March with attempted murder of two Detroit police officers who were shot when they stopped him. They survived and Durham was arrested at the scene. Rose is seen right 'She was the picture of grief and resilience and strength and vulnerability and authenticity, all at once. I thought, I have to take photographs that when people see them, they will feel how I felt when she got out of the car.' Salgot is seen in the photos holding onto a folded American flag and Rose's police hat. In a few of the photos, her face emits sadness and grief. But, in others, she is playful and smiling. 'She had an ease about her,' said Heller. 'She said, "Collin never took himself too seriously, and we never took ourselves too seriously as a couple. ... It is what it is".' 'There were moments when Nikki would shift her dress around, or step on it and start laughing. I wanted to capture those moments, too, to show that she can still laugh. ... I needed to tell the story of this woman who's lost the love of her life but is still going to have closure, and still going to be his wife one way or another.' Heller recalls tense moments during the shoot. At one point, Salgot had brought Rose's police badge and tried to pin it onto the flag. 'She kept smiling and telling me, "It's OK, it's OK" - imagine, this woman who's been through all this, telling me that it's OK,' Heller said. 'She was so sure of herself. She didn't tell her family because ... she wanted to do this herself,' Heller said. 'She was very empowered that day. ... She made it really easy for me to do what I needed to do, to give her what she needed,' Heller said. After Heller finished editing the photos, she gave Salgot the prints as a gift. She then told Salgot that in another three days she was supposed to walk down the aisle. Durham allegedly shot Rose (pictured), 29, in the head a few blocks from the university's campus Wayne State University police officers carry Rose's coffin at his funeral 'She was so excited for me,' Heller said. 'So collected. It was so generous of her to be happy for me. It really put things in perspective. ... My busy schedule and whatever else I have to do doesn't matter because at least I get to do it. It was way more important to be there for her.' On her Facebook page, Salgot wrote: '(Heller) captured images that still vividly show the pain left behind; images that show I am still able to laugh, smile and be me; images that show this loss has not and will not destroy me; and my favorite, images that show I am still just as fierce as ever and refuse to let this define me.' 'This is a woman who is not broken,' Heller said. 'This did not break her. To me, she is an inspiration.' Rose, 29, was shot in the head in a west side neighborhood a few blocks from Wayne State while investigating possible thefts of navigation systems from cars. Before the shooting, Rose radioed in that he was about to speak to someone on a bike. He died the next day. The alleged killer, Raymond Durham, 60, was charged this past August in the shooting. Durham was charged in March with attempted murder of two Detroit police officers who were shot when they stopped him. They survived and Durham was arrested at the scene. Police Chief James Craig had said that DNA evidence linked Durham to the Rose shooting. Durham has twice been found incompetent to stand trial in those shootings. A judge ordered Durham to also undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial in the Rose slaying. Family members have said that Durham lived in an abandoned house and repaired bikes. His defense attorney, Gabi Silver, has said that Durham appeared 'to be somewhat delusional.' Wayne State has more than 27,000 students and is located in the heart of Detroit. The school employs around 65 officers. Rose, of St. Clair Shores, was a five-year veteran of the university's police force and worked in the canine unit. He is the only Wayne State officer killed in the line of duty. He was awarded a citation for valor and posthumously promoted to sergeant. 'Sgt. Rose's career and his impact on others will never be forgotten,' Worthy said Thursday. 'This case continues to strongly illustrate the dangers that police officers face every minute of every day.' Durham's scheduled arraignment Thursday was postponed. He's due back in court in December. The Right-leaning Spectator magazine recently awarded Jeremy Corbyn its politician of the year accolade. It was well-deserved as 2017 has, so far, turned out to be a good year for the Labour leader. It had begun badly. In January, Theresa May enjoyed a commanding lead over him in the opinion polls. He was struggling to get the full support of his Parliamentary party, as many Labour MPs were convinced he could never lead them to victory in a general election. Voters have overlooked his befriending of extremists and crazy Marxist policies and warmed to him as a grandfatherly figure Even his closest supporters, who admired his principles and the way much of the countrys youth were attracted by his policies, never, in their hearts, believed he would ever become prime minister. Then came Mrs Mays decision to hold an election in June. In general, voters didnt want an election. Corbyn cleverly exploited this unhappiness, as well as highlighting divisions over the Governments Brexit strategy. Slowly, many began to warm to this grandfatherly figure. Overlooking his befriending of extremists and espousal of crazy Marxist policies, they favourably compared what they saw as his old-fashioned authenticity and principled bloody-mindedness with Mrs Mays rigidly-scripted, robotic and rather nervous performances. Even though Labour didnt win, the partys share of the vote increased by more than that achieved by any Labour leader since Clement Attlee shortly after World War II. To many, Corbyn was no longer a no-hoper with extreme views, he was seen as a potential prime minister. Today, though, I will stick my neck out and say that I believe Corbyns advance has stalled indeed, perhaps, irredeemably. The 68-year-old may have been the political success story of 2017 but I predict hell find next year a far more difficult challenge. Readers will know that I have often praised him in this column, in particular for his moral courage and shrewd judgment on foreign affairs. He was right about our misguided invasion of Iraq; right on Afghanistan and one of only 13 MPs to vote against the Cameron governments calamitous Libyan intervention. The Labour leader's blustering House of Commons response to the Chancellor Philip Hammond's budget was dire He has, however, proved much less sound on the domestic front. This week, we witnessed a turning point in the comparative fortunes of Labour and the Tories. Philip Hammonds Budget may not have been earth-shaking. But in contrast to his fiasco of a financial statement in the spring, it was a reminder that the Conservatives are still the party of economic responsibility. Corbyns blustering House of Commons response to the Chancellor was dire. In fairness, it is always hard for any leader of the Opposition to respond at a moments notice to a complicated financial package he or she has not seen in advance. Very much more troubling was the economically subliterate performance of Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. In his most egregious example of ineptness, he was exposed on Radio 4s Today programme for his ignorance of basic facts. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell failed to answer basic questions about the national debt He failed to answer kindergarten questions about the national debt, and with breathtaking arrogance and stupidity said he didnt need to know key economic figures because thats why we have iPads, and thats why I have advisers. The fact is that McDonnell is not merely ignorant of economics. He is a useless Shadow Chancellor. Labour will never be able to present itself as a credible government-in-waiting if it believes McDonnell can be trusted to be in charge of Britains finances. However, this leaves Corbyn with a huge problem. McDonnell is his closest political ally and friend. His son, Seb, is McDonnells chief of staff. Corbyns only hope is to be ruthless and sack his long-time comrade. But I doubt he has it in him. This isnt Corbyns only problem. Considering Mrs Mays troubles no Parliamentary majority, difficult Brexit negotiations, two recent Cabinet resignations, a struggling Chancellor etc it is surprising that the Tories and Labour are neck and neck in the opinion polls. Indeed, Mrs Mays personal rating is above Corbyns and, despite all her recent misfortunes, still attracts the support of around 40 per cent of voters. Corbyn ought to be doing far better. Whats more, there has been concrete proof in recent days that public sentiment is turning against Labour. In a council poll in Stroud, Gloucestershire, this week, for example, Labours share of the vote dropped six per cent while the Tories rose by eight per cent. I do not want to suggest that Corbyn is finished. Labour will never be able to present itself as a credible government-in-waiting if it believes McDonnell can be trusted with Britains finances but the shadow chancellor is Corbyn's closest political ally and friend He is still a cult figure among young people and many public sector workers and I understand why. To the economically naive those who have no collective memory of the nightmare that was Britain under Labour in the Seventies he represents a modern kind of straightforward conviction politics that is refreshing after two decades dominated by the cynical opportunism and PR gimmicks of David Cameron and Tony Blair. But time is running out for Corbyn. He will be in his early 70s by the time the next general election is due to be held. Furthermore, the Tories have a trick up their sleeve. I am sure that Mrs May will step down before that election, making way for a replacement from the younger generation. Political history shows that a new leader of a ruling party always brings a boost in the polls to their party. This happened with John Major in 1990, Gordon Brown in 2007 and Theresa May last year. Of course, unexpected events exposing Tory incompetence could yet propel Jeremy Corbyn into No 10. But his position is much weaker than it looks. This week we may have reached peak Corbyn. A terror suspect linked to Islamic State has wasted thousands of pounds of taxpayers money asking a judge to lift a ban on visits to McDonalds. The hate preacher a close associate of London Bridge attacker Khuram Butt said strict curbs on his movements meant he could not buy his children Happy Meals. The Muslim fanatic, known as LF, was eager to take them to McDonalds even though it does not serve halal meat. He went to court claiming the ban hampers his family life. One of the UKs most dangerous extremists, he was a colleague of firebrand cleric Anjem Choudary, who was convicted in August last year of inspiring British Muslims to carry out terror attacks. London Bridge attacker Khuram Butt, pictured, was a close associate of the Muslim fanatic LF who has wasted thousands of pounds in taxpayers money Cleric Anjem Choudary, pictured, was convicted in August last year of inspiring British Muslims to carry out terror attacks British spies say LF was a leading figure in the now banned terror group Al-Muhajiroun, which has links to 15 terror plots, including the 7/7 attacks. He is one of six people subject to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures orders, introduced in 2012 to restrict their movements, their use of computers and who they can meet. LF has squandered tens of thousands of pounds of public money challenging orders to relocate miles away from his home in east London and ban him from using the internet. He is understood to have been granted legal aid to fight his case, which has forced Home Secretary Amber Rudd to use Government lawyers to oppose it. Mrs Justice Elizabeth Laing reviewed the restrictions at a High Court hearing in London in July, where she heard evidence from a member of MI5. In a ruling published yesterday, she said: He is not allowed to go into shops or cafes with internet access, such as Debenhams or even McDonalds. One of his children loves Happy Meals, so this is an issue, as he will not be able to give the child a treat if he visits. But Mrs Justice Laing threw out his case, insisting the restrictions were plainly necessary and proportionate. She said: It would obviously be difficult to monitor or control LFs access to the internet in such a place. Unfettered access to the internet is vital to Al-Muhajirouns activities. Mrs Justice Laing said ministers had been entitled and right to decide that he had engaged in terrorism-related activity. The man, who has a wife and two young children, moved to the UK as a child. He gained A Levels and an apprenticeship but had not worked since 2012. A security services assessment said he was a senior leader of Al-Muhajiroun, and had radicalised vulnerable young people and encouraged them to join Islamic State. MI5 said LF and Butt one of three jihadists who murdered eight people in a van and knife rampage at London Bridge in June were likely to know one another. They were photographed standing behind a black flag with white Arabic writing on it in a London park. The High Court ruling is a boost to Mrs Rudd because the judge refused to water down the restrictions, which the Government says are crucial in the fight against terrorism. With scenes of stranded revellers cooking up a feast in a remote pub, the Waitrose Christmas advert is undeniably heartwarming. But it has also proved rather puzzling for locals as it is set more than 50 miles from the nearest store, where they cannot even get deliveries. Regulars at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire which at 1,732ft above sea level is Britain's highest pub claim that Waitrose 'should have checked their facts'. Regulars at the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire (pictured) which at 1,732ft above sea level is Britain's highest pub claim that Waitrose 'should have checked their facts'. The supermarket's new advert features the pub, but the nearest branch is over 50 miles away The advert is inspired by real events which took place in the New Year of 2010, when 30 guests were snowed in for three days. It shows drinkers, on finding the door blocked by a snow drift, pulling Waitrose supplies out of the cupboards to whip up an entire Christmas banquet. Louise Taylor, who lives in the same DL11 postcode, posted on the store's Facebook page: 'It's a great Christmas advert. However, I am a little puzzled as to how Waitrose got the supplies to the Tan Hill Inn. The advert (pictured) is inspired by real events which took place in the New Year of 2010, when 30 guests were snowed in for three days. It shows drinkers, on finding the door blocked by a snow drift, pulling Waitrose supplies out of the cupboards to whip up an entire Christmas banquet 'We are in the same postcode area and are unable to receive Waitrose deliveries. Does this mean you'll soon be expanding your delivery area?' Chris Howarth, 63, who lives in the nearby village of Reeth, added: 'I used to shop at Waitrose but since I moved here in 2009 I haven't. It's too far away.' A Waitrose spokesman said: 'While the nearest Waitrose is an hour away, many of our customers go the extra mile to ensure their Christmas celebrations are special.' Police officers are letting suspects walk free as they are unwilling to make hour-long journeys to the nearest custody suite, officials have warned. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said the distances now being travelled to bring in suspects is deterring front-line officers from making arrests. Custody suites have fallen by half since 2010 leading to officers increasingly letting suspects go and hoping for the best'. Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation, has warned officers are letting suspects walk free as they are unwilling to make hour-long journeys to the nearest custody suite The number of arrests has dropped from 1.5million in 2008 to just 780,000 from March 2008 to March 2017. Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation, said the decrease reflects a changing mind-set on the force as more policemen are letting suspects off with a warning. There has been a change in the mindset of many officers not to arrest unless they absolutely have to, he told the Telegraph. What is going through their mind is that this person needs arresting, but there is no one left on the ground, is there going to be something else more pressing that I might have to deal with? So what they are doing is letting someone off with a warning and hoping for the best. Hoping for the best that person does not go on to do something terrible. There is only one custody suite to cover the whole of Gloucestershire, while Nottinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Wiltshire have just two each. Custody suites have fallen by half since 2010 leading to officers increasingly letting suspects go and hoping for the best' (file picture) Some Wiltshire police officers complain of having to take suspects from Salisbury to Melksham, the nearest custody suite. They say the 30-mile journey takes an hour each way, a similar travel time for Somerset police taking suspects from Yeovil to the Bridgewater cells. The Police Federation also claim two custody suites could be scrapped by Sussex Police, which may lead to hour-long journeys for officers in the county. Even though the number of custody suites has dropped over the last seven years, Essex Police are considering reopening one in Basildon. Gone are the days when an advent calendar was a piece of flimsy card with tiny windows that opened to reveal a picture of a snowman or a thumbnail-sized chocolate. Now, calendars are elaborately designed boxes stuffed with expensive beauty products, wine and even stationery. They are staggeringly big business and can cost tens or even hundreds of pounds. But just what are you getting for that rather substantial price? While some calendars boast contents worth far more than their cost, recently a lifestyle advent calendar created by YouTube star Zoella came under fire from parents of her young fans, who claimed the contents werent worth the hefty 50 tag. Some outlets have since reduced it to 25. So, if you want style and substance, which calendar should you buy? JENNY WOOD rounded up some of the most popular, peeked inside and worked out what the contents are really worth . . . For the well-groomed man Packaged in a huge, brown book-fold box, Mankinds calendar (mankind.co.uk) has 25 pull-out drawers with a selection of full-sized mens grooming products Packaged in a huge, brown book-fold box, Mankinds calendar (mankind.co.uk)has 25 pull-out drawers with a selection of full-sized mens grooming products, from shower gels, face washes and shaving solutions to deodorant, eye serum and a fancy double-edged razor. The price tag may seem steep, but with the contents ranging from 5.50 (for a tube of cinnamon and mint toothpaste) to an impressive 98 (for a hyaluronic acid face and eye night cream), it represents a surprising 400 saving on buying everything individually. Cost: 250 Worth: 650 Looks: 5/5 Value: 5/5 For beauty bliss The priciest of the Body Shops three advent offerings this year, this ultimate advent calendar is also the best value, containing full-sized products The priciest of the Body Shops three advent offerings this year, this ultimate advent calendar is also the best value, containing full-sized products. The enormous pink, red and gold calendar opens up to reveal 25 boxes with goodies such as Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask (17), Vitamin E Day and Night creams (14 each), and Matte Lip Liquid (6). The final box contains a special wooden dice, plus instructions for how to transform the calendar into a family trivia quiz game. Cost: 99 Worth: 214 Looks: 5/5 Value: 5/5 For a houseful of treats Marks and Spencer's calendar sells out every year, and its easy to see why. A house-shaped exterior opens to reveal 24 smaller boxes Marks and Spencer's calendar sells out every year, and its easy to see why. A house-shaped exterior opens to reveal 24 smaller boxes which you could keep and re-use. The contents include mini and full-sized treats from M&Ss range and other brands, such as an M&S Formula Absolute Sleep Cream worth 6.60 and a Leighton Denny nail polish worth 12. The roof of the house opens to reveal a spotty make-up bag on Christmas Day. Cost: 35 Worth: 250 Looks: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Top-drawer toileteries Inside this calendars red and green boxes are 24 generously sized Molton Brown favourites Inside this calendars red and green boxes are 24 generously sized Molton Brown (molton brown.co.uk) favourites including nine 50ml body washes (worth around 5 each), two candles (worth more than 10 each), and two 50ml eau de toilette fragrances (45 each). Cost: 165 Worth: 256 Looks: 5/5 Value: 5/5 For chocs you can share This minimalist white box from Hotel Chocolat has 24 tear-off windows that each reveal a pair of mini chocolate truffles one for you, one for your partner This minimalist white box from HOTEL CHOCOLAT has 24 tear-off windows that each reveal a pair of mini chocolate truffles one for you, one for your partner. The chocolates are good quality, in festive flavours that include gingerbread praline, clementine and Madagascan vanilla. The contents weigh 300g but the same weight in full-sized truffles would cost just 16.92, so in essence youre paying extra for the novelty sizes and packaging. Then again, maybe rationing your festive sweet treats over 24 days is actually quite a sensible idea . . . Cost: 26 Worth: 17 Looks: 3/5 Value: 2/5 For scent fiends Decorated like a chic London townhouse, this calendar contains 24 mini Jo Malone candles, colognes and bath oils Decorated like a chic London townhouse, this calendar contains 24 mini Jo Malone (jomalone.co.uk) candles, colognes and bath oils. If you work out the price of each product per millilitre or gram, the value of the calendars contents by volume is around 188 far less than the 300 price tag. But with the calendar you get to try more products. Cost: 300 Worth: 188 Looks: 5/5 Value: 2/5 For manicure maniacs A pot of Ciate nail polish costs 6 on the brands website and this calendar contains 22, making it a steal A pot of Ciate nail polish costs 6 on the brands website (ciatelondon.com) and this calendar contains 22, making it a steal. For the remaining days of advent, theres a nail file and pot of nail glitter, plus a large 13.5ml nail polish in a festive sparkly gold and pink shade (12 on the website). Cost: 35 Worth: 144 Looks: 4/5 Value: 5/5 For sparkling socialites This calendar from The Pip Stop has 24 200ml bottles of prosecco, cava, sparkling wine and champagne This calendar from THE PIP STOP (thepipstop.co.uk) has 24 200ml bottles of prosecco, cava, sparkling wine and champagne. Most arent usually available in small sizes, so its difficult to estimate their value. I work it out based on the price by volume of full-sized bottles, and find the contents are worth just over 78. Not an amazing deal, but it is a fun way of tasting a variety of fizz without shelling out huge sums. For example, a full-sized 750ml bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne would cost around 25.95, so this 200ml version is the equivalent of 6.92 by volume. Cost: 125 Worth: 79 Looks: 1/5 Value: 3/5 For preening teens This calendar from Superdrug may not look fancy but its filled with 24 full-sized, decent-quality products This calendar from SUPERDRUG may not look fancy but its filled with 24 full-sized, decent-quality products. There are lipsticks and glosses, a set of travel make-up brushes worth 4.95, highlighters, plus an eyeshadow primer, bronzer, travel mirror and a pretty palette containing 12 matte and shimmer eyeshadows worth 6. Now reduced to 30, its a great deal and perfect for any beauty-obsessed teen. Cost: 79 Worth: 50 Looks: 2/5 Value: 5/5 For mums to de-stress This classy box from Diptyque has 15 half-size candles This classy box from DIPTYQUE (selfridges.com) has 15 half-size candles. A full-size one costs 24, so I estimate these at 12. Then theres one full-sized candle (28), seven 10ml fragrances (100ml for 100, so 10 each), a body polish and facial oil (27.37). Cost: 300 Worth: 293 Looks: 4/5 Value: 4/5 For fans of perfumed potions Open these 24 windows to find great-smelling mini LOccitane products Open these 24 windows to find great-smelling mini LOccitane (uk.loccitane.com) products. A 250ml full-size shower gel is 16, so the mini 35ml version is worth 2.24). Cost: 49 Worth: 87 Looks: 4/5 Value: 5/5 For wine buffs A huge red cardboard box from Virgin Wines weighing over 11kg A huge red cardboard box from VIRGIN WINES (virginwines.co.uk) weighing over 11kg. Each door reveals a 187ml or 200ml bottle of red, white, rose or sparkling wine. Many arent available in small sizes, so I apply the price-per-ml of a full-size bottle to these. Theres a decent, if moderate, saving. Cost: 80 Worth: 94 Looks: 1/5 Value: 4/5 For connoisseurs of gin Gin kiosk's modestly sized box contains craft gins in 30ml bottles the equivalent of one shot Gin kiosk's (ginkiosk.com) modestly sized box contains craft gins in 30ml bottles the equivalent of one shot. Again, I work out the price-per-ml of a full-size bottle, and find the gin in this is worth around 37. But then, in a bar you could pay anything from 2 to 8 for each shot. Cost: 125 Worth: 37 Looks: 2/5 Value: 2/5 For make-up addicts This offering from Amazon comes in a fun dispenser when you pull out one of the boxes, the next drops into place for the next day This offering from AMAZON (amazon.co.uk) comes in a fun dispenser when you pull out one of the boxes, the next drops into place for the next day. Almost everything is full-sized, and from a well-known brand. The final box contains a Rimmel palette with eyeshadows in eight neutral shades worth 6.24. A good deal for beautyholics. Cost: 50 Worth: 185 Looks: 3/5 Value: 5/5 A 19-year-old woman who died alongside two friends after the car she was driving hit a tree was just days away from celebrating her birthday, police say. The young woman, and her passengers, a 17-year-old boy and 36-year-old man, all from Lakes Entrance in Victoria were just five kilometres from town when their car crashed at 2.15 on Saturday morning. In an emotional press conference Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer revealed all three of the young people killed in the crash were a part of the small coastal community. 'Weve got three young lives lots and we have got the entire community of Lakes Entrance that are now devastated,' he said. The crash occurred on Colquhoun Road in Lakes Entrance just after 2am Three people have been killed after the car they were travelling slammed into a tree overnight The woman's birthday on Monday should have been a celebration but will now be a day of mourning. 'She was due to have 19th birthday on Monday it is a birthday that will never be celebrated and a day that will be mourned by the community,' AC Fryer said. The three young victims were well known in the community, including to the emergency service crews who attended the crash. 'Country roads are far more dangerous than metro roads,' AC Fryer said as he urged the community to drive to the conditions. Police remain on the small country road where the deadly crashed occurred and believe speed could be a factor. 'Here we have three young people dead, we have three young people dead who have wrapped themselves around a tree and speed will clearly be a determining factor,' AC Fryer said. Just hours after the horror crash another two lives were lost after a head on collision in the state's west. There have been 221 lives lost on Victorian roads this year. Sources say the White House perceives Tillerson not sending any senior level State Department officials as a slight The Summit, held next week, is put on by the state department and has often been attended by the Secretary of State in years past Secretary of State Rex Tillerson won't be sending senior staffers along with Ivanka Trump to India for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit Ivanka Trump is gearing up for a major moment on the world stage, headlining the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India next week- but she won't have the support of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. According to CNN, Tillerson won't be sending high-level delegation to India to support her, even though the Summit is put on by the State Department, amid reported tensions between Tillerson and the White House. 'Rex doesn't like the fact that he's supposed to be our nation's top diplomat, and Jared and now Ivanka have stepped all over Rex Tillerson for a long time,' a source close to the White House told CNN. 'So now, he's not sending senior people from the State Department to support this issue. He's not supporting Ivanka Trump.' Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) will not be sending senior State Department officials along with Ivana Trump for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit The noticeably lighter than years past State Department delegation at the Summit is being perceived by the White House as a slight by Tillerson, and, it's causing further friction in an already shaky alignment. 'They (Tillerson and his staff) won't send someone senior because they don't want to bolster Ivanka. It's now another rift between the White House and State at a time when Rex Tillerson doesn't need any more problems with the President,' the a senior State Department official told CNN. 'No one higher than the deputy assistant secretary is allowed to participate. The secretary and his top staff have insisted on approving all travel-- even the most minute details,' the official added. In year's past Secretary of State John Kerry and even President Barack Obama attended multiple times. Last year's summit was in California's Silicon Valley and was attended by included Secretary of State Kerry, a State Department undersecretary and other staff. President Obama attended with a large delegation when it was held in Kenya in 2015, as did Kerry when it was in Malaysia in 2013. Jared Kushner is also rumored to have struck a nerve with Tillerson, who sources say feel like both Jared and Ivana have 'stepped all over him' This year's summit, however, comes just as the White House has directed Secretary Tillerson to slash his agency's budget, though the sources tell CNN the budget slashing isn't part of the reason behind not sending senior State Department officials. Trump was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, and this year's theme is supporting women entrepreneurs. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told CNN that: 'The Department is committed to supporting women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, and the Summit is a prime opportunity to showcase the importance of these themes.' Two inmates who took two correctional officers hostage in an Arkansas prison were subdued by law enforcement agents, it was learned on Friday. The incident took place early Friday evening at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker. Two convicts incarcerated at the facility took the two correctional officers hostage. The incident took place early Friday evening at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker, Arkansas (seen above) Courtesy: KARK A spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Correction said that at about 7pm on Friday, the officers were freed. They suffered lacerations and bruising, according to ArkansasMatters.com. Officials said that the hostage situation ended thanks to the use of force. The two inmates and the two correctional officers were taken to hospital for treatment. This is a developing story. Australian banknotes are considered some of the most secure in the world. And that's certainly the case with the $10 bill, which was given an elaborate upgrade on September 20 with a rolling colour effect when you tilt it, a flying cockatoo which changes colour and two raised bumps on either end of the note to help the visually impaired. Many of the old features on the iconic note remained the same after the revamp, including the inclusion of Dame Mary Gilmore and AB 'Banjo' Paterson. Scroll down for video Many of the old features on the iconic note remained the same after the revamp, including the inclusion of Dame Mary Gilmore and AB 'Banjo' Paterson (pictured) But what many people don't know is there are excerpts of Paterson's 'The Man From Snowy River' written on it, hidden behind the artist's impression of the Aussie writers. In a micro-sized font, which isn't easily read by the naked eye, one can make out the start of the poem: 'There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around. That the colt from old regret had got away, and had joined the wild bush horses he was worth a thousand pound, so all the cracks had gathered to the fray.' Some of the reason this has gone undetected for so long may be because of its size - with a microscope or similar equipment needed to read it. Some of the reason this has gone undetected for so long may be because of its size - with a microscope or similar equipment needed to read it In a micro-sized font, which isn't easily read by the naked eye, one can make out the start of the poem (right) 'You've got to admit, our money is a work of art. Every little detail that they put into it, truly is amazing,' a Reddit commenter wrote. But Paterson isn't the only represented artist on the note. Beside the impression of Mary Gilmore are excerpts from her work 'No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest', which was written in 1940. 'You've got to admit, our money is a work of art. Every little detail that they put into it, truly is amazing,' a Reddit commenter wrote The bill continues its theme of outback Australia with a wattle branch printed with fluorescent ink - making it only visible under UV light. There is also a horseman from the era of Paterson's writing - although the old note had the words 'Waltzing Matilda' emblazoned across it, the latest one doesn't. While there was some uproar when the reprinted $5 note first came into circulation, Australians overall seem impressed by the colour and features on the $10 variant. Global online store Amazon is set to finally open up shop in Australia next week, and shoppers have been giving local retailers good reason to be shaking in their boots. Rallying their support behind the international store, Australians have taken aim at major local chains - saying they've been getting 'ripped off' for far too long. With shoppers hoping for better customer service, faster delivery and a wider range of options, it seems Amazon couldn't arrive Down Under any sooner. Australians have blasted local major chains online ahead of Amazon's official launch next week Future Amazon shoppers have been giving local retailers good reason to be shaking in their boots Australians have taken aim at major local chains - saying they've been getting 'ripped off' for far too long Future customers have taken to Twitter to pledge their allegiance to the online store, openly admitting to their plans to one day boycott Australian giants for good. 'So glad that @amazon is coming to Australia time to show the likes of Harvey Norman and others that we are sick of your crap!! #REVOLUTION,' one impassioned social media announced. 'I'm hoping that @amazon's launch in Australia will totally decimate Harvey Norman and Gerry's Harvey's refusable to adapt his business model. I won't support a store that lobbied for a sales tax on internet purchases - I'm looking at you Gerry!.' '@BaramulStud (Gerry Harvey) still dangerously out of touch with reality of what shoppers want and what is already a reality for millions in the US get from Amazon, much better service than any retailer I've dealt with in Australia and fast delivery! #amazon #retail.' Several Twitter users took aim at Harvey Norman for being 'out of touch' with its customers Hundreds have taken to Twitter to pledge their allegiance to Amazon and voice how unimpressed they are with Australian retailers Another echoed similar thoughts and couldn't wait to splash their cash on a reliable delivery service. 'Hoping #amazonaustralia improves customer service here. #target took 10 days to deliver an item - just 6km from Brisbane CBD.' Plenty more chimed in, some claiming to have already witnessed Amazon's effect on the Australian market. 'Already seeing impact of having Amazon in Australia. Other retailers are being forced to up their game to remain competitive. This is a good thing.' Some claimed to have already witnessed Amazon's effect on the Australian market, slamming retailers for being a 'rip off' 'Large Australian chains/retailers without modern online strategies sulking about the incumbent launch of @amazon in our country is laughable, youve had ample time to be prepare . Seems reminiscent of the taxi industry complaining when @Uber came into the market #amazonaustralia.' Others haven't been fooled by changes in local retailer trends, with some waiting patiently for the competition to drive down prices and raise service standards. 'I love seeing what all the big australia company's are doing to take on amazon lmfao.' 'Let the #retail games begin. It's time to beat #market monopolies in #Australia. Competition can only be good for the #Customer. Welcome @amazon.' Many Australians have been waiting patiently for the competition to drive down prices and raise service standards When Amazon officially launches its Australian website next week, major electric appliance, clothing and cosmetic retailers could be in for a shock. The global e-commerce behemoth is predicted to snatch a large chunk of the retail business from Australian giants Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi, David Jones and Myer - after it's 'soft launch' on Friday. At least 60% of Amazon's revenue is expected to be made up by electronics, clothing and cosmetics by 2023, and the company is expected to significantly 'accelerate' Australia's online shopping market, new UBS research revealed. At least 60% of Amazon's revenue is expected to be made up by electronics, clothing and cosmetics by 2023, USB research revealed The global e-commerce behemoth is predicted to snatch a large chunk of clothing and shoe business from Australian stores like Myer and David Jones The financial services company revealed more than half of surveyed Australian shoppers would be spending their money on Amazon, as a desire for more - and better quality - online stores still exist. More than 40% said they'd ramp up their online spending once Amazon's full website was in action, despite small volumes and limited amounts of product expected to be available initially. While most still prefer an in-store experience over buying online, particularly when wanting to touch a product or seek advice, Amazon will likely accelerate Australia's major shift to online shopping - much like it did in Italy, Spain and Mexico. Not all is lost for Australian stores however, with analysts reporting a huge drop in market share of international online stores in recent times when local retailers amped up their online presence. At least 60% of Amazon's revenue is expected to be made up by electronics, clothing and cosmetics by 2023 USB research revealed While most still prefer an in-store experience over buying online, Amazon will likely accelerate Australia's major shift to online shopping Amazon is expected to significantly 'accelerate' Australia's online shopping market Stores like Baby Bunting, Supercheap Auto and the big supermarket chains are among those expected to dodge Amazon's disturbance to Australian business. While shoppers are still expected to swarm to large malls long into the future, high-street and boutique retailers have a grim path ahead, UBS says. UBS also predicts the global company will encourage shoppers to price check online before heading in-store, creating a sense of 'customer empowerment', Sydney Morning Herald reports. Stores like JB Hi-Fi (pictured) have tough times ahead, with Amazon expected to cause serious disruption to its business with customers predicted to chase bargains with the global giant Major electric appliance retailers, like Harvey Norman (pictured) could be in for a very rude shock when Amazon launches in Australia next week Supercheap Auto is clear of the wrecking ball heading towards Australian business in the face of Amazon's launch While Amazon Australia's launch was predicted to be the 'biggest shake-up in retail in a generation' - customers were faced with mark-ups of almost 1000% during its 'soft launch' on Friday. Tech products were on sale for prices up to ten times more than local retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman. Logitech surround sound speakers were being sold by Amazon for $504, while the same speakers could be bought for $369 at Kogan or $397 at Harvey Norman. Baby Bunting is also clear form destruction, with shoppers still likely to make baby-related purchases in-store Amazon Australia's launch was predicted to be the 'biggest shake-up in retail in a generation' - but instead customers were faced with mark-ups of almost 1000% Logitech surround sound speakers were being sold by Amazon for $504, while the same speakers could be bought for $369 at Kogan or $397 at Harvey Norman The biggest mark-up appeared to be a laptop bag made by software company HP, which Amazon had on sale for $267 compared to JB Hi-Fi's $29.95. While the Olympus Tough TG5 camera was marketed as $796 by the online giant, despite retailing for just $598 at Harvey Norman. Analysts from Deutsche Bank said Amazon's soft launch would 'undoubtedly have been disappointing' and confusing for customers expecting a full catalogue. 'Entire categories such as televisions, mobile phones, and grocery segments such as hair-care were missing,' analysts for the bank wrote, reported Business Insider. While the Olympus Tough TG5 camera was marketed as $796 by the online giant, despite retailing for just $598 at Harvey Norman The biggest mark-up appeared to be a laptop bag made by software company HP, which Amazon had on sale for $267 compared to JB Hi-Fi's $29.95 'Searches for Apple products such as iPhones, or Sony does not produce the hardware results we intended (the results would mostly be books). Indeed, we observed a number of anomalies on Amazon's Australian website.' However, Amazon managed to out-price their competitors with some items, including a $1,289 Yamaha surround sound bar that was $200 cheaper than Harvey Norman's offering. And while the Brother PT-E110VP label printer was more expensive than the same one offered at Officeworks, an Epson Workforce printer was 21 per cent cheaper. Amazon Australia Price Comparison Item Amazon JB Hi-Fi Harvey Norman Officeworks Alternative Retailer Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z906 $504.47 $399.00 $397.00 $478.00 $369.00 Olympus Tough TG5 Camera $796.13 599.00 $598.00 N/A $599.95 Epson Workforce WF-2750 Printer $150.22 $128.00 $178.00 N/A $182.25 Yamaha Sound Bar YSP-2700 $1,289.00 N/A $1,496.00 N/A $1,399.00 HP Value Top Load Laptop Bag $267.95 $29.95 N/A N/A $40.90 Brother PT-E110VP Label Printer $103.25 N/A N/A $99.00 $86.93 Source: Business Insider Amazon did manage to out-price their competitors with some items, such as a $1,289 Yamaha surround sound bar that was $200 cheaper than Harvey Norman's offering The 'soft launch' of Amazon Australia began with promises the marketplace giant would forever change the face of shopping in this country. The 'internal testing phase' was limited to a small number of customers who were able to order from the local site, with the full launch expected on Friday. Despite the hype, Amazon Australia's website still looked the same on Friday afternoon as it has in recent years. The home screen remained as the Kindle book store, with avid buyers unable to access the new products. Australia's top Airbnb earner raked in $5.3 million in the past year, renting out 247 properties in Sydney. Top Australian hosts are earning far more than loose change for listing their spare room, apartment or house on popular accommodation site, new figures reveal. The top 10 Airbnb hosts or property managers nationwide made between $2 and $5.3 million in the year to October 2017 across multiple listings. The figures show the top earner in Australia was an unnamed host or property management company in Sydney. Australia's top Airbnb earner raked in $5.3 million in the past year, renting out 247 properties in Sydney (pictured is an Airbnb property in Sydney) Top Australian hosts are earning far more than loose change for listing their spare room, apartment or house on popular accommodation site, new figures reveal (pictured is an Airbnb property in Sydney) The top 10 Airbnb hosts or property managers nationwide made between $2 and $5.3 million in the year to October 2017 across multiple listings (pictured is an Airbnb property in Sydney) The figures show the top earner in Australia was an unnamed host or property management company in Sydney (pictured is an Airbnb property in Sydney) Their staggering $5.3 million total revenue came from 247 properties. Seven of the top earning hosts in the past year were in New South Wales. Operators in Wingecarribee and Wyong pulled in $4 million across a portfolio of 97 and 168 properties respectively, and a host near Byron Bay took in $3.7 million across 40 properties. The average Airbnb host in Sydney makes $11,150 per listing annually. In Melbourne, an operator made $3.7 million across 158 listings, while in Colac Otway someone made $3.5 million across 80 properties. Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia (pictured) argues it's a 'misconception' that the sharing platform involves property groups renting out entire apartments full-time In Melbourne, an operator made $3.7 million across 158 listings, while in Colac Otway someone made $3.5 million across 80 properties (pictured is an Airbnb property in Brisbane) The figures come from AirDNA, which is a company that crunches the numbers based on data from Airbnb (pictured is an Airbnb property in Sydney) The figures come from AirDNA, which is a company that crunches the numbers based on data from Airbnb. AirDNA chief executive Scott Shatford says Airbnb is increasingly becoming the domain of property management companies, despite starting out as a platform for individuals to share a spare room, apartment or house. But Airbnb Australia manager Sam McDonagh insists two-thirds of the listings are still people sharing the home they live in. 'We do know there are of course the professional property managers and traditional hospitality, like bed and breakfasts, that have always operated and are now listing on Airbnb,' he said. But Airbnb Australia manager Sam McDonagh insists two-thirds of the listings are still people sharing the home they live in (pictured is an Airbnb property in Sydney) Mr McDonagh said so-called 'next generation property managers' were generally managing people's homes (pictured is an Airbnb property in Canberra) Mr McDonagh said that ultimately 'market dynamics' would determine the success or failure of big operators (pictured is an Airbnb property in Adelaide) Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia argues it's a 'misconception' that the sharing platform involves property groups renting out entire apartments full-time (pictured is an Airbnb property in Adelaide) Acknowledging Airbnb needed to do a better job of categorising listings, Mr McDonagh said so-called 'next generation property managers' were generally managing people's homes. They took some of the work out of being a host by, for example, providing linen and cleaning services. 'We see that as certainly growing in popularity,' he said. Mr McDonagh said that ultimately 'market dynamics' would determine the success or failure of big operators. In cities around the world, the popularity of Airbnb has led some policymakers to argue the website is adding to housing affordability crises (pictured is an Airbnb property in Melbourne) State and territory governments in Australia are scrambling to regulate the booming short-term holiday letting industry (pictured is an Airbnb property in Melbourne) NSW has more than 40,000 Airbnb listings - with 25,000 in Sydney alone - but is yet to pass specific laws governing rentals (pictured is an Airbnb property in Melbourne) 'We're ambivalent in terms of whether someone has one property or five properties - if they're a great host and they're serving the community then we're supportive of that.' Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia argues it's a 'misconception' that the sharing platform involves property groups renting out entire apartments full-time. 'When we go city by city, country by country, our hosts are everyday average people,' he said in Sydney this week. In cities around the world, the popularity of Airbnb has led some policymakers to argue the website is adding to housing affordability crises, by transforming residential properties into tourist accommodation. NSW Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean says a parliamentary inquiry should help 'get the balance right' (pictured is an Airbnb property in Perth) A recent Deloitte Access Economics report found Airbnb guests were contributing $1.6 billion to the Australian economy and supporting over 14,000 jobs (pictured is an Airbnb property in Adelaide) State and territory governments in Australia are scrambling to regulate the booming short-term holiday letting industry. NSW has more than 40,000 Airbnb listings - with 25,000 in Sydney alone - but is yet to pass specific laws governing rentals. Instead, they're left to local councils to regulate. NSW Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean says a parliamentary inquiry should help 'get the balance right'. A Sydney host who has happily let out two modest properties for years on Airbnb is shocked a fellow operator is earning a huge $5.3 million annually across 247 listings (pictured is an Airbnb property in Canberra) 'I'm not sure how that's even happening to be honest - how do they own that many properties,' said Noa Peer (pictured is an Airbnb property in Adelaide) 'We don't want a holiday accommodation market that's so over-regulated it puts people off coming here, but people are also entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their homes,' he said in a statement. A recent Deloitte Access Economics report found Airbnb guests were contributing $1.6 billion to the Australian economy and supporting over 14,000 jobs. It found hosts across the country earned a median income of $4920 in 2015/16. AIRBNB TOP EARNERS AUSTRALIA TOP EARNERS IN NSW Sydney - $5.3 million across 247 properties Wingecarribee - $4 million across 97 properties Wyong - $4 million across 168 properties Byron Bay - $3.7 million across 40 properties. NSW hosts accommodated 742,800 guests for 1.4 million nights in 2015/16 TOP EARNERS IN VICTORIA Melbourne - $3.7 million across 158 properties Colac Otway - $3.5 million across 80 properties Surf Coast - $2.7 million across 187 properties Hepburn - $2.6 million across 61 properties. Victorian hosts accommodated 651,600 guests for 1.1 million nights in 2015/16 TOP EARNERS IN QUEENSLAND Douglas - $2.8 million across 44 properties Cairns - $2.5 million across 52 properties Sunshine Coast - $2.4 million across 51 properties Gold Coast - $1.3 million across 37 properties Queensland hosts accommodated 343,800 guests for 586,700 nights in 2015/16 TOP EARNERS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA Barossa - $692,512 across 27 properties Victor Harbour - $611,000 across 32 properties Adelaide - $606,000 across 16 properties Holdfast Bay - $327,000 across 12 properties South Australian hosts accommodated 64,100 guests for 109,000 nights in 2015/16 TOP EARNERS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Brusselton - $1.45 million across 50 properties Perth - $1 million across 40 properties Augusta-Margaret River - $796,700 across 21 properties Mandurah - $564,151 across 33 properties West Australian hosts accommodated 171,500 guests for 292,900 nights in 2015/16 TOP EARNERS IN TASMANIA West Tamar - $267,000 across 12 properties Hobart - $265,000 across two properties Huon Valley - $256,000 across two properties Launceston - $180,000 across seven properties Tasmanian hosts accommodated 124,500 guests for 126,300 nights in 2015/16 TOP EARNERS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Darwin - $378,000 across eight properties Northern Territory hosts accommodated 8800 guests for 18,000 nights TOP EARNER IN THE ACT Canberra - $334,000 across six properties ACT hosts accommodated 20,000 guests for 47,300 nights Source: AirDNA and Deloitte Access Economic report for Airbnb 2017 Advertisement A Sydney host who has happily let out two modest properties for years on Airbnb is shocked a fellow operator is earning a huge $5.3 million annually across 247 listings. 'I'm not sure how that's even happening to be honest - how do they own that many properties,' said Noa Peer who has two one-bedroom Surry Hills apartments listed on Airbnb. Ms Peer and her partner have listed their two properties for between $116 and $160 a night for nearly three years and say Airbnb makes them more money than having fixed tenants. Ms Peer and her partner have listed their two properties for between $116 and $160 a night for nearly three years and say Airbnb makes them more money than having fixed tenants (pictured is an Airbnb property in Perth) Ms Peer and her partner initially only rented out their properties on weekends but demand grew fast (pictured is an Airbnb property in Perth) She noted the average annual takings for each of the 247 listings operated by the country's top earner in Sydney 'wasn't that high' once you broke down the numbers (pictured is an Airbnb property in Brisbane) She was initially drawn to the personalised approach of the accommodation website and is surprised it's increasingly being used by what Airbnb terms 'next generation property managers'. Ms Peer and her partner initially only rented out their properties on weekends but demand grew fast. She noted the average annual takings for each of the 247 listings operated by the country's top earner in Sydney 'wasn't that high' once you broke down the numbers. 'It's not heaps of money - about $21,000 a property,' she said. The small-time operator also questioned whether the bigger players on Airbnb were able to offer the level of personalised service she prides herself on. A Florida police department is using horse patrols in a neighborhood thats been plagued by homicides in recent weeks. Officials in Tampa have been searching for the person - or people - responsible for shooting and killing four in the Seminole Heights neighborhood since October 9. Police have said the shootings have happened with in close proximity of each other, arent robberies and could be the work of a serial killer. The homicides have left residents scared and city officials frustrated because there hasnt been an arrest, despite a reward of more than $100,000 for information to help solve the case. The department has received some 1,100 tips. Tampa police released new footage on Wednesday, showing the man wanted for last Tuesday's murder of Ronald Felton. The video shows the suspect just moments before the 5am shooting The mounted horse patrols in the neighborhood will begin Friday and extend through the weekend. Last week, Tampa police released new video of man they believe is behind the murders. Cops shared the new footage of a the suspect stalking the streets after a 60-year-old man was shot to death early Tuesday morning in the murder-plagued neighborhood. Police in Florida have all but confirmed that the man responsible for killing Ronald Felton this week is also the same man who killed three people in a 10-day span last month. Ronald Felton, 60, has been identified as the victim of last Tuesday's shooting. He was on his way to volunteer with the homeless when the suspect came up behind him and shot him dead Police Chief Brian Dugan says they haven't been able to connect all four murders to one suspect yet, but they believe the suspect of last Tuesday's shooting was at least responsible for the first murder on October 9 as well. 'We cant say this person has done all of the homicides,' Dugan said. 'But we are pretty convinced this person has committed at least two of them.' On Wednesday, police released a video showing surveillance footage of the suspect in the first and fourth shootings. They show a man of a similar build and gait, walking around the neighborhood with his hood pulled up. 'That's why we're convinced, when you look at the (clothes) they way the person walks....we think that's our suspect,' Dugan said. Police finally have a profile of the suspect. He's described as a thin black male who is about 6' to 6'2" tall, with a light complexion. Investigators believe that the suspect lives in the neighborhood, a working-class district that has been gentrifying. Police ask asking anyone with information about a possible suspect to come forward. The reward for information leading to the killer's arrest has been raised to $91,000 thanks to funds donated from the FBI. They also asked residents to check their gun safes to make sure their guns were accounted for, on the chance that a loved one is the killer and has been using one of their weapons. Law enforcement briefly placed the neighborhood on lockdown while they searched for the suspect The suspect is believed to live in the neighborhood, a working-class district that has been gentrifying The map above shows where the four shootings have taken place in the neighborhood Police have also ordered residents to keep their porch lights on between the hours of 6pm and 6am, since the killer strikes under the cover of darkness. The most recent attack happened on Tuesday, at 4:51am. Ronald Felton was gunned down as he crossed the street on the way to feed the homeless at a local church. Police said the victim, a construction worker and father of three adult children, was crossing at Nebraska and Wilder when a man dressed in all black came up behind him and shot him. His murder, in the city's Seminole Heights neighborhood, is close to where three other people were murdered in apparently random shootings. Benjamin Mitchell became the first victim on October 9, when he was shot dead after getting off a bus in the neighborhood at night. Two days after Mitchell, 22, was shot, Monica Hoffa, 32, was gunned down. And on October 19, Anthony Naiboa, 20, was shot after taking the wrong bus home from his new job. Police patrolling nearby heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene to find Naiboa dead. Two days later, Monica Hoffa (left) was also shot after getting off a bus. On October 22, Anthony Naiboa, 20 (right), was shot after taking the wrong bus home from his new job Steve Smith has shared an emotional moment with fiancee Danielle Willis after scoring his 21st Test century. The Australian captain raised his bat in a touching salute to Ms Willis, who accepted his New York City observation deck proposal in June. Ms Willis joined the rest of the Gabba crowd in giving Smith a standing ovation as his batting heroics kept Australia alive in the first Ashes Test of the summer. Scroll down for video Steve Smith (pictured, left) has shared an emotional moment with fiancee Danielle Willis (pictured, right) after scoring his 21st Test century The Australian captain (pictured) raised his bat in a touching salute to Ms Willis, who accepted his New York City observation deck proposal in June Smith was visibly pumped up as he celebrated the milestone, beating the coat of arms badge on his chest. The gritty hundred - made from 261 balls - was his slowest of all time, and the slowest by an Australian against England since David Boon took 284 balls in 1993. Smith's masterful knock took Australia's total to 287 for eight by tea on day three, putting the home side within reach of England's first innings 302. The century was Smith's 13th as Test captain, and came in his 105th innings, making him the third fastest to 21 after Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar. Ms Willis (pictured) joined the rest of the Gabba crowd in giving Smith a standing ovation as his batting heroics kept Australia alive in the first Ashes Test of the summer Smith (pictured) was visibly pumped up as he celebrated the milestone, beating the coat of arms badge on his chest Ms Willis, a law student who played waterpolo at university, met the batsman at a bar in Sydney in 2011 The pair have been engaged since Smith popped the question at Manhattan's Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Centre earlier this year The captain found unlikely support from Pat Cummins, who added 66 runs with Smith in a stubborn rearguard partnership. Ms Willis has been spotted in the stands throughout the Test, spending much of Day Two alongside David Warner's wife Candice. Her pride was evident as she joined the packed crowd to applaud her fiance, raising her hands above her head as she clapped and grinned. The pair have been engaged since Smith popped the question at Manhattan's Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Centre earlier this year. Ms Willis, a law student who played waterpolo at university, met the batsman at a bar in Sydney in 2011. A mother and her toddler were killed in a tragic Thanksgiving accident when their car collided with a bear in California. Sarah Rohde, 27, was driving with her 19-month-old daughter, Ariana, in Calaveras County just after 6pm when the crash happened. The bear was thrown over the hood of Rohde's Subaru Impreza and flew through the windshield, according to Kevin Raggio with the Calaveras County coroner. Both Rohde and her daughter were killed, as well as the bear, in the evening crash. Rhode's 4-year-old son, Julian, was also in the car. He survived the crash and was taken to UC Medical Center. Sarah Rohde, 27, pictured with her daughter Ariana, they both died in a tragic Thanksgiving accident after their car struck a bear The bear flew over the car's hood and went through the windshield of their car, killing the bear as well The mother was pronounced dead on the scene, while her daughter was pronounced dead in Mark Twain Medical Center in San Andreas, the Sacramento Bee reports. Rohde's mother, Tracy Browning, told KCRA 'She was the best mom any child could ever ask for, and she was the best daughter,' adding 'She was my rock, and I was her rock too.' 'I'm having a hard time, questioning God about this. I really am,' Browning said. Rohde worked for Tuolumne County as a extreme tour guide at Mercer Caverns in Murphys, her family said. Family members say they would like to make a roadside memorial for the mother and her little girl. Bear accidents in Calaveras County have risen along with the bear population. 'The bear population is growing and I don't see it stopping. There are going to be more wrecks,' Calaveras Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Severud said to KCRA. An incredible haul of ancient artefacts personally found by a 95-year-old 'Tomb raider' is being held illegally in Perth, Egyptian archaeologists have claimed. Joan Howard boasts a collection of antiquities worth $1 million which she unearthed during a series of Middle Eastern expeditions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when it was legal to bring such artefacts back to Australia. But after detailing her impressive collection in an interview with the West Australian, investigations have been launched into whether she's entitled to hold onto the precious relics under current laws. Joan Howard (pictured) is accused of illegally possessing antiquities she collected during a series of Middle Eastern expeditions in the late 1960s and early 70s Ms Howard, otherwise known as 'Indiana Joan', volunteered on archeological digs for around 11 years with British and American archaeologists in Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Israel from around 1967 while her husband, Keith, was working with the United Nations. Her diplomatic credentials meant she could travel freely throughout the region. Her collection includes neolithic axe heads more than 40,000 years old, pottery and weapons from the Phoenicians and the Romans, coins and seals and jewellery from the time of the pharaohs, and a precious funerary mask from Egypt. She said a favourite was a Roman dagger she found buried with the skeletal remains of its owner. 'Indianna Joan' boasts a collection of antiquities amassing upwards of $1 million in value Another was the wrappings of a mummy's remains and a cat claw wound within it, indicating the deceased was buried with their pet. While notably proud of her selection, she has come under fire from prominent archaeologist Monica Hanna who believes it is illegal for Ms Howard to have possession of the items. Ms Hanna, who works closely with the Egyptian government, has called for all of the treasures to be returned to their rightful homelands. 'This is not something nice or fashionable to do to come and pretend to be Indiana Jones' Ms Hanna told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'We want to investigate how these pieces made it out of Egypt illegally,' she was quoted as saying. She is boldly campaigning for the return of the pieces, having addressed an open letter to Australia's Ambassador to Egypt, Neil Hawkins, and gained 400 signatures in a petition. Among her collection are neolithic axe heads more than 40,000 years old, pottery and weapons from the Phoenicians and the Romans 'It is not acceptable that Mrs. Howard behaved as a pirate and appropriated from the different archaeological sites,' the letter reads. Ms Hanna claims to have had informal correspondence with the Australian embassy in Cairo, but not an official response. The matter was being looked into by the government, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman. 'Australia implements its obligations under the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970) this includes the return of foreign cultural property which has been illegally exported from its country of origin and imported into Australia,' they said. The convention sets out agreed rules for whether cultural artefacts from one signatory country can be taken to another, and how to deal with cases where such artefacts have been taken. The convention came into force in 1972, and Australia did not accept obligations under the agreement until 1989 - years after Ms Howard travelled through the region and collected the artefacts. It is possible that Ms Howard has 'valid title' under the convention to the artefacts because they were taken before it came into force. If so, the originating country would need to 'furnish, at its expense, the documentation and other evidence necessary to establish its claim for recovery and return' of the artefacts. A man who allegedly filmed two women neighbours in their bedrooms and bathrooms and then secretly uploaded the videos to a porn site has apologised in a Sydney court for his 'silly' actions. Wawan Pradiat, 23, has been refused bail at Parramatta Bail Court where he was accused of recording and distributing intimate images of four victims in Surry Hills without their consent. The Indonesian national handed himself into Surry Hills Police Station on Friday night after police raided his apartment where he lives with his partner and brothers, the court heard. Wawan Pradiat, 23, (pictured) has been refused bail at Parramatta Bail Court where he was accused of recording and distributing intimate images of four victims in Surry Hills Police prosecutor Ben Rutzou told the court on Saturday the 23-year-old confessed to police and gave them his username details to a website where the videos were uploaded and had been viewed thousands of times. 'He informed police he was responsible for them and wanted to hand himself in,' the court heard. 'He knew the videos were publicly visible.' Mr Rutzou told the court he was opposed to bail because the accused was a flight risk and could interfere with victims and witnesses. 'It's an extremely strong prosecution case,' he told the court. More victims may be discovered upon further examination of a number of electronic items that were seized in the raid, including mobile phones, hard drives and computers, the court heard. The 23-year-old local chef (pictured) started sobbing when he first appeared in court via video link and continued to hang his head as the matter was heard The 23-year-old local chef started sobbing when he first appeared in court via video link and continued to hang his head as the matter was heard. He told the court he wanted to apologise for his 'silly' behaviour. 'To each of the victims, I would like to apologise,' he said. 'I just don't want to do it anymore.' His lawyer told the court the 23-year-old was willing to surrender his passport, provide $1000 for surety and report daily to police if bail was granted. But Magistrate Malcolm McPherson refused bail, saying Mr Pradiat had no real ties to the community and could not go back to his home. The matter is due before Central Local Court on Wednesday. Pop music star Nick Lachey is asking the public on Friday to help us find some justice after a manager at his Cincinnati bar was shot in the face before dawn on Thanksgiving. According to police, Elizabeth Richardson, 27, was shot in the face by an unknown assailant at around 3am while she was working at Lacheys Bar. Local police believe the shooter was driving a van and shouting obscenities at her at the time of the incident, according to WLWT-TV. Investigators believe that Richardson walked toward the van to confront the driver who was shouting the obscenities. Scroll down for video Pop music star Nick Lachey (left) is asking the public on Friday to help us find some justice after Elizabeth Richardson (right), a manager at his Cincinnati bar was shot in the face before dawn on Thanksgiving According to police, Richardson, 27, was shot in the face by an unknown assailant at around 3am while she was working at Lacheys Bar (seen above) Local police believe the shooter was driving a van and shouting obscenities at her at the time of the incident. Cincinnati police released surveillance video footage of the van, which appears to be a brownish color Richardson was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where she is listed in critical but stable condition. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Richardson has a three-year-old son and was recently engaged to be married, according to police. Cincinnati police released surveillance video footage of the van, which appears to be a brownish color. Richardson was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center for injuries that were not life-threatening Richardson has a three-year-old son and was recently engaged to be married, according to police Ellie is the brightest light and she will find a way to shine through this darkness, Nick Lachey tweeted early Thursday morning Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 The van resembles an Astro, though it is difficult to ascertain its precise make and model. Police said the van was caught on camera driving by City Hall. Investigators are asking the public for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. He is described as a black man in his 20s with gold-rimmed glasses and a light beard. Lacheys Bar was started by former 98 Degrees boy band member Nick Lachey and his brother, Drew Lachey. Ellie is the brightest light and she will find a way to shine through this darkness, Nick Lachey tweeted early Thursday morning. Anyone with any information, help us find some justice. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave a tearful apology for abuses and cultural losses to the former students of residential schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. Some 150,000 indigenous children over more than 100 years were separated from their families and forced to have a state-run education according to the BBC. 'For every Innu, Inuit, and NunatuKavut child in Newfoundland and Labrador who suffered discrimination, mistreatment, abuse, and neglect in residential schools - we are sorry,' Trudeau said. Through tears Trudeau said: 'Saying that we are sorry today is not enough. It will not undo the harm that was done to you. It will not bring back the languages and traditions you lost. It will not take away the isolation and vulnerability you felt when you separated from your families, communities and cultures.' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a tearful apology on behalf of the Government of Canada to former students of the Newfoundland and Labrador Residential Schools Trudeau sits in the crowd before delivering an apology on behalf of the Government of Canada to former students on Friday 'While this long overdue apology will not undo the harm done, we offer it as a sign that we as a government and as a country accept responsibility for our failings.' 'The treatment of Indigenous children in residential schools is a dark and shameful chapter in our country's history,' he said in his address. 'For all of you we are sincerely sorry.' Last year the federal government settled a class action suit on behalf of the survivors paying out a $50million settlement last year from the Trudeau government to 1,000 students who attended residential schools. Referencing the settlement, Trudeau said it would not have been possible without the courage of those who spoke out about their experiences at residential schools. 'Sadly, not all are here with us today, having passed away without being able to hear this apology,' he said. 'We honour their spirits, and we cherish their memories.' 'Canada has now accepted responsibility for all that we went through': Residential school survivor Toby Obed responded to the government's apology Emotional day: Elders offer prayers before Trudeau apologized on behalf of the government The schools often did not allow the students to speak their language or to practice their culture in the name of educating the students. 'They were made to feel ashamed of who they were,' Mr Trudeau said. More than 3,000 children died while at the schools and others suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse according to the BBC. 'This burden is one you no longer have to carry alone. It's my hope you can get some closure, that you can give your inner child some rest, that you can finally begin to heal.' he said. Trudeau made the apology from Happy Valley-Goose Bay in central Labrador. Between 1884 until 1996, when the last of the schools closed, children were taken from their families and sent to these residential schools which were either church-run institutions or government-funded boarding schools. In a landmark report titled Truth and Reconciliation which was released in December 2015, it said the policy was an attempt to weaken indigenous culture, and amounted to 'cultural genocide'. In 2008 an apology was issued to survivors of the schools, but survivors from the Moravian Mission and the International Grenfell Association that established boarding schools for indigenous children were not included. Over 1,000 survivors of those schools disagreed with being excluded and filed the class-action against the government, which was settled in 2016. Residential school survivor Toby Obed accepted the apology on behalf of all the students. 'This apology has been a long time in the making. Too long,' he said. In 2008 'we felt left out, forgotten and abandoned. Canada has now accepted responsibility for all that we went through'. A man accused of the shooting murder of his partner who was left for dead at a Melbourne hospital has failed to front court. Qasim House, 32, was charged with murder on Friday, a day after the 42-year-old woman was shot in the upstairs of a house, bundled into a car and dumped at Sunshine Hospital. The woman died shortly after arriving at the hospital's emergency department on Thursday night. Man accused of the shooting murder of his partner who was left for dead at a Melbourne hospital has failed to front court Qasim House, 32, was charged with murder on Friday, a day after the 42-year-old woman was shot in the upstairs of a house, bundled into a car and dumped at Sunshine Hospital Police alleged House fled the hospital, crashing into two other cars before stealing one of them and leaving two people with minor injuries Police alleged he fled the hospital, crashing into two other cars before stealing one of them and leaving two people with minor injuries. House's defence lawyer told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday she was instructed he be remanded in custody in his absence. She said her client was withdrawing from heroin and ice, and asked that he be seen by a nurse as soon as possible. Charge sheets allege House stole a Toyota Hilux ute valued at $50,000 and tried to steal Mazda 2, with a sawn off shotgun. He faces seven charges including carjacking, attempted carjacking, being unregistered to possess a firearm and reckless driving endangering serious injury. Magistrate Alan Spillane remanded House in custody to reappear on Thursday for a preliminary filing hearing. House's defence lawyer told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday she was instructed he be remanded in custody in his absence She said her client was withdrawing from heroin and ice, and asked that he be seen by a nurse as soon as possible A One Nation volunteer has claimed he was spat on by a voter at a polling booth in Queensland. Tensions were running high at the Geebung State School in Aspley on Saturday, as the state takes to the polls. The One Nation volunteer, known only as Mark, told 9 News a man turned down a how-to-vote card before turning around and spitting in his face. Scroll down for video A One Nation volunteer (pictured) has claimed he was spat on by a voter at a polling booth in Queensland on Saturday 'I'm volunteering for One Nation handing out how-to-vote cards and he didn't take it,' Mark said. '[He] took a step past me, then turned around so I assumed he wanted one so I turned around and he just spat in my face. 'It's a filthy thing to do.' Mark said while everyone is 'entitled to their own opinion', spitting in a person's face was 'just absolutely filthy'. The One Nation volunteer, known only as Mark, told 9 News a man turned down a how-to-vote card before turning around and spitting in his face Queensland Police were made aware of the incident, but said no official complaint had been made James Ashby, chief-of-staff for One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, described the behaviour of the voter as 'vile and disgusting'. Shaun Byrne, Aspley's One Nation candidate, also told told The Courier-Mail of the incident. Queensland Police were made aware of the incident, but said no official complaint had been made. Earlier, Senator Hanson said she believed her party would win 'quite a few seats' in the state election. A Sydney mother has publicly apologised for getting caught driving while nine times over the legal limit. Susan Lung, 42, claimed she drank six glasses of wine before she got behind the wheel of her silver Audi car on Friday at about 12.35pm. When she was breathalysed by police around the middle of the day, she recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.445 - almost nine times the legal limit, 9 News reported. The mother from Willoughby, on Sydney's well-heeled North Shore, admitted she made a 'stupid mistake' and 'could have injured people'. Scroll down for video Susan Lung, 42, (pictured) has opened up about drinking six glasses of wine before driving The mother-of-two was caught driving her silver Audi (pictured) after midnight Friday while nine times over the limit The mother told 9 News she made a 'stupid mistake' and 'could have injured people' 'All the things that could have gone wrong ... just don't do it,' Ms Lung said. Police stopped the 42-year-old after midnight on Friday at Mowbray Road and Marlborough Road at Willoughby in Sydney's north. Through tears, the mother-of-two wanted to apologise to the her children and the harm she put other people in. 'It's something that I shouldn't have done,' Ms Lung said. The mother had her license suspended after she allegedly had a breath analysis reading of 0.445. NSW Police said the woman had been charged with high range drink driving at Chatswood Police Station. Police told 9 News it was 'one of the highest' readings NSW Police had seen 'in a long time'. Ms Lung is expected to appear before Hornsby Local Court on December 14. A $50 million bet between a tech giant and an enterprise software company came to fruition on Saturday as Elon Musk announced that the new South Australian mega-battery is ready to be powered up. South Australia has been plagued with rolling blackouts for the past year and a half, and Tesla's energy products vice president Lyndon Rive offered a solution. Mr Rive claimed in a March interview with the Financial Review that the company's batteries could fix the problem within 100 days. Tesla's energy products VP Lyndon Rive said he could solve South Australia's energy problems Mr Cannon-Brookes asked Elon Musk and Lyndon Rive to 'guarantee' a battery within 100 days Mr Cannon-Brookes (right) challenged Tesla boss Elon Musk (left) and Tesla's energy products vice president Lyndon Rive to solve the South Australian blackout problem within 100 days The seemingly wild claim prompted Atlassin co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes to ask Mr Rive if he could guarantee the installation of a 100MW battery pack in a hundred days. Mr Rive, Tesla's vice-president for energy products, vowed to meet the challenge with the Tesla Powerwall 2 Battery or do it for 'free'. Mr Musk had stated in a previous interview with Business Insider that if he failed to meet the deadline, it would have cost him 'probably $50 million or more'. Eight months later, Mr Cannon-Brookes tweeted that he has 'never been more happy to lose a bet' upon hearing the news that Tesla's Aussie team would be ready to install the facility within the 100-day deadline. Telsa's Australian battery team met the 100-day deadline for the battery with six days to spare 'Never been more happy to lose a bet,' the Australian entrepreneur tweeted on November 24 'Thank you Elon Musk, Tesla's amazing Aussie team, @jayweatherill & all SA. Never been more happy to lose a bet,' the Australian entrepreneur tweeted following news that testing is due to begin. The battery will serve as a back-up power system capable of powering 60,000 homes for more than four hours and is reportedly three times more powerful than anything else on earth, according to ABC. Tesla Powerwall 2 Battery is reportedly three times more powerful than anything else on earth The battery will serve as a back-up power system capable of powering 2,500 homes for a day Powerpacks from the Tesla battery will be connected to the 99-turbine Hornsdale wind farm run by French company Neoen, have been fully installed on the site near Jamestown, north of Adelaide, at a cost of approximately $33 million. Adelaide Now reported on Saturday that the enormous lithium-iron battery is expected to be ready to provide power to the state from December 1. Premier Jay Weatherill has announced that he will travel to Jamestown next week to officially launch the battery, which will also store power for use by the state government to put into the electricity grid. The battery will form part of a $550 million plan to 'provide backup power and affordable energy to South Australians during the summer months',Fortune reported. South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill will travel to Jamestown to officially launch the battery Theresa May is considering giving the European Court of Justice a role in Britain once it has left the EU. The Prime Minister has held talks about a potential referral system to the ECJ for European citizens who remain in the UK. Judges in the UK would refer cases to Luxembourg should queries crop up that have not been addressed during Britain's membership of the EU. Theresa May discussed the idea at a meeting of her inner Brexit Cabinet on Monday, The Sun reported. Scroll down for video Theresa May has held talks about a potential referral system to the European Court of Justice for EU systems who choose to remain in the UK after Brexit. The Prime Minister is pictured with European Council President Donald Tusk during a bilateral meeting in Brussels yesterday Judges in the UK would refer cases to Luxembourg should queries crop up that have not already been addressed during Britain's membership of the EU. Theresa May was in Brussels yesterday for talks with EU leaders One senior Government source said the solution would be a 'good compromise' and could represent a significant breakthrough in Brexit negotiations. They added that such a move would be acceptable to Brexit supporters because referrals would 'still be a UK court decision' an 'numbers would be very small'. Theresa May previously insisted that the ECJ have no jurisdiction in British affairs -- making it a 'red line' during her Lancaster House speech earlier this year. Theresa May previously insisted that the ECJ have no jurisdiction in British affairs -- making it a 'red line' during her Lancaster House speech earlier this year Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis told MPs on the home affairs select committee that the issue was 'part of the negotiations and this has not concluded yet' But the EU has been uncompromising in the ECJ maintaining oversight over 3million EU citizens living in Britain after Brexit. It comes after Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis sparked speculation that Britain could acquiesce on Tuesday after refusing to rule out a potential role for the ECJ. He told MPs on the home affairs select committee that the issue was 'part of the negotiations and this has not concluded yet'. In her Florence speech on November 22, the Prime Minister said: 'Where there is uncertainty around underlying EU law, I want the UK courts to be able to take into account the judgments of the European Court of Justice with a view to ensuring consistent interpretation.' After weeks of stalemate, the president of the European Council yesterday hinted at a breakthrough following talks with Theresa May. European Union leaders and their partners from the East met for an Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels yesterday Donald Tusk suggested it was 'possible' talks on trade could begin at a crunch summit of EU leaders in Brussels next month. But he warned of a 'huge challenge' ahead and set the Prime Minister a new deadline of ten days for progress on 'all issues' before trade negotiations start. It comes after Mrs May secured agreement from her Cabinet this week to increase the Government's offer on the Brexit 'divorce bill'. The EU had insisted talks on trade could not begin until its leaders were satisfied 'sufficient progress' had been made on this issue as well as on citizens' rights and the Northern Irish border. But after yesterday's meeting, Mr Tusk tweeted: 'Sufficient progress in #Brexit talks at December #EUCO is possible. 'But still a huge challenge. We need to see progress from UK within 10 days on all issues, including on Ireland.' As she left the talks, Mrs May insisted Britain would 'honour its commitments' to the EU budget and said there were still issues to be resolved. But she added: 'There has been a very positive atmosphere in the talks and a genuine feeling that we want to move forward together.' But Mr Tusk (pictured) warned of a 'huge challenge' ahead and set the Prime Minister (right) a new deadline of ten days for progress on 'all issues' before trade negotiations start The Prime Minister admitted she and Mr Tusk had been 'talking about how we can progress the issue in relation to the financial settlement'. But Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov said he thought EU talks were moving towards a hard Brexit. His remark comes barely a month before his country is due to take over the presidency of the Council of the EU. Next's month summit will be the key to progressing from discussions of the divorce bill, citizens' rights and the Irish border. The next stage of the talks will cover future trading arrangements and an implementation period to avoid a cliff-edge for businesses. This week, Mrs May and ten key ministers her Brexit 'war cabinet' agreed to offer billions more in EU divorce payments in return for assurances on a future trade deal. Precise figures were not discussed but Brussels has previously suggested it would not start talks without an offer of around 40billion double what the Prime Minister had previously indicated. Downing Street would not say whether Mrs May had made her new offer to Mr Tusk or German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The British Prime Minister and European Council president are pictured at the Eastern Partnership Summit at the European Council HQ in Brussels, Belgium yesterday But the positive atmosphere suggests the agreement to up the offer may have led to a breakthrough. The Prime Minister came under pressure yesterday from Dublin for fresh assurances there will be no 'hard border' between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Ireland wields a veto in the Brexit talks and the country's premier Leo Varadkar warned deadlock in the negotiations cannot be broken until the border issue is resolved. His comments came amid a crisis that could see the Irish government collapse. His minority administration is in dispute with the opposition, which could lead to a snap election. Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said it was difficult to see how border checks could be avoided if the UK left the single market and customs union, while Ireland remained in them. Mr Varadkar has previously suggested a 'bespoke' arrangement similar to that on the Isle of Man under which Northern Ireland, or the whole of the UK, would continue to observe the rules of the single market and customs union without necessarily remaining a member of them. The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said there was 'strong solidarity' with Ireland, adding that 'Irish issues are EU issues'. Mrs May said the UK and Irish governments had 'the same desire', adding: 'We want to see that movement of people and trade across that border can carry on as now and that we don't create any new barriers to trade or the movement of people across that border.' But last night Mr Coveney said British assurances on the issue were 'aspirational' and that there had to be a 'credible road map' from the UK setting out how it would resolve the issue. He added: 'The truth is that if we see regulatory divergence between the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland it is very hard to see in that scenario how you avoid hard border checks. 'So we need progress on this issue If we can't, I think there is going to be a difficulty coming up.' Mr Coveney said the other EU members were fully behind Ireland's stance on the issue. Yesterday, the PM had meetings with Mr Tusk and with European leaders to discuss the Eastern Partnership EU relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The terrorists who slaughtered 305 people at a mosque in Egypt yesterday were carrying an ISIS flag and wearing masks, it has been revealed. Around thirty gunmen created an arena of death around the holy house by blocking off escape routes with burnt-out cars before gunning down the penned-in worshippers in a 20-minute massacre. The public prosecutor's office said today the gunmen, wearing masks and military-style uniforms, surrounded blocked windows and a doorway before setting off a bomb and opening fire with automatic rifles. 'They numbered between 25 and 30, carrying the Daesh flag and took up positions in front of the mosque door and its 12 windows with automatic rifles,' the statement explained, using an Arabic term for ISIS. In the meticulously planned attack - the worst Islamist atrocity in Egypt's modern history - the murderers reportedly gunned down civilians while screaming 'Allahu Akbar', causing them to stampede and jump out of windows to escape. But when the worshippers - many of whom were Sufis, a mystical Islamic sect despised by Sunni jihadists - fled, they were caught in the trap and massacred. Quoting testimonies given to investigators by survivors, the prosecutor's statement said some of the attackers were masked. Those who were not sported heavy beards and long hair. The militants wore camouflaged pants and black T-shirts, it added. Pictured: Sulieman Awad receives medical treatment at the Suez Canal University hospital in Ismailia People carry the victims on stretchers following the gun and bombing attack on the Rawdah mosque near the North Sinai provincial capital of El-Arish Dozens of suspected ISIS terrorists created an arena of death around the holy house by blocking off escape routes with burnt-out cars before gunning down the penned-in worshippers. Pictured: Victims in the mosque The public prosecutor's office said today the gunmen, wearing masks and military-style uniforms, surrounded blocked windows and a doorway before opening fire inside with automatic rifles The terrorists torched seven cars parked outside the mosque, which belonged to worshippers inside Around thirty gunmen created an arena of death around the holy house by blocking off escape routes with burnt-out cars before gunning down the penned-in worshippers The victims included civilians and conscripts praying at the mosque, with reports suggesting the terrorists launched rockets before firing on fleeing worshippers. Pictured: The scene after the attack In a meticulously planned attack - the worst Islamist atrocity in Egypt's modern history - the murderers surrounded the mosque in off-road cars and fired rocket-propelled grenades inside. Pictured: A burnt-out car outside the mosque Ahmed Abul Gheit, head of the Arab League, which is based in Cairo, condemned the 'terrifying crime which again shows that Islam is innocent of those who follow extremist terrorist ideology,' his spokesman said in a statement. Pictured: Where the attack occurred The murderers then fled the Al-Rawdah mosque (pictured) - in Bir al-Abed, near El-Arish on the Sinai Peninsula - before being blown up hours later by Egyptian warplanes Twenty-seven children were among the innocents gunned down and blown up. At least 128 were also hurt during the horrifying bloodshed, according to the state news agency. The murderers then fled the Al-Rawdah mosque - in Bir al-Abed, near El-Arish on the Sinai Peninsula - before being blown up hours later by Egyptian warplanes. A statement by chief prosecutor Nabil Sadeq said the attackers arrived at the mosque in five all-terrain vehicles and positioned themselves at the main door and the facility's 12 windows before opening fire. They also torched seven cars parked outside the mosque, which belonged to worshippers inside. The public prosecutor's office said today the gunmen, wearing masks and military-style uniforms, surrounded blocked windows and a doorway before setting off a bomb and opening fire with automatic rifles. Pictured: The inside of the mosque after the attack A statement by chief prosecutor Nabil Sadeq said the attackers arrived at the mosque in five all-terrain vehicles and positioned themselves at the main door and the facility's 12 windows before opening fire. Pictured: A Quran and remnants of personal belongings of victims of the explosion are seen at Al Rawdah mosque At least 128 were also hurt during the horrifying bloodshed, according to the state news agency. Pictured: Relatives of the victims of the bomb and gun assault on the North Sinai Rawda mosque wait outside the Suez Canal University hospital in the eastern port city of Ismailia People bury victims of the of the savage attack on the mosque in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt Funerals for the victims were held overnight and many were buried unwashed in their bloodied clothes, according to the Islamic burial practices for martyrs, security and medical officials said. Pictured: Burials today Some spoke of their narrow escape from a certain death, others of families that lost all or most of their male members. Pictured: Burials today after the savage massacre Abdullah Abdel-Nasser, 14, who was attending prayers with his father, said the shooting began just as the cleric was about to start his sermon, sending panicked worshippers rushing to hide behind concrete columns or whatever shelter they could find. At one point, a militant shouted for children to leave, so Abdel-Nasser said he rushed out, though he was wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and a bullet. 'I saw many people on the floor, many dead. I don't think anyone survived,' he said at a hospital in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, where around 40 of the wounded were taken, including many children. Mohammed Ali said 18 members of his extended family were killed in the attack. The mosque belonged to a local clan, the Jreer, so many of its members worshipped there. 'Where was the army? It's only a few kilometers away. This is the question we cannot find an answer to,' he said. Funerals for the victims were held overnight and many were buried unwashed in their bloodied clothes, according to the Islamic burial practices for martyrs, security and medical officials said. Quoting testimonies given to investigators by survivors, the prosecutor's statement said some of the attackers were masked. Those who were not sported heavy beards and long hair. The militants wore camouflaged pants and black T-shirts, it added. The statement was the most detailed by authorities on the attack. Witnesses spoke of horrific scenes during the approximately 20 minutes it took the militants to kill and maim worshippers. They spoke of some jumping out of windows, a stampede in a corridor leading to the washrooms and of children screaming in horror. Some spoke of their narrow escape from a certain death, others of families that lost all or most of their male members. President Abdel Fattah al Sisi convened an emergency security meeting soon after the attack, state television reported. Pictured: Victims in the mosque One witness, Ebid Salem Mansour, said the imam had barely made it atop the mosque pulpit to deliver the sermon when intense gunfire rang out. 'We knew that the mosque was under attack by (militants),' he said, recounting an attack that constitutes a grim milestone in Egypt's brutal fight against increasingly emboldened militants. Mansour, a 38-year-old worker in a nearby salt factory, said he settled in Bir al-Abd, the small town near where the attack took place, three years ago to escape the bloodshed and fighting elsewhere in northern Sinai. He suffered two gunshot wounds in the legs on Friday. 'Everyone layed down on the floor and kept their heads down. If you raised your head you get shot,' he said. 'The shooting was random and hysterical at the beginning and then became more deliberate: Whoever they weren't sure was dead or still breathing was shot dead.' Fake pictures spread in aftermath As the shocking news of the savage attack on Al-Rawdah mosque first broke, a number of websites and social media accounts began running images that were soon revealed to be fake. News site Al-Araby shared one image showing a smoking building with crowds of people outside. News site Al-Araby shared an image showing a smoking building with crowds of people outside. But the image was actually from two years ago It attached the picture to text explaining that 200 people had been killed in a bombing at a Sinai mosque. But the image was actually taken in 2015 by a photographer working for the AFP news agency. It shows the aftermath of a bombing in a different part of Egypt, in which eight people died. Advertisement The militants were shouting Allahu Akbar, or God is great, and the children were screaming, Mansour said. 'I knew I was injured but I was in a situation that was much scarier than being wounded. I was only seconds away from a certain death,' he said. As the shooting took place, many of the worshippers recited their final prayers, he added. The worshippers, according to another witness, began to jump out of windows as soon as the militants opened fire. 'The small door that leads to the corridor for the wash rooms was about the only one where worshippers rushed to escape,' said a 38-year-old government employee who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation. 'There was a stampede. I fell down and then bodies piled up on top of me,' he said. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but ISIS has in the past vowed to rid Sinai, and Egypt, of Sufis. A local ISIS affiliate is spearheading the insurgency in Sinai, where government forces have battled militants for years. Some reports claimed a rocket was fired into the children's kindergarten area of the mosque before the terrorists - in military uniforms and wielding black flags - slaughtered those who fled. Pictured: People in the area after the savage attack A still taken from a video footage shows people and ambulances waiting to evacuate victims outside the mosque Several hours later Egyptian air force jets destroyed vehicles used in the attack and 'terrorist' locations where weapons and ammunition were stocked, an army spokesman said. Pictured: The aftermath of the attack President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared three days of mourning will begin today, with a special prayer service starting this morning. In a televised speech the president pledged to 'respond with brutal force', adding that 'the army and police will avenge our martyrs and return security and stability with force in the coming short period'. He went on: 'What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism, to destroy our efforts to stop the terrible criminal plan that aims to destroy what is left of our region.' Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (pictured) vowed to respond to the attack with 'brute force' Several hours later Egyptian air force jets destroyed vehicles used in the attack and 'terrorist' locations where weapons and ammunition were stocked, an army spokesman said. President Sissi also ordered the construction of a mausoleum in memory of the slain. He did not say where it would stand or who would be commissioned to build it, but the decision to have one reflects the depth of grief felt by the government over the death of so many people. A witness of the attack said: 'They were shooting at people as they left the mosque. 'They were shooting at the ambulances, too.' Some reports claimed a rocket was fired into the children's kindergarten area of the mosque before the terrorists - in military uniforms and wielding black flags - slaughtered those who fled. A tribal leader and head of a Bedouin militia that fights Islamic State said that the mosque is known as a place of gathering for Sufis. The Islamic State group shares the puritan Salafi view of Sufis as heretics for seeking the intercession of saints. A tribal leader and head of a Bedouin militia that fights Islamic State said that the mosque is known as a place of gathering for Sufis. Pictured: People outside the mosque on Friday An injured man, identified as Reda, who survived Sinai mosque attack, receiving treatment at a hospital in Cairo Cairo's international airport boosted security following the attack, with more troopers and forces seen patrolling passenger halls, conducting searches and manning checkpoints at airport approaches. Pictured: A victim in hospital Egyptian army conscripts stand guard outside the Suez Canal University hospital in the eastern port city of Ismailia after the attack Cairo's international airport boosted security following the attack, with more troopers and forces seen patrolling passenger halls, conducting searches and manning checkpoints at airport approaches. Resident Ashraf el-Hefny said many of the victims were workers at a nearby salt firm who had come for Friday services at the mosque, which had contained hundreds of worshippers. 'Local people brought the wounded to hospital on their own cars and trucks,' he said. US President Donald Trump used the attack to make the case for building a wall with Mexico and a travel ban on citizens of countries plagued by terrorism. In response to the savagery, the lights of the Eiffel Tower in Paris were switched off The President used Twitter to make his case for building a wall with Mexico and imposing a travel ban In the aftermath of the atrocity, he tweeted: 'Will be calling the President of Egypt in a short while to discuss the tragic terrorist attack, with so much loss of life. 'We have to get TOUGHER AND SMARTER than ever before, and we will. Need the WALL, need the BAN! God bless the people of Egypt.' Earlier he condemned the mass murder as a 'horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers', adding: 'The world cannot tolerate terrorism.' Police said militants in four off-road vehicles bombed the mosque and fired on worshippers during the sermon segment of Friday prayers. Pictured: Al-Rawdah mosque British prime minister Theresa May said she was 'appalled by the sickening attack', which she declared an 'evil and cowardly act'. UK foreign minister Boris Johnson, meanwhile, condemned the 'barbaric attack' in a post on Twitter, while his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed his condolences to the families of victims of the 'despicable attack'. Ahmed Abul Gheit, head of the Arab League, which is based in Cairo, condemned the 'terrifying crime which again shows that Islam is innocent of those who follow extremist terrorist ideology,' his spokesman said in a statement. Who are the Sufis targeted by ISIS? The mosque where the massacre occurred is associated with Sufi Muslims, who have frequently been attacked by extremist Sunni jihadists. They accuse them of polytheism - the greatest sin in Islam - because they seek the intercession of dead saints. But in much of the Muslim world, Sufism has for centuries been accepted and practised by mainstream Muslims and Sunni Islam's most important theologians. The head of Al-Azhar, Egypt's top Islamic authority, is a Sufi, as are many top clerics in the Muslim world. They date their practices back to some of Mohammed's companions and the early generations of ascetics who shunned the increasingly powerful Islamic empire for a life of prayer. While some Sufis use music in their prayers, the more established and larger orders shun the practice. They say they want to focus on achieving a state of purity - from which the term Sufism is believed to have been derived - to witness God's presence in their lives. The Salafis condemn what they call 'innovations' - rites and prayers adopted by Sufis which Mohammed himself never prescribed. ISIS has claimed attacks that have killed dozens of Sufis in the past, most notably in Pakistan. Advertisement In response to the savagery, the lights of the Eiffel Tower in Paris were switched off. The jihadists had previously kidnapped and beheaded an elderly Sufi leader, accusing him of practising magic which Islam forbids, and abducted Sufi practitioners later released after 'repenting.' The group has killed more than 100 Christians in church bombings and shootings in Sinai and other parts of Egypt, forcing many to flee the peninsula. A tribal leader and head of a Bedouin militia that fights Islamic State said that the mosque is known as a place of gathering for Sufis. Pictured: Inside the mosque after the attack Cairo's international airport boosted security following the attack, with more troopers and forces seen patrolling passenger halls, conducting searches and manning checkpoints at airport approaches. Pictured: People gathering outside the mosque after the attack today Witnesses spoke of horrific scenes during the approximately 20 minutes it took the militants to kill and maim worshippers. Pictured: The aftermath of the slaughter The military has struggled to quell the jihadists who pledged allegiance to IS in November 2014. IS regularly conducts attacks against soldiers and policemen in the peninsula bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, although the frequency and scale of such attacks has diminished over the past year. They have since increasingly turned to civilian targets, attacking not only Christians and Sufis but also Bedouin Sinai inhabitants accused of working with the army. Aside from IS, Egypt also faces a threat from Al-Qaeda-aligned jihadists who operate out of neighbouring Libya. British prime minister Theresa May said she was 'appalled by the sickening attack', which she declared an 'evil and cowardly act' US President Donald Trump has condemned the mass murder as a 'horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers', adding: 'The world cannot tolerate terrorism' A group calling itself Ansar al-Islam - Supporters of Islam in Arabic - claimed an October ambush in Egypt's Western Desert that killed at least 16 policemen. Many of those killed belonged to the interior ministry's secretive National Security Service. The military later conducted air strikes on the attackers, killing their leader Emad al-Din Abdel Hamid, a most wanted jihadist who was a military officer before joining an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Libya's militant stronghold of Derna. Reacting to the news, Britain's ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, tweeted: 'I am disgusted by the evil attack that killed & injured so many Egyptians in Sinai today. On behalf of the UK my deep condolences to all involved. 'These attacks on people praying in mosques & churches only strengthen our determination to stand together, & defeat terrorism & hate.' Who are jihadists in Egypt's Sinai? Jihadists had operated in Sinai for years, but infrequent attacks turned into a fully fledged insurgency after the military, prompted by mass protests against Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, ousted him in 2013. The main jihadist group operating at the time was called Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, and its propoganda reflected loyalty to Al-Qaeda. Following Al-Qaeda's split in Syria, IS declared a caliphate there and Iraq in 2014, and Ansar Beit al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to the new 'caliph'. There are no reliable figures on how many fighters have joined it. The military says it has killed hundreds of the jihadists, believed to be led by Bedouin militants from tribes in the sparsely populated peninsula. War of attrition Unlike in Syria and Iraq, IS has been unable to seize and hold urban centres in Sinai. One July 2015 attempt to seize the town of Sheikh Zuweid ended with the jihadists' withdrawal after the military unleashed F-16 jets against them. But the group has kept up a steady war of attrition involving roadside bombings, sniper fire and checkpoint attacks. Its fighters are believed to hide in the mountainous desert in mid-Sinai and have some freedom of movement between army checkpoints and away from major thoroughfares. In occasional propoganda releases, the jihadists can be seen setting up their own checkpoints to confiscate cigarettes and other items they deem un-Islamic. They also have deadly underground cells that carry out assassinations and bombings in the North Sinai capital of El-Arish and on the mainland, including southern Egypt. Well-armed Officials said the jihadists have been well-armed with anti-tank missiles, machine guns and explosives smuggled from chaotic Libya and elsewhere. But the scale of Friday's attack on a Muslim house of worship shocked even IS supporters who argued on social media that the jihadists could not have carried it out. The state prosecution quoted witnesses as saying the attackers - between 25 and 30 militants wearing camouflage - had flown IS's dreaded black banner. Shadowy leadership, foreign fighters Details about the group's leadership are scarce, and security services avoid disclosing them except in statements announcing their deaths. Both the leadership and the lower ranks are believed to be dominated by Bedouins and mainland Egyptians. The group and affiliated jihadists have identified several Palestinians from the neighbouring Gaza Strip killed fighting in their ranks. After an attack on a monastery in south Sinai, police also released an image of a slain attacker who wore a vest identifying him or the vest's original owner as Moroccan. In 2016, the military said it had killed the group's overall commander in Sinai, Abu Duaa al-Ansari, in air strikes. He is believed to have been Mohamed Freij, the brother of deceased Ansar Beit al-Maqdis founder Tawfiq Freij. IS later confirmed his death and said it had replaced him with another commander, Abu Hajar al-Hashemi, of whom little is known. A captured jihadist told interrogators that the identity of the group's top leader in Sinai was not known, and that he passed on instructions through a subordinate. Under the top commander, responsibilities are divided among militants who command sections on 'security', 'military affairs', bomb-making and media. Advertisement The main gateway for Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip was closed following the attack. The Rafah crossing was expected to open temporarily. But following the attack, travelers were told they would not be able to cross after all. On Saturday, guards were the only people to be seen at the crossing. Ruling party Hamas says 30,000 people have been waiting for a chance to travel. Thus far, Rafah has opened for people exiting Gaza only 17 days this year. Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt's elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi while authorities have been fighting an Islamist insurgency. Hamas, which has wielded power in Gaza since it ousted forces loyal to the Western-backed Fatah faction in 2007, condemned the Sinai attack. The woman who was killed after being struck by lightning in Melbourne has been identified as Lauren Brownlee. Ms Brownlee, an office manager with Stockdale and Leggo real estate in Croydon, was struck and killed on Friday night as severe thunderstorms battered the city. Ms Brownlee's professional profile describes her as friendly and positive, who enjoyed photography, music and art. The woman and her partner, Ben Hollow, both in their 20s, were standing between their car and a tree in Chirnside Park, around 8.40pm, when they were both struck. Scroll down for video Lauren Brownlee, an office manager with Stockdale and Leggo real estate in Croydon, was struck and killed on Friday night as severe thunderstorms battered Melbourne Ms Brownlee was watching the thunderstorm roll across the city with her partner when they were both struck Ms Brownlee's professional profile describes her as friendly and positive, who enjoyed photography, music and art Both were taken to hospital where Ms Brownlee died of her injuries later that night, The Age reported. Mr Hollow, who worked alongside Ms Brownlee in real estate, was taken to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition on Friday night, after going into cardiac arrest. A spokesman for The Alfred confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Mr Hollow remains in a serious but stable condition on Saturday evening. Melbourne was hit by dozens of lightning strikes on Friday night, as thunderstorms left 55 homes without power. Young couple Ben Hollow and Lauren Brownlee were both struck by lighting on Friday night, killing Ms Brownlee and leaving Mr Hollow in hospital Ben Hollow (centre) went into cardiac arrest before being taken to The Alfred hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition Ms Brownlee (left, front) her partner Ben Hollow (left, middle row) were standing between their car and a tree in Chirnside Park, around 8.40pm, when they were both struck Emergency services attend to the scene where the young couple were struck by lightning While firefighters responded to an influx of calls between 8pm and 9.30pm, SES volunteers were called out to 32 people asking for help. The weather bureau had issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 7.20pm on Friday night, warning residents to stay indoors. Flights out of Melbourne Airport were delayed due to the storms, with temperatures dropping to 20 degrees by 9pm. Homes in Altona Meadows were still without power on Saturday morning, and outages were reported in Geelong, Corio, Pipers Creek, Stanhope and Mortlake. Lightning was confirmed as being responsible for further outages in Gisbourne and Ondit. Flights out of Melbourne Airport were delayed due to the storms as emergency services responded to calls for help Former television presenter John Leslie has reportedly been charged with sexual assault for allegedly putting his hand up a party-goer's fancy dress tutu at a nightclub. The former Blue Peter star, 52, is accused of sexually assaulting the 26-year-old reveller during a busy VIP night at Edinburgh's popular Atik nightclub earlier this year. Police arrested Leslie after questioning him and the woman separately at the venue, according to The Sun. Atik nightclub in Edinburgh where the alleged sexual assault is said to have taken place Officers have now submitted a report of the alleged incident to Scotland's prosecutors, who will decide what action to take. Leslie, who lives in Edinburgh, rose to fame in the late 1980s when he became the first Scot to host Blue Peter before going on to present Wheel of Fortune and This Morning. Recently he has involved himself in property development. The alleged sexual assault is said to have taken place on a night to mark the re-opening of the club, which recently appeared in the film T2 Trainspotting, after a 450,000 refurbishment at the venue. A spokesman for Police Scotland said: 'Police in Edinburgh have charged a 52-year-old man following a report that a 26-year-old woman was the victim of a sexual assault at a nightclub in the Tollcross area on Sunday 25 June.' A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - Scotland's equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service - said: 'The Procurator Fiscal has received a report concerning a 52 year old male, in connection with an alleged incident in Edinburgh on 25 June 2017. 'The report is currently under consideration.' Police have arrested a Heathrow Airport security guard on suspicion of helping a member of a Colombian drugs cartel to smuggle 700,000 of cocaine into Britain. The 30-year-old from Southall, west London was arrested in a toilet on the airside of Terminal Five along with a 37-year-old man from Colombia. Officers from the National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police raided the toilet and recovered 14 pounds of cocaine during a joint operation. Four men, including a Heathrow security guard have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling 14 pounds of cocaine contained in this bag which had been carried from Colombia The National Crime Agency said the cocaine could have a potential street value of 700,000 The Colombian national had just arrived from Bogata when he went to the toilet on Thursday afternoon carrying a black bag containing the drugs to meet his contact. Police also arrested a 43-year-old man in the airport arrivals area who is believed to be linked to the smuggling plot. According to the National Crime Agency, the drugs had a wholesale value of 250,000, but one cut and sold the value would increase to 700,000. Shortly after arresting the three suspects at Heathrow, Met Police officers raided an address in east London where they detained a 46-year-old man. All four are being questioned on suspicion of drug importation offences. Darren Barr, senior investigating officer at the NCA said: 'Heathrow Airport provided invaluable assistance in this operation, and working with partners such as the MPS, Border Force and the Heathrow authorities we are determined to target those who may be involved in criminality at the airport. 'Corruption threatens the security of the UK border and the public at large which is why we see it as a priority.' The Heathrow security guard and the Colombian national were arrested along with the cocaine inside a toilet on the airside of Terminal Five. A third man was arrested in arrivals Exit polls indicate Annastacia Palaszczuk is set to make political history in Australia by becoming the first woman to win a second election. Ms Palaszczuk, 48, has been Premier of Queensland since 2015, and now looks likely to retain the position following Saturday's election. Her Labor government is tipped to be returned to power in a tight race against LNP leader Tim Nicholls. Exit polls indicate Annastacia Palaszczuk is set to make political history in Australia by becoming the first woman to win a second election Steve Dickson has virtually conceded the seat of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, leaving One Nation searching for a new Queensland leader. LNP defector Mr Dickson is well behind in the counting and admitted he was unlikely to win it. 'I'm not about to give it up quite yet, but it's not looking fantastic for me and I've got to be very straightforward,' he said at a party function in Buderim. Mr Dickson said the LNP and Labor had worked together to give preferences to each other to keep him from winning the seat. 'That is the way the cookie crumbles, and the cards fall'. Ms Palaszczuk handed out how-to-vote cards in her seat of Inala with her father Henry, mother Lorelle and sister Julia. '[The choice] is whether they want to continue with a stable, hardworking, decent government, or do they want to put that at risk with Tim Nicholls as premier with Pauline Hanson,' she said. Mr Nicholls was swamped by anti-Adani protestors as he arrived with his wife Mary to vote at a church in his inner-Brisbane seat of Clayfield. 'I'm feeling really positive, we've got a great message, we're talking about cheaper power, we're talking about jobs, and jobs for regional Queensland that Annastacia Palaszczuk doesn't want to deliver he said.' The big issue for the LNP is the re-emergence of One Nation which is sucking away its support from conservative voters. Senator Pauline Hanson said she was confident the party would get a groundswell of support in the Queensland elections. 'We're going to win quite a few seats here in Queensland and I think that's going to carry across to the next federal election too,' she said. Mr Nicholls was swamped by anti-Adani protestors as he arrived with his wife Mary to vote at a church in his inner-Brisbane seat of Clayfield Pauline Hanson is remaining upbeat despite One Nation failing to make the impact she touted in the Queensland election. Her party's two biggest names - state leader Steve Dickson and former senator Malcolm Roberts - are set for defeat before half the vote is counted in their seats. LNP defector Mr Dickson is well behind his former party in the seat of Buderim while Mr Roberts has only 28 per cent of the vote in Ipswich where Labor's sitting MP Jennifer Howard is on track to hold. Although Mr Dickson virtually conceded defeat at a party function, Senator Hanson was still holding hope of a miraculous turnaround. 'I still have faith in Steve,' she said while standing beside him in Buderim. Supporters are seen at the campaign party house for Queensland One Nation leader Steve Dickson in Buderim Senator Hanson also said preferences would flow Mr Roberts' way in Ipswich. 'There's still preferences and a lot of people don't follow the how-to-vote cards,' she told reporters. 'Where just going to wait and see.' But Mr Roberts conceded defeat shortly after. The One Nation leader at the start of the four-week campaign tipped repeating the party's efforts in the 1998 election when they won 11 seats. But after two hours of voting they will be hard pressed to win more than a quarter of that, let alone hold the balance of power in parliament. One Nation candidate Malcolm Roberts greets Queensland voters at the Raceview State School Maryborough appears the only seat that will go One Nation's way but Senator Hanson also talked up its chances in Callide, Lockyer, Burnett and Hervey Bay. 'I think we're looking good in some of the other seats,' she said. 'I think we will win some seats, there's no doubt about that. 'It's going to be a long night.' Queensland's shadow treasurer Scott Emerson is not giving up his fight for the new Brisbane seat of Maiwar, despite a dramatic swing to the Greens. Mr Emerson is one of three Liberal National Party frontbenchers in grave danger, in a worrying election indicator for his party, as almost half of the vote has been counted on Saturday night. A supporter is seen at the campaign party house for Steve Dickson in Buderim Shadow attorney-general Ian Walker and the LNP's spokesman for natural resources and mines Andrew Cripps are also in severe trouble. Mr Emerson, the LNP's spokesman over the four-week campaign, is under pressure with 40 per cent of the primary vote, only narrowly ahead of the Greens' Michael Berkman (29) and Labor candidate Ali King (28). Greens and Labor preferences will flow to each other so whichever party finishes second on the primary vote will be favoured to unseat the shadow treasurer and former journalist. 'I think it will be a tough fight. We are still in it. We are not giving up anything at the moment,' he told the ABC. The Greens had targeted the new affluent inner-western Brisbane seat of Maiwar, which had been made up of Mr Emerson's old seat of Indooroopilly and Mt Coot-tha, held by Labor's Steven Miles. Environment Minister Dr Miles moved to the safe Labor seat of Murrumba in northern Brisbane, which the shadow treasurer hit out at, as well as Labor's parliamentary move to reintroduce compulsory preferential voting. Cricket fans are seen posing for a selfie outside East Brisbane State School Mr Emerson says the final result could be decided by pre-poll votes, which had risen in his electorate. 'Those figures will play significant roll,' he said. 'They tend to favour the incumbent. 'It was always going to be a tough fight and given the new boundaries and change to the voting system, but I am not a quitter and that's why I stayed here and didn't run away like Steven Miles did. 'I was going to fight it out until the polls closed.' Mr Walker appears set to lose the seat of Mansfield with Labor's Corrine McMillan on track to win with 41 per cent of the primary vote to 38 per cent for the shadow attorney-general. The LNP are also in danger of losing long-time Hinchinbrook MP Mr Cripps who is in a tight tussle with Katter's Australian Party candidate Nick Dametto. A Japanese politician has been thrown out of a council meeting because she brought her seven-month-old baby with her. Yuka Ogata, a member of the Kumamoto city assembly, brought her little son into the chamber on Wednesday - but was asked to take him out because of a rule limiting attendance to assembly members, city official Naoya Oshima said. Ogata tried to stay but the speaker of the assembly eventually persuaded her to take the infant out. She then handed him over to a babysitter and returned. She has now used the ejection to highlight the many hurdles faced by working women in Japan. Yuka Ogata, a member of the Kumamoto city assembly, brought her little son into the chamber on Wednesday - but was asked to take him out because of a rule limiting attendance to assembly members, city official Naoya Oshima said Ogata tried to stay but the speaker of the assembly eventually persuaded her to take the infant out. She then handed him over to a babysitter and returned 'I wanted to highlight the difficulties facing women who are trying to juggle their careers and raise children,' the 42-year-old Ogata was quoted by the Asahi Shimbun daily as saying. Ogata was not immediately available for comment. Economists say given Japans rapidly aging population, bringing women into the workforce is essential. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made increasing the number of women workers a key part of his economic plan, pledging, among various measures, to increase daycare for children. 'I wanted to highlight the difficulties facing women who are trying to juggle their careers and raise children,' the 42-year-old Ogata was quoted as saying He told the United Nations in 2013 that he would create 'a society where women can shine', but little progress has been made. Japan ranked 114 out of 144 in the World Economic Forums 2017 Global Gender Gap report, falling 13 places since Abe took power. Abe appointed only two women to ministerial posts in a cabinet reshuffle in August, down from three and five respectively in his previous two cabinets. Only 14 percent of Japans lawmakers are women. Japanese labour law has no official system in place for maternity or parental leave for politicians. In 2000, a national lawmaker in Abe's Liberal Democratic Party took three days off from parliament to give birth, prompting the legislature to allow maternity leave for members. A total of 12 lawmakers have taken advantage of the time off, being granted up to three months of maternity leave at the most, the Mainichi Shimbun daily reported this year. A man is fighting for his life after he was knocked out in a brawl in Sydney's Darling Harbour. The 30-year-old man was repeatedly bashed near Kings Street Wharf at about 10.30pm on Friday night. NSW Police said there were reports a man was repeatedly assaulted by another man outside the Sea Life Aquarium. A man is fighting for his life after he was knocked out in a brawl in Sydney's Darling Harbour When Police (pictured) arrived at the scene, the man, 30, was unconscious on the pavement The man, 30, was repeatedly bashed near Kings Street Wharf Friday night at about 10.30 When Police arrived at the scene, the 30-year-old man was unconscious on the pavement. The man was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition suffering head injuries, where he is now fighting for his life. Sydney City local area command Acting Inspector Luke Geradts told The Daily Telegraph that 'alcohol was certainly a factor'. 'They had come from somewhere operating under a liquor license,' Acting Inspector Geradts said. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. New defence secretary Gavin Williamson has privately expressed shock at the extent of cuts due to be imposed on the MoD by the Treasury. Mr Williamson has been told he must find a way of reducing the defence budget by 2 billion a year. The Ministry of Defence has dismissed speculation over the nature of the planned cuts, but the government faces a backbench rebellion from angry MPs. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was said to be shocked by the 'completely awful' headline proposals drawn up by military chiefs One Whitehall source told The Times that Mr Williamson is trying to prevent the army's decimation. The source said: 'Gavin is aware he has a huge challenge on his hands. He does not like what he came into . . . We are beginning to try and push back. 'Britain would risk becoming a global laughing stock at a time when we need defence to be our strong card post-Brexit.' The army has a target strength of 82,000, but it is now at 77,440 and could shrink to below 70,000. Such is the anger within the Conservative Party to the proposed cuts, one defence minister, Tobias Ellwood - who battled to save a Westminster terror attack victim - has threatened to resign if cuts are imposed on the Army. Other measures thought to be under consideration include reducing the order for Ajax armoured vehicles and delaying upgrades to other tanks. Mr Ellwood, who served in the Royal Green Jackets from 1991 to 1996 with tours in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kuwait, Germany, Gibraltar and Bosnia and is now in the Army Reserve, has indicated he would have to step down if the military was not shielded from the proposed reductions, the Times said. Asked if Mr Ellwood was known to have concerns about the prospect of cuts, a senior defence source said: 'Absolutely.' Speculation about defence cuts has mounted in recent months since the launch of a review led by Theresa May's national security adviser Mark Sedwill. Other options reportedly under consideration include the axing of amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, alongside the loss of 1,000 Royal Marines. Mr Ellwood was pictured coming to the aid of police officer Keith Palmer after he was fatally stabbed by Khalid Masood during the Westminster attack An MoD spokesman said: 'We have the biggest defence budget in Europe and are one of very few countries to not only meet but exceed NATO's 2 per cent spending target. 'In the face of intensifying threats, we are contributing to the cross-government review of national security capabilities and looking at how we best spend the rising defence budget to protect our country. 'No decisions have been made and any discussion of the options is pure speculation.' A staggering 1,500 child abuse cases each year are linked to witchcraft and demonic possession, Government statistics have revealed. The data shows there were 1,460 cases in England, which included concerns about abuse which was 'linked to faith and belief' during the year to March 2017. Experts are now warning that there is an increased number of children who are being abused by adults. Of the near 1,500 cases of abuse, 310 took place in the North West, 240 in London and 220 in the West Midlands. One local authority in Lancashire reported 86 cases - the largest for any district, the Telegraph reports. Of the near 1,500 cases of abuse, 310 took place in the North West, 240 in London and 220 in the West Midlands The figure is likely to be higher as local authorities are unaware of the warning signs, charities claim. The executive director of safeguarding at the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service told the Church Times there was a 'limited understanding' of warning signs. Justin Humphreys said: 'The data presented by the Government reflects the reports to the Education Select Committee 2012 that an increasing number of children in the UK are being harmed in the belief that "it will get the devil out of them". 'We should be taking this as a call to re-energise the national effort to educate communities and professionals and safeguard all our children.' The data was previously only released by forces when pressured under the Freedom of Information act. The Metropolitan Police released data in 2014 which showed it had dealt with 148 cases since 2004 - yet new data proves the issue is much greater than initially thought. The Government launched a national action plan in 2012 following the murder of Kristy Bamu, 15, who was accused of witchcraft. His sister Magalie Bamu and her partner Eric Bikubi drowned him in a bath on Christmas Day 2010 after he was tortured for several days. They were both jailed for life. In 2000, Victoria Climbie was tortured and murdered by her guardians who said she was possessed. She died from hypothermia and was forced to sleep in a bath tub in her own excrement. Her body was covered in scars and bruises and led to major changes in child protection policies in the UK. A Government spokesman said: 'Children must be kept safe, and no belief system can justify the abuse of a child. 'The Department for Education is investing up to 1.5 million to tackle child abuse and support charities such as Barnardo's in their work to tackle abuse linked to faith or belief. 'Those responsible for child abuse linked to faith or belief would be subject to prosecution. Our statutory guidance is crystal clear that anyone who has concerns about a child's welfare should report this to children's social care or the police.' Advertisement Two men aged 21 and 40 have handed themselves in to police over the platform fight that triggered mass panic last night in Oxford Street. Detectives had earlier released two photographs of suspects they believed started the stampede after an altercation broke out in a tube station. Witnesses said two men 'bumped' into each other before 'several punches' were thrown on the westbound platform at Oxford Circus. It sparked a major panic with gun shots mistakenly reported to police who declared a terror response and stormed the station on the busiest shopping day of the year. This afternoon British Transport Police said in a statement posted on Twitter: 'We appealed for information following an incident at Oxford Circus yesterday. 'Since the appeal two men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily and were interviewed. 'Thank you to everyone who helped to share the appeal. The investigation continues.' It is not known whether the men who handed themselves in are those pictured by police. British Transport Police had earlier released these images of two men after reports of 'gun shots' led to a stampede and several people being injured Passengers reported hearing 'shots fired' at about 4.40pm prompting police to storm the station and evacuate it on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Minutes later, pop star Olly Murs tweeted that he had heard 'gun shots' inside department store Selfridges - half a mile from the tube station - and encouraged people to flee. The presenter, 33, told his 7.8million followers: 'F*** everyone get out of Selfridges now gun shots!! I'm inside.' Armed police triggered their protocol for terrorist attacks as terrified shoppers bolted from the area - leaving several injured with nine taken to hospital. Crowds were seen running from Oxford Street after gunfire was reportedly heard in or around the Underground station shortly before 5pm last night People fled down Regent Street and looked fearful as the chaos began to unravel around Oxford Circus Other people were seen running away from the scene as police tried to confirm what was happening at the tourist hotspot Armed police were seen entering Oxford Circus and shouting out to people passing by as they evacuate the premises Panic, wild rumours, and some VERY over-excited tweeting: How Oxford Circus lost its head in an hour of confusion 4.43pm London Fire Brigade are called to an 'incident' at Oxford Circus tube. Three fire engines & 15 firefighters are sent. 4.55pm: Reports begin to circulate on Twitter of 'gun shots' being heard near Oxford Street. People flee the streets and rush to hide inside shops. 4.56pm: British Transport Police tweet: 'We continue to respond to an incident at Oxford Circus. The station is currently closed, please avoid the area at this time. Officers are on scene.' TfL confirms they have closed Oxford Circus station. 5pm: People write on Twitter there is a 'big gang fight at Oxford Circus'. 5.04pm: Police say they were called at 4.38pm to a 'number of reports of shots fired' on Oxford Street and underground at Oxford Circus tube station. 5.16pm: Police say: 'We have responded as if the incident is terrorist related. Armed and unarmed officers are on scene.' 5.39pm: Police issue another statement saying they have not found any 'suspects, evidence of shots fired or casualties.' They continue to discourage people from going to the area. 6.02pm: British Transport Police confirm they are reopening Oxford Street underground station. 6.05pm: Officers are told to stand down. Advertisement Terrified shoppers who ran from the area were told to take cover and sought refuge in Topshop, the Nike store, Zara and John Lewis. Shops pulled down the shutters while staff at other stores sent terrified crowds down to the basements for safety. Boots pharmacist Alyssa Puddle, 25, originally from Cwmbran, South Wales, said: 'There were hundreds of people standing with their Black Friday shopping waiting to get home, and some people were not in the best mood. 'I saw a group of 20 lads walking down the westbound platform in one direction, and two other men coming the other way. 'My view was blocked, so I'm not sure what started the fight, but the next second a woman was screaming as if something terrible had happened. They must have bumped into each other and started it from there. 'Because it was so busy people were just being sucked into the fight and shoved around. I got forced up against a wall as the brawl got bigger. 'More people were screaming and shouting and I saw several punches fly. 'Eventually the larger group grabbed one of the other men by the scruff of the neck and dragged him to the edge of the platform. 'There was a train coming and it looked like he would be pushed onto the tracks. It was horrifying. 'Everyone panicked and started shouting to get the guy away from the platform edge. 'When the train came up to the platform the fight stopped and the group moved off. 'I jumped on the train to get away, and that's when they made the announcement to evacuate the station. 'All I could see before it pulled away was a herd of people surging towards to the stairs to escape. 'As I got on the tube the comms speaker announced the station as being evacuated and for everyone to leave. 'As the tube doors shut police officers had arrived. 'As the speakers went off I saw everyone run from the platform. People panicked because it looked very sinister.' Police put cordons in place and a young family were seen clutching each other's hands as they dashed away Officers wore balaclavas as they patrolled the streets while shoppers ran away and hid inside the shops Armed police were seen running past a department store after ordering shoppers to leave the scene immediately One man was stopped by officers as he tried to walk down Regent Street and past the Apple store Officers heavily clad with guns and protective gear were seen walking past Bond Street station towards Oxford Circus Teams of armed police stormed the station but said they found no evidence of gunfire. An officer carrying a gun is seen entering a department store Panicked shoppers locked themselves in shops at the height of the scare and some stores rolled down their shutters to protect them 'F*** everyone get out of Selfridges now gun shots!!' How Olly Murs got caught up in the Oxford Circus panic Popstar Olly Murs was caught up in the Oxford Street panic after apparently overhearing people saying 'gun shots' inside Selfridges. The presenter, 33, live-tweeted as police descended on the streets following reports gunfire in a number of locations on Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus underground station. Murs wrote: 'F*** everyone get out of Selfridges now gun shots!! I'm inside.' He later confirmed he was taken to the back office for protection while other shoppers were 'screaming' and 'running towards exits'. Murs added later he was evacuating the store and was told that there were no shots inside, contrary to earlier reports. He was later criticised by Piers Morgan, who told him to 'stop tweeting'. But he responded: 'Listen piers! I was shopping and then all of sudden the whole place went mad, I mean crazy people running & screaming towards exits. 'We found a small office to hide to which loads of staff and people were saying there was shots fired. If you was there you'd have understood mate.' The singer later tweeted that he was glad 'nothing serious' happened and that he hoped everyone had got home safely. Advertisement Regan Warner wrote on Twitter that she saw a man bumping into another man on the 'overcrowded platform' at 4.35pm. She said: 'They exchanged words, then a punch to the gut, then a full-out fight.' 'People were trying to break it up, there was lots of yelling. People were running away, a woman fainted, children were scared and crying. 'The emergency button was pressed. The fight was broken up and the parties walked in opposite directions. 'The fight was broken up and the parties walked in opposite directions. Then there was an announcement to evacuate the station. I jumped on a train.' MailOnline journalist Keiligh Baker, who was walking towards Carnaby Street when the incident unfolded, said: 'Lots of armed police arrived and stormed Oxford Street. They were shouting "move, move, move!". 'Then the uniformed officers started shouting "go, go, go". People were sprinting and screaming.' Ms Baker added: 'We ran along Oxford Street and there were lots of shops with people in them, some were locked, some were still letting people in.' Another witness Ryan Smith, who was working in a building on the corner of Great Titchfield Street and Oxford Street, said: 'It seemed as if there were thousands of people running past the building. One girl who ran into the building said she heard several bangs. She was very shook up. 'It was just like a stampede there were thousands of people running down the street. They started flocking into the building. Do you know the men who were involved? Call 0203 615 1536 or email scott.campbell@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement 'And then I have come up and I have gone to the window and then it was calm for a second. Then people started running into shops.' Greg Bird told MailOnline he was sat outside a coffee shop near Oxford Circus station when he saw 'about 50 people sprinting around the corner and screaming'. About 90 minutes after responding police said there was no evidence of any shots, casualties or suspects and stood down the operation just after 6pm. A large section of Oxford Street was locked down at the height of the scare, but Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations later reopened. Cordons have been removed and the area has returned to normal. British Transport Police confirmed the mass evacuation was caused by an 'altercation' between two men and urged those pictured in the CCTV images to come forward. In a statement, they said: '[Officers] would now like to speak to these two people in the CCTV images, who they believe may have information about the incident and the circumstances around the incident. 'They would also like to speak to anyone who was at the station or in the area at the time and saw or heard anything that would have caused mass evacuation.' Chief Superintendent Martin Fry said: 'Thank you to everyone for bearing with us this evening and also to colleagues from all the emergency services who helped carry out a swift response. 'Our officers, alongside those from the MPS, reacted quickly and responded professionally in line with our well prepared plans. 'I know incidents like these can cause concern, but our officers are highly visible around the network and across the country so if you ever need us please call us on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016.' Dozens of people were seen fleeing the station after it was evacuated following reports of gun shots inside the station Later on, the centre of Oxford Circus was completely empty aside from police vehicles and 10 officers patrolling the street People are seen taking refuge inside the Gap shop, on Oxford Street, in the cellar and inside the shop Buses were told to pull over and evacuate as armed police stood around Oxford Circus keeping an eye out for suspects The area was in lockdown and a cordon was in place while police scoured the area. People are seen on the phone as they wait for the all-clear by police Several other pedestrians were seen on their mobile phones during the widespread panic yesterday evening A cordon was set up near John Lewis, on Oxford Street, towards near Topshop and the Nike Store. Officers also partially cordoned off the right hand side of Regent Street, near All Saints A police statement released at 5:40pm said: 'To date police have not located any trace of any suspects, evidence of shots fired or causalities. Officers continue to work with colleagues from British Transport Police in the area of Oxford Circus. 'Updates will be provided as soon as we have them. 'If you are in building stay in a building, if you are on the street in Oxford Street leave the area. Officers are continuing to search the area.' At 6.08pm, Scotland Yard put out another statement saying: 'The Met response on Oxford Street has now been stood down. 'If you sought shelter in a building please now leave and follow the direction of police officers on the ground if you need assistance. 'At 16:38hrs on Friday, 24 November police started to receive numerous 999 calls within a short space of time reporting shots fired in a number of locations on Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus underground station. 'Given the nature of the information received, the Met responded in line with our existing operation as if the incident was terrorism, including the deployment of armed officers. 'Officers working with colleagues from British Transport Police carried out an urgent search of the area. No causalities, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police.' The BTP spokesman added: 'A full and methodical search of the station and Oxford Street was conducted by officers. 'At this stage, we are examining the circumstances of the incident which resulted in the station being evacuated. 'During the station evacuation, one woman is believed to have sustained a minor injury. 'We continue to work with the Metropolitan Police Service and are working to reopen Oxford Circus and Bond Street Tube stations. ' A Kensington Palace spokesman confirmed that despite the incident, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Royal Variety Performance at the nearby London Palladium. Do you know the men who were involved? Call 0203 615 1536 or email scott.campbell@mailonline.co.uk Fire engines were also dispatched to the scene after people were evacuated safely from the area by police officers Four heavily armed officers were seen talking as officers staged the cordons in the background of the shopping district Stunned witnesses described seeing a stampede of shoppers and the a cordon was put in place while police swarmed the area One man was seen speaking to a police officer during the chaos while holding his phone to his chest A large group of people were seen looking around and filing out of the underground station later on Police officers were seen standing on islands as people returned to the pavements afterwards Several people were seen standing outside an exit point of Oxford Circus tube station earlier Two officers looked on as people remained on the roads and walked around after the incident Earlier, police officers blocked an exit point at Oxford Circus as people stood around and waited for instruction Oxford Circus was extremely busy as people stood around and tried to work out what was happening Due to the incident in Oxford Circus, despite police allowing the public back in, most of the shops remained closed The shopping district is seen in pitch black as shoppers walked around Regent Street earlier this evening after the cordons were removed Several people were seen carrying shopping bags after the incident and walking calmly around the district tonight Despite Black Friday being a huge event for shops across the globe, several shops including Gap (which hid people in its basement hours before) remained shut Terrified shoppers have told how they locked in the basement of a bar after gunshots were reportedly heard at Oxford Circus German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today she wanted to get a new government in place 'quickly' - and ruled out holding new elections. It comes after she was left scrambling to find a way to govern when three-way coalition talks collapsed last Sunday. 'Europe needs a strong Germany, it is desirable to get a government in place quickly,' Merkel told a party meeting, adding, however, that her acting government was able to carry on day to day business in Europe's biggest economy. She added: 'Asking voters to go to the polls again would, I think, be totally wrong.' 'Europe needs a strong Germany, it is desirable to get a government in place quickly,' Merkel (pictured) told a party meeting, adding, however, that her acting government was able to carry on day to day business in Europe's biggest economy On Monday, Merkel had said she would prefer new elections to a minority government. Addressing party members today, Merkel argued voters had given her conservatives a mandate to rule in a September 24 election which handed her party the most parliamentary seats but limited coalition options. She added she was prepared to talk to the Social Democrats (SPD) after the centre-left party reversed an earlier decision and said it was prepared to talk to Merkel's conservatives, but she stressed any talks should be based on mutual respect. Merkel's fourth term was cast into doubt when the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) walked out of talks with her conservative bloc and the Greens last Sunday, causing a political impasse in Europe's biggest economy. But on Friday, the Social Democrats (SPD) reversed a previous decision and agreed to talk to Merkel, raising the possibility of an extension of the 'grand coalition' which has ruled Germany for the last four years, or a minority government. Sounding self-assured, even cracking the odd joke, and receiving regular applause during her speech, Merkel said she wanted to look ahead after the setbacks of the last week and she clearly turned her attention to the SPD. She welcomed the opportunity to explore the possibilities with the SPD, provided it take place on the basis of mutual respect. Merkel defended the record of the last 'grand coalition', saying under its leadership Germany enjoyed the strongest labour market for decades, a balanced budget and pensioners and families had benefited. Addressing party members today, Merkel argued voters had given her conservatives a mandate to rule in a September 24 election which handed her party the most parliamentary seats but limited coalition options 'We worked well together,' she said. Merkel also laid out some priorities for a future government, including maintaining solid finances, making some tax cuts, extending the digital infrastructure and aiming to limit the number of migrants entering Germany to 200,000 per year. Acknowledging an election result that reflected voters' fears and insecurities - the conservatives and other parties bled support to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) - Merkel acknowledged the task ahead was difficult. 'The election result shows that we have a mountain of tasks ahead,' she said. Schulz said that the Social Democrats were now willing to meet with other parties, but insisted that the talks 'won't automatically take a particular direction The SPD will likely approve a renewed coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives if party leaders present a convincing proposal, a member of the party's executive leadership said earlier today. Niels Annen of the SPD, in an interview with the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper, called for quick action to form a new German government given a range of crises around the world, and said a 'grand coalition' was an option that could not be excluded. SPD leader Martin Schulz on Friday agreed to hold talks with Merkel about reviving their outgoing coalition government, but said no decisions had been made and party members would have the final say on any deal. But he suggested that governing could help the SPD achieve its political aims and told the party's youth wing - which rejected another grand coalition at a party conference - that he expected their loyalty and 'constructive cooperation.' Annen said the SPD needed to hear from 'the failed chancellor' about how she envisioned the future government before agreeing to another four-year tie-up with conservatives. The centre-left SPD had vowed to go into opposition after suffering its worst result in 70 years in September's election, but came under intense pressure, including by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to rethink its position and help avert a disruptive repeat poll in Europe's largest economy. Sounding self-assured, even cracking the odd joke, and receiving regular applause during her speech, Merkel said she wanted to look ahead after the setbacks of the last week and she clearly turned her attention to the SPD Schulz said party leaders agreed to talks out of a sense of responsibility to Germany and Europe after Merkel's attempt to form a government with two smaller parties collapsed on Sunday. 'Germany urgently needs a predictable and reliable government. A grand coalition could be an option and we should not exclude it,' Annen told the newspaper, adding that the SPD was focused on 'what is good for the country.' He welcomed plans to take any coalition agreement to members for a vote, and said the party should continue its restructuring efforts after the September election setback. 'I'm certain, if the SPD leadership makes a convincing proposal, it will be able to convince the membership,' he said. Annen cited citizens' insurance and better protection for renters as issues to hash out with conservatives. SPD deputy leader Ralf Stegner told the Funke newspaper group that Schulz would retain his leadership role, saying he continued to enjoy strong support within the party. 'There is absolutely no doubt that Martin Schulz will be re-elected as party chairman with a good result,' he said. A 19-year-old woman who claims she was raped by two NYPD detectives in the back of their van after being arrested has described for the first time how nine others visited her in hospital to try to bully her out of reporting them. Anna Chambers was 18 when she was arrested in Brooklyn on September 15 after being found smoking marijuana in her car with two male friends. NYPD detectives Eddie Martins, 33, and Richard Hall, 37, took her into their police van after finding her with the drugs. She claims that once she was in the van, they forced her to perform oral sex on them while handcuffed and then took turns raping her then let her go. The men have been charged with a string of offenses including rape and aware awaiting their next court date. They admit engaging in sexual activity but say the sex was consensual. Scroll down for video Anna Chambers, 19, has described how nine NYPD officers visited her in hospital after she reported being raped by their colleagues. She says they tried to talk her out of pursuing pressing charges against the men Detectives Eddie Martins, 33, and Richard Hall, 37, have been charged with raping the woman. They are pictured leaving Brooklyn Supreme Court earlier this month After the alleged attack, Chambers went to Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn to be tested with a rape kit. It is there that she says nine other officers arrived and tried to bully her out of reporting their colleagues' alleged crime. On Saturday, she described their visit for the first time in her own words. 'At least nine officers showed up to the hospital trying to intimidate me and my mom. 'I was sitting in the room by myself . . . They were pressing me, saying things like, "Oh, this isnt the first time youre having an encounter with the police." 'I was bawling my eyes out. The way they were speaking with me was so rude and aggressive,' she told The New York Post. Chambers says the men spoke in her native Russian to try to build a rapport with her and that they claimed Martins and Hall were not police officers. Days later, she claims she described the hospital visit to the Internal Affairs Bureau Chambers was receiving treatment at the Maimonides Medical Center in New York the day of the alleged rape when she says nine NYPD officer showed up to talk with her Similar details of the alleged visit were previously given by her lawyer, Michael David, and her mother. 'He kept saying to Anna and her mom, "How do you know they were real cops?"' David said earlier this week. Chambers, who was 18 at the time, said the cops spoke 'aggressively' towards her The NYPD has not commented on the visit but it confirmed earlier this week that an investigation has been launched. No other officers have yet been charged. Neither Martins nor Hall is alleged to have been in the hospital room. Lawyers acting on their behalf however cast doubt on Chambers' version of events and said her story had changed. The two cops were scorned for pointing out in their attempts to defend themselves that the young woman had posted provocative photographs on social media. They included reference to the photographs and to the fact she had filed a $50million lawsuit against in the city in a letter to prosecutors which was filed before a grand jury indicted them on 50 different charges. On Saturday, in response to her description of the visit, Mark Bederow, Martin's lawyer, said there was nothing to prove her account. 'Nothing corroborates the sensational allegations made by a plaintiffs lawyer more than two months after the incident,' he said. Martins and Hall both posted bail earlier this month and are awaiting their next court date which has been set for January 2018. The woman says the other NYPD cops said neither Martins (above with his lawyer) nor Hall was even a cop Both of the men posted bail and are awaiting their next court date. They say they had sex with Chambers but that it was consensual The men deny the charges against them. They quit the force soon after surrendering to police earlier this month. Chambers claims that the men told her they were 'freaks' after arresting her on September 15. She says they asked her what she would do to get out of the drug charges before launching their sexual attack. Prosecutors say that they instructed her to phone the two men she had been with in the car to tell them not to follow their police van after they arrested her. Afterwards, the men released her without charge. The rape kit which was used at the hospital where she claims the other officers visited her detected traces of the two men's DNA. If convicted, the men face 25 years in prison each. David, Chamber's lawyer, previously said the entire ordeal has made her lose faith in law enforcement. 'She's embarrassed. She's very depressed over this. Her whole life had changed after this experience. She's afraid of the police, and she really wants justice to be served,' he said. A young boy was taken to hospital after being hit by a car - which crushed his bicycle. The 11-year-old sustained leg injuries, but paramedics said the injuries would have been far worse if he hadn't been wearing a helmet, 9 News reports. The crash happened at Daceyville, about seven kilometers southeast of Sydney. A boy riding his bike was hit by a car (pictured) Saturday afternoon and suffered leg injuries The 11-year-old boy's bike was crushed by the car seven kilometres from Sydney's southeast The 11-year-old was rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital with leg injuries. However, the extent of the rest of the boy's injuries are currently unknown. The driver of the car was taken away for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. The driver of a silver Toyota Corolla pulled over to help the boy after the crash. A rare wartime pistol used by the resistance forces to fight against the Nazi occupation forces was handed in to police during a gun amnesty. The single-shot FP45 Liberator pistol was dropped in the amnesty box run by Kent Police, along with other modern guns and firearms. One million FP45 Liberator pistols were manufactured in the United States with the intention of being used by the resistance in occupied territories during the Second World War. This wartime FP-45 single-shot pistol was designed for use by operatives behind enemy lines in the Second World War. Resistance fighters were told to use the weapon to kill an individual Nazi and steal his weapon The Metropolitan Police released footage of this Bren gun, forward and a Browning M2 Officers also saw sub machine guns, WWI-era rifles and a Tommy Gun, fourth down But the crude and often ineffective nature of the weapon meant a large number were dumped at sea or melted down for scrap metal so examples are relatively rare. The FP-45 was a crude, single-shot pistol designed to be cheaply and quickly mass-produced and it was never intended for front line service. Originally The Liberator was designed as an insurgency weapon to be mass dropped behind enemy lines to the resistance in both Eastern and Western European occupied territory. Resistance fighters would then to recover the gun, sneak up on an Axis occupier, kill or incapacitate him, and retrieve his weapons. During the original engineering drawings labeled the barrel as 'tube', the trigger as 'yoke', the firing pin as 'control rod', and the trigger guard as 'spanner' to disguise the secretive handgun was being mass produced. Police forces across the country are running the two-week appeal for the public to surrender unwanted and illegally-held firearms without facing any criminal charges. During the amnesty a Bren light machine gun and a Browning M2 machine gun were also handed in to the Metropolitan police. Members of the public have until 5pm to hand in their firearms to avail of the amnesty Most of the guns handed over to police will be melted down although some will go to museums One police station in Nottingham received this shotgun disguised as a walking stick The FP45 Liberator pistol was handed over at the desk at Folkestone Police Station and rather than being destroyed, it will be sent to a military museum in York. Det Ch Supt Rob Fordham said: 'This firearm is a part of history and I am sure it will be a welcome addition to the collection at the Royal Armouries Museum. 'Weapons such as these are often forgotten heirlooms which have been taken from past conflicts and passed down over the generations. 'If it's unwanted, or if you're unsure if it's illegally-owned, please hand it in. You will not be prosecuted for possessing the weapon whilst surrendering it, you could prevent it falling into the wrong hands, and you could save a life.' The drive will be running for another three days to hand in weapons without consequences. Any guns and ammunition can be disposed of during the amnesty at police stations throughout Kent until 5pm on Sunday. Neighbors in the New York City borough of Staten Island stabbed each other during a fight over a car on Thanksgiving, police say. Francisco Glenn, 27, and Mark Archipoli, 23, were quarreling over damage to Archipoli's Hyundai Sonata at around 9.15pm on Thursday, the New York Daily News reports. The fight turned particularly violent after the men began attacking each other with knives, police say. Staten Island neighbors Francisco Glenn, 27, and Mark Archipoli, 23, got into a knife fight over damage to Archipoli's Hyundai Sonata (pictured in a stock photo), police say. They were taken to a hospital and critical condition and both were charged with assault and weapons possession, police say Glenn was slashed in his abdomen and Archipoli in his chest and hand, police say. They were both taken to Staten Island University Hospital. Both were in critical condition, police say. Each now faces charges of assault and weapons possession, police say. Residents of Jersey have called for the return of the island's 'Elgin Marbles' monument that was taken and rebuilt in Oxfordshire as a governor's retirement gift. The dolmen - a large structure reminiscent of a stone circle which is built from slabs of pink granite - was discovered in 1785 in Mont de la Ville, near the capital St Helier. The Neolithic monument was uprooted and taken to the Oxfordshire estate of retiring Jersey governor General Henry Seymour Conway via barge three years later. The surviving ancient dolmen is now in the grounds of Templecombe House in Henley-on-Thames which is on the market for 7million. Scroll down for video The dolmen - a large structure reminiscent of a stone circle which is built from slabs of pink granite - was discovered in 1785 in Mont de la Ville, near the capital St Helier The Neolithic monument was uprooted and taken to the Oxfordshire estate of retiring Jersey governor General Henry Seymour Conway (pictured) via barge in 1788 It has given the residents of Jersey a new hope that they could buy back the stones and return them to the island. One local man named Neil Holmes is planning to raise 8million through an online crowdfunder in a bid to purchase the estate. He said: 'The aim of this is to buy the property that the neolithic Jersey dolmen currently resides on, repatriate the dolmen, then resell the estate.' The surviving ancient dolmen is now in the grounds of Templecombe House, pictured, in Henley-on-Thames which is on the market for 7million The stones were one of dozens of dolmens placed across the island which were shrouded in legend and thought to be 'the home of sprites and fairies'. But many were broken up for building materials in the 17th and 18th century amid waning interest in the mythology surrounding the stunning monuments, according to local history experts. General Conway was persuaded by his cousin - author Horace Walpole - to pay for the transport of his gift. The stones, pictured, were one of dozens of dolmens placed across the island which were shrouded in legend and thought to be 'the home of sprites and fairies' Many of the ancient sotones were broken up for building materials in the 17th and 18th century amid waning interest in the mythology surrounding the stunning monuments He wrote: 'Pray do not disappoint me but transport the Cathedral of your island to your domain on our continent.' The island has attempted to claim back the dolmen and the issue was brought up in Parliament in 1928. In the book Megaliths in History in 1973, author Glyn Daniel wrote: 'It is not a mock megalith or folly; it is a genuine antiquity but has no right to be in southern Britain.' Adrian Rothlisberger (pictured), 26, was the 45th crew member on the ARA San Juan, which disappeared without trace last week in the South Atlantic The mother of a sailor who should have been on the missing Argentinian submarine told yesterday how her son got off 'with just seconds to spare' before the vessel began its doomed last journey. Adrian Rothlisberger, 26, was the 45th crew member on the ARA San Juan, which disappeared without trace last week in the South Atlantic Ocean as it returned to a naval base in Mar del Plata. Adrian, who has been in the navy for eight years, embarked with his 44 other colleagues on the submarine in the port of Ushuaia in the southern tip of South America. Although he had made a formal request to his superiors for leave in order to complete paperwork for his imminent house purchase, Adrian had not heard back and assumed he would have to complete the mission, according to his mother Sandra Alvares. She told Argentina's Clarin newspaper: 'Adrian had asked his boss for some days off to sort out the documentation for the new house he was buying. 'It was going to require a lot of his time, so they ended up giving him exemption from that journey. Adrian, who has been in the navy for eight years, embarked with his 44 other colleague on the San Juan submarine (pictured) in the port of Ushuaia in the southern tip of South America. 'He already had all his things on the submarine, and they told him he could go moments before the submarine went down. He got off with just seconds to spare.' Now back at his home in Mar del Plata, when news of the missing submarine started to emerge Ms Alvares travelled from her home in Villa Angela, in the north of Argentina, to be with his son, who she says is 'in shock'. This week he changed his Facebook profile picture to a photo of his black 'ARA San Juan' cap This week he changed his Facebook profile picture to a photo of his black 'ARA San Juan' cap. Also this week, distraught family members gathered at the naval base were reportedly informed that their loved ones had perished, probably in an underwater explosion hours after their last communication. The explosion is believed to have happened between 100 and 1,000 metres under the water and sent the submarine plummeting to more than 3,000 metres, according to officials who spoke to relatives. News of the miracle escape of one of the San Juan crew comes after it emerged another sailor who was supposed to be on the sub was also spared the fate of his colleagues after getting off the vessel to tend to his ill mother. Now back at his home in Mar del Plata, when news of the missing submarine started to emerge Ms Alvares travelled from her home in Villa Angela, in the north of Argentina, to be with his son, who she says is 'in shock'. Pictured: Adrian with his fellow sailors The explosion is believed to have happened between 100 and 1,000 metres under the water and sent the submarine plummeting to more than 3,000 metres, according to officials who spoke to relatives. Pictured left: Adrian with his father. Right: Adrian in happier times Rene Humberto Vilte was a confirmed crew member and was even initially listed as one of the missing. But it turned out the sailor had disembarked as the submarine prepared for trip between Usuahia to Mar del Prata after hearing that his mother had been rushed to hospital after becoming seriously ill. Although he had made a formal request for leave to complete a house purchase, Adrian had not heard back and assumed he would have to complete the mission Another crew member is believed to have been called up to replace him, believed to be Jorge Luis Mealla, who reportedly called his parents to tell them he had been told to reboard the doomed submarine at the last minute. Rene's mother has since recovered and has returned home. A friend of the sailor, Anabella, said: 'He says that his mother gave him life for the second time. 'He is in shock, he can't believe what has happened and how close he came to death. 'I spoke to him on the day his photo was published among those who were on the missing submarine. I saw his name and Picture on the lists, it was terrible, so distressing. 'He told me he had been on the crew, but that he had got off to see his mother.' The submariner has not commented on his escape and friends say they have been able to contact him, but yesterday he updated he posted a black ribbon on the Navy logo on his Facebook page. Richard Buttrose, former drug-dealer to Sydney's elite, walked free from Berrima prison on Saturday. The 45-year-old, the nephew of Australian media legend Ita Buttrose, served eight years and nine months of his original 16 year sentence for drug dealing. Walking free from prison gates shortly before 9am, Mr Buttrose told reporters he felt 'fantastic' and his first stop as a free man would be Bondi Beach, The Daily Telegraph reports. 'I made a big mistake a long time ago,' he said, as he walked to a waiting black Mercedes hire car. Richard Buttrose, 45, was released early from jail on Saturday after serving eight years for drug dealing (pictured in 2009) 'I have done my time. I did the best to make the most of my time, I did two university degrees and now I am out a better person.' Mr Buttrose left prison with a degree in both accounting and a Master's in business administration. The father-of-two was greeted by two friends at the prison gates before shaking the hand of a prison officer for the last time, the publication reports. He reportedly spent the afternoon at a barbecue in Bellevue Hill, surrounded by friends and family, after enjoying Saturday's warm weather at the beach. Mr Buttrose was sentenced to 12 years jail in 2010 after police found millions of dollars worth of cocaine and cash at his Sydney properties (pictured) Police located more than $1.3m in cash along with around 7.7 kilograms of cocaine (pictured) during a raid on Mr Buttrose's properties Mr Buttrose was originally sentenced to 16 years in jail in 2010, after police found over seven kilograms of cocaine, worth more than $10.8 million, during a raid on his properties. Police also discovered more than $1.3 million in cash stashed at his Paddington and Darling Point homes. The cocaine-dealer had an A-list clientele, whose contacts he kept in an infamous little black book, the publication reported. Mr Buttrose gave up his high-flying Sydney eastern suburbs clients for a reduced sentence. His sentence was reduced to 12 years and six months with a non-parole period of nine years and six months. The drug-dealer is the nephew of Australian media legend Ita Buttrose (pictured) The cocaine-dealer had an A-list clientele, whose contacts he kept in an infamous little black book (stock image) The deal to hand over his clients placed his wife and children in danger, the court heard at the time. His family fled the country and Mr Buttrose himself served his sentence in protective custody, the publication reports. The nephew of media icon Ita reportedly became known as 'The Man' during cocaine dealing days, racking up millions in cash and property. After his initial plead of guilty, the 45-year-old told the District Court that having cocaine was regarded 'much like having a glass of wine'. US tobacco companies have been ordered to run television and newspapers advertisements to correct lies they told over the course of the 20th century. The 'corrective statements' are part of a 2006 judgment in which a US court found that tobacco manufacturers conspired to deceive the American public about the drawbacks of smoking and cigarettes. The court has ordered the ads to be paid for by tobacco companies Lorillard Inc, Philip Morris USA, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company and Altria Group. US tobacco companies have been ordered to run television and newspapers advertisements to correct lies they told over the course of the 20th century (Pictured, packs of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company cigarette brands Pall Mall, Winston, Camel, Doral, and Kool) The 'corrective statements' are part of a 2006 judgment in which a US court found that tobacco manufacturers conspired to deceive the American public about the drawbacks of smoking and cigarettes (Pictured, L&M Cigarettes, a brand produced by Altria Group, Inc) According to the order, the ads will run in more than 50 newspapers and on major broadcasting networks. The companies must also buy full-page ads in the first section of each Sunday newspaper, and 260 television ads will be run for one year. In 2015, $8.9billion was spent on advertising and promotion of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco combined. However, tobacco companies will not have publish corrections online or on social media, mediums where four in 10 American now regularly get their news. Experts say this was a delay tactic due to appeals over the original judgment. 'The tobacco companies' basic strategy for everything, whether it's science or regulation or litigation, is delay,' Stan Glantz, an expert on tobacco company strategy at the University of California, San Francisco, told The Guardian. 'They have used a lot of arguing about what in terms of the real world are trivial issues, to delay having to make these statements for 11 years but it is what the tobacco companies do. 'The problem is the technology has moved on, and the statements are not in social media because it didn't really exist back then. But better late than never.' However, tobacco companies will not have publish corrections online or on social media, mediums where four in 10 American now regularly get their news (Pictured, various cigarette brands of Philip Morris including Marlboro, Parliament and Basic) According to the CDC, more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking and cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the US (Pictured, Newport cigarettes on sale, a brand produced by Lorillard Inc) The companies were first ordered to run the ads in 2006 by US district judge Gladys Kessler, who found that tobacco firms had caused 'a staggering number of deaths per year, an immeasurable amount of human suffering and economic loss, and a profound burden on our national health care system'. Many of these deaths were found to be because of detrimental ad campaigns such as companies that tried to use 'physician endorsements' to encourage consumers to buy their products. Camel began an ad campaign in the 1940s alleging that doctors gravitate towards Camel products, and Lucky Strike purported that '20,679 physicians' said that Luckies were less harmful to the consumer's throat than other cigarettes. In the early 1930s, Lucky Strike also marketed their cigarettes to women as an appetite suppressant with the slogan: ''Reach for a Lucky Instead of a Sweet'. According to the CDC, more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking and cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the US. Confusion is gripping the top consumer watchdog agency in the nation after the Trump administration appointed an interim head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau just hours after the outgoing director named a successor. The move signals a potential showdown between the White House and the federal agency over who will take over of the department, CNN reported Friday. President Trump on Friday appointed Mick Mulvaney, the current director of the Office of Management and Budget, as the interim head of the department until a permanent replacement can be found. Donald Trump named an interim head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Friday just hours after the outgoing director Richard Cordray (pictured) named a successor Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, was named as Trump's interim appointee to head the federal agency 'Director Mulvaney will serve as acting director until a permanent director is nominated and confirmed,' the White House said in a statement. But just hours before, Obama administration appointee Richard Cordray announced his resignation as head of the agency, naming his chief of staff, Leandra English, as his deputy director. The move, according to CNN, essentially establishes English as his replacement. The outgoing director, an Obama administration appointee, named Leandra English as his successor just hours before The Consumer Financial Protection Agency was created in 2010 through the Dodd-Frank Act as a response to the global financial crisis the struck the economy just two years before. The federal department was setup to regulate the financial services industry which includes banks, credit unions and mortgage-servicing operations among others. It remains unclear who will run the agency when employees return to work on Monday, according to CNN. Cordray was tapped as the first ever director of CFBP. His resignation marks an opportunity to dramatically overhaul the agency under the auspices of the Trump administration. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MASS), who helped craft the CFBP, posted in a tweet Friday evening that under the current law the agency's deputy director assumes the role of acting director if there's a vacancy. 'The Dodd-Frank Act is clear,' Warren wrote, 'if there is a @CFBP Director vacancy, the Deputy Director becomes Acting Director.' The President 'can't override that,' she added. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MASS), who helped craft the CFBP, said it's not within the power of the President to appoint a leader of the agency following a resignation 'The Dodd-Frank Act is clear,' Warren wrote, 'if there is a @CFBP Director vacancy, the Deputy Director becomes Acting Director' Trump 'can nominate the next director -- but until that nominee is confirmed by the Senate, Leandra English is the Acting Director under the Dodd-Frank Act,' Warren posted in another tweet. According to the Federal Vacancies Act, a government official is not required to leave their current position if appointed by the President to fill a new role as long as they are confirmed by the Senate. Mulvaney says that he intends to stay as head of the Office of Management and Budget while tackling the additional interim position. Mulvaney and his Republican colleagues have routinely attacked the CFBP, claiming it has too much power and burdens the market with excessive regulations. Last month, the US Senate voted to terminate a rule created by the agency that would have allowed class-action suits against banks or credit card companies. The rule would have addressed fine-print clauses that bank and credit card consumers must agree to which bar them from seeking redress through litigation. The vote was criticized by many Democrats as a sop to Wall Street. In his resignation letter, Cordary said the CFBP was vital to the US economy and provided essential protections against predatory practices that helped lead to 2008's 'Great Recession.' 'We have returned almost $12 billion to more than 30 million consumers who had been cheated or mistreated by banks or other large financial companies,' Cordray wrote in the letter. The LAPD says it has 28 open sex-crime investigations linked to Hollywood and the media, and that it expects more will come. As well as the investigations it currently has open, the force has also passed on 37 cases to other jurisdictions where it believes the crimes may have occurred. 'We anticipate the LAPD and other jurisdictions will receive even more high profile sex crime reports in the coming weeks and months,' Police Chief Charlie Beck told the LA Times. 'We encourage all victims of sexual assault to come forward to report these crimes.' Scroll down for video Suspects: Scandal surrounding film producer and alleged rapist Harvey Weinstein (left) has led to other claims emerging in Hollywood. Actor Ed Westwick (right) has been accused of rape Beck said that his department is committed to investigating all cases of sexual assault. To that end, they have opened up two teams of five detectives each, with cold-case investigators on board to help look into historical accusations. However, he noted that some - such as Corey Feldman's claim that he was sexually abused by two adults while a child actor - had passed the statute of limitations. Investigation: Hollywood agent Tyler Grasham is also accused of sexual assault. The LAPD has two teams of detectives looking into its 28 open sex crime cases However, he thanked Feldman for coming forward, and asked others who believe that they have been affected to do the same. 'We recognize the significant trauma these victims suffer at the hands of the predators who commit these heinous crimes,' Beck said 'Our detectives are coordinating closely with our local prosecutors and other police agencies including the NYPD. 'The high profile nature of these particular cases has not changed our unyielding commitment to seek justice for ALL victims of sexual assault.' Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey has also announced this month that veteran sex crimes prosecutors will examine the cases put to them by the LAPD. Hollywood has been abuzz with sex crime allegations since an investigation into eight claims of sexual harassment and assault against Harvey Weinstein snowballed. More than 50 women have now come forward with claims about Weinstein, with allegations ranging from sexual harassment to rape. Too late: The PD has promised to look into all claims, but for Corey Feldman (pictured) it was too late - the statute of limitations has expired on his claims he was abused as a child Weinstein is one of those on the LAPD's books, but he has been joined by a number of other figures as others, emboldened by the high-profile case, have come forward. Among the others being investigated are Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick, who is accused of raping two actresses and sexually assaulting a third; and Girls writer Murray Miller, who is accused of sexually assaulting an actress. Hollywood agent Tyler Grasham is also on the books, having been accused of sexually assaulting three men, trading sex for favors with a fourth, and asking a 16-year-old boy to be his boyfriend. A Florida teenager who, along with his grandmother, had been reported missing earlier in the week has been detained at the United States border with Canada. Logan Mott, 15, was reported missing after he and his grandmother Kristina French, 53, were supposed to pick up his father and his father's girlfriend from a Jacksonville area airport, CBS News reports. He was detained late Friday. The body of an individual believed to be French was discovered in a shallow grave in the backyard of Mott's father, who is her son, on Friday. Logan Mott, 15, was detained at the US-Canada border late on Friday. He and his grandmother Kristina French, 53, were reported missing in Florida earlier this week Police issued an arrest warrant for Mott earlier on Friday on charges of auto theft. French's Dodge Dart was missing from her home in the Jacksonville area. Guns were also missing from the home of Mott's father, who is French's son Courtesy: WJXT When Mott and French did not pick up the teenager's father on Wednesday, the couple returned to their home via Uber and found it looted. The couple also noted that guns were missing from a gun safe, News4Jax reported. Police who later investigated the scene said they found evidence pointed to 'possible criminal violence' in the home. They also discovered remains in the home's backyard that they said might be the body of French. Authorities have not yet officially identified the body. Police searched French's home, which was also ransacked. Her car, a 2015 Dodge Dart, was also missing, the Florida Times-Union reports. Authorities previously issued an arrest warrant for Mott on charges of auto theft. Wanted posters for the teenager branded him 'armed and dangerous'. They also said they hoped to speak to him to try to piece together the chain of events. He was detained near Buffalo, New York. The boy's mother, Carrie Campbell-Mott, said in a statement: 'We are relieved he is safe and in custody and we just ask for everyone to give us time to sort out what happened. 'That no matter what, Logan is our child and we love him and are standing by him to help in any way. 'We want to find out what happened to Kristina and we need time for that to happen.' Police say they want to question Mott about the chain of events that led to his grandmother's disappearance and the ransacking of her home and the home of her son (who is Mott's father) She had previously issued pleas for any knowledge of her son's whereabouts. She wrote on social media that he was dependent on insulin and expressed worry that he might not have access to it. Campbell-Mott said she had last spoken to her son on Sunday, November 19 and had last communicated with French on Tuesday, November 21. Regarding the conversation with Logan, she told News4Jax: 'There just wasn't any indication that there was anything wrong, nothing. It was just a normal conversation.' The boy is a student at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has warned Theresa May that the idea of using the Irish Sea as a post-Brexit border between the rest of the UK is 'non-negotiable'. Nigel Dodds, who leads the DUP in Westminster, said any proposals to make special arrangements for Northern Ireland in Brexit talks should be taken off the table. The topic of the Irish border has been a major problem in Brexit negotiations with the UK, Republic of Ireland and the EU struggling to come to an agreement on how to regulate trade and the movement of people post-Brexit. Speaking at the DUP's annual conference in Belfast - the first since they became the political kingmakers in Westminster - Mr Dodds said: 'Make no mistake - for us the integrity of the United Kingdom is non-negotiable. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) deputy leader Nigel Dodds delivers his key note speech during their party's annual general meeting 'If the EU wants to insist on border check points on the island of Ireland that is a matter for them. There will be no internal UK border in the Irish Sea.' His remarks come after Ireland threatened to block talks on the UK's future relationship with the EU until 'credible answers and a credible road map' were laid out to avoid a hard border. The Irish government wants a system whereby Northern Ireland would remain in the single market and customs union, which would mean it would have to obey EU standards post-Brexit. This would means there would be no border checks although this has been ruled out by Mrs May. Yet Republicans view Brexit as a chance to push through a referendum on the reunification of Ireland, a move which would break up the UK. Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP, struck a 1billion confidence and supply deal with the Conservatives following the General Election There are fears there could be a return to the hard border of the Troubles-era if a hard border was to return, something which has not existed since the Good Friday Agreement. The matter is expected to come to a head before December's crucial EU summit in Brussels, where the 27 EU states will decide whether to progress with talks or not. Mrs May cannot afford to anger the DUP due to the 1billion confidence and supply agreement she has with the party to get through key votes in the Commons following a poor showing at the General Election which left the Conservatives without a majority. The Prime Minister has repeatedly made clear that the UK, including Northern Ireland, will leave the Single Market and the Customs Union after Brexit. She said yesterday: 'We [the UK and the Republic] have the same desire. We want to ensure the free movement of people and trade across the border can carry on as now.' A judge in Ohio has ordered drug dealer Michael Chandler, 29 (pictured), of Cincinnati, to cover the funeral costs for a teen who died of a fentanyl overdose. He was also sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison and to pay $9,000 in restitution to the teen's family A judge in Ohio has ordered a drug dealer to cover the funeral costs for a teen who died of a fentanyl overdose. Michael Chandler, 29, of Cincinnati, was also sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison and to pay $9,000 in restitution to the teen's family. Authorities say they were able to trace the fentanyl that killed the 17-year-old, identified in court documents as JH, back to Chandler. The teen died of an overdose at his Kentucky home in April 2016. The Kentucky Drug Task Force discovered the teen had bought heroin from a person known as 'Goldie'. When investigators obtained the phone number for the alleged drug dealer, a records search led them to Chandler, court documents said. The investigators then used a friend of the deceased teen to make a controlled purchase from 'Goldie'. He wore a wire and turned over the purchased substance to the Hamilton County Coroner's crime lab, which turned out to be fentanyl. From there, a search warrant was obtained for Chandler's home, where investigators found 644 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, a handgun and ammunition, according to WCPO. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Authorities say they were able to trace the fentanyl that killed the 17-year-old, identified in court documents as JH, back to Chandler (left and right). Investigators found 644 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, a handgun and ammunition at Chandler's home In an undated video that Chandler recorded on his cellphone (left and right), five customers line up their cars in broad daylight to buy drugs from him. At the beginning of the video, prosecutors say, Chandler 'profoundly touts' that he was 'just like McDonald's' Chandler pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and heroin, as well as drug possession on Monday. According to prosecutors, Chandlers wanted to be the best drug dealer in Cincinnati. In an undated video that Chandler recorded on his cellphone, five customers line up their cars 'in broad daylight' to buy drugs from him At the beginning of the video, prosecutors say, Chandler 'profoundly touts' that he was 'just like McDonald's'. Chandler was sentenced to three years in prison in for cocaine and heroin trafficking. He was paroled in December 2012 but immediately began selling drugs again, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. He was then sentenced to two years in prison. A Manchester student has gone viral after making ridiculous claims she is Madeline McCann because she has a similar mark in her eye and on her leg. Harriet Brookes sent a message to friend where she made the bizarre claim which was later shared on the internet by 30,000 people. The group chat, which is clearly an ill-judged joke, opened with: 'Right guys. I dont usually believe in conspiracy theories but honestly I think Im Madeleine McCann.' Harriet Brookes, right, told friends she thinks she might be Madeline McCann, left Ms Brooke showed her friend the evidence which supported her claim including her eye Ms Brooke shared her suspicions on a group chat with several of her friends Her friends ridiculed the claims, but she continued: 'Im Madeleine McCann and I dont know what to do with myself.' Madeline McCann disappeared from Portugal in May 2007 and would be 14 years of age. However, Ms Brookes studied at the University of Leeds. One social media user claimed: 'Are you even Madeline or are you just joking messing with peoples head.' Sue Garland on Facebook said: 'So in summing up: 'Woman acts like a complete attention seeking idiot by announcing she is a missing child at least five years younger than she is.' No you are not Madeleine love, I hope that clears that up!' Another commentator said 'she put it in a group chat for a laugh.' Ms Brookes responded to the criticism claiming the post was a joke which has gone over those people's heads. The Metropolitan Police announced last month it planned to continue its investigation into Madeline's disappearance. Operation Grange has completed the vast majority of its work and is concentrating on a small number of focused leads. Scotland Yard began investigating the disappearance in May 2011 with officers reviewing more than 40,000 documents. The team have taken 1,338 statements and collected 1,027 exhibits. Officers have probed more than 60 people of interest while the team has considered 650 sex offenders. In total, there have been 8,685 potential sightings of Madeline across the globe. Police are trying to locate a yob who allegedly spat on a nine-month-old baby girl on board a tram. The shocking incident is said to have taken place at around 5.15pm on Thursday, when three teenage boys 'looking for trouble' left the tram at the Martinscroft stop, near Warrington. The young baby, who was in her pram and with her mother at the time, had to have blood checks following the incident to check for diseases. Greater Manchester Police are now searching through CCTV evidence in a bid to help track down the alleged perpetrators. Writing on a Facebook post, the child's mother said she was left 'fuming and upset' by the incident on the Metrolink tram near the station. It is being treated as an assault by spitting, a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said. She said that the boys, who were already on the tram, were 'looking for trouble' before the alleged offence. When they exited the tram, one of the boys stepped back inside and spat as the doors were closing, covering her baby and a man stood next to her, she said. The incident is believed to have taken place near Martinscroft tram station on Thursday She posted: 'As the tram doors were beeping to close, one of the lads stepped back on and spat. 'It went all over my nine-month-old daughter and all over the man stood next to my pram. I am fuming and so upset. 'My innocent little nine-month-old baby girl now has to go through numerous checks and bloods to make sure she's not got anything.' The trio reportedly ran from the scene after the incident. Greater Manchester Police believe the target of the spit was a security guard on board the tram. No description of the boys has been given but Greater Manchester Police has urged anyone with information to come forward to help with their investigation. A spokesman for GMP confirmed: 'We were called at 5.30pm to reports of an assault by spitting. 'It had occurred at the Metrolink stop, a male offender had walked on to the tram and tried to spit at a security guard, but hit the baby instead. 'CCTV enquiries are ongoing and we would urge anyone with information to contact police on 101.' A court in Florence has banned the commercial use of images of Michelangelo's David without official authorisation A court in Florence has banned the commercial use of images of Michelangelo's David without official authorisation. The ruling aims to stop tour companies from overcharging tourists visiting the city's Galleria dell'Accademia, which houses the iconic 16th century statue. The museum took legal action against the tour company Visit Today after it used images of the statue to advertise its 45 (40) tours of the gallery. An ordinary ticket is just 8. The company has now been ordered to remove all images of David from its promotional material and will be fined 2,000 each day it fails to do so. According to the ruling, which applies to Italy and the rest of Europe, images of the statue may only be used with the permission of the gallery and the payment of an agreed fee. Reacting to the ruling, the gallery's director Cecilie Hollberg, told La Repubblica: 'It sets a precedent, an example. The ruling aims to stop tour companies from overcharging tourists visiting the city's Galleria dell'Accademia, which houses the iconic 16th century statue 'Lots of other museums which are victims of the plague of tickets being sold at inflated prices can now take this path, because the law will prevail over what is essentially a scam for visitors.' It is not yet clear if the ban applies to all souvenirs portraying the icon. Other cultural organisations are now considering doing the same. Luca Bagnoli, head of the body which runs the Duomo and Giotto's Bell Tower, said he was satisfied with the result and is now looking at following the gallery's example. It is not yet clear if the ruling could apply to all trinkets portraying the icon 'The problem of touting and selling tickets for inflated prices by people who exploit our image also afflicts the Florentine cathedral, he told the Italian news agency Ansa. 'We would like to adopt strategies as soon as possible which allow us in some way to effectively combat this phenomenon.' Meanwhile, the director of Florence's Uffizi gallery told The Guardian it was also considering following suit. 'It will be of great help in the preparation of the various legal actions that we intend to take against the many touting companies that infest us,' Eike Schmidt told the paper. The city's mayor Dario Nardella added: 'This ruling is the first concrete sign. Now it's the job for everyone - institutions, citizens and companies - to apply [this ruling] and make sure it is respected. 'The image of Florence should not be commercially exploited without limits and without rules.' The US Navy has named the three sailors who went missing after their cargo plane crashed in the Philippine Sea on Wednesday shortly after taking off from Japan. The three were identified on Saturday as Lt Steven Combs, from Florida; Airman Matthew Chialastri, from Louisiana, and Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso, from Florida. Their C-2A Greyhound cargo plane, carrying 11 crew and passengers, was en route to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. The news comes one day after the Navy suspended its search for the missing men. The US Navy has named the three sailors who went missing after their cargo plane crashed in the Philippine Sea on Wednesday shortly after taking off from Japan as Lt Steven Combs (not pictured), from Florida; Airman Matthew Chialastri, from Louisiana (left), and Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso, from Florida (right) Their C-2A Greyhound cargo plane, carrying 11 crew and passengers, was en route to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. The news comes one day after the Navy suspended its search for the missing men (Pictured, Lt Steven Combs) 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these Sailors,' said Vice Adm Phil Sawyer, commander of US Seventh Fleet. 'Their service and sacrifice will be lasting in Seventh Fleet and we will continue to stand the watch for them, as they did bravely for all of us.' According to Stars and Stripes, Combs was assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30, also known as the 'Providers'. He was a recipient of National Defense Ribbon and the Navy Battle 'E' Ribbon, for winning a battle efficiency competition. According to Stars and Stripes , Combs (right) was assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30, also known as the 'Providers' Combs (pictured with his father and mother) was a recipient of National Defense Ribbon and the Navy Battle 'E' Ribbon, for winning a battle efficiency competition Chialastri and Grosso, from Florida are also recipients of the National Defense Ribbon Grosso comes from a Navy family with his father being a decorated former member. He leaves behind his parents, his brother and his girlfriend. Eight of the 11 were rescued by US Navy helicopters during a two-day search effort led by the USS Ronald Reagan and joined by units of the Japanese self-defense force. The Seventh Fleet said they remained in good condition. The search by ships and aircraft covered nearly 1,000 square nautical miles, the Navy said in a statement. The cause of the crash is under investigation. However, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters Wednesday that. according to US military, the plane may have gone down because of engine trouble. The crash was the fifth accident this year for the fleet, which has its headquarters in Japan and is the Navy's largest fleet overseas. Grosso (left, with his mother) and Chialastri were also recipients of the National Defense Ribbon Grosso comes from a Navy family with his father (second from left) being a decorated former member. He leaves behind his parents, his brother (far right) and his girlfriend Eight of the 11 were rescued by US Navy helicopters during a two-day search effort led by the USS Ronald Reagan and joined by units of the Japanese self-defense force (Pictured, a C-2A Greyhound aircraft is pictured in flight) The crash was the fifth accident this year for the fleet, which has its headquarters in Japan and is the Navy's largest fleet overseas. This photo shows the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier arriving in Hong Kong on Monday, October 2 Among the accidents include among them, the destroyer USS Fitzgerald which collided with a Philippine Cargo ship in June. Seven of the Fitzgerald's crew were killed and several were injured, including the ship's commanding officer, Cmdr Bryce Benson. In August, 10 sailors were killed after the destroyer USS John McCain collided with an oil tanker near Singapore. The head of the Seventh Fleet, Vice Adm Joseph P Aucoin, was removed in August because of the accidents. A Navy investigation found that the fatal collisions had been the result of 'avoidable' basic errors. Actress Emma Thompson braved the cold despite suffering with pneumonia to join a march in support of a British mother jailed in Iran. The Oscar-winning actress turned out with dozens of supporters as they urged the government to do more to bring home Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been imprisoned in Tehran since April 2016, when she was arrested at the city's airport after a holiday with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been imprisoned in Tehran since April 2016, when she was arrested at the city's airport after a holiday with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. Scroll down for video The Oscar-winning actress turned out with dozens of supporters as they urged the government to do more to bring home Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Mrs Thompson is pictured with Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband, Richard Ratcliffe The Love Actually actress called on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to 'get on a plane', after his suggestion earlier this month that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran exposed her to the threat of her sentence being doubled Richard Ratcliffe talks to demonstrators after following a march in support of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian mother who is in jail in Iran Demonstrators march in support of the British mother, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliff, who is an aid worker with the Thomson Reuters foundation. She was accused of trying to overthrow the clerical regime in Tehran Mrs Thompson told the rally near her home in north London: 'I'm so grateful for everybody's support and love... I am so overwhelmed and moved. 'All that is on my mind is to be back home and to be back with my family.' Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in jail on charges of spying and seeking to overthrow the Tehran regime, and has been held in solitary confinement. Her family has led a long-running campaign for her release, saying she is innocent and raising fears for her physical and mental health. At the protest a tearful Thompson hit out at the 'bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster' and urged the Government to do more to bring her home. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, right, pictured with her husband Richard and their child Gabriella The mother-of-one's employer The Thomson Reuters Foundation confirmed she has not been training journalists while on her visit to see her family in Iran Richard Ratcliffe, right, discussed his wife's case with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, left The Love Actually actress, who was suffering from pneumonia, called on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to 'get on a plane', after his suggestion earlier this month that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran exposed her to the threat of her five-year sentence being doubled. The Oscar-winning actress said: 'We are a net of compassion and love for Nazanin and her family. This is what we human beings do best, in stark contrast to the bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster. 'If I can get out of bed with pneumonia to support a horribly abused member of our community then our Foreign Secretary can get on a plane and go to Iran and deal with the problem he's so seriously exacerbated.' Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in jail on charges of spying and seeking to overthrow the Tehran regime, and has been held in solitary confinement At the protest a tearful Thompson hit out at the 'bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster' and urged the Government to do more to bring her home. She added: 'The screw is twisting more and more and her physical and mental health is deteriorating to such a degree now that I think we are in a very urgent situation. 'I can't imagine the effect of being separated for 19 months from your child. I would have gone bonkers if that had happened to me. 'I'm just so passionate about getting her back, it's a sort of physical feeling of anguish for her.' Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq spoke to Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and later said: 'We discussed how we would take both our daughters to Peppa Pig World when she's released.' Richard Ratcliffe is joined by supporters including actress Emma Thompson (left) and Tulip Siddiq MP (right) in Hampstead The rally took place before a march to the Shia Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale, north-west London, to hand in a 'Mothers' Open Letter' asking for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release from the Tehran prison The actress pictured with Richard Ratcliffe. He said: 'I can really feel the love, and Nazanin can feel the love, and in the end that's the most important thing, that's what keeps us going' Mrs Zaghari-Racliffe's husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said: 'It is profoundly moving to see so many people here. 'I can really feel the love, and Nazanin can feel the love, and in the end that's the most important thing, that's what keeps us going.' The rally took place before a march to the Shia Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale, north-west London, to hand in a 'Mothers' Open Letter' asking for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release from the Tehran prison. An online petition calling for her to be returned to Britain has had more than 1.3 million signatures. Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK's director, said: 'Once again, it's inspiring to see so many people supporting Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family this way. 'She's been put through a deeply unfair trial and could be facing a fresh charge, so it's extremely important that the recent political focus on Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case now translates into the Iranian authorities finally releasing her.' Military bands are facing the axe as the Ministry of Defence desperately tries to slash costs without cutting frontline units. Dozens of bands could be merged into larger groups including the Royal Artillery Band, which was formed more than two centuries ago. The Band of the Parachute Regiment, which was created following the Second World War, is also likely to face cuts. Defence chiefs are thought to have earmarked at least 14 musical groups where savings can be made. Scroll down for video Military bands are facing the axe as the Ministry of Defence desperately tries to slash costs. Pictured is the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland with the Pipes and Drums of the 7th Battalion The military's bands comprise hundreds of soldiers who play 31 different instruments. Pictured is the band of the King's Troop But critics have blasted the idea warning that the bands 'provide the glue between the military and society'. A defence source told The Times: 'One band can only be in one place at a time. What are you going to do on armed forces day? 'Send the trumpets one way and the triangles another? It is ridiculous.' A defence source told The Times: 'One band can only be in one place at a time. What are you going to do on armed forces day?' Pictured is the band of the Adjutant General's Corps Here a military band of the Army Air Corps is seen playing in Times Square in New York Critics have blasted the idea warning that the bands 'provide the glue between the military and society'. Pictured: The band of the Royal Corps of Signals The military's bands comprise hundreds of soldiers who play 31 different instruments - with the first mention of music thought to have been the Royal Artillery's drum and fife in 1557. Now musicians - who are fully trained soldiers - play everything from classical to contemporary with duties including state ceremonies and concerts. However military sources have claimed the proposal would create more opportunities for instrumentalists. Now musicians - who are fully trained soldiers - play everything from classical to contemporary with duties including state ceremonies and concerts. Pictured: the Pipes and Drums of the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers band The band of the Royal Armoured Corps plays to commemorate the 95th birthday of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in June last year The bands which perform duties for the royal family are not thought to be affected by the proposed cuts to music services. It comes after new defence secretary Gavin Williamson was told he must find a way of reducing his department's budget by 2 billion a year. One Whitehall source told The Times that Mr Williamson is trying to prevent the army's decimation. Military sources have claimed the proposal would create more opportunities for instrumentalists. Pictured: The band of the Corps of Royal Engineers The source said: 'Gavin is aware he has a huge challenge on his hands. He does not like what he came into . . . We are beginning to try and push back. 'Britain would risk becoming a global laughing stock at a time when we need defence to be our strong card post-Brexit.' The army has a target strength of 82,000, but it is now at 77,440 and could shrink to below 70,000. It comes after new defence secretary Gavin Williamson was told he must find a way of reducing his department's budget by 2 billion a year. Pictured is the Royal Artillery Band Speculation about defence cuts has mounted in recent months since the launch of a review led by Theresa May's national security adviser Mark Sedwill. Members of the Parachute Regiment Band are pictured at a St George's Day Parade in London Such is the anger within the Conservative Party to the proposed cuts, one defence minister, Tobias Ellwood - who battled to save a Westminster terror attack victim - has threatened to resign if cuts are imposed on the Army. Other measures thought to be under consideration include reducing the order for Ajax armoured vehicles and delaying upgrades to other tanks. Mr Ellwood, who served in the Royal Green Jackets from 1991 to 1996 with tours in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kuwait, Germany, Gibraltar and Bosnia and is now in the Army Reserve, has indicated he would have to step down if the military was not shielded from the proposed reductions, the Times said. The army has a target strength of 82,000, but it is now at 77,440 and could shrink to below 70,000. Pictured: The band of the Adjutant General's Corps The Band & Bugles of The Rifles perform during a dress rehearsal for the Perth leg of the 2007 Tattoo Spectacular in Australia Military bands which are facing the axe Band of The Adjutant General's Corps Band of The Royal Armoured Corps Royal Artillery Band 4 Corps of Royal Engineers Band of the Royal Corps of Signals Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland Band of The Queen's Division Band of The King's Division Band of the Prince of Wales's Division Band and Bugles of The Rifles Band of the Parachute Regiment Band of the Army Air Corps Band of the Royal Logistic Corps Band of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Advertisement Asked if Mr Ellwood was known to have concerns about the prospect of cuts, a senior defence source said: 'Absolutely.' Speculation about defence cuts has mounted in recent months since the launch of a review led by Theresa May's national security adviser Mark Sedwill. Other options reportedly under consideration include the axing of amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, alongside the loss of 1,000 Royal Marines. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We have the biggest defence budget in Europe and are one of very few countries to not only meet but exceed NATO's 2 per cent spending target. 'In the face of intensifying threats, we are contributing to the cross-government review of national security capabilities and looking at how we best spend the rising defence budget to protect our country. 'No decisions have been made and any discussion of the options is pure speculation.' Paul Cook, who has a fetish for 'sleep sex', has been jailed for six years after he raped a woman while she slept A rapist with a fetish for 'sleep sex' wept in court as his victim spoke of the devastating impact his attack had had on her life. Paul Cook broke down down as his victim told him from the witness box at Teesside Crown Court that initially she had felt it had been her fault. Judge Peter Armstrong jailed the 35-year-old for six years after hearing he has a fetish for so-called 'sleep sex'. The judge described it as 'a perverted interest' after hearing it had happened before with another woman. Prosecutor Caroline Wigin told the court that Cook told the woman it was her fault because she 'looked so sexy asleep'. The victim made the decision to read her victim personal statement to the court in person. She said she felt worthless, used and manipulated by a man who said it was 'no big deal', and has needed counselling. She said: 'I will never trust anyone again. I was scared that I wouldn't be believed.' Cook admitted he took advantage of the woman to satisfy a 'deviant' interest, which he had convinced himself was normal. The court heard how he later walked into a police station to confess what he had done before a complaint was made. His barrister, Stephen Grattage, said Cook now appreciated his 'outrageous' behaviour was rape and caused emotional distress. Teesside Crown Court heard Cook told the woman it was her fault because she 'looked so sexy asleep' Mr Grattage said Cook showed remorse and was 'devastated' by his actions, and added that he had 'normalised' his behaviour. Cook, of Lingdale, North Yorkshire, admitted five charges of rape. Judge Armstrong said he did not accept a suggestion by a probation officer that Cook's behaviour seemed to be 'naive'. He told Cook: 'You developed a sexual fetish in what you called sleep sex... a perverted interest as I'm going to call it. 'Completely contrary to her wishes and consent, you took advantage of a situation. 'Your fetish kicked in and you had sex with her when she was asleep.' Judge Armstrong handed Lingdale a sexual harm prevention order requiring him to tell future sexual partners of his rape conviction. He was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim in this case, referring to her on social media or approaching her home, and will be on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. In a statement (bottom) shared to Instagram on Tuesday, the former TOWIE star (top left), 32, admitted she was the voice in the shocking audio files, but claimed she only recorded them because she feared 'serious harm and in the face of significant threats'. She wrote in full: 'I am aware that people will have a number of questions about the voice messages being put into the public domain and purportedly sent by me. 'I feel I have no choice but to address these (to the extent that I can as there are restrictions on me which I explain below). Most importantly I want to apologise to all the victims of Arthur Collins (inset) abhorrent actions in 2017 that they have to relive that night and the pain that followed because this matter is again in the public domain. In particular I want to apologise to Sophie Hall (top right). I do not believe her to be ugly or stupid. She has been brave beyond belief.' It comes after her fiance Lorri Haines shared a series of cryptic posts with his 170k followers, amid the ongoing conflict surrounding his partner. His posts come following claims that Ferne made derogatory comments about ex-partner Arthur 's acid attack victims in a series of leaked voice notes, claiming to be of her voice. Advertisement As the dust from Black Friday settles, retail stores are licking their wounds and counting their dollars - but their digital counterparts aren't done yet. This Monday sees the return of the annual Cyber Monday digital sale, with dozens of websites offering discounts of hundreds of dollars on all kinds of items. This year, experts predict that $6billion will be spent online on Monday alone. The figure last year was $3.45billion, a new online sales record. And while many of the deals are kept secret until they kick off, usually just after midnight on Monday morning, we've gathered up a few of the best leaked deals coming to your browser from some of the big retailers. Among the deals being touted, Walmart is selling a 58-inch, 4K Samsung television for $598 - that's a saving of $200 - as part of its Cyber Monday online promotion. The promotion starts just after midnight on Monday morning. Amazon is selling a Kindle Paperwhite - the backlit reading device costs $89.99 for the ad-supported one. With no ads it's $109. Both save $30. At Target a PlayStation VR headset, along with the Gran Turismo Sport racing game, is being sold for $299.99 - a saving of $100. The PS4 needs to be bought separately. And at Dell, its gaming range of laptops are being sold at a discounted rate on Cyber Monday, with an Inspiron 15 5000 laptop costing $699.99, a $150 discount. It is too soon to say whether more money will be spent on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. By 5pm Thursday, shoppers had already spent $1.52 billion, which is a 17 per cent increase from last year. Some websites began taking online orders on Friday after putting deals online early. Lowes, the home improvement retailer, buckled under the surge in traffic and its website crashed. 'The site is currently offline and will be available within the next hour. Until then, we invited you to check out these other Lowes affiliated sites. Thanks for your patience,' was the message which greeted shoppers. It was back up and running after an hour or so. Walmart Vision on: Walmart is selling this 58-inch, 4K Samsung television for $598 - that's a saving of $200 - as part of its Cyber Monday online promotion. Walmart's promotion starts just after midnight on Monday morning Play time: Sony's newly redesigned PlayStation - the PS4 Slim - is available from Walmart for just $199 - that's $100 off its usual selling price. It has the same specs as the original, but with 1TB of storage, and is 40 per cent smaller in size X machine: For those who prefer Microsoft consoles, Walmart is also selling the Xbox One S for $189, which means it's $90 cheaper than usual. It comes with a 500GB hard drive, and is also 40 per cent smaller than its predecessor Now hear this: If you have to travel long distances to visit family and are worried about your fellow passengers keeping you awake, Bose's !uietComfort 25 noise-canceling headphones could help - and at $179 on Cyber Monday, you'll save $100 Amazon A novel idea: Looking to escape the family's post-Monopoly-game arguments? Lose yourself with a Kindle Paperwhite. The backlit reading device costs $89.99 for the ad-supported one. With no ads it's $109. Both save $30 Echo location: Of course, Amazon is also the main place to pick up its new second-generation Echo smart speakers, which will cost $79.99 - that's $20 off the usual price Take your tablet: The new Kindle Fire HD 10 tablet offers 1080p resolution and voice-activated video control, among other features, for $99.99 during the sale - that's $50 off the usual retail price Target Beat 'em up: A pair of Beats by Dre EP headphones will cost you $99.99 from Target, rather than the typical $129 - a saving of $30. They also come with a $20 Target gift card Virtual insanity: Cyber Monday deals see Target selling this PlayStation VR headset, along with the Gran Turismo Sport racing game, for $299.99 - a saving of $100. The PS4 needs to be bought separately Ear, ear, ear! Beats by Dre BeatsX earphones are selling for $149.99 during Target's special deal; a saving of $50. They also come bundled with a $20 gift card Dell Laptop of luxury: Dell's Gaming range of laptops are being sold at a discounted rate on Cyber Monday, with this Dell Inspiron 15 5000 laptop costing $699.99, a $150 discount PC gone rad: This stylishly designed Dell XPS 27 has all its components built into a 27-inch screen and costs $1,649.99 - a whopping saving of $500 on the recommended retail price Sounds good: This LG 300W sounds bar comes with a wireless subwoofer and costs a bargain $129.99 during the sale - that's $50 less than the usual selling price Clayton County officials are offering $2,000 reward to anyone with information that will lead to the joyrider's arrest The clip only hit the Internet earlier this week and made its way to urban news site World Star Hip Hop The suspect entered the police vehicle after an officer jumped out to pursue an unrelated suspect on foot Clayton County Police said that they were unaware of the July incident Georgia Police said that they have placed a suspect on their most wanted list after he filmed himself joyriding in a police car and posted the footage to social media. Clayton County Police said that they were unaware of the July incident until a clip of the unidentified suspect surfaced on Instagram, according to Channel 2 Action News. 'We are driving a police car man,' the individual can be heard saying into his camera. The suspect (pictured) entered the police vehicle after an officer jumped out to pursue an unrelated suspect on foot The person entered the police vehicle after an officer jumped out to pursue an unrelated suspect on foot. 'A young man seeking attention and fame videotaped himself taking a Clayton County Police car for a joyride after a officer took off running after a suspect,' the department wrote in an advisory. The clip only hit the Internet earlier this week and made its way to urban news site World Star Hip Hop. The publicity quickly caught the attention of local law enforcement. 'Sheriff Victor Hill has now ordered the unidentified male placed on his most wanted list and has dispatched his elite Fugitive Squad to join in on the manhunt along with the County Police,' the advisory adds. The clip only hit the Internet earlier this week and made its way to urban news site World Star Hip Hop Residents in Clayton County, located just 15 miles from Downtown Atlanta, described the crime as 'foolish,' and assumed the stunt was pulled off for social media attention and bragging rights. 'He's just doing it for clout,' Nestar Yankson told Channel 2. 'Everybody wants clout these days.' 'He thinks he's hard now, but he's not gonna be hard when he's in jail,' Yankson added. Clayton County officials are offering $2,000 reward to anyone with information that will lead to the joyrider's arrest. Individuals with tips are urged to call 770-477-4479 or contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, text information to 274637 or visit the crime stoppers website. Advertisement The fascinating true story behind the World War Two Spitfire has been revealed in a new book celebrating those who designed, maintained and flew the iconic plane. The incredible archives shows Prime Minister Winston Churchill observing a female riveter working on the fighter plane at the Castle Bromwich factory in Birmingham, before delaying his return journey to sit with test pilot Alex Henshaw after a demonstration flight. Ground staff are shown re-arming a Spitfire Mk 1 and the collection offers insight into how the Women's Auxiliary Air Force got to grips with barrage balloons. Prime Minister Winston Churchill is pictured with test pilot Alex Henshaw following a demonstration flight at the Birmingham factory. He delayed his return trip to meet with workers behind the RAF's most iconic aircraft Armourer Fred Roberts re-arming a Spitfire at the No 19 squadron in Cambridgeshire. This is just one of the incredible images that goes behind the scenes of the fighter plane's wartime history The single-seat aircraft fly in starboard echelon formation. These Mark I planes were part of the No19 Squadron, which was based at Duxford Spitfire specifications ENGINE: 1030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin SPAN: 36ft 11 LENGTH: 29ft 11 TOP SPEED: 362mph ARMAMENT: Eight 0.303" Browning machine guns; 350 rounds per gun Advertisement Images also show aircraft workers can be seen examining their aircraft as part of a wartime morale-booster to show factory employees the results of their labour. The wartime photographs are revealed in Spitfire Stories by Jacky Hyams, who says the collection is an attempt to show the people behind the RAF's most famous aircraft, chronicling its first flight and aerial battles. 'As soon as war was declared in September 1939, the Spitfire was up in the sky: in October 1939 an enemy aircraft was intercepted over Britain for the very first time and the Spitfire dominated the front pages as the first ever plane to tangle with the enemy,' she writes in the book's introduction. Flight Sergeant Grumpy Unwin, Flight Lieutenant Lawson and Sergeant Jennings of No 19 Squadron walking in Fowlmere, September 1940 Winston Churchill observes a female riveter working on a Spitfire at the Castle Bromwich factory in Birmingham. The prime minister visited the factory in 1941 and delayed his trip home to speak with workers 'Beneath the icon and its history, there remains another, equally fascinating story: that of the people behind the Spitfire. 'We tend to associate the Spitfire, quite naturally, with its wartime heroes: the RAF pilots from many countries who served through the war and beyond, flying the Spitfires and other planes, or "The Few" of the Battle of Britain whose valiant efforts will never be forgotten. 'Yet there are many others whose lives have been affected in some way by the Spitfire - the factory workers, the ground staff and the engineers, as well as the pilots and individuals whose love and passion for the Spitfire changed their lives. Such stories resonate down the years from wartime right to the present day.' Spitfire Stories charts the birth of the iconic plane, how it was made and how it was maintained in tales told by those who were closest to the aircraft. Ground staff re-arm a Spitfire Mk1 at Biggin Hill, Kent, in 1940. Jacky Hyams explores the people behind the fighter plane in a new book that opens up the archives to reveal the history of the RAF's most iconic vehicle The Women's Auxiliary Air Force learn how to handle barrage balloons, which were used to defend against aircraft attacks. This picture was taken at the Cardington training station in Bedfordshire From factory floor workers to the brave pilots who flew in the single-seat fighters, the book takes readers from its creation to the legacy we're familiar with today. Ms Hyams writes: 'Thousands of Spitfire workers, many of them women who joined the "secret army" of Britain's munitions workers, toiled in these factories, in often difficult conditions, as the country struggled to survive and work through the frequent bombing raids overhead. 'Others were engaged in a wide range of Spitfire roles for the RAF and its wartime auxiliary organisation, the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), whose female ferry pilots were the first women in the world to fly brand new Spitfires and other planes from factory to RAF airfield. Factory workers were invited to observe the final result of their labour as part of a morale-boosting exercise. Here, Spitfire workers were permitted to inspect the place at an RAF fighter station 'It is also a little acknowledged fact that it was the RAF ground crews, the "erks" as they were called, who worked through the night and in difficult conditions to get the fighting Spitfires back up into battle. 'Every one of these many thousands of workers and their families played some part in this story of the Spitfire.' Spitfire Stories: True Tales from Those Who Designed, Maintained and Flew the Iconic Plane by Jacky Hyams is available now in hardback, priced 16.99 (Michael O'Mara Books). Newborn cubs are taken from their mothers, days old and still blind, and fed by humans It is the most degrading and cruel of fates for the king of the jungle. Bred in captivity, lion cubs are torn from their mothers while still blind, a few days after birth. Growing up, they are petted as playthings for tourists until they are ready to be released into small enclosures where they will be shot and killed by wealthy trophy-hunters in what are known as canned hunts. But then a final indignity is visited upon the dead lions: for the carcasses are sent to the Far East to meet the enormous demand for medicines, jewellery and even wine made from the remains. This has been the horrific destiny for 800 lions from South Africa this year alone and it is entirely legal, as the government rubber-stamps export licences for the lucrative industry. Chinas insatiable demand is fuelling the trade in the lion bones, while shameful products from the callous trade are also on sale in other South East Asian countries including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. There are about 8,000 captive-bred lions awaiting this fate on 200 farms in South Africa twice the number of lions roaming free in the wild in the nation. While international conservation groups have put up a fierce fight against the callous industry, the quota has been allowed by the powerful Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which has 169 member nations. Its ruling is seen as a compromise to appease many of the countries that were pressing for the legalisation of trade in the remains of wild lions as well as captive-bred animals. With a sad irony, consumers in the Far East believe the bones come from tigers and therefore, in their minds, have almost magical medicinal properties and are seen as aphrodisiacs. But the strict laws now protecting tigers has led to increased use of lion bones by unscrupulous traders. A chicken is fed to an older lion, getting it used to human contact while in a wire cage The practice of canned hunting has long been controversial, and lion farmers are notoriously secretive. But a Mail on Sunday investigation can reveal details of the chain of shocking animal abuse inflicted on captive-bred lions from the first days of their birth to adulthood at four years when they are killed for trophies and the lucrative trade to be had from their skeletons. Hunters pay an average of 12,800 to shoot the animal in a small enclosure, then take home the skull and skin. The farmer can make extra profit selling on the carcass for about 1,440 to Asian countries. When divided into smaller consignments, each carcass could fetch up to 50,000 on the streets. We visited four so-called lion parks and spoke to conservationists who have documented first-hand how lions are processed for an industry reviled by animal-lovers. At Ukutula Park, two hours drive north of Johannesburg, tiny cubs were huddled up to their mothers in small woolly bundles. A few days later they would be taken away and bottle-fed by volunteers, mostly young people who are paying for the experience during their gap years, believing they are involved in lion rescue. At about a month old, the cubs are submitted to petting by fee-paying tourists who play with them and take photographs for several hours every day. A lion carcass is hung out, as shown in the hard-hitting documentary Blood Lion, made to highlight the sick trade Later, when the youngsters have become adolescents they are used for bush walks in which dozens of tourists stroll alongside the animals armed with sticks intended to show domination and are later rewarded with diplomas to show their courage. Mail on Sunday journalists saw one lion climb a tree to rest on a branch. It was rewarded with a piece of raw chicken thrown up to it by the walking guide a circus act that helps keep the lions tame. The guide explains that if the lions kill wildlife in the park, they are not allowed to eat it. They learn this way that their food comes from inside their enclosure. They must remain in captivity, he says. And they will die in captivity. The story was the same in three more lion parks at the Krugersdorp Rhino and Lion Park and the Lory Park, both on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and at Akwaaba, outside Rustenburg, two hours east of Pretoria. The guide explains that if the lions kill wildlife in the park, they are not allowed to eat it. They learn this way that their food comes from inside their enclosure At about three or four years old, when male lions have grown a substantial mane, they become the target of trophy-hunters. The parks where they were born often sell them on to canned hunts, despite the sustained international outcry at images of drugged lions being placed in small enclosures with no chance of escape from hunters. Attempts to ban these sick spectacles have failed, although new regulations have forced owners to put the animals in bigger enclosures, and to release the lions at least a week before hunting begins, to give the appearance of some sort of fairness. But this newspaper has been told that lions are still being released on the day they are transported to a hunting enclosure, while still suffering the effects of sedation from the journey. Sometimes, the animals who have become used to human voices and whistles are summoned closer to the hunters, who then shoot from their four-wheel-drive vehicles. The reasoning of South African ranch-owners who run canned hunts appears to defy logic. Clayton Fletcher, a professional hunter and owner of Tinashe, in the countrys North-West Province, is proud that his father Douglas was the first person to hunt a captive-bred lion back in 1985. Making a killing: Carcass trader Clayton Fletcher with a lion he shot on his Tinashe reserve And he justifies the cruel trade by saying: The reason people breed lions is because of the value and the only reason why lions are valued is because they are being hunted. If you stop hunting, you take away the value of the lion and if you take away the value of the lion, then nobody breeds them and the lion becomes extinct. The only way you can protect an animal like a lion is to give it a value, and unfortunately the only way is through hunting. Defending the use of captive-bred lions for the Asian market in their bones, Mr Fletcher said: We hunt the lion legally and then we notify the nature conservation authorities that we would like to sell the bones. There are seven or eight permits we have to get before that carcass goes out. And when that carcass leaves the country, we have saved one lion from being poached in the natural world. Derek Gobbett is a celebrated safari photographer who was once hired by Americans to film them killing lions, but is now a fervent conservationist. He told of seeing the hunters shooting a lioness that had panicked and hidden in a porcupine burrow, and of another animal that climbed a tree to escape and was subsequently shot at point-blank range. He said: I shot footage that no hunter would show in order to boast. One male lion was whistled at and the shooter fired from the bed of a pick-up truck; another was impaled on fence-posts and shot. It was slaughter, with ten hunters killing ten lionesses in a week and wanting film footage of each shoot to take home with them. He said the lions had arrived the day before the hunt from a farm in Bloemfontein. Four were being released into an enclosure at the same time as the American hunters private plane landed. Ian Michler, a wildlife guide and photo-journalist who made the hard-hitting documentary Blood Lion, exposing South Africas canned hunting industry, is campaigning to stop the trade in lion carcasses. He said: Lions are a charismatic species at the apex of our ecosystems. 'If we cant look after them responsibly, then what hope is there for anything? He condemned the farmers who breed lions in captivity, saying: Theyve tamed the lions. There is nothing noble or fair about the chase and it has nothing, absolutely nothing, to with conservation whatsoever. According to data from CITES, 2,000 full lion skeletons were shipped to Laos from South Africa in the six years up to 2015 and there were a further 2,300 shipments of incomplete skeletons, meaning bones and parts. A spirit made from lion bones sold as a magical tonic, on sale in the back streets of China But wildlife activists believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. Tons of animal parts are sent through the porous border dividing China and Laos, with no documentation. Some are smuggled through to Vietnam for Tiger Bone Cake, which is crumbled into wine and used as an aphrodisiac and bone-strengthener. One ton of lion bones will make 60 to 70 cakes, which sell at $1,000 (762) each. A pilot in the region said a colleague had witnessed huge shipments of unregistered lion skeletons in cargo holds. They are marked Scientific supplies and sent to China. The full extent of South Africas despicable treatment of one of the noblest wild creatures has been revealed by Britains Environmental Investigation Agency. Campaign leader Debbie Banks said: There is a huge surge in these businesses now Asian countries are accepting lion bones. She predicts a substantial increase in the poaching of wild lions, and of the endangered tigers remaining in Asia. We fought against the quota of carcasses allowed by South Africa and we fought against CITES allowing the trade. But the sad truth is that lions have now replaced tigers as the worlds prime source of big-cat body parts. The South African governments Department of Environmental Affairs has argued that allowing a quota for the export of lion bones could help to deter poaching. But conservationists believe this is spurious. Dr Luke Hunter, chief conservation officer of wild cat protection group Panthera, says: There is not one shred of scientific evidence to show that canned hunting and legal bone exports help the wild lion population. They only stimulate the demand for wild lion, leopard and tiger parts throughout the world. And Mark Jones, of conservation organisation Born Free, said: The intensive breeding of lions and their exploitation for profit is completely unacceptable. 'South Africas lion-breeding industry serves no conservation purpose and the animals all too often suffer short, miserable lives. The government has a responsibility to close this industry down and focus on protecting wild lions. His organisation is seeking tighter rules on trophy imports into both the EU and the US. Additional reporting: Toby Selander Former White House national security adviser Mike Flynn is under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller for his work on an unfinished documentary film financed by a Turkish businessman. The documentary, per a report from the Wall Street Journal, was to be a hit piece on exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in rural Pennsylvania. Gulen has been accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of orchestrating the failed July 2016 coup. Former national security adviser Mike Flynn's involvement in financing a documentary produced by a Turkish businessman is being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller Mueller is investigating how Flynn Intel Group gave $530,000 to the production, which was to be a hit piece on exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in rural Pennsylvania and has been accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of orchestrating the failed July 2016 coup. Flynn, 59, was fired from his White House role in February, after he had only served for 24 days. Information emerged that he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his contact with Russian officials during the 2016 Presidential Election. Mueller's investigation is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 election and collusion between Donald Trump's campaign team and foreign operatives. Flynn has been accused of concealing his financial ties to foreign interests. Flynn's lawyers, as of this past week, are no longer cooperating with the White House. Political analysts believe that this means that Flynn's team is trying to broker a deal with Mueller. Flynn was to help finance the film to the tune of $530,000 through his Flynn Intel Group. The United States has not agreed to extradite Gulen, citing insufficient evidence. Pictured are US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin, who heads consulting firm Inovo, was producing the film. Alptekin, an ally of Erdogan, previously told Reuters he hired Flynn to provide research on how Gulen is 'poisoning the atmosphere' between Turkey and the United States. The Journal previously reported that Flynn wanted his organization's involvement in the film kept under wraps. A freelance journalist who did work for VICE named David Enders and a former CNN anchor named Rudi Bakhtiar were hired to work on the documentary. Both have been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with the film, the Journal reports. The documentary was to look at how Gulen (pictured) is, according to one of the film's producers, 'poisoning the atmosphere' between Turkey and the United States Both have also said that they were misled about the true nature of the film. Alptekin characterized the film as a '"60 Minutes" kind of' documentary and another consulting group, per the Journal, was to promote the film to be shown on a channel such as PBS. Production on the film was halted in November 2016, the same month that Flynn was tapped to become Donald Trump's national security adviser. Flynn is also under investigation for an alleged plot to forcibly extradite Gulen to Turkey. The United States has resisted pressure from Turkey to extradite Gulen, citing insufficient evidence. He and his son were allegedly offered $15million to orchestrate the action. The partner of a drunk father who drove off a pier killing himself, their two children, her mother and sister, is suing the local council over the tragedy. Sean McGrotty, 49, was more than three times the legal drink-drive limit when his Audi Q7 jeep slid off the slipway in Buncrana, Donegal, plunging into the Lough Swilly in March last year. With him in the 4x4 were his sons Mark, 11, Evan, eight, mother-in-law Ruth Daniels, 57, and her 14-year-old daughter Jodie-Lee Tracey, all of whom died. On Wednesday an inquest concluded Mr McGrotty died by misadventure. But it has now come to light his partner, Louise James, is suing Donegal County Council after claiming the slipway at the pier should have been closed to the public. Sean McGrotty (back left) and his sons Mark, 12, and Evan, eight (pictured front) died when the Audi they were in plunged off a pier and into the water. Their baby sister Rionaghac-Ann (pictured with their mother Louise James, who was not involved in the crash) survived. Ms James is now suing Donegal Council over their deaths despite an inquest's misadventure verdict High Court proceedings were filed under her name on June 9 this year in relation to the fateful incident, reports the Irish Daily Star. But legal experts are skeptical she will have a case, after this week's inquest at Donegal Coroner's Court revealed he was over three times the legal alcohol limit when he plunged to his death. A lawyer told the newspaper: 'The fact that he, as the driver of the car which went over this pier, was three times over the drink drive limit, could play a significant part in deciding any civil court case.' They added that any culpability the council may have would be severely reduced by Mr McGrotty's drink driving. His and Ms James' four-month-old baby Rioghnach-Ann was the sole survivor after being rescued by a heroic bypasser, who swam to the sinking car. MailOnline has contacted Donegal County Council for comment. Louise James (pictured) has filed High Court proceedings against Donegal County Council over the Buncrana pier tragedy in which her partner, two sons, sister and mother died Louise James (pictured centre) is pictured leaving the Lake of Shadows Hotel in Buncrana, where she said her heart was shattered by her family's deaths Ms James said the pier was an 'accident waiting to happen' because there were no signs warning of the dangers of slipping and a gate designed to control crowds using a summer ferry service in the popular tourist spot was left open. 'My heart is shattered,' she said, as she described Mr McGrotty as a wonderful partner and adoring father and spoke of her 'disbelief, pain and anger'. 'He lived for them and it is clear from what this inquest has heard that in fact he died as he lived, in that he could have saved himself and chose not to,' she said. 'I firmly believe the slipway should have been closed to the general public or else proper warning signs displayed as it was an accident waiting to happen. 'Hopefully lessons will be learned and the recommendations made following this inquest will be implemented.' The panel had been asked to deliberate on whether the deaths were accidental or a result of misadventure. Misadventure means jurors believe there was risk associated with the events of the day and that somebody had done something to increase the chance of the event happening. Ms James (pictured), who was at a hen do in Liverpool when the tragedy took place, is pictured with her baby daughter who survived and son Evan, who passed away Ms James's mother Ruth Daniels, 57, (left) and Ms Daniels's teenage daughter Jodie-Lee Tracey, 14, (right) also died Coroner Denis McCauley said the evidence suggested Mr McGrotty decided voluntarily to drive onto the slipway and added jurors knew what condition he was in. A post-mortem examination also found his reading was 159ml per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 50ml. But the inquest heard that experts could not be certain how that level of alcohol would have impaired Mr McGrotty, because it would depend on whether he was 'habitual or accustomed' to that amount of drink. There were also no signs at the slipway warning of the dangers of slipping. A gate designed to control crowds using a summer ferry service in the popular tourist spot was left open, the hearing was told. Recording the verdict, the jury's foreman said: 'The finding was that death was due to drowning. Cause of death was death by misadventure.' The spokesman also urged the Irish Water Safety promotional organisation to take a lead on advising and working with all other bodies on implementing best international practice for safety on all slipways and piers. The family died when the car slid off Buncrana Pier and into the waters of Lough Swilly in Donegal (pictured) on March 20 last year He added: 'We hope that this can be implemented as quickly as possible in the light of the tragedy.' Mr McCauley said the jury had handed the Irish safety authority a 'golden key' in its dealings with other agencies, to become the main agency in raising prevention issues. He said he could not imagine what the victims' families were going through. 'It is a terrible thing, we can see that it is just unimaginable,' he said. He said the response times of the emergency services were incredible. 'They did it with immense thought for the tragedy that did unfold.' He paid particular tribute to Davitt Walsh, who managed to rescue the little girl from the sinking jeep. He said: 'This was such a courageous act. He is an ordinary man who did an extraordinary thing which he should be commended.' 'I knew something wasn't right': Woman reveals moment she found out five members of her family had died The bereft woman who lost her mother, partner, sister and two little boys in the Buncrana drowning tragedy told an inquest how she knew something was wrong the moment she got a phone call alerting her to the tragedy. Louise James told the hearing that she had last seen her family on Friday, March 18, when her partner Sean McGrotty and the two boys had left her at a friend's house ahead of a hen weekend in Liverpool. She was at the airport travelling back from the weekend when the incident took place. Ms James told the inquest how minutes before the tragedy, she spoke on the phone with her tragic sister Jodi Lee who said the boys were playing in a playpark on the shorefront in Buncrana. Half an hour later, she received a phonecall from her brother Joshua. She told the hearing: 'I got a feeling something wasn't right.' Joshua then told Ms James there had been an incident in Buncrana and that a car had gone into the water, but it was not clear who was in there. Ms James said she had tried to contact both her partner and her sister but could not reach them. When she landed in Belfast, she was informed that five members of her family had died. She travelled to her home in Derry before going to Letterkenny University Hospital to see her surviving child and to identify the bodies of the rest of her family. Advertisement On the second day of the hearing, the coroner heard how the car doors could have been locked when the car hit the water. RNLI crew member John O'Raw, who dived down to the vehicle when it was submerged three metres underwater, said in evidence that he had tried to reach the family, but could not open the doors of the car. The experienced snorkeller - who reached the vehicle about 40 minutes about the first 999 call - told the hearing: 'The door handles were giving freely but not engaging with the locking mechanism.' The rescuer also described how the driver's window was smashed but had bowed inwards, creating an obstacle as he tried to enter the vehicle. He said the window was only a third of the way open, suggesting the electronics failed at some point due to the water. Gerard Boyle, a technical expert representing Audi, added that the door would have been left in the same condition it was in when it hit the water - either locked or unlocked. But he said that, in most circumstances, the door handle should have opened if used from the inside. The tragic brothers Mark, 11, (right) Evan (left), eight are pictured with their sister, who survived when her father passed her out of the car window to a hero who jumped in the water to try and save them all Mr Boyle also said that, once the vehicle lost grip on the slippery algae, it would have been uncontrollable. The hearing had previously heard how Mr McGrotty had managed to pass his four-month-old daughter through the window to Davitt Walsh - a bypasser who had swam out to the car - moments before it sank. Evidence suggested Mr McGrotty had managed to smash the window with his elbow. Mr Walsh had also tried to save one of the two boys, whose hand he managed to grasp, but had to let go when the boy's foot got caught and Mr Walsh feared he too would be dragged under the water. It is not known which of the two boys he was trying to save. SAFETY EXPERT PLEADS WITH DRIVERS TO PREPARE FOR BEING TRAPPED UNDER WATER A water safety expert has pleaded with people to buy cheap items which could save their lives if they become trapped under water in their cars. Chief Executive Officer of Water Safety Ireland, John Leech, was speaking at the inquest into the loss of five lives in the Buncrana Pier tragedy. Mr Leech, a naval officer for more than 20 years, gave a moving experience of how he has recovered many bodies in his career from both cars and fishing trawlers. He showed those at the inquest some items which could be used to help people get our of their cars if they ended up under water, including seatbelt cutters and a centre-punch which could easily break a car window. 'These items are very inexpensive - I got some of them for as little as 10 - and they can save a life,' he said. He also gave a step-by-step guide of what is recommended to people who become trapped in their cars. He firstly advised people not to use their phones to contact the emergency services. Instead, people should free themselves from their seatbelts, then break a window and allow children to escape the vehicle first before the adults. He added: 'People have to remember that cars float for a long time in the water and people should get out as quickly as possible and then they can hang onto the cars. 'It is an issue in Ireland and we have people drowning every year.' Advertisement Hero: Mr Walsh was pictured cradling baby Rionaghac-Ann after he risked his life to save her Witnesses had also described how the slipway was 'thick' with algae. Garda Seamus Callaghan, one of the first officers at the scene, told how he had to get down on his hands and knees to stop himself slipping. ALGAE-COVERED SLIPWAY WAS 'TREACHEROUS' WHEN FAMILY DROWNED The algae-covered slipway was as 'slippery as ice' when a car slid into the water killing five members of the same family, the inquest heard. There were also no barriers to prevent people from accessing the slipway, with no signs to warn of the potential danger. The hearing into the Buncrana pier deaths also heard that a risk assessment had not been carried out for 15 years. Lawyer Keith O'Grady told the hearing: 'In 2016 you have open access to a slipway covered in algae and in 2017 you have the slipway power-washed, cleaned, in excellent condition, and the gate closed and nobody can go down.' He added that the cost of removing the algae would have been 400euroes. John McLaughlin, a director at Donegal County Council, said the purpose of cleaning the slipway was to facilitate a ferry which used it during the summer but not in the winter. He said during winter the slipway was rarely used. Advertisement He explained how he had arrived to see a woman being given CPR before the area was sealed off and the pier cleared to give the fatalities some dignity. The priest blessed each member of the family as they were taken from the water, he told the hearing. Garda Sergeant Mark Traynor, also described the algae as thick and slippy. John McLaughlin, a director at Donegal County Council, admitted no signs had been installed warning the slipway could be slippery. He said the pier was rarely used in winter and was usually only cleaned to facilitate the summer ferry. During the hearing, a public safety expert who gave evidence urged drivers to carry equipment to break the car window and wanted information on escaping from water included in instruction manuals. John Leech from the Irish Water Safety promotional body said those becalmed often had only a minute to take action like undoing seatbelts and rolling down windows before exiting safely. Speaking after the inquest verdict, Inspector Murphy said: 'We truly hope the conclusion of the inquest will go some way to aiding the grieving process. 'Generations of a family have lost their lives, as we have heard in the course of this inquest.' He said the tragedy has impacted on many communities including Buncrana, the Inishowen peninsula and around the country. Romello Leach (pictured), 22, allegedly admitted to the crime during a recorded phone call A Colorado pastor accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl admitted to fathering a child with the teenager after he was arrested. According to El Paso County arrest documents, the girl became pregnant and gave birth to a child which 22-year-old Romello Leach told investigators was his. Authorities say Leach is associated with several churches that met at a Colorado Springs hotel, according to The Gazette. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office began investigating him in May after getting a tip from the pregnancy center where the girl and her mother sought help. The teenager mother gave birth to the child on Sept. 15, shortly after she turned 15. According to court documents, the teenage girl did not mention the pregnancy to anyone until her noticed her 'larger belly' in May. Authorities say Leach is associated with several churches that met at a Colorado Springs hotel Authorities say Leach, recorded during a phone call with his ex-wife, admitted his actions were wrong but said that he was 'full of lust' at the time. The teenager mother gave birth to the child on Sept. 15, shortly after she turned 15 Leach reportedly tells his former wife that he 'knows he had made the worst mistake,' an affidavit in the case states. 'It's not like (I) will go around and sleep with everybody's 13 or 14-year-daughter,' he adds. In an separate conversation with an unidentified person, Leach admits to having sex with the underage girl on at least four different occasion and acknowledges being the babys father. Leach was arrested Wednesday multiple counts of sexual assault on a child and is being held in jail. It's not known if he has a lawyer. Advertisement Another week of wild parties has kicked off for Schoolies, as interstate teenagers descended on the Gold Coast for their annual end of exam celebrations. Tens of thousands of Queensland graduates were spotted enjoying themselves over the last week, however Saturday saw an influx of New South Wales and Victorian students taking over. A heavy police presence was out and about helping to keep the contingent safe though, as bloody fights broke out along the strip. One man was left bloodied after another week of wild parties kicked off for Schoolies Saturday, with interstate teenagers descending on the Gold Coast for their annual end of exam celebrations Paramedics and ambulance officers were out in force, attending to injured people and transporting them to hospital A heavy police presence was also on hand to help keep the contingent of New South Wales and Victorian teens safe though, with 66 arrests made throughout the week One man was left bleeding from his head as he lay on the pavement after an incident, before he was attended to by paramedics. While groups of officers were spotted throughout the night, investigating items including money and a small plastic bag, amid the antics. Queensland Police said Saturday that thousands of school leavers had enjoyed their final night of organised activities, with just three male schoolies arrested on the final night. They also confirmed that an increased police presence would remain in Surfers Paradise as they prepared for the arrival of interstate revellers, many of whom will be of legal drinking age. Officers were spotted making arrests throughout the night, while one group was spotted investigating items including a small plastic bag with unidentified contents (pictured) Another officer was spotted looking at money notes among a group of gathered police, as thousands of school leavers enjoyed themselves One law enforcement pair appeared to share a joke together as they patrolled the Gold Coast strip to help keep school leavers safe, with three males arrested on the final 'official' night An increased police presence will remain in Surfers Paradise as preparations get underway for the arrival of interstate revellers, many of whom will be of legal drinking age Throughout the official week of celebrations 66 schoolies were arrested for a variety of charges, including drug possession, while others were issued alcohol infringement notices. The official number of arrests was down from previous years, with more than 20,000 leavers hitting the strip. On the final night of the first week many schoolies were spotted hitting the waves for a night time dip, with shoes in hand and towels wrapped around them. Feather boas, shorts and revealing tops were some of the popular outfits among those making the most of the summery Queensland night. Always a shoulder to lean on: Lots of Schoolies stuck together, making sure they had each others backs as they celebrated Another night of wild parties for the young Schoolies began for the second week of the annual end of year celebrations One Schoolie appeared to be wearing a red feather boa (right) and a black leather skirt, standing out from the crowd Huge groups of teenagers made their way down to the sandy shores as the sun set on Saturday for a pre-party dip. Many of the Schoolies were spotted strolling along the beach front in towels and minimalist outfits to account for the warm north weather. While some party-goers appeared to be well-dressed for the tropical party season, donning long shirts and even heavy jackets. Thousands of teenagers have been spotted hitting the famous surf waves for a night time dip in the cool ocean (pictured) Some of the Schoolies were even spotted strolling beside the beach front in towels (pictured) as they carried along the shoes Some party-goers donned matching black strappy sandels (pictured) jean skirts, and strappy tops as they hit the town Many Schoolies took a quick refreshing swim in the ocean before partying away the rest of their night (pictured) While most schoolies appeared to behave during their time on the Gold Coast, one group of 17-year-olds allegedly left a destructive mark on a Surfers Paradise penthouse hotel room. Footage uploaded to social media in the early hours of Saturday morning showed the extent of the wrecked room at the Mantra Sun City Resort on the Gold Coast. Schoolies celebrations will continue for the next couple of weeks as more graduates are expected to flock to the popular destination. Bedazzled: One Schoolie went all out with a stand out glittery eye shadow and a jewel encrusted choker necklace (pictured) Saturday night marked the first night for many NSW and Victorian Schoolies arriving in Queensland to take part in the fun Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas have cancelled flights in and out of Bali after Mount Agung volcano erupts for a second time. Despite Indonesia's disaster management authorities assuring travellers it's still safe to fly, Australian airlines aren't taking any chances after the temperamental volcano blew steam and rock 1,500 metres into the air on Saturday. A mere two hours after the eruption several airlines diverted or cancelled flights to and from Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport. A mere two hours after the eruption several airlines diverted or cancelled flights to and from Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport Jetstar diverted three flights heading to Bali and cancelled six flights ready to leave the island After months of observation Mount Agung erupted on Tuesday, with grey ash spewing from the peak at 5.05pm local time Jetstar diverted three flights heading to Bali and cancelled six flights ready to leave the island. 'Following an eruption of the Mount Agung volcano in Bali, Indonesia, it is not currently safe to operate flights around Denpasar Airport,' the airline said in a statement. 'As a result we have cancelled flights to and from Bali this evening. Three flights that were en route to Bali have returned to Australia.' Qantas and Virgin took a similar stance and cancelled all flights to and from Australia travelling to the tourist hotspot. A mere two hours after the eruption several airlines diverted or cancelled flights to and from Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport Qantas and Virgin took a similar stance and cancelled all flights to and from Australia travelling to the tourist hotspot Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency reminded passengers that only a small part of the island was affected and, as yet, their international airport was still operating. After months of observation Mount Agung erupted on Tuesday, with grey ash spewing from the peak at 5.05pm local time. With Schoolies underway, thousands of students have flocked to Indonesia or are expected to fly this week. The Department of Foreign Trade is advising anyone travelling to Bali to always 'exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia'. The eruption of Bali's Mount Agung volcano has caused major flight disruptions The eruption has forced about 29,000 evacuees into emergency shelters (pictured) The eruption was considered small although the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the danger zone around the volcano was 'dynamic' and could change at any time. They advise people to stay out of the exclusion zone, which remains unchanged, and extends 7.5km from the volcano. About 29,000 evacuees are currently living in shelters that's far less than the 150,000 people who fled their homes last month in fear the volcano would erupt. The Australian government advises all Australian tourists in Bali to monitor local media, follow instructions from local authorities and ensure they have travel insurance. The alert level remains at three after it was downgraded from the maximum level of four on October 29. Agung has been rumbling intermittently since August. The Australian government advises all Australian tourists in Bali to monitor local media, follow instructions from local authorities and ensure they have travel insurance Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart and her navigator were executed by the Japanese government to avoid an international incident, and the US played along, a shocking theory claims. The theory says Earhart, who was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and navigator Fred Noonan were killed on the island of Saipan, now a US commonwealth, after their disappearance in 1937 has been around for more than 50 years now. But now claims have emerged that Earhart's body was retrieved by the US military - which may have hidden her killing to keep the peace, the Pacific Daily News reported. Scroll down for video Did Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan (both pictured) die at the hands of Japanese soldiers, not exposure, after their disappearance in 1937? New evidence backs that claim Bill Sablan of Guam says his uncle worked in a prison camp on the island of Saipan in the late '30s when two American pilots - one female - were brought in, having been found at sea Saipan prison camp where Bill Sablan of Guam says his uncle worked is pictured The theory fits the recollections of William 'Bill' Sablan, a resident of Guam whose uncle, Tun Akin Tuho, worked at the Saipan prison camp. Sablan, who was born in Guam and raised in San Diego, told the Daily News that he remembered telling Tun in 1971 about how he hoped to become a pilot. That triggered a memory in Tun, who recalled how two white pilots had been interned for several days on Saipan, then a Japanese hub, before they were executed. He said his uncle couldn't recall the exact date, but said that 'some time in the middle '30s' an American woman and man were brought in for questioning. That was unusual, and caused an uproar in the otherwise quiet prison, Tun had said. They had been found in the southern islands, Tun told Saipan, and Japan had ordered them to be brought in. 'But during their session, I guess, Imperial Japan didn't want anything to do with them, because hey didn't want to get involved in any national [sic] scandal,' Sablan said. Sablan said his uncle claimed Imperial Japan decided to kill the pair because they wanted to avoid an incident, and that the US military collected their bodies after World War II 'So apparently I think they were both killed in Saipan and buried there, and I found out later on as I made my inquiries that... after the war was over, their bodies were exhumed by an American military branch and shipped back to the United States. 'Now where those bodies are now is somebody's own question to answer.' The Daily News suggested that they may have kept quiet in order to avoid an incident of their own. That contradicts the most popular theory, which is that she crashed and died in the sea on July 2, 1937, after noting poor visibility and her declining gas levels in a series of transmissions earlier that morning. But it fits a theory proposed on the History Channel special Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence in July that Earthart died at the hands of the Japanese, and that her murder was covered up by the US government. Sablan's story is the latest in a number of pieces of evidence that suggest Earhart died on Saipan, rather than perishing at sea. That theory emerged in 1960, when CBS radio reporter Fred Goerner interviewed several witnesses who said that two white 'flyers' or 'spies' had been picked up on the island before the Second World War. They claimed that one of them was a tall white woman with short hair, dressed like a man. His claim fits a long-standing theory that Earhart died on Saipan, even though the most common belief is that she and Noonan died after ditching at sea Josephine Blanco Akiyama (left) was 12 years old and living in Saipan (right) when she claims to have seen Earhart being hauled away by the Japanese in July 1937 after crashing her plane And in July, Josephine Blanco Akiyama, who grew up on Saipan but now lives in California, said she saw the pair as a child. 'I didn't even know it's a woman, I thought it's a man,' Akiyama told NBC's Today that month. 'Everybody was talking about her but they were talking in Japanese - that's why I know that she's a woman. They were talking about a woman flyer.' Akiyama, who was 12 at the time, claims she later learned Earhart had been executed. Also in July, a fuzzy photograph emerged as part of the promotion for the History Channel documentary purporting to show Earhart and Noonan in Saipan, along with her plane, in 1937. It shows a woman - purportedly Earhart - facing away from the camera. A man who is said to be Noonan stands nearby, while her crippled plane can be seen on the far right being dragged by a large ship. The faces of the two cannot be seen, but their profiles do bear a striking similarity to the pair. It has been claimed that the photographer was a US spy or emissary operating behind enemy lines in the Pacific. A facial recognition expert said that it is likely Earhart and Noonan in the photo, which was discovered in the National Archive by retired federal agent Les Kinney. This image reportedly shows Amelia Earhart (sitting center) after she vanished from the sky - but it is disputed by some. It was found in the national archive Experts disagree on whether the figures are indeed Noonan and Earhart. It's also been asked why the photo, purportedly taken in 1937, was found with photos taken in 1940 But investigators told MailOnline a year ago that the photo could not be that of Earhart because it was found among a batch of pictures taken after 1940 - three years after Earhart vanished. An investigator who researched the photo for MailOnline believed initially that the figures on the end of the jetty showed Earhart and Noonan but his enthusiasm waned when he realized the date they were supposedly taken. 'The 1940+ date is probably the most disheartening of all,' the investigator said, adding that the body shapes of 'Earhart' and 'Noonan' did not appear to be correct. And another recognized Earhart investigator, Mike Campbell, has lashed out at what he described as 'bogus photo claims'. Campbell said it wasn't evidence of anything except that a Japanese ship, the Koshu Maru, was once in Jaluit Harbour. Campbell claims that the photo 'does little except discredit the truth'. He says that Earhart and Noonan are 'absolutely not in the photo and it's incredible that anyone could believe they are'. 'Zoom in and you can see the upper half of a white man with black hair on the far left of the group on the dock,' he said, but adds that the features, the nose, the hairline are all wrong 'and any intelligent analysis rules him out'. The alleged details of Earhart's final flight, and where she is believed to have ended up based on different theories over the years Campbell said that 'nobody in the photo remotely resembles Earhart inasmuch as anyone's facial features can be determined at all'. MailOnline's investigation last year also concluded that if Earhart and Noonan had been captured by the Japanese, the suspected spies would have been under guard but there is no sign of any Japanese soldier on the jetty. 'The group on the dock appears to be out for a Sunday stroll, or awaiting someone's arrival from one of the ships in the harbour,' Campbell said. As the MailOnline's investigator who uncovered the questionable photo notes: 'In the archives I found that the envelopes containing the photographs were stamped on the lower rear corner - something that was difficult to notice as they're in a three-ring binder/enclosure. 'The [aerial] surveillance photos in the first few envelopes were dated earlier than the 1940s, but the photos taken from on the island [Jaluit], that were in the latter envelopes, were dated 1940+'. A Russian link to Boris Johnson and Michael Goves successful plot to persuade Theresa May to take a tougher stance on Brexit has been uncovered by The Mail on Sunday. This newspaper has established that a secret letter sent by the Cabinet Ministers to the Prime Minister was co-ordinated by a senior figure in a free-market UK think-tank founded by a tycoon who made a fortune in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The financier who established that think-tank, the Legatum Institute, also helped President Vladimir Putins associates to take control of Russias state energy giant Gazprom. The institutes economics director, Shanker Singham, was the third man in drawing up Johnson and Goves Brexit ultimatum, which this newspaper disclosed last month. The organisation, which operates from a townhouse in Londons affluent Mayfair, was set up using some of the fortune that secretive New Zealand-born tycoon Christopher Chandler made with brother Richard from a string of investments, some of which were made during the wild capitalism of the post-Soviet economy. Tonight one leading MP called for an investigation by Parliaments intelligence and security committee into the Legatum Institute and its influence on the Government. But an Institute spokesman strongly defended the charitys influence in the Brexit letter, and denied that Mr Chandler had played any role. It comes amid a separate political row over claims that the Kremlin secretly interfered in both Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. This newspaper has traced thousands of pro-Brexit social media posts to a troll factory based in St Petersburg. Mr Singham and Mr Gove were both at a behind-closed-doors Commons seminar on Brexit on Friday, which was also attended by No 10 and officials from the US Embassy. All guests were sworn to secrecy. The Mail on Sunday photographed Mr Singham as he slipped out of the meeting on Friday afternoon. Asked about his links with the Legatum Institute, Mr Gove told this newspaper he had met one of the Chandler brothers on one occasion. But he declined to comment on Fridays meeting with Mr Singham, or Mr Singhams role in the letter, saying: The blessed sponge of amnesia wipes the memory slate clean. Johnson and Goves Legatum-backed letter, revealed by The Mail on Sunday a fortnight ago, made three key demands to Mrs May: to force Chancellor Philip Hammond to do more to plan for a hard Brexit; to use our withdrawal from the EU to scrap swathes of rules and regulations; and to appoint a new Brexit Tsar to head up a task force within Whitehall. All three demands seem to have been met. Mr Hammond used the Budget to announce an extra 3 billion to prepare for a no deal on Brexit talks. Mr Gove has reportedly boasted that he has won Mrs Mays backing to use our EU withdrawal to break free of all Brussels rules. And our investigation suggests that Mr Singham is effectively becoming that Tsar: over the past year, he has held at least seven secret meetings with Ministers and officials at DexEU the Department for Exiting the EU including a summer summit at Chevening, the Kent home shared by Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox. Mr Singham, who has dual UK and US citizenship, has worked on trade deals involving Russia in the past. He previously spent 18 years working for US law firm Squire Sanders, which was subsequently dragged into the row over Donald Trumps links to Russia. The company formed an alliance with one of the Presidents former lawyers, Michael Cohen, who had been embroiled in controversy for approaching Putins spokesman for help on a property deal. The tycoon bought La Fleur Du Cap, the old mansion on the French Riviera formerly owned by David Niven Asked if Mr Singham had helped write the letter to Mrs May, Mr Gove declined to answer four times before claiming he had forgotten. The Environment Secretary confirmed he had met Mr Singham, an Oxford University contemporary. He also said he had met Monaco-based Christopher Chandler, who fiercely guards his privacy, at an event backed by the Legatum Institute and hosted by former Tory Cabinet Minister Lord Cranborne. The Chandlers extended their flourishing business empire into Russia in the 1990s, when state businesses were being privatised, and lucky entrepreneurs were able to make a killing. Through their company, Sovereign Global, they built a substantial holding in Gazprom, the government-controlled energy giant. Shortly after Putin became Russian President for the first time in 2000, the Chandlers, angered by the corruption they had witnessed in Gazprom, were credited with helping to trigger a boardroom coup which subsequently led to Alexey Miller being installed as head of the company. The Chandlers say they helped to bring transparency and accountability to the company. Miller was a close ally and confidant of Putins from their time working together in St Petersburg. Putin used the vast profits from Gazprom, the worlds largest energy company, to consolidate his grip on power. In 2005 another Putin ally, Dmitry Medvedev, the current Prime Minister, became chairman of Gazprom. The brothers split their fortunes in 2006, with Christopher using his share to help form the Legatum Group, which operates from Legatum Plaza in Dubai. The Legatum Group then spawned the Legatum Institute, which the group says is a completely independent charity with its own trustees. The Legatum Institute has played a key role in pushing Mrs Mays Government closer to a hard Brexit deal. Who's behind - and what drives - Legatum? Q What is the Legatum Institute? A It is a mysterious Mayfair-based think-tank which has become a hot house for Eurosceptic hard Brexit ideas. Q Who funds it? A The vast bulk nearly 90 per cent of its 4 million-a-year income comes from the Legatum Foundation; this was spun out of the Legatum Group created by tycoon Christopher Chandler a decade ago after splitting the fortune he made in emerging markets with brother Richard. Q What is the Institutes purpose? A Legatum means legacy: it says it is focused on tackling the major challenges of our generation. Brexit is certainly that. Q How did it influence the Boris-Gove letter? A Shanker Singham, Legatums director of economic policy, secretly helped to draw up the hard Brexit trade policies advocated by Gove and Johnson including preparing for a no-deal Brexit. Q What is its input on Brexit? A Legatums experts appear to have untrammelled access to Ministers: and in the case of Crawford Falconer have supplied the Government with its senior trade negotiator. Q Has the institute done anything wrong? A Civil servants resent the fact that Mr Gove and Mr Johnson appear to be using it as a parallel Whitehall. But it has not broken any rules. Advertisement It referred questions to the Legatum Group, which last night confirmed that Mr Singham is advising the Government because of his unparalleled expertise in economics and trade as a public service. The spokesman said Mr Chandler was not aware of the Johnson/Gove letter. He added that Mr Chandler had made his money in many endeavours, not just Russia, was not involved in running the Legatum Institute and had no role in appointing Mr Singham. According to the institutes accounts, it received more than 4.4 million in funding last year of which 3.9 million came from the Legatum Foundation, the development wing of the Legatum Group. The Johnson/Gove letter is not the only thing linking the organisation to the Government: lIt paid Brexit Secretary David Davis 5,000 to make a speech at its London office and flew him to Los Angeles for another function; lLegatum Institute trade expert Crawford Falconer was appointed Liam Foxs chief trade negotiator two months ago; lAnd Legatum Institute senior fellow Matthew Elliott was chief executive of Gove and Johnsons Vote Leave referendum campaign. Mr Elliott was previously caught up in a Russian controversy in 2012, when he was targeted by a man the Home Office now believes was a Russian spy. Russian diplomat Sergey Nalobin cultivated links with Elliott and helped to found Conservative Friends of Russia, which was later revealed to have links to Russian intelligence. But in August 2015, Nalobin had his permission to stay in Britain suddenly revoked after the inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko by polonium poisoning in London concluded that he was probably murdered on the personal orders of Putin. The Chancellors 3 billion Budget boost, and claims that Mrs May now supports Mr Goves demand to ditch EU standards will fuel claims the Government is following the Legatum Institutes Brexit blueprint. Furthermore, the charitys involvement in the secret Johnson-Gove letter and Fridays behind-closed-doors Commons summit will lead to more questions about the alleged cloak-and-dagger aspects of the organisations influence. One senior Government source claimed the institute had staged a soft coup via Johnson and Gove and that civil servants who have to obey strict anti-corruption rules had effectively been bypassed. Mr Johnson is to visit Russia in December for talks with Vladimir Putin in his role as Foreign Secretary. Brexit is expected to be on the agenda. Labour MP Liam Byrne, a former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: In the light of The Mail on Sundays revelations of the close links between the Legatum Institute and the Johnson-Gove hard Brexit putsch, it is now critical that this think-tanks relationship with the Government is thoroughly investigated. I urge Parliaments intelligence and security committee to launch a wide inquiry into Russian interference and settle the serious and lingering questions. The British Army is secretly training Saudi Arabian troops to fight in Yemen, where the country has been accused of committing crimes against humanity, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Up to 50 UK military personnel have been teaching battlefield skills to soldiers who will be deployed in the so-called dirty war. Thousands of civilians have been killed in bombing raids and an estimated one million children are facing starvation and serious illness as a result of the conflict. The Armys involvement is part of Britains shameful complicity in the suffering, according to Tory MP and former Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell. Salem, five, is one of the thousands of children affected by the conflict in Yemen. The five-year-old suffers from malnutrition and Unicef predicts that 150,000 children could die by the end of 2017 The training mission codenamed Operation Crossways came to light only after the Army released photos and information by mistake. The United Nations is investigating the situation in Yemen, describing it as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Some 10,000 people have died since the conflict between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and rebels supported by Iran began in 2015. Recently a Saudi blockade of Yemens ports brought the country to the edge a famine, with the charity Unicef predicting 150,000 children could die by the end of 2017. Last night, Mr Mitchell demanded that the UK Government provide answers in the Commons about Britains role in Saudi military operations. He said: The UK has been shamefully complicit in Saudis role in Yemen, which has clearly included breaches of the Geneva Conventions. 'I have no doubt Parliament will require an explanation of this training mission in view of the high level of concern about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Yemen. Operation Crossways involved troops from 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots) teaching Irregular Warfare (IW) techniques to officers from the Royal Saudi Land Forces Infantry Institute. IW is a collective name for specific tactics used by conventional armies to defeat terrorist groups. In Yemen, Saudi soldiers are fighting against an Iranian-backed paramilitary force known as the Houthi rebels. SNAP BRITISH ARMY DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SEE: Saudi troops preparing to fight in Yemen shown in the light blue map in the middle of the board look on as a British Army trainer taking part in Operation Crossways gives instructions on conducting an irregular warfare mission Due to the concern surrounding Saudi Arabias military operations in Yemen, Operation Crossways was never supposed to be made public. It came to light only after a mission summary and photographs were inadvertently posted on 2 Scots Facebook page earlier this month. In one picture a British instructor is seen standing in front of a map showing Yemen and the surrounding region as he explains a possible attacking strategy. The MoD attempted to launch a cover-up after the MoS brought the images to the attention of defence officials. Within 20 minutes of a reporter contacting the MoD, the images and the summary had been removed from the Facebook page. Last night, former head of the Royal Navy, Lord West, demanded transparency over the UKs role in training Saudi troops. He said: Given the sensitivities surrounding Saudi Arabia and Yemen at the moment it would be better to be open about what we are doing. Our training will hopefully save lives. A serving senior British Army officer who chose to remain anonymous added: There will be serious concern that this mission has leaked out given the sensitivities of Saudis role in the Yemen conflict. The MoS can also reveal the British training mission has involved Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers from the Royal Logistic Corps teaching Saudi troops how to defuse roadside bombs. The UK has been heavily criticised for selling billions of pounds of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, in particular as British-made bombs are understood to have been used in the Saudis aerial bombardment of Yemen. The MoD said: The UK is not training the Saudi Armed Forces in irregular activity but is providing courses in how to counter it. Our complicity in this biblical horror is shameful writes ANDREW MITCHELL, former international development secretary It is a proud achievement that, in the aftermath of two terrible world wars, our leaders created the Geneva Conventions, a historic set of rules to govern conflict. Yet even this month, as we mark the sacrifice of our soldiers, that rules-based international order is crumbling. And in Yemen, it is being fatally undermined by our own allies. As wreaths were being laid in the UK to mark Remembrance Sunday, Yemen was enduring yet another day of a brutal blockade that risks plunging the country into the worlds largest famine. It has been imposed by Saudi Arabia. The blockade enforced after Houthi rebels fired a missile towards Riyadh, the Saudi capital has now been in place for more than 20 days, cutting off half a million tons of food and fuel to a starving population, barring delivery of desperately needed medical supplies, and grounding UN humanitarian flights carrying aid workers to their lifesaving missions. Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, pictured in Moscow during a meeting with Vladimir Putin Ever more urgent pleas from the UN and humanitarian agencies to fully lift the siege fall on deaf ears. Despite Saudi protestations, it is increasingly hard to deny that this constitutes collective punishment of an entire population. This is a crime under international law and as an ally and major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia, the UK is shamefully complicit. The impact of the blockade could not be more grave. Yemen is a country ravaged by medieval diseases and on the precipice of a biblical famine. The Saudi pledge to open some ports to urgent humanitarian supplies does not come close to feeding a population reliant on commercial imports for 80 per cent of its food. Every hour, 27 children are diagnosed as acutely malnourished: thats 600 more starving children every day. Fuel shortages mean at least seven cities have already run out of clean water and sanitation; hospitals have shut down due to a lack of running water and fuel for generators. As vaccines run out, one million children are at risk of diphtheria, known as The Strangling Angel of Children. The imagery on our television screens seems from a bygone era: emaciated children; tiny babies in incubators, their tenuous hold on life dependent on fuel for hospital generators that is fast running out. Preventing the supply of weapons to Houthi rebels fighting Yemens internationally recognised government is a legitimate aim, mandated by UN Security Resolution 2216. But this cannot justify the ongoing strangulation of Yemen and its people. A UN panel of experts found no evidence to support Saudi claims that their obstruction of civilian goods is stopping missiles being shipped to the Houthis by Iran. Such an obstruction is illegal under the international system. The UKs silence in the face of these clear crimes against the people of Yemen not only shames us, it implicates us. This is a war waged by British allies using British weapons: we have supplied Saudi Arabia with almost 4 billion of weapons and military support in recent years. As the penholder on Yemen, responsible for leading action at the Security Council, we bear a special responsibility political as well as moral to lead the international response to end this conflict. Yet the British government has declined to call this what it is: an illegal blockade. While the Government was right to condemn the attempted Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport, where is the British condemnation of 1,000 days of intensive Saudi bombing of Yemen? On the first day of my recent visit to the capital, Sanaa, the city was attacked six times by bombers from the Saudi air force. Throughout the conflict, our quiet diplomacy has failed to curb outrage after outrage perpetrated by our allies in pursuit of what the UN Secretary General has called a stupid war. The current blockade does not just risk the senseless death of millions. By tightening the noose around a starving population, Saudi Arabia is feeding the propaganda machine of the opponents it aims to vanquish. More than collective punishment, then, it is self-harm on a grand scale. The Houthis have publicly vowed revenge, blaming Saudi aggression that shuts down all doors for peace and dialogue. Saudi Arabias borders can ultimately be made secure only by having a stable Yemen. But as it wreaks relentless havoc on its own neighbourhood, it cannot be surprised when the Yemenis refuse to toe the line. Every action of the Saudis currently serves the narrative of Saudis enemies who want it to be seen as the aggressor to win support of the general population. Prolonging the conflict serves the purpose of those who profit from war and wish to undermine stability in the region: including Iran and extremist groups. When I was in Yemen, I saw signs in the street in Arabic and English declaring America and Britain are killing Yemeni children. The time for UK leadership is now. We must demand an urgent ceasefire, an immediate and unconditional end to the blockade, and a return to reinvigorated, inclusive peace talks. A new Security Council resolution is long overdue: it is widely recognised that Resolution 2216 is an anachronism that constitutes a barrier to a peace process. The cost of our inaction is measured in Yemeni lives. The clock is ticking: a child dies every ten minutes. Yemen is also a time bomb threatening international peace and security. The abrogation of our responsibility to denounce these crimes and use our leverage to stop them condemns millions of Yemenis to death. Shying away from demanding compliance by all to the international rules-based order that we helped take root also weakens a strained system that keeps British citizens safe. We must use every inch of our leverage diplomatic, political and economic to demonstrate to our allies they have more to gain from peace than a fruitless military strategy that is exacerbating the worlds largest humanitarian catastrophe, and undermines the international rules-based order that keeps us all safe. Standing alongside his wife, the businessman in a pinstripe suit exuded confident respectability as he chatted to Prince William at a charity polo event. It was a summer afternoon in 2009 and Muhammad Asif Hafeez, a familiar face on the polo circuit and a man noted for his quiet charm, was a VIP guest. But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that at the time of his encounter with the Prince, Hafeez was allegedly masterminding a massive global drugs operation that saw no borders or boundaries. According to prosecutors, the 58-year-old who is thought to have made a donation to the elite event that benefited six of Prince William and Prince Harrys favourite charities was referred to by members of his syndicate as The Sultan. Hafeez's wife, Shahina, presenting Prince William with a bouquet at a charity polo match. She also gave Prince Harry a protocol-busting hug which made onlookers gasp Yet in the rarefied circles in which he moved in Britain, Hafeez was esteemed as a wealthy industrialist and lifelong polo enthusiast. Since 2009 he has been one of Ham Polo Clubs international club ambassadors. Following a joint UK-US operation, he was arrested in August at his flat in Regents Park, London. He also has a 5 million home in Berkshire where he breeds polo horses. Now in Wandsworth Prison, he is fighting extradition to the US where he is wanted for allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin and crystal meth into the country. Along with associates, he is also accused of setting up a massive drugs factory in Mozambique. On Friday, Hafeez appeared via videolink before Westminster magistrates court. But back in June 2009, he took his place in the VIP enclosure at Ham Polo Club in Richmond to watch William and Harrys team play. It is understood he was given the opportunity of meeting the brothers after the match because of his donation. During their conversation, Hafeezs wife Shahina, 57, presented William with a bouquet and gave Harry a protocol-busting hug which made onlookers gasp. Friends said Hafeez has also met Prince Charles and other senior Royals through polo. In the same month that he met William and Harry, Hafeez and Shahina attended another event at Ham, rubbing shoulders with Princess Beatrice and her boyfriend Dave Clarke, as well as Pippa Middleton and then England manager Fabio Capello. William and Harry, of course, had no idea Hafeez was a long-time priority target of Americas Drug Enforcement Administration. And to anyone who pressed him, Hafeez headed a Dubai-based conglomerate, producing everything from textiles to military hardware. Hafeez has also met Prince Charles and other senior Royals through polo and said he ran a Dubai based conglomerate But during an earlier hearing at Westminster magistrates court in August, details of an altogether different business empire were outlined. It was claimed he has been involved in narcotics trafficking since 1993 and that his operation stretched across Asia, Europe and North America. In a press statement issued before the hearing, US Attorney Joon H Kim said: [The] Sultan trafficked in drugs on a massive and global scale, working with transnational criminal organisations to manufacture and distribute enormous quantities of heroin and methamphetamine [crystal meth] around the world and the United States. From Kenya and Mozambique to London and New York, Hafeezs alleged drug operation saw no borders or boundaries until now. Hafeez was arrested at the request of the US authorities following an operation by Britains National Crime Agency and Met police and the DEA. According to the official DEA indictment, Hafeez is accused of joining forces with a feared African crime family called the Akasha Organisation, led by brothers Baktash Akasha Abdalla and Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla, who have already been extradited to the US. In 2014, the DEA launched an undercover operation against the Sultan-Akasha network, a sting in which its undercover agents posed as Colombian drug dealers wanting to buy heroin. In October 2014, Ibrahim Akasha delivered a kilogram of heroin to the DEA agents in the Kenyan city of Mombasa, which the Colombians said was destined for the US. The following month, the Akasha organisation delivered 98 kilograms of heroin to the DEA agents. The agents were told that the heroin was the Sultans drugs, and they reportedly spoke to Hafeez by Skype video. The conversation was secretly recorded. The Akasha brothers and two others Gulam Hussein and Vicky Goswami were subsequently arrested by Kenyan police and extradited to the US earlier this year after a three-year legal battle. Kenyan police officers display bags of heroin. Hafeez is fighting extradition to the US where he is wanted for allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin and crystal meth into the country Separately, Hafeez is accused of trying to smuggle tons of crystal meth into the US while working alongside the Akasha organisation. The DEA alleges that they set up a special laboratory in Mozambique to make the drug. At the same time, others in the gang Goswami and his wife Mamta Kulkarni, a well-known Bollywood actress were running a factory 3,600 miles away in India to manufacture ephedrine, the deadly drugs active ingredient. This was then due to be smuggled to Mozambique. During the August hearing, prosecuting barrister Hashim Chaudhri said Hafeez could face life imprisonment in the US if found guilty. But Hafeezs defence team said he was the victim of mistaken identity and stressed he does not have a criminal record in any jurisdiction. He next faces court on December 13. Last night, his solicitor, Hassan Khan, said: Mr Hafeez entirely denies all the allegations made against him by United States Drug Enforcement Administration. He will be vigorously defending all the allegations made by the US and the associated extradition request initiated by the US. The allegations made against him are inaccurate and unsupported. Although Hafeez has been listed as one of Ham Polo Clubs 14 international club ambassadors every year since 2009, club treasurer Paul de Rivaz last night said he was not a current member. Last night, Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the Princes meeting Hafeez and his wife at the polo match. Is is an app that could make phones far more secure. Rather than rely on traditional voice recognition, researchers have revealed an android app that uses sonar to monitor how users are moving their mouth as they speak. This would put an end to so called 'spoofing' through replay attacks - when an identity thief edits recordings of your voice to play to these systems in order to access your data. Biometric voice authentication is the technology that allows your voice to be recognized as a password, instead of typing in a password. However, voice biometrics is vulnerable to replay attacks - when an identity thief edits recordings of your voice to play to these systems RISE OF BIOMETERICS Various kinds of biometrics can and are used for authentication, including fingerprint, iris, facial and voice recognition systems. Voice authentication has become a low-cost and reliable way of authenticating users, and it's becoming increasingly popular in mobile apps - for example Google's 'Trusted Voice' for Android devices. Biometrics have gained increasing levels of attention as an alternative to typed passwords for authentication. Biometric voice authentication is the technology that allows your voice to be recognized as a password, instead of typing in a password. However, these systems are vulnerable to attacks, which are easy to commit due to to the availability of low-cost, high-quality recording and playback devices. Advertisement Researchers say their sonar system called VoiceGesture can detect live users and whether or not people are misusing recordings for 'replay attacks.' The fact that people share so much audio and video of themselves on social media makes it even easier for identity thieves to pass voice authentication tests fraudulently. According to New Scientist, Google is currently reviewing the technology for Android. 'We hope to hear in early February,' Jie Yang at Florida State University in Tallahassee told New Scientist. The team also plan to expand the antispoofing technologys applications to voice assistants, like the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The detection system requires only a speaker and a microphone that are commonly available on smartphones. It works by using the smartphone as a Doppler radar, which transmits a high frequency sound from the built-in speaker and listens to the reflections at the microphone when a user speaks their passphrase. When a user sets their passphrase, the VoiceGesture app emits a barely audible, high pitched 20 kilohertz acoustic signal from the phones loudspeaker. Illustration of how the VoiceGesture system works. VoiceGesture performs liveness detection by extracting features in the Doppler shifts that are caused by the unique articulatory gestures from when a user speaks a passphrase This signal bounces off the moving jaw, lips and tongue as they speak, and creates a unique 'mouthprint'. The Doppler shift is the same effect that causes sirens from an emergency vehicle to change in pitch as it passes you by. In a study with 21 participants and different types of phones, the VoiceGesture system achieved over 99 per cent detection accuracy at a 1 per cent Equal Error Rate. The study also showed that the system works well with different voice frequencies and different phone placements - for example when the phone is placed by the ear or in front of the mouth. As we step off the plane in Puerto Escondido, the air slaps us in the face like a hot flannel. Its hot and humid in Oaxaca (pronounced Wahaca), near the bottom of Mexico close to Guatemala. It has been a long journey to get here: two aeroplanes and 12 hours flying time. Our three children, Dash, 11, Edith, eight, and Artemis, two, immediately shed their clothes. I look at my husband in dismay. Have we made a mistake? Life and soul: Oaxacas thriving Playa Marinero, where the sea is refreshing and warm By the time we have located our rooms in a poorly signed apartment block on the other side of town, the toddlers cheeks are flaming. A smoothie? suggests my husband desperately. The smoothie helps. And then we hear the surf, slamming down on Zicatela Beach. It is thrilling watching the spume fly up and the surfers crash down. The children are desperate to go in, but the under-toad, as my husband calls it, would have us all for dinner. The surf is the reason Puerto Escondido took off as a tourist spot back in the Sixties. Now, its surfer roots are overshadowed by hotels and candlelit restaurants serving everything from ceviche to pizza. That evening, it is exciting enough just to watch the sun set and the surfers turn into black seals, but the next morning, we walk ten minutes to Playa Marinero. It is here that our trip truly begins to make sense. The sea is refreshing, but warm enough to stay in for hours. The waves are manageable. My husband teaches the older two how to dive under the bigger waves and avoid a battering. Edith divides the waves into slappers, bashers and bobbers. Soon, Dash and Edith are body-boarding, hands thrust out in front like miniature missiles. For children who used to shriek about getting their faces wet in the bath, this is a result. Dancers take part in a carnival in Oaxaca, which has been a tourist hotspot for 50 years At lunchtime, the Mexican families pull out giant cooler boxes full of food and order more from the vendors labouring up and down the beach. By the time the tamale woman reaches us, there are hardly any left: the tamales turn out to be steamed corn dough wrapped around chocolatey chicken, served in a banana leaf. Theyre delicious. For Artemis, there is a Mexican prawn cocktail, less mayonnaise, more tomato and lime. Afterwards, we eat pastries good enough for Paris: light and sugar-sprinkled, only here bought from a barefoot woman. San Agustinillo is our next stop, an hour east along the coast. The village has a European feel, thanks to the Italians whove opened up restaurants here. Palapas, the palm-roofed buildings typical of the area, sit on the steep hill away from the beach, and the shops are owned by friendly Mexicans who help my husband and Artemis improve their Spanish. For Dashs 11th birthday, we book a tour with Pacifico Magico. Our guide, Efren, takes us carefully alongside a migrating humpback whale (Come at them head on and you frighten them, he says). We marvel at its great, glistening back and watch its giant tail slipping noiselessly beneath the waves. Edith is astonished by its peaceful eye. But the real thrill are the dolphins. As we speed across the ocean, there they are, leaping from the sea, at least 20 of them cutting through the water at joyous speed. The area is a shining example of eco-tourism. We take a trip to the Mazunte Turtle Museum. Here, the same people who used to slaughter the sea turtles have become their protectors. Most breeds of Mexicos turtles paddle around here, gazing beadily up at us from their outdoor aquariums. A mile away at the Ventanilla lagoon, the community run boat tours. On the shore waits a crocodile, close enough to snap up a toddler, and in the branches of the mangroves, we spot nesting pelicans and herons. But it is the iguanas we love, jewel-bright and pawing each other to get closer to us, hoping for scraps. No, we cant take them home, I tell the children firmly. We instead buy a hand-beaded version much easier to fit on the mantelpiece. There comes a time in every parents life when they must explain where Father Christmas lives. I had brought my six-year-old daughter Claudia to see him in his natural habitat: Rovaniemi in Finland, the official Home of Santa Claus. Our base was the boutique Arctic Light Hotel. In winter, the sun sets early here. But there are things to do in the long evenings in Rovaniemi. The superb Pilke Science Centre closes at 6pm, and you can always hunt for the Northern Lights. Other than that, hunker down there are fires and a hotel restaurant, even if reindeer served three ways prompted difficult questions from Claudia. Anna Melville-Jones and her daughter Claudia on their visit to Rovaniemi in Finland to visit Santa Claus After fielding mind-bending queries, youll need a Lappish G&T, infused with rosemary and cloudberries and possibly a lie-down in the hotel sauna. Building up to the big guy, we went snowmobiling next morning heading down the frozen Kemijoki river and out to a silent forest of dark pines against a dazzling, desolate landscape. This is Christmas like youve never known. Locals mention with trepidation that winters are getting warmer, but warm here still means minus temperatures that make your cheeks ache as you zip along under a sky of pale blues, pinks and oranges. You can snowmobile across the Arctic Circle (or catch the No 8 bus to cross the Circle instead) to swap horsepower for a sled at a reindeer farm. Reindeer have been integral to indigenous Sami culture for centuries, but theres an art to driving one. Stay on for a Sami shamanic ceremony in a tipi and learn about living in one of the worlds most inhospitable climates. In winter, the sun sets early. But there are things to do in the long evenings in Rovaniemi, pictured When we finally reached the Santa Claus Village, Claudia was pink with anticipation. This is a commercial take on Santa, with elf hats to buy and postcards to send from the post office. For a more intimate experience, theres the Santa Claus Secret Forest at Joulukka, which offers an elf school and private meetings. At the village, the queue for Santa was long and the visit short, with the inevitable photo-buying finish. I dont think that was him, whispered Claudia conspiratorially as a quiet snowfall began, natural enchantment descending from the skies. She caught a flake on her tongue and giggled. Wherever Santa was, it didnt really matter. Christmas had come early, and the magic was real. Abu Dhabi has been busy rebranding itself and now wants to be known as the Gulfs capital for culture and cuisine. As part of this, 3billion has been spent on creating the worlds most spectacular new art gallery. The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel, has opened on Saadiyat Island, with art critics drooling with pleasure at its contents and physical beauty. The aluminium and stainless steel dome 650ft wide and open on all sides is supported by four concealed piers and so appears to hover above the desert like a lattice flying saucer. It is a dramatic architectural statement and no doubt will become as recognisable a symbol of this wealthy emirate as the Burj al Arab is of neighbouring Dubai. The Etihad Towers and Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The Gulf State is rebranding itself as a capital for culture and cuisine I spent several hours wandering through this Louvre in the desert and emerged from its cool confines thrilled by what I have seen and impressed with the organisation of the museum. It is arranged chronologically as the story of humanitys art and is spread across a series of 20 galleries. It is, according to His Excellency Saif Ghobash, of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, about universality, about the evolution of art. So, you start with an 8,000-year-old two-headed figure from Jordan, then the ancient Egyptian sarcophagus of Princess Henuttawy from 950 BC, working your way through 8th Century gold adornments from Iranian Azerbaijan, and then through Middle Eastern treasures, to great European Renaissance works. Then its on to Picasso, Van Gogh, Mondrian, Cy Twombly and Ai Wei Wei, along with other contemporary stars. Not surprisingly, there have been minor journalistic flutters around the presence of Christian religious works such as Bellinis Virgin And Child and nude sculptures in a Muslim country that remains essentially very conservative. These are, however, flutters that His Excellency Ghobash dismisses out of hand. In fact, he says he sees the Louvre as building a creative class and attracting a creative class, something you can only do if you have a more tolerant, more progressive people living here. Inside the new Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, which has opened at a cost of 3billion He says Abu Dhabi is planning for the day the last barrel of oil is pumped. We are striving to become one of the worlds cultural capitals. To that end Saadiyat Island, which is already home to a branch of New York University (with its own art gallery), is being earmarked as the emirates cultural hub with plans to build a National Museum, designed by Lord Foster, a new Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry, and a maritime museum designed by the Japanese modernist Tadao Ando. One of the exhibits in the new museum is this self portrait by Vincent van Gogh Whether travellers will flock to Abu Dhabi to look at Leonardo da Vincis mesmerising Belle Ferroniere or Davids dramatic Napoleon Crossing The Alps or Picassos Bust Of A Woman is open to question. Tourism numbers are reportedly growing at more than ten per cent a year, and next year almost five million visitors are expected. However, most go for the winter sunshine, the combed white-sand beaches and the luxurious hotels that for much of the year offer very competitive prices. That more sybaritic side of Abu Dhabi is on offer on the island next to Saadiyat. Yas Island is home to tourist playgrounds such as Waterworld, Ferrari World, the Du Arena which has hosted Jay Z, Paul McCartney, Calvin Harris and Mumford & Sons and the Yas Marina Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit, the venue today for the 2017 seasons last race. Having spent the morning in the cool cerebral retreat that is the Louvre, I crossed from Saadiyat to Yas to attend the Abu Dhabi Taste Festival, a raucous annual open-air food, drink and music carnival that includes concerts by the likes of former Spandau Ballet vocalist Tony Hadley. On the evening of my visit, it featured a cook-off to decide Etihad Airways Taste The World champion. The Abu Dhabi airline had flown in 12 chefs from across the world, regional winners of domestic competitions, to contest the big prize. Among the favourites was Dean Parker, head chef at Londons The Manor restaurant. However, much to the disappointment of the British partygoers, the Michelin-star chef Kotaro Noda, from Romes Bistro64, took the crown. Chef Takashi Ando at the Jumeirah Etihad Towers' Japanese restaurant Tori No Su Etihad Airways has, since it launched in 2003, marketed itself as the gastronomes airline and even in these more austere times it is being forced to cut operating costs by 30 per cent boasts an in-flight chef for First Class passengers on all long-haul flights. (Even in Economy, the food served is superior to most other airlines fare.) As final affirmation of the all-round excellence of the emirates culinary offerings, on my last day I had lunch at Jumeirah Etihad Towers Japanese restaurant Tori No Su and then dinner at the hotels Rays Grill, the atmospheric steakhouse on the 63rd floor overlooking the waterfront. The food at both was superb, with chef Takashi Andos sushi and sashimi the best Ive had in years. There are seven restaurants in this luxury property and both Tori No Su and Rays are bafflingly empty. Were these London restaurants, one would struggle to get a table. As is the case with the new Louvre, British travellers are not going to fly to Abu Dhabi for the cuisine. However, if they are coming anyway for the winter sunshine, theyre in for a treat on both counts. She's the Weekend Today star who announced her engagement to cinematographer Trent Butler on Monday. And now Jayne Azzopardi has detailed the emotional moment she burst into tears after he bent down on one knee from the balcony of their hotel in Hobart last weekend. Speaking during Weekend Today on Saturday, the 34-year-old also revealed that viewers have since drawn similarities between her lover's appearance and her on-air partner Tom Steinfort. Scroll down for video Something was in the air: Jayne Azzopardi (right) recaps her emotional engagement to Trent Butler... and reveals viewers thought her husband-to-be was co-host Tom Steinfort (left) Jayne said she was whisked away to Trent's home state of Tasmania after hosting Weekend Today last Sunday, before she said 'yes' through tears to Trent's proposal. 'We were staying at this beautiful hotel and we were on our balcony, and it was fantastic weather, Hobart really turned it on,' she explained to co-host Tom. 'I started to get a little bit emotional. I was looking at him thinking "you look so handsome, I love you so much", and he came over to give me a hug and comfort me and next minute he was on his knees pulling out a ring, and I cried.' Newsreader Davina Smith chimed in, asking Jayne to elaborate on people mistaking Trent for Tom. Awkward! Speaking during Weekend Today on Saturday, the 34-year-old also revealed that viewers have since drawn similarities between her lover's appearance and her on-air partner Tom Steinfort 'I started to get a little bit emotional': Jayne said she was whisked away to Trent's home state of Tasmania after hosting Weekend Today last Sunday, before she said 'yes' through tears to Trent's proposal 'Well I certainly haven't ... but I suppose in the photo we posted I am covering half of Trent's face,' Jayne responded. She added: 'There were a few viewers saying "is that Tom Steinfort?" It's not.' The pretty brunette then jokingly 'friendzoned' Tom, telling him that Trent is the only one for her. 'You've made the right choice,' Tom responded. Jayne took to Instagram on Monday to share the exciting news, beneath an adorable snap that showed her cosied up with her new fiancee. She said Yes! Jayne took to Instagram on Monday to share the exciting news, beneath an adorable snap that showed her cosied up with her new fiance. Top talent: Jayne is widely considered one of Channel Nine's most popular stars - both among viewers and colleagues 'Say no more.. the answer is YES!! I'm the luckiest, happiest girl in the world. Can't wait to marry my love', Jayne wrote in a post uploaded for her 8700 followers. The stunner shared a selfie that appeared to be taken right after Trent's proposal. Beaming as she placed her hand over her man's mouth, journalist Jayne showed off her new engagement bling. Loved up: Jayne and Trent were immediately inundated with well-wishes from Channel Nine's biggest stars She is expecting her second child with boxer husband Amir Khan. And Faryal Makhdoom looked to be missing the I'm A Celebrity star as she attended a meet and greet at Marhaba Restaurant in Luton on Friday night. The 26-year-old's public appearance comes after reports emerged Amir is the highest paid I'm A Celebrity contestant, earning a staggering 400k for his appearance in the reality show. Scroll down for video Flying solo: Pregnant Faryal Makhdoom looked to be missing her husband Amir Khan as she attended a meet and greet at Marhaba Restaurant in Luton on Friday night He's in the money: The boxing legend is reportedly the highest paid contestant in the history of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! Faryal nailed maternity chic in a geometric-print cape as she made her way to the restaurant launch. Paired with a chunky polo-neck jumper and suede knee-high boots, the mother-of-one covered up her baby bump in the fashionable outerwear. She styled her raven black tresses in a sleek center parting and showcased her model looks with bold eyeliner and heavily contoured cheeks. Glam: The Instagram star nailed maternity chic in a geometric-print cape as she made her way to the restaurant launch Big deal: New reports claim Amir is being paid more than Katie, due to his recent marital woes with Faryal as well as his status as a former world champion Faryal's outing comes after reports Amir Khan is the highest paid contestant in the history of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! The record was previously held by Katie Price, who bagged a whopping 400,000 for her second stint on the show in 2009 - but according to The Sun, the boxer, 30, is receiving a touch over that figure. Amir is said to have been paid even more than Katie due to his recent marital woes with Faryal as well as his status as a former world champion. Fashionable: The mother-of-one covered up her baby bump in the fleecy outerwear and a knitted jumper Dramatic make-up: Faryal showcased her model looks with bold eyeliner and heavily contoured cheeks In demand: A source said: 'Amir was a great get, but he came at a hefty cost. Hes going to be the best paid celeb theyve ever had' Overtaken: Amir is reportedly receiving over 400,000 - the figure Katie Price was paid to make a return to the jungle in 2009 (above) Amir and Faryal acrimoniously split two months ago, following a number of bitter family feuds and public rows, but reconciled one week before he jetted to Australia. A source said: 'Amir was a great get, but he came at a hefty cost. Hes going to be the best paid celeb theyve ever had. 'Katie Price got somewhere close, but Amirs is slightly higher again.' Opening up: It has been a tough year for the couple after Amir accused the model of cheating and Faryal accused Khan's Pakistani parents of bullying her for not being a good Muslim On again: Amir confirmed he and Faryal were back together with a cosy Instagram snap last week, captioned: 'Closing the year with a happy ending' Back in the day: The Olympic silver medalist filed for divorce in September but are back on again Addressing his recent marriage split, which even saw him accuse Faryal of cheating with Anthony Joshua, the insider added: 'He has plenty to gain in improving his public image but he also wasnt doing it for peanuts. ITV have dug deep.' Bosses are no doubt keen for the boxer to discuss his marriage in the jungle, after confirming he and Faryal were back together with a cosy Instagram before his stint the jungle, captioning it: 'Closing the year with a happy ending.' In a public war of words this summer both accused the other of cheating and Faryal accused Khan's Pakistani parents of bullying her for not being a good Muslim. Happy family: Faryal is currently expecting Amir's second child Amir then filed for divorce in September, shortly before she confirmed she was expecting his second child. He even accused his American wife of having an affair with heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua, prior to their reconciliation. He later apologised to both Faryal and the boxer, and revealed there was 'no truth' to the claim. She is a well known animal rights activist who uses her platform to educate the public. And Mena Suvari was spotted protesting the use of animal fur on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, as part of the Fur Free Friday campaign. The 38-year-old actress was joined by other animal rights activist who protested along the luxury shopping area on Black Friday. 'Actorvist': Mena Suvari was spotted protesting the use of animal fur on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, as part of the Fur Free Friday campaign Mena put on a stylish display with bootcut jeans and a gray T-shirt with 'Fur Is Cruel' emblazoned on the front to show her support. The American Pie beauty added height to her frame with black boot-heels, that featured a buckle at the ankles. Mena kept her silky blonde tresses down under a tan fedora, while showing off her radiant beauty with only a minimal amount of make-up. The Last Chance For Animals activist accessorized with a dazzling gold ring that she flashed while holding up a banner that also read, 'Fur Is Cruel.' Fur free: The 38-year-old actress was joined by other animal rights activist who protested along the luxury shopping area on Black Friday Standing up! Mena put on a stylish display with bootcut jeans and a gray T-shirt with 'Fur Is Cruel' emblazoned on the front to show her support Mena first promoted the Beverly Hills event on Tuesday, alongside a somber picture of a fox kept in a cage. The Spun actress captioned the photo: 'Over 50 million animals are tortured and killed exclusively for their fur each year. Please join me and @lc4a at the annual Fur Free Friday #protest!' The protest was held on Rodeo Drive to encourage Black Friday shoppers to stay away from the high-end stores that use animal fur for clothing. During the event Mena was seen holding up another protesting sign that read, 'Fur Only Looks Good On Her,' with a picture of another fox. Support: The animal activist accessorized with a dazzling gold ring that she flashed while holding up a banner that also read, 'Fur Is Cruel' 'Fur is cruel': Mena constantly shares photos and statistics about animal cruelty to encourage her Instagram followers to join her movement Activism: Mena is very vocal about her activism efforts and has coined the term 'actorvist' to describe herself on her Instagram biography Mena constantly shares photos and statistics about animal cruelty to encourage her Instagram followers to join her movement. After the Fur Free Friday march, the movie star posted a snap of herself with the caption: 'So honored to share in another moment with @lc4a to support the #awesome work that they do.Thank you for having me, today, for #FurFreeFriday! #LetsDoThis' The blonde-bombshell also shared multiple other shots from the protest including; her with protesters and a selfie of her marching down Rodeo Drive. She wrote: '#Powerful moments of #change today with #awesome #activist #BryanMonell and everyone in support of @lc4a and #FurFreeFriday! 'I am honored to stand amongst such #fearless and #committed #warriors! #TheseAreTheTimes to #fight for what you #believe in!' Mena is very vocal about her activism efforts and has coined the term 'actorvist' to describe herself on her Instagram biography. She's known for her killer body. But Pamela Anderson, 50, covered up her famous curves as she landed in Warsaw, Poland on Friday evening. The swimsuit model looked to be in good spirits wrapped up in a heavy winter coat despite the crisp 40 degree Polish weather. Scroll down for video Blooming: Pamela Anderson, 50, covered up her famous curves as she landed in Warsaw, Poland on Friday evening The animal activist carried a massive bouquet of hot pink flowers with long green leaves and stems. Her light pink faux-fur coat covered her tanned and toned shoulders as she walked through the terminal with a handful of minders. She sported a flirty red dress emblazoned with small white flowers that swept down past her knees. Cheery disposition: The swimsuit model looked to be in good spirits wrapped up in a heavy winter coat despite the crisp 40 degree Polish weather Blush: Her light pink faux-fur coat covered her tanned and toned shoulders as she walked through the terminal with a handful of minders Staying warm in the cool autumn air, the Baywatch actress donned a pair of black tights underneath her floral frock. She accentuated her slim pins with a pair of pointy black heels while carrying one small black purse across her arm and a black-and-white patterned satchel in the other hand. Anderson seemed to be makeup-free with bright rosy cheeks peeking through her darling smile. Cozy: She sported a flirty red dress emblazoned with small white flowers that swept down past her knees Beautiful! The animal activist carried a massive bouquet of hot pink flowers with long green leaves and stems Covered up: Staying warm in the cool autumn air, the Baywatch actress donned a pair of black tights underneath her floral frock Her classic platinum blonde hair was worn in loose waves and cascaded down past her shoulders. The Playboy centerfold rose to fame as busty lifeguard C.J. Parker alongside David Hasselhoff in the hit television show Baywatch. She enjoyed success as an actress between modeling gigs, and now champions animal rights through her nonprofit organization, The Pamela Anderson Foundation. Red hot! The Playboy centerfold rose to fame as busty lifeguard C.J. Parker alongside David Hasselhoff in the hit television show Baywatch; seen with co-star Nicole Eggert in 1992 She's no stranger to London's nightlife scene and is often spotted at the capital's hottest haunts. And Lottie Moss headed for a night on the town once again on Friday as she made her way to Kiru restaurant in Chelsea with former Made In Chelsea star Nicola Hughes. The 19-year-old showed off her model figure in a tiny white crop top, which highlighted her washboard abs. Scroll down for video Night out: Lottie Moss headed for a night on the town once again on Friday as she made her way to Kiru restaurant in Chelsea Flashing her toned stomach, the half-sister of Kate Moss didn't seem phased by the chilly November weather, with just a classic leather jacket to keep her warm. The star complemented her ensemble with a pair of high-waisted leggings. Lottie styled her long blonde locks in a half-up half-down do and showed off her youthful complexion with a brown smokey eye and pink matte lip. She completed the look with suede heels and a patent black handbag. Stylish: Flashing her toned stomach, Lottie didn't seem phased by the chilly November weather, with just a classic leather jacket to keep her warm Double trouble: The 19-year-old was joined by Nicola Hughes for the fancy dinner The fashion model was joined by Nicola Hughes, who sported a burgundy pair of leather leggings and a soft brown bardot top. The Irish beauty draped a khaki coat off her shoulders and finished the look with a pair of military inspired grey boots. Nicola showed off her deep tan with heavy make-up, opting for burnt orange eye shadow and a nude lip. Preoccupied: The friends seemed distracted by their phones as they made their way to the restaurant Stunning blonde: Nicola sported a burgundy pair of leather leggings and a soft brown bardot top for the outing Lottie is often seen in the company of a slew of Made In Chelsea stars, having made firm friends with the cast. She is known for previously dating Alex Mytton from the E4 reality series, but their on and off nine-month romance had come to an end in July. Alex also dated Nicola on and off for two years after meeting in August 2014 while he was DJing in Ireland. Good genes: The beautiful model is the half-sister of Kate Moss But the two ex-girlfriends have proved there is no bad blood between them, having been seen in each other's company over the past few months. Lottie and Mytton, meanwhile, have remained amicable following their break up. The striking blonde was scouted for her first modelling agency at the tender age of 13 and first courted the attention of the modelling world when she attended her older half-sister Kate's wedding to her ex-husband Jamie Hince in 2011. The Sussex native has gone onto land campaigns with Calvin Klein and Bulgari, as well as fronting the cover of Vogue Paris in 2016. They've been busy living it up in Thailand during their romantic wedding anniversary getaway. But Jesinta and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin took a break from celebrating their love on Friday to celebrate their friends' at a picturesque seaside wedding. Jesinta took to Instagram to share a loved-up selfie with her AFL star hubby before the same-sex wedding of 'her American boys'. Love is in the air! Jesinta and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin attended the wedding of their same-sex pals during their own romantic getaway in Thailand The 26-year-old looked her usual stunning self as she struck a pose for the camera, with Buddy cuddling up behind her. Jesinta was seen wearing a white wrap-dress, while Buddy followed the memo by wearing a matching linen shirt. She also shared some snaps from the wedding, which appeared to be a tasteful affair decorated with white roses and candle lighting, at a venue overlooking the sea. The wedding celebration came just days after the WAG showcased her stunning frame in a skimpy bikini as she sunned herself poolside at the luxury Kata Rocks Hotel, Phuket. With her arms behind her head, Jesinta was the picture of relaxation as she stretched out on the pool's concrete edge. Celebrations: Jesinta took to Instagram to share a loved-up selfie with her AFL star hubby before the same-sex wedding (pictured) of 'her American boys' Picturesque: She also shared some snaps from the wedding, which appeared to be a tasteful affair decorated with white roses and candle lighting, at a venue overlooking the sea 'Never want to leave': The wedding celebration came just days after the WAG showcased her stunning frame in a skimpy bikini as she sunned herself poolside at the luxury Kata Rocks Hotel, Phuket Showcasing her flexibility, the beauty arched her back and bent her knees as she soaked up the views from the ocean-side hotel. 'Never want to leave @katarocksphuket. So divine here Already planning our next visit,' she wrote in the caption. Jesinta and Sydney Swans star Buddy celebrated their first wedding anniversary almost three weeks ago. They chose picturesque Thailand to mark the momentous occasion, sharing envy-inducing snaps from their trip on Instagram all week. Reports claimed the hunky marketing manager became The Bachelor after he was left 'a little heartbroken' after learning his ex-girlfriend was engaged last year. But Matty J, who is now in a loved-up relationship with Laura Byrne, congratulated ex Sara Bray in person when he attended her Byron Bay wedding on Friday. The reality star wore a suave suit white and grey suit for the outside event, taking to Instagram to show his support for the newly wed couple. Wedding bells! Bachelor Matty J puts on loved-up display with girlfriend Laura Byrne as he attends ex Sara Bray's Byron Bay nuptials Matty appeared to have enjoyed a whirlwind romance with the brunette Sydneysider while they lived in London together. But their relationship seemed to be well in the past, as the hunky TV personality wrote on social media: 'Congrats @sarajanebray and @alexlloyd #lloydsforlife.' Matty paraded his affection for Bachelor winner Laura by placing his arm affectionately around her slender figure in the picture. Flaunting their love: Laura captioned a shot of the couple 'Old mate Zoolander and I are ready for another wedding', playing up on rumours that she and Matty J are already engaged Cheers! The couple appeared in high spirits as they mingled with other guests at the reception, held at Harvest Newyrbar, drinking rose Laura wore a stunning grey Talulah frock, with an off-the-shoulder design that exposed a glimpse of cleavage. She captioned a shot of the couple 'Old mate Zoolander and I are ready for another wedding', playing up on rumours that she and Matty J are already engaged. The couple appeared in high spirits as they mingled with other guests at the reception, held at Harvest Newyrbar. One picture showed them sitting at 'table 7' raising their glasses of rose in a celebratory fashion. Matty referenced the night of partying in his post the next day: 'Currently in bed with rose seeping out my pores... looking back at this photo and reminiscing of a time when my suit wasnt stained (apologies @mjbale), my head didnt hurt and I knew where my sunglasses were.' Bittersweet: On Monday, New Idea claimed Matty J (left) is perhaps feeling 'a little heartbroken' after learning his ex-girlfriend Sara Bray (right) is engaged to be married Last year, New Idea claimed while Matty was 'really happy' for his former flame and PR professional Sara's engagement, they suggested the news was bittersweet. An insider reportedly said: 'Matty J just wants to settle down, get married and have kids. He and Sara were really close and in love, but things just didn't work out. 'And while he's really happy for her, and happy that she's getting married, I'm sure it would break his heart a little that he's struggled to find love since they broke up. Moving on: While Matty is reportedly 'really happy' for his former flame, PR professional Sara Bray, it was claimed the engagement news was perhaps bittersweet 'He'd be feeling like he's wasted the last four years, while Sara's found lasting love,' the continued, before adding: 'He tends to stay quiet about the whole relationship.' In previous interviews, Matty had referenced being in a relationship with a mystery lady while living in England - but her identity had remained a secret. But sleuthing fans from the The Bachelor And Bachelorette Spoiler Forums claimed to discover she was, in fact, Sara. The One: It appears Sara (right) is happily in a new relationship with Alex Lloyd (left), and the couple got engaged in November last year Photos from her Instagram page dating back to 2012 showed the pair enjoying what is a 'rite of passage' for many young Australians. From homemade dinners with friends, to relaxing at the pool and larking about at bus stops, Matty and Sara appeared blissfully happy in the UK. In two separate Instagram posts Sara referred to Matty as 'mine' and an 'amazing human', appearing to confirm they were more than friends. The former Bachelorette star previously told NW he broke up with his girlfriend from the UK because 'the timing was not right'. He added: 'It's hard, because sometimes a relationship ends not because of a reason or something that's happened - say, you've cheated on each other or there's an actual event that's forced you to break up.' Meanwhile, Sara is now a happily newlywed to husband Alex Lloyd, who proposed to her in November last year. It was the year that started with her husband locked away, but ended with a happy rekindling of love. And Roxy Jacenko reflected on the year that was on Friday alongside her hubby Oliver Curtis and mother Doreen at her PR company's annual Christmas party. The 37-year-old was feeling sentimental when she took to Instagram to share a snap of the loving trio laughing it up on Sydney's ritzy Woolloomooloo wharf. Scroll down for video 'The storms that we have weathered': On Friday, Roxy Jacenko (right) shared a sentimental post to Instagram about her mum Doreen (left) and husband Oliver Curtis (centre) after capping off her year at a lavish Christmas party 'The storms that we have weathered,' the PR queen captioned. Insider trader Oliver was released from Cooma jail in June after spending 12 months behind bars, while Roxy learned to cope with her breast cancer diagnosis on her own. She later surrendered to the advances of her ex Nabil Gazal, who she was seen passionately kissing in April - two months before her husband's release. But Oliver and Roxy fell back in love with each other and even celebrated a 'second engagement' in July. Reflecting: The 37-year-old was feeling sentimental when she took to Instagram to share a snap of her with Oliver (pictured) laughing it up on Sydney's ritzy Woolloomooloo wharf A year of highs and lows: Insider trader Oliver was released from Cooma jail in June after spending 12 months behind bars, while Roxy learned to cope with her breast cancer diagnosis on her own Finishing with a bang! Since then, Roxy has ended the year on a number of professional highs after landing ambassadorial roles with TONI&GUY and Skinny Tan Since then, Roxy has ended the year on a number of professional highs after landing ambassadorial roles with TONI&GUY and Skinny Tan. And the pretty blonde was clearly feeling in a good mood on Friday, after she decided to open her wallet to splurge on some designer items to gift her Sweaty Betty PR staff at their annual Christmas party. Heading out for some food and drinks at Sydney's China Doll restaurant, her employees were each greeted with a $230 Louis Vuitton limited edition notebook, adding up to a total of whopping $1840 for the eight holiday presents. Best boss ever! The pretty blonde was clearly feeling in a good mood on Friday, after she decided to open her wallet to splurge on some designer items to gift her Sweaty Betty PR staff at their annual Christmas party Hard works pays off! The 37-year-old's employees were each greeted with a $230 Louis Vuitton limited edition notebook, adding up to a total of $1840 for the eight holiday presents Following in their leader's footsteps, the publicists, who are jokingly referred to as Roxy's 'clones', were all quick to take to social media to flaunt their new goodies. 'Best boss ever goes to Roxy Jacenko,' talent manager Holly Brooke captioned one photo. Mixing things up, the blonde bombshell chose three different designs to distribute amongst her staff. Grateful: Following in their leader's footsteps, the publicists who were once jokingly referred to by Roxy as her 'clones' were all quick to take to social media to flaunt their new goodies She's the busty model who is known for regularly flaunting her enviable figure in scantily-clad ensembles on social media. But the Australian beauty offered a glimpse into her childhood on Friday, sharing throwback photos from her childhood. Seen as a fresh-faced youngster in the snaps, can you recognise this socialite and bikini designer? Scroll down for video Guess who! She's the busty bikini designer and model who has been romantically linked to many celebrity hunks... but can YOU recognise the star from this childhood throwback? The stunner, now 24, shared a series of old photographs playing outside, eating at the table and riding a horse. The blonde girl posed with a large smile by a tree with a life-size doll in jeans, a white jumper and black sneakers. The social butterfly was born in the Australian coastal town of Torquay, but was raised in Santa Cruz, California. Mystery star: Seen as a fresh-faced youngster in the snaps, can you recognise this socialite and bikini designer? Is horse riding a clue? The social butterfly was born in the Australian coastal town of Torquay, but was raised in Santa Cruz, California In recent years she shot to fame after being linked to Justin Bieber during a trip to Hawaii. She has also been linked to high-profile celebrity hunks Jordan Barrett and Cody Simpson. Also the daughter of surfer Tony Ray, the person in the pictures is none other than Sahara Ray. She also designs her own swimwear under her label Sahara Ray Swim. REVEALED! Also the daughter of surfer Tony Ray, the person in the pictures is none other than busty model Sahara Ray Romance: In recent years she shot to fame after being linked to Justin Bieber during a trip to Hawaii and has also been linked to high-profile celebrity hunks Jordan Barrett (pictured) and Cody Simpson The buxom babe is certainly no stranger when it comes to baring her physique, leaving little to the imagination when posting pictures of herself online. Sahara often frees the nipple in her posts, and most recently stripped naked and covered her ample assets with a bagel in a cheeky video upload. She found herself in the spotlight last year after she was spotted skinny dipping in Hawaii with Justin Bieber - whose impressive manhood was revealed to the world through some racy paparazzi photos. The Australian's notoriety has increased in recent years thanks to her raunchy Instagram profile, which now has more than 1.3 million followers. Kelsey Grammer beamed as he headed to the Royal Variety Performance in London on Friday night. The Cheers and Frasier star, 62, had fourth wife Kayte Walsh on his arm as he strolled along the streets of the British capital on his way to the London Palladium. The actor was dapper in black tie while Kayte, 37, wore a peach dress with turquoise coat. Date with a Duke and Duchess: Kelsey Grammer, 62, beamed as he headed to the Royal Variety Performance in London on Friday night with fourth wife Kayte Walsh, 37 The couple are currently based in London where Kelsey is making his West End stage debut in the musical Big Fish. He's been focusing on theatre lately with star turns on Broadway in La Cage aux Folles and Finding Neverland. Kelsey was among the celebrities who were presented to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who attended the show featuring a variety of performances from stage and screen. Kelsey, who is currently starring on stage in London, was presented to Prince William at the variety show at the London Palladium attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Well turned out: The Cheers and Frasier star was dapper in black tie while Kayte wore a peach dress with turquoise coat and copper heels Stylish: Kayte's frock was embellished with silver detailing on the skirt and she added a pair of copper pumps. She wore her long blonde hair loose and sported enormous earrings British-born Kayte, a former flight attendant, wed Kelsey in 2011 and the couple share three young children. Her frock was embellished with silver detailing on the skirt and she added a pair of copper pumps. She wore her long blonde hair loose and sported enormous earrings. Six years and counting: British-born Kayte, a former flight attendant, wed the American star in 2011 and the couple share three young children Earlier this month, the American star learned that his former wife Camille would be getting half of his retirement fund in their divorce. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills castmember has been awarded 50 per cent of the money from the Kelsey's 401K account from the time of their marriage in 1997 until they went their separate ways in 2010. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, a judge signed off on the order in October. Camille - who has children Mason Olivia, 16, and son Jude Gordon, 13, with Kelsey - filed for divorce from the 62-year-old star in July 2010 and their separation was officially completed in February 2011. Kelsey went on to marry Kayte a few weeks later. 49-year-old Camille has also found love again with lawyer David C. Meyer, who she got engaged to last week. She wrote on Twitter: 'Party night with my love. We have a secret.. guess (sic)' The star - who has been dating David for more than a year - then retweeted a story about the pair getting engaged and thanked fans for their well wishes, confirming the news. She mingles with the well-heeled Made In Chelsea set, has a reported personal fortune of 800,000 and once claimed she had never heard of Gregg's. But it has emerged that Georgia Toffolo hails from humble beginnings, as her father Gary Bennett, 52, is a modest rag and bone man from Torquay, Devon. The 23-year-old I'm A Celebrity star's dad collects scrap metal in his white van and sells it on for cash in between repainting his 200,000 flat. Scroll down for video Who knew? It has emerged that Georgia Toffolo hails from humble beginnings, as her father Gary Bennett, 52, is a modest rag and bone man from Torquay, Devon Gary defended his hard-grafting job, saying he is 'proud' that he is not a 'toff'. 'I am what I am. Im not a toff but so what? Im proud of that. Ive had the big house and the big business and this is my world at the moment,' he told The Sun. Bennett, who is also a commercial property landlord, claimed the Toffolo wealth lies in the 'other side' of Georgia's family. 'Georgias gone a different way. The other side of the family yes, there is money, theres still money there. My side of the family there isnt,' he revealed. MailOnline has contacted reps for Georgia for comment. Modest guy: The 23-year-old I'm A Celebrity star's dad collects scrap metal in his white van and sells it on for cash in between repainting his 200,000 flat Humble guy: Gary defended his hard-grafting job, saying he is 'proud' that he is not a 'toff' Gary used to run a one-man car repair business that has since folded, according to the publication. He is now working as a commercial property landlord as well as being a rag and bone man. Gary had to work relentless to pay for Georgia's private education at Maynard girls' school in Exeter and Blundell's boarding school in Tiverton, Devon, insiders told the Sun. Georgia also attended Torquay Girls' Grammar School and studied politics at Westminster University, where she fell in with the Made in Chelsea set. Proud: 'I am what I am. Im not a toff but so what? Im proud of that. Ive had the big house and the big business and this is my world at the moment,' he told The Sun Eye-opening Gary used to run a one-man car repair business that has since reportedly folded and is now working as a commercial property landlord as well as being a rag and bone man Speaking about her rise in the reality TV world, Gary gushed that he was 'extremely proud' of her career path. 'I've been proud of her all the way. I'm just a standard guy, a normal Devon guy who works for himself,' he told The Mirror. 'I'm extremely proud of what she's doing and where she is at the moment.' Gary split from Georgia's 'socially ambitious' mother Nicola, who married company boss Jeffrey Hewett, 56, in 1999 when Georgia was five. Rumour has it: Gary had to work relentless to pay for Georgia's private education at Maynard girls' school in Exeter and Blundell's boarding school in Tiverton, Devon, insiders told the Sun High flyer: Georgia also attended Torquay Girls' Grammar School and studied politics at Westminster University, where she fell in with the Made in Chelsea set They separated four years ago and Nicola, 52, who runs a property management business s now thought to be dating amusement arcade owner Bernard Jones, 60. Georgia, who often shares snaps of Nicola on her Instagram, keeps her dad out of the spotlight on social media. But the former motor industry worker still gets a taste for the high life thanks to his daughter and holidayed in Ibiza with Georgia this summer while she was filming the Made In Chelsea special. Complicated family life: Gary split from Georgia's 'socially ambitious' mother Nicola (pictured), who married company boss Jeffrey Hewett, 56, in 1999 when Georgia was five Snap-happy: Georgia, who often shares snaps of Nicola on her Instagram, keeps her dad out of the spotlight on social media Discussing how she became a star on the reality show, Georgia admitted she 'fell into it' when she got to know some of the cast through the party scene. 'I just used to go up to London a lot and hang around SW3,' she admitted to Devon Live. 'I just feel so lucky to be part of the cast. I am now used to the filming and being a part of the show and how everything is set up. 'Everyone has been so accommodating and I am now so close to everyone.' Married Strictly professionals Karen and Kevin Clifton have reportedly hit a rocky patch and are barely speaking to each other. The couple's relationship has 'become strained' during the BBC One dancing competition this year and things 'aren't going well', sources claimed. Group rehearsals for the couple, who wed in 2015, have allegedly turned awkward since Karen, 35, was voted off the show last month with partner Simon Rimmer. Scroll down for video Rumour has it: Married Strictly professionals Karen and Kevin Clifton have reportedly hit a rocky patch and are barely speaking to each other The allegations comes amid claims the notorious Strictly 'curse', which has broken up a string of romances, could strike the couple. Cracks in their romance have reportedly started to appear, with Kevin, 35, often in Scotland to train with his celebrity partner Susan Calman. 'Kevin has spoken to some of those close to him and admitted things aren't going well between them at the minute,' an insider told The Sun. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Karen and Kevin for comment. Karen previously admitted their marriage is nothing like the perfect union it appears, and that their domestic fights often result in them sleeping separately. Rocky patch? The couple's relationship has 'become strained' during the BBC One dancing competition this year and things 'aren't going well', sources claimed Claims: Group rehearsals for the couple, who wed in 2015, are allegedly awkward since Karen, 35, was voted off the show last month with partner Simon Rimmer (pictured at the Pride Of Britain Awards) Were not a superhuman couple, were normal, so when things happen, we fight, she told The Daily Mail in August. We fight about things like him not taking the rubbish out. He does it more than me but thats only because I tell him to do it. The Venezuelan brunette joined the show in 2012, and met Lincolnshire-born Kevin when he joined a year later. At the time, he had been married to fellow dancer Clare Craze for six years, but they split that same year. Striking up a romance with Karen, he married her two years later. Hmm: The allegations comes amid claims the notorious Strictly 'curse', which has broken up a string of romances, could strike the couple Allegations: 'Kevin has spoken to some of those close to him and admitted things aren't going well between them at the minute,' an insider told The Sun When we fight we dont always make up before going to bed. Well go to sleep angry, she added. Hes not the one who sleeps on the sofa, though, I am, because I actually like to sleep on the sofa. I like watching TV so its fine. Kevins sister, Strictly dancer Joanne, also fell victim to the curse after splitting from her boyfriend, actor Joe Edward-Bader, earlier this year. Previous victims of the curse include ex-rugby player Ben Cohen, who starting dating his dance partner Kristina Rihanoff after splitting from his wife, and TV newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, who left her then-partner Mike Barnard after having an affair with her dancer partner, Brendan Cole, while on the show. Oh dear: Cracks in their romance have reportedly started to appear, with Kevin, 35, often in Scotland to train with his celebrity partner Susan Calman (pictured performing on the show) Candid: Karen previously admitted their marriage is nothing like the perfect union it appears, and that their domestic fights often result in them sleeping separately Karen insisted she and Kevin are resilient. When we fight we make up and life goes on. The best way to take care of your marriage is to make sure you communicate with each other. It comes amid claims Karen and fellow professional Janette Manrara are jealous of newcomer and former Playboy model Nadiya Bychkova. The report claims that the fight escalated after judge Bruno Tonioli praised Ukrainian world champion Nadiya's stunning looks on the show, saying she resembled a 'movie star'. A Strictly source told The Sun: 'They think she looks cheap more like a lap dancer than a Hollywood A-lister. There is a lot of tension and jealousy at the moment behind the scenes. She has been embroiled in controversy lately. And Lena Dunham's social media accounts have been taking a hit as users have been unfollowing the writer across multiple platforms as of late. The 31-year-old actress has lost thousands of followers after she came forward to defend 'Girls' writer Murray Miller after actress Aurora Perrineau accused Miller of sexual assault in 2012, in addition to a former Lenny Letter writer accusing Dunham of 'hipster racism'. Scroll down for video Love lost: Lena Dunham's social media accounts are taking a hit as users have begun the task of unfollowing the writer across multiple platforms following her; seen in September in New York Though statistics show Dunham did lose followers prior to the controversy, recent stats show that more and more users had been unfollowing the actress lately. Lena's averaging losing 493 followers per day on her personal account following a joint statement where Dunham and 'Girls' co-creator Jenni Konner defended Murray Miller after Aurora Perrineau filed a police report against the writer on Nov. 17 for allegedly sexually assaulting her in 2012 when she was just 17. 'While our first instinct is to listen to every woman's story, our insider knowledge of Murray's situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3% of assault cases that are misreported every year,' Dunham and Konner wrote in a joint statement. 'It is a true shame to add to that number, as outside of Hollywood women still struggle to be believed. We stand by Murray and this is all we'll be saying about this issue.' Unfollow: The 31-year-old actress has lost thousands of followers after she came forward to voice support for Girls writer Murray Miller after actress Aurora Perrineau accused Miller of sexual assault five years ago, in addition to a former Lenny Letter writer accusing Dunham of 'hipster racism'; seen in September in New York Aurora Perrineau filed a police report against the Murray Miller on Nov. 17 for sexually assaulting her in 2012 when she was 17; seen at a Vanity Fair party in 2016 Seeing red: Recent statistics show that Dunham's Instagram page has taken a huge hit with nearly 15,000 users jumping ship from following her account in the last 30 days Previously: She did previously lose followers, though the number jumped following the controversy Miller vehemently denies the allegations, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Less than one day after issuing support for Miller, Lena backpedaled on her words and issued an apology, writing in part on Twitter: 'I naively believed it was important to share my perspective on my friends situation as it has transpired behind the scenes over the last few months. I now understand that it was absolutely the wrong time to come forward with such a statement and I am so sorry. 'Every woman who comes forward deserves to be heard, fully and completely, and our relationship to the accused should not be part of the calculation anyone makes when examining her case. Every person and every feminist should be required to hear her.' A day after Dunham posted her apology online, she lost nearly 4,000 Instagram followers, followed by 3,000 the next day. Opt out: In addition to losing fans on her personal account, her weekly online feminist newsletter, Lenny Letter, has also seen a steady decline of users Standing up: Zinzi Clemmons who wrote for Lenny Letter said in a Twitter post on Sunday that she could no longer work for the outlet because of Dunham's alleged disrespect for women of color Her follower count began at 3.27million on Tuesday, Nov. 14, only to see thousands more of her fans opt out in the following days. In addition to losing fans on her personal account, the Instagram account for her weekly online feminist newsletter, Lenny Letter, has also seen a steady decline of users. Since voicing her support for the former 'Girls' writer, Lenny Letter is averaging losing 51 followers per day, with a monthly average lost of 1,530 users. Zinzi Clemmons who wrote for Lenny Letter said in a Twitter post on Sunday that she could no longer work for the outlet because of Dunham's alleged disrespect for women of color. Clemmons referred to actress Aurora Perrineau's accusation of rape by 'Girls' writer Murray Miller in 2012 when she was just 17. 'She cannot have our words': Clemmons referred to actress Aurora Perrineau's accusation of rape by 'Girls' writer Murray Miller in 2012 when she was just 17. 'Let's hold Lena accountable' Clemmons wrote in a lengthy post The writer said she 'ran in the same circles' as people like Dunham and 'Girls' star Jemima Kirke while she was attending Brown University in the mid-2000s. Kirke attended the Rhode Island School of Design, whose campus is adjacent to Brown. Dunham's sister, Grace, attended the Ivy League school. Dunham herself attended Oberlin College in Ohio. 'I'd call their strain 'hipster racism', which typically uses sarcasm as a cover, and in the end, it looks a lot like gaslighting--"It's just a joke. Why are you overreacting?" Clemmons wrote. She claimed that one woman in the group was 'known to use the N word in conversation in order to be provocative, and if she was ever called on it, she would say "It's just a joke". I was often in the same room with her, but I never spoke to her, only watched her from far in anxiety and horror.' Familiar: The writer said she 'ran in the same circles' as people like Dunham and 'Girls' star Jemima Kirke while she was attending Brown University in the mid-2000s; Dunham and Konner seen at the Costume Institute Gala in May Nearly one month ago Lena was celebrating women who chose to speak on assaults against producer Harvey Weinstein. In one Twitter post, she wrote, 'The woman who chose to speak about their experience of harassment by Harvey Weinstein deserve our awe. It's not fun or easy. It's brave.' In another post she showed support for victims and survivors of abuse by writing, 'Can't sleep because I want, with everything I have, to convey how complex it is to be assaulted and continue living in that person's world.' Seeming to continue supporting victims, the actress tweeted, 'This week's been a hideous reminder for every woman I know, every survivor. But thanks to these brave women something is changing. Feel it.' 'It's brave': Nearly one month ago Lena was celebrating women who chose to speak against producer Harvey Weinstein 'Can't sleep': She showed support for victims and survivors of abuse on Twitter 'This week's been a hideous reminder for every woman I know, every survivor. But thanks to these brave women something is changing. Feel it.' Controversy: Dunham has been facing drama as of late (pictured 2017) She's known for stripping down to her bikini in some of the world's beautiful beaches. And this time Natasha Oakley has returned to Australian shores to show off Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth, WA. The 26-year-old left little to the imagination in a blue triangle bikini top and matching tiny bottom from her Monday Swimwear line, in her Instagram post on Saturday. Scroll down for video Doing what she does best! Natasha Oakley returned to Australian shores and flaunting her curves in a bikini snap posted to Instagram on Saturday, also showing off WA's pristine Rottnest Island Fans loved the saucy post, including one who wrote: 'Absolutely stunning Tash we love your fresh natural healthy profile you are promoting - such a positive for women.' Another commented: 'How amazing is Rottnest!' In another snap, the blonde beauty reclines back on the sand, showcasing her figure in brown and white trimmed bikini top holding in her ample assets. The look was completed with a matching pair of high-waisted bottoms that hugged her curvy figure. Beach babe: In another snap, the blonde beauty reclines back on the sand, showcasing her figure in brown and white trimmed bikini top holding in her ample assets This comes after she and best friend Devin Brugman, 27, returned home for a photo shoot on Perth's Rottnest Island. The co-founders of the A Bikini A Day blog gave their combined 3.8million followers a sneak peek of the shoot, writing: 'Making magic today in Perth.' The pair flew in from Bali last night and headed straight to work to promote their new Swim + Resort Series. 'Making magic today in Perth': A Bikini A Day babes Tash Oakley and Devin Brugman shared behind-the-scenes snaps from their swimsuit photo shoot on Rottnest Island 'I woke up like this...' Tash flaunted her cleavage and lithe legs while seductively posing in a robe on a yacht Tash flaunted her cleavage and lithe legs while seductively posing in a robe on a yacht. She started her caption: 'I woke up like this...', before quickly completing the post with a comedic addition of words. The blonde stunner added: 'after a late night flight from Bali, an early wake up call, a team of hair and make up artists and a car and boat ride to Rottnest Island. 'It takes a team': Both bikini babes were styled for the shoot by at least five professionals, including hair and makeup artists Looking all-white! Sharing another picture to their A Bikini A Day account, the pair stood in shallow water while in skimpy white bikinis and linen shirts and skirts In her Instagram Stories she showed off the prep that went into the photo, with hair and makeup artists swarming around the beauty, writing: 'It takes a team.' Tash also took a robe selfie with business partner Devin. Sharing another picture to their A Bikini A Day account, the pair stood in shallow water while in skimpy white bikinis and linen shirts and skirts. 'Devin is prepared': Tash posted a clip of her pal being sun safe in between photos on set During their down time on the island, they appeared to meet the local wildlife. Devin took to Instagram to pose with a friendly Quokka. She captioned the cute animal selfie: 'The Quokkas on Rottnest Island have stolen my heart!!! (and my french fries).' This year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show featured the most diverse range of models ever seen on its fabled catwalk. But it still wasn't enough for South Sudanese-born Australian beauty Ajak Deng, who believes the brand should do better. The 27-year-old said the famous fashion show is 'on the right track' but could do more to recruit people of different cultural backgrounds, as well as different body types. Scroll down for video 'I think it can be better': Ajak Deng hits out at Victoria's Secret saying their annual runway show needs to be more diverse 'I think it can be better,' Ajak told Yahoo7 Be. 'It wouldve been nice to see Ashley Graham in there, thats my kind of diversity,' she added, referring to the American plus-size model. Ajak also suggested Somali-American Halima Aden - known as the first hijab-wearing high-fashion model - would have also been a good fit for the show. Hitting out: The 27-year-old said the famous fashion show is 'on the right track' but should do more to recruit people of different cultural backgrounds, as well as different body types 'Thats my kind of diversity': Ajak said she'd like to see the likes of plus-size model Ashley Graham (left) and Somali-American Halima Aden (right) in the show Increasing: Almost 50 per cent of the models who featured in Victoria's Secret's main event this year were of an ethnically diverse background, compared to 30 per cent the year before. Pictured: Nadine Leopold and Megan Williams Almost 50 per cent of the models who featured in Victoria's Secret's main event this year were of an ethnically diverse background, compared to 30 per cent the year before, the publication reported. Models added to the roster who helped increase the diversity figure included Angolan Maria Borges, and Indian-Australian Kelly Gale. Ajak said she hopes to be the next model in line and has her 'fingers crossed' for a call up in 2018. Making a difference: Models added to the roster who helped increase the diversity figure included Angolan Maria Borges (right), and Indian-Australian Kelly Gale (left) 'Now Im confident': Ajak said she hopes to be the next model in line and has her 'fingers crossed' for a call up in 2018 'I couldnt do it in the past because of my back problem but now Im confident, my back is straight and Im like "bring it on",' the stunner said. Ajak - who fled South Sudan aged 12 with her mother sadly perishing from malaria in a Kenyan refugee cam - has partnered with The Body Shop and International Alert's Play for Peace project. The campaign - supporting Syrian children refugees affected by war - aims to raise 250,000 pounds (approx $438,325 AUD) to the project, from Christmas range sales. Using her profile for good: Ajak - who fled South Sudan aged 12 with her mother sadly perishing from malaria in a Kenyan refugee cam - has partnered with The Body Shop and International Alert's Play for Peace project Gwen Stefani's been busy this week. The Anaheim, California native, 48, was back on the West Coast on Friday, promoting her new holiday album You Make It Feel Like Christmas with a pop-up shop/ meet-and-greet with fans, looking amazing in a gold skirt with large ruffles on the shoulders and a belted waist. She rounded out the ensemble with black leather thigh-high boots with fishnet stockings, accessorizing with gold and silver bracelets and diamond earrings. Scroll below for video Overjoyed: Gwen Stefani, 48, dazzled next to a gingerbread man as she appeared at The Grove in LA to promote her new holiday album You Make It Feel Like Christmas on Friday Stefani had her long blonde locks pulled back into a ponytail, and had her face made up with bold red lipstick at the outdoor mall in La La Land. She also had some Santa-themed sweets on hand, as she took to Instagram posed alongside a tray of cupcakes to celebrate the fun time. 'Thank u @sprinklescupcakes @thegrovela and everyone that came to hang!!!! Amazing night' she wrote, adding the hashtag, '#blownaway.' The Make Me Like You artist has been hard at work on the promotional trail for her album, which features covers of Holiday classics such as Last Christmas, Silent Night and Jingle Bells. Shining star: The No Doubt vocalist dazzled in a gold skirt with large ruffles on the shoulders Meet-and-greet: The superstar singer provided memorable moments to fans Center-of-attention: Gwen was moved as her fans snapped shots of her with their phones One for the gram: Gwen waved as a fan snapped a selfie at the promotional event Season's greetings: Gwen posed with a quartet of young fans in front of a holiday arrangement She was in New York earlier this week, where she taped a performance that was broadcast on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade; attended a lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building; and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The Sweet Escape songstress told Fallon that her beau Blake Shelton, 41, is 'really hard to buy for' when the holidays roll around. 'He doesnt fit in any of my furniture at my house, hes too big,' she said, revealing that she told People's Sexiest Man Alive, 'Im gonna get you a couch, like, thats gonna be your Christmas present.' Picture perfect: The blonde beauty beamed as she posed with fans at the event Holiday spirit! The star looked thrilled to be at the event Priceless memories: Gwen looked to be in top form amid a whirlwind week of promotion Patty cake: The A-list singer was clearly in the spirit of the season as she clowned around with fans 'Im putting it outside so he can put out fires and stuff like that - I try to make him comfortable in LA.' The mom-of-three - Kingston, 11, Zuma, nine, and Apollo, three, with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale - then spent some time in the Midwest Thursday, joining her beau Shelton and his relatives for a Turkey Day feast. Stefanis hour-long holiday special, You Make Me Feel Like Christmas, airs December 12 on NBC. Hunky holidays: Gwen spent her Thanksgiving with her kids and boyfriend Blake Shelton in his native Oklahoma Hard at work: The fit femme fatale waited patiently at the outdoor shopping center as her fans lined up The sweet escape: Stefani looked in top form as she posed next to a tray of tasty cupcakes Heart of gold: The songstress live-streamed the event via her Instagram Stories Santa Stefani! Gwen spoke with fans young and old during the event Festive: The La La Land shopping center was decked out with an enormous tree, presents and throngs of fans Tats me! Dedicated fans even showed off their permanent artwork to the famous songstress Sofia Vergara hosted Thanksgiving for her extended family at her Los Angeles mansion on Thursday. And on Friday she shared a sweet snap to Instagram showing her snuggling up on a sofa to her cute little nephew Rafi and adult son Manolo, 25. She is seen resting her head and one hand on Rafi's shoulder as the tot is cradled in his cousin's arms. Scroll down for video Snuggling: Sofia Vergara shared a sweet snap to Instagram showing her snuggling up on a sofa to her cute little nephew Rafi and adult son Manolo, 25, as her family Thanksgiving continued The Modern Family star, 45, also shared a photo of her husband Joe Manganiello, 40, holding Rafi and added three heart emojis. The Magic Mike star and Rafi are both grinning broadly at the camera. The photos are the latest in a string of images the Colombian actress has shared of her holiday festivities. So cute: The Modern Family star, 45, also shared a photo of her husband Joe Manganiello, 40, holding Rafi and added three heart emojis Power couple: The Colombian actress and her ripped actor hubby have shared a string of images fromt he gathering they hosted at their LA mansion The Hot Pursuit actress looked gorgeous on Thanksgiving rocking a shimmering gold skirt, teetering skyscraper heels and a low cut white top that made the most of her busty physique. She wore her straight brunette locks loose and parted to the side. Her husband of two years was more casual in a dark cotton short-sleeved shirt and black trousers. Turkey trot: The couple were captured on video dancing while wearing silly hats The happy couple got engaged on Christmas Day 2014 after six months of dating, before tying the knot in a romantic ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, on November 21, 2015. This past Tuesday they celebrated their second wedding anniversary. The actress was previously married to high school sweetheart Joe Gonzalez from 1991 to 1993, with whom she shares son Manolo. Also at the family gathering was her lookalike niece, 25-year-old Claudia, an aspiring fashion designer. Good genes: Sofia busted out of a strapless white top and wore a shimmering gold skirt for her Thanksgiving party; pictured with Manolo and her lookalike niece Claudia Having a hoot: Sofia also showed off her bird-themed Thanksgiving table Sofia paid tribute to Joe on their anniversary with a sweet Instagram snap posting an adorable photograph of the pair gazing into each other's eyes, alongside the caption: 'I adore you @joemanganiello. Happy Aniversary!!' Joe also posted his own message to his Colombian-born wife, opting for a shot of him spinning her around the dance floor while writing a note in Sofia's native tongue. Translated as 'happy second anniversary my love, you are my everything', Joe wrote. 'Feliz Segundo Aniversario mi amor! Eres mi todo.' She's previously spoken out about her past domestic violence ordeal. And now Bachelor star Jen Hawke has used her star power to bring light to the important matter on White Ribbon Day. The 27-year-old made a special appearance at the Hills Community Aid in Sydney to help commemorate the day, taking to Instagram to share her thoughts in a very lengthy post. Doing her part! Bachelor star Jen Hawke has used her star power to bring light to the important matter on White Ribbon Day 'It was so beautiful to see members of the community come together,' she wrote, also applauding parents who were raising their children to recognised violence against women in bad behaviour. 'As a survivor of domestic violence, it warms my heart to know that women currently experiencing domestic violence have your support and youre all so publicly getting behind an important issue,' she added. Jen also praised the women at the occasion for sharing their harrowing stories of survival. 'To the women who came up and shared their stories, I applaud you for being brave enough to do that!' She wrote. She also shared snaps of herself with the iconic white ribbon and urged her followers to donate to the cause. The 27-year-old made a special appearance at the Hills Community Aid to help commemorate the day and took Instagram to share her thoughts in a very lengthy post 'I somehow found the strength to leave and walk away': Earlier in the year, she revealed to her Instagram followers that she had once been a victim of domestic violence when she was 20-years-old Earlier in the year, she revealed to her Instagram followers that she had once been a victim of domestic violence when she was 20 years old. 'For me it was one incredibly violent incident and I somehow found the strength to leave and walk away from my relationship,' she said in the post. In the post, she encouraged other women to find the courage to stand up and speak out if they see the signs with their loved ones, writing: 'Read between the lines and pay attention to the small details of their situations. More recently Jen has accused her ex-boyfriend, Bachelorette 'villain' Blake Colman, of threatening to sell nude images of her. Allegations: Recently Jen has accused her ex-boyfriend, Bachelorette 'villain' Blake Colman (pictured), of threatening to sell nude images of her A source close to the brunette revealed to Daily Mail Australia that she is as unimpressed that Warner Bros' decision to re-cast him in the first ever Bachelor In Paradise in Fiji. 'Jen is absolutely disgusted in the Bachelor brand is allowing him in the public eye and is horrified at the example it sets for young men who watch the show.' 'Jen made it very clear that she would never appear on the same show as Blake, especially after the revenge porn threats he made towards her', they said. The insider also claimed Jen fears for the well-being of Blake's Bachelor In Paradise cast-mates. Disgusted: An insider recently revealed Jen Hawke thought Warner Bros was putting the Bachelor In Paradise cast IN DANGER by allowing Blake Colman on the show Blake is currently being investigated by police in relation to allegations of threatening to sell nude photos of Jen. New South Wales Police confirmed in October that they had received a report in relation to the incident and were investigating, but said that 'due to the ongoing investigation, no further information is able to be provided.' An insider also claimed that Jen previously sought an AVO to be taken out on Blake, preventing him from travelling to Sydney for media appearances following his elimination from The Bachelorette. Pia Miller is often revered as Summer Bay's resident brunette beach babe. But Home and Away co-star Sarah Roberts gave her a run for her money on Wednesday as she stripped down to a hot pink bikini to shoot scenes for the soap. The star - who debuted on the show just last week - was seen splashing about in the shallows after putting on an amorous display with her new co-star, Patrick O'Connor. Dripping wet! Home and Away co-star Sarah Roberts stripped down to a hot pink bikini to shoot scenes for Home and Away on Wednesday Stunning Sarah sizzled before a film crew in the skimpy Rip Curl bikini. Looking incredibly fit, the Melbourne-born beauty showed off her tanned and toned torso. Sarah's long, dark locks were dripping wet from her dip, as she stood shielding her eyes from the sun. A babe in Summer Bay! Looking incredibly fit, the Melbourne-born beauty showed off her tanned and toned torso as she filmed with Patrick Earlier, the beauty was seen clowning around in the waters as she filmed flirty scenes with Patrick - who appears on the soap as bad boy Dean. Sarah, who plays Summer Bay newcomer Willow Harris, may have found an on-screen lover in Patrick, as they flicked water on one another and giggled before the breaking waves. Patrick also looked equally fit, showing off his ripped torso wearing nothing but a shark-tooth necklace and a pair of Rip Curl board shorts. Making a splash! Sarah may have found an on-screen lover in Patrick, as they flicked water on one another and giggled before the breaking waves Flirty: The beauty was seen clowning around in the waters as she filmed flirty scenes with Patrick Before their frolick in the water, the twosome were also seen filming a passionate smooch for the cameras. And although she hasn't been on the series long, Sarah has quickly established herself as a popular cast member of the long-running show. The brunette was seen keeping close with her new co-stars Sam Frost and Sophie Dillman inside a VIP marquee at Melbourne's recent Darby Day races. What a pair! Patrick also looked equally fit, showing off his ripped torso weather nothing but a shark-tooth necklace and a pair of Rip Curl board shorts She's a natural: Sarah has previously graced the screens in Wolf Creek 2 and INXS: Never Tear Us Apart Home and Away is not the first role for the actress, who appears to be a natural before the cameras. The Melbourne-born talent has previously graced the screens in Wolf Creek 2 and INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. Sarah- who is part Sri Lankan- originally moved to Japan after high school to try her hand at dancing, before pursuing her acting dreams. They're both blonde bombshells known for their love of designer goods and living the high life. So it's no surprise hotel heiress and socialite Paris Hilton has enlisted Australia's PR queen Roxy Jacenko to host her fragrance launch when she heads Down Under next week. After Paris took to social media to promote her event, Roxy was quick to gush over the US native. Scroll down for video High powered fashion icons! On Saturday, Roxy Jacenko couldn't help but gush over Paris Hilton ahead of hosting her perfume launch in Sydney next week '@parishilton See you Thursday,' replied Roxy adding a pink love heart emoji. The response came after Paris revealed she was heading to Sydney for an 'exclusive meet & greet for the launch of Rose Rush Fragrance'. Paris added that she would be handing out autographs and said she wasn't opposed to taking selfies with fans before confirming the 'que[ue] opens at 10am' on Thursday ahead of her 4pm appearance. Shout-out! The response came after the former reality star revealed she was heading to Sydney for an 'exclusive meet & greet for the launch of Rose Rush Fragrance' Roxy: 'Thrilled to be hosting Paris' fragrance launch at Birkenhead Point Shopping Centre on Thursday with Chemist Warehouse' And it doesn't look like the Stars Are Blind hit maker is the only one excited, with Roxy telling Daily Mail Australia she's bee a long-term fan. 'Thrilled to be hosting Paris' fragrance launch at Birkenhead Point Shopping Centre on Thursday with Chemist Warehouse,' she revealed. 'I have long been a fan of the Hilton sisters and can't wait to meet Paris'. Gearing up: 'I have long been a fan of the Hilton sisters and can't wait to meet Paris' And it's not the first time the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton has gushed over an Australian personality. Just last week, Paris couldn't help but rave over TV journalist Lisa Wilkinson. Seemingly making quite the impact after hosting a gala dinner for The Fred Hollows Foundation in Los Angeles, the stunner called her 'beautiful' and praised her for the smooth running event. New friends? Just last week, Paris couldn't help but rave over TV journalist Lisa Wilkinson 'You looked beautiful on stage last night. Keep up the great work!' she captioned on one of Lisa's photos. Leaving such a mark on the hotel heiress, Paris is now following Lisa on Instagram. And it seems as though the former songstress is here to make a great impact, showcasing her large packed up six suitcases. He reportedly 'lost a stone' in weight following his addiction battle and subsequent stay in rehab, earlier this year. And showcasing his slimmer physique as he hit the beach in Australia, Ant McPartlin, 42, cut a happy and healthy figure during his jaunt by the sea on Saturday. The shirtless star was joined by a member of his management team as he took to the waves, along with his best pal Declan Donnelly and his wife Ali Astall and a slew of other friends. Scroll down for video Content: Ant McPartlin, 42, cut a happy and healthy figure as he enjoyed a beach jaunt over in Australia on Saturday with a member of his management team Having wrapped another successful live episode of I'm A Celebrity, Ant and Dec made sure to make the most of the rest of their day over in Australia and headed to the beach with friends. The duo are currently staying Down Under while working on the much-loved reality series and already developing impressive tans due to the sunshine overseas, Ant was seen parading his already bronzed frame in a pair of orange swimming shorts. Appearing relaxed and content, the TV presenter was pictured enjoying a refreshing dip in the sea with a female friend and the duo appeared to be entertained by the huge waves. Dec, meanwhile, favoured a pair of black swimming shorts and was seen carrying out his own Baywatch-inspired run, as he made his way back up onto the sand following his swim. Relaxed: He was joined by a mystery female companion as they enjoyed a refreshing dip in the sea Taking a break: Ant headed to the beach with a group of friends after successfully filming another live episode of I'm A Celebrity Refreshing: Shirtless Ant teased a look at his bronzed physique in his orange swim shorts Cooling off: The TV presenter debuted his slimmer frame after losing a stone in weight following his rehab stay earlier this year His wife Ali cut a stylish figure in a black bikini and a loosely fitted white kaftan that she threw over her two-piece. She has joined her beau and Ant over in Oz this year, while Ant's wife Lisa Armstrong, 41, has remained in the UK due to her working commitments with Strictly Come Dancing. Ant's appearance on the beach comes after it was revealed he has lost a stone in weight, after embarking on a healthier and fitter lifestyle following his stint in rehab. He had sought treatment to overcome and battle his two-year addiction to painkillers following a devastating knee injury and fertility issues. A source told The Mirror: 'The last couple of months have been about him getting back to the Ant people know and love, and he has been exercising the knee, eating more healthily and drinking a lot less.' Channelling his inner baywatch? Dec, meanwhile, was seen running back onto the beach after taking a dip Holidaying: Dec's wife Ali Astall (far left) had joined the group and was clad in a black bikini Sea-ing double? Dec and a friend were perfectly in sync as they rubbed the salt water out of their eyes Happy: Ant appeared to be having a ball as he took to the water Speaking of the Ant - who checked into rehab in June - a source admitted: 'He put on some weight and looked tired and had bags under his eyes.' But with a visibly slimmed down Ant appearing on ITV screens on Sunday night, it was divulged: 'The results of all that, and work in the gym, are there for all to see now. He has lost up to a stone in weight and looks better than he has for years.' Following much speculation over whether or not he would return to I'm A Celebrity, Ant was seen kicking off this year's series live on air with Dec last Sunday and telling his co-star: 'I was always going to make it.' The pair addressed concerns he could have been absent from the series in their usually witty style, with Dec immediately opening the show by joking he had been joined by Holly Willoughby. Going solo: Ant's wife Lisa Armstrong, 41, meanwhile, hasn't joined him Down Under due to her working commitments with Strictly Come Dancing Another year older: Ant had celebrated his 42nd birthday while overseas, before kicking off this year's I'm A Celebrity series He said to viewers: 'I'm here with the gorgeous Holly Willoughby...' before adding in mock horror: 'Wait, no! Guys that's the wrong script! You've put the wrong script in!' Turning to Ant, who was stood in mock outrage, Dec continued the joke by stating, in reference to his pal's rehab stint: 'No one was sure if you would make it or not!' Confirming to fans he was better than ever however, the famous Geordie assured: 'I was always going to make it, come on.' He then added excitedly: 'I'm back my friend!', before the pair sweetly hugged, to the applause of the production crew. Ant found himself inundated with compliments about his healthy appearance on the show, with many fans taking in their droves to Twitter to express their delight at having him back on their screens. Drying off: Dec was seen lapping up the sunshine on the beach Back to his best: There had been much speculation over whether Ant would be returning to I'm A Celeb this year, after he spoke candidly of his battle with painkiller addiction Woes: Ant has suffered a difficult 2017, after admitting in June he had been battling a two-year addiction to painkillers after a devastating knee injury and fertility issues One kicked things off by writing: 'Ant so good to see you, Dec you too again on our TV screens' as another added: 'Glad you're back Ant. Wouldn't be the same without you.' A further fan praised Ant for his bravery over the last few months, writing: 'So great to see Ant back where he belongs, it takes a very brave person to publicly go through what he has and come back even stronger...' While another said of their famous on screen relationship: 'When Ant said Ofcourse Im back and him and Dec hugged- it was so emosh!! Cant not love these pair!!' Later on, the pair joked about his summer once again, with Dec probing his co-host: 'Where were you all summer anyway? What were you doing?' 'He looks better than he has for years': But putting paid to the rumours, Ant had joined Dec live on air on Sunday to host I'm A Celebrity's return Making light of it: The pair addressed concerns he could have been absent from the series in their usually witty style, with Dec immediately opening the show by joking he had been joined by Holly Willoughby Breaking out into giggles and awkwardly sipping into his tea, Ant simply laughed in response: 'I was just dead busy!' Ant has suffered a difficult 2017, after admitting in June he had been battling a two-year addiction to painkillers after a devastating knee injury and fertility issues. Ant revealed his plans to check in to rehab for alcohol and drug addiction, when he gave a candid interview to The Sun admitting he had 'let people down', before thanking his wife Lisa and co-star Declan for the support they had provided. While Lisa hasn't joined Ant, who celebrated his 42nd birthday overseas recently, While he hasn't been joined by wife Lisa out in Oz, due to her working commitments on Strictly Come Dancing as a make-up artist, she made sure to hit back at the speculation, breaking her silence on the duo's rumoured 'marriage woes'. No issue: Ant, meanwhile, had told his co-star: 'I was always going to make it' Drama: As well as concerns about his health, Ant has had to face speculation over his marriage to wife of 11 years Lisa Lisa had hit back at the long-running reports that the duo have separated by taking to Twitter, as she penned on the microblogging site: 'I'm not estranged, thank you'. Her defiant message also touched on her absence in Australia, as she added the hashtags: '#haventbeentoOzfor10years #ihaveajob #allaloadofmadeups**t #imnotestrangedthank-you #asyouwere'. Meanwhile, I'm A Celebrity viewers have seen two new arrivals enter camp comedian Ian Lee and politician Kezia Dugdale. While the camp had been split into two following their addition, with Iain and Kezia fronting each team, they have now all been reunited in Croc Creek. The two teams had been forced to battle it out in trials, with Iain's team coming out victorious and secretly winning care packages for those that had been banished to Snake Rock. Hitting back: But insisting the pair are very much together in the wake of Ant's rehab stay, make-up artist Lisa had hit back on Twitter to reveal she is 'not estranged' from her beau Late additions! I'm A Celebrity viewers have seen two new arrivals enter camp comedian Ian Lee and politician Kezia Dugdale The care packages had been sent from the celebrities' friends and family, with Stanley Johnson receiving a block of cheese, Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo being given a bottle of fake tan and Rebekah Vardy opened a pillow covered in photographs of her husband Jamie and their children. While Ant and Dec are fronting the main show, Joe Swash has returned to present I'm A Celebrity's spin-off show Extra Camp, alongside last year's jungle winner Scarlett Moffatt and runner-up Joel Dommett. Joe had found himself at the centre of rumours he was feuding with Ant, after the pair appeared to have a tense exchange on the ITV2 show, but laughing off the claims and joking it had been 'sexual tension'. Asked by Dec if they had 'beef', Ant and Joe were quick to insist there is no bad blood between them and hugged live on air. She just scored herself a new gig as a reporter for Ten News Melbourne. And after partying at the network's Christmas party on Friday night, The Bachelorette's Georgia Love headed for a run at Melbourne's Tan Track on Saturday to 'sweat out' the damage. But things didn't seem to be go too smoothly for the 29-year-old, revealing her new shoes had given her a blister. Scroll down for video 'Think I found out why these runners were on sale!' Georgia Love suffers from painful blister after attempting to 'sweat out' her celebrations at Ten's Christmas Party 'Think I found out why these runners were on sale,' she captioned a photo of her blistered foot, tagging shoe brand Reebok. On Friday night, Georgia provided her 187,000 fans with a cheeky 'life hack'. 'Life hack: get a new job two weeks before the company Christmas party to get maximum free drinks for minimal output,' she captioned a happy shot alongside her colleagues. Wise words: 'Life hack: get a new job two weeks before the company Christmas party to get maximum free drinks for minimal output' Not the best: 'Think I found out why these runners were on sale,' she captioned tagging shoe brand Reebok Meanwhile also on Saturday Georgia appeared to get frustrated with boyfriend and Bachelorette winner Lee Elliott after he told her he felt 'happy to be stuck' with her. Driving around listening to the 1986 Heuy Lewis And The News hit single Stuck With You, Lee claimed it was their 'theme song'. 'Every couple has those songs that just resonate with them #justhappytobestuckwithyou,' he captioned. That's got to burn: And it didn't seem like things were going Georgia's way on Saturday, getting frustrated with boyfriend and Bachelorette winner Lee Elliott after he told her he felt 'happy to be stuck' with her Although telling her beau it wasn't a nice song, Lee didn't seem to be convinced. But the couple's day seemed to end on a high after they checked into Melbourne's luxurious Crown Towers for a date night and overnight stay. 'Date night done right,' captioned Lee on his Instagram Stories. What a difference a year makes. Last Christmas, Roxy Jacenko vowed to 'boycott' the holiday unless hubby Oliver Curtis was released from jail on appeal, the 32-year-old's bid for early freedom proving unsuccessful. But on Saturday, the PR queen, Roxy's jailbird hubby and the kids finally got their family Santa photo, the smiles on their faces proving it was well worth the wait. What a difference a year makes! On Saturday, Roxy Jacenko, her jailbird hubby and the kids finally got their Santa photo, their beaming smiles proving it was well worth the 24 month wait Roxy, daughter Pixie, six, and son Hunter, three, all shared happy snaps from a Westfield Parramatta Christmas event on their respective Instagram accounts. Little Pixie got the best of the bunch, with her post the only one to feature Oliver, who looked thrilled to be spending time with his family this festive season. He perched on one arm of Santa's comfy green throne, while Roxy managed to make room on the chair for her gym-honed frame. Pixie and Hunter couldn't hide their excitement as they piled onto Father Christmas' lap. Flashback: Last Christmas, Roxy Jacenko vowed to 'boycott' the holiday unless hubby Oliver Curtis was released from jail on appeal - he wasn't 'The adults insisted on being included,' she wrote in the caption. Over on his Instagram, Hunter made sure the kids got some alone time to make sure Santa was all-clear on their wishlist. Making a last-minute attempt at ensuring there'd be no naughty list surprises, he was seen bringing in the jolly North Pole native for a cute hug. Epic! Roxy, daughter Pixie, 6 and son Hunter, 3, all shared happy snaps from the Westfield Parramatta event on their respective Instagram accounts Hunter continued the compliments in the caption: 'He flew in this weekend and look how good he looks after hardly any rest!' he wrote. Meanwhile, Roxy shared images to Instagram of the truly lavish set-up on offer at the western Sydney hotspot - including confetti, real Christmas trees and a crafts table. The family made sure not to take the joyous occasion for granted and were clearly just happy to have the whole gang together - unlike last year. Fun for all! Meanwhile, Roxy shared images of the truly lavish set-up on offer at the Western Sydney hotspot - including confetti, real Christmas trees and a crafts table Not the best present: The family made sure not to take the joyous occasion for granted and were clearly just happy to have the whole gang together - unlike last year In an interview with Who last December, Roxy said she wouldn't be putting up decorations unless Oliver was released from his insider trading sentence on appeal. 'My mum said to me the other day "I think Im going to get a Christmas tree" she recounted to the publication.' 'I said, "You cant, because I told Pixie and Hunter their father would be home by Christmas" - It was so far away then... Now here we are.' Oliver's December appeal was unsuccessful, with the disgraced investment banker not released until June this year. No Christmas miracle: In an interview last December, Roxy said she wouldn't be putting up decorations unless Oliver was released from his insider trading sentence on appeal She's the former reality TV star known for her racy social media posts. And on Saturday Skye Wheatley once again flaunted her gym-honed figure, taking to Instagram to share a revealing video of herself in a bikini. The Big Brother star turned blogger left little to the imagination as she showed off her tan lines to her 372,000 followers. Not an inch to pinch! Skye Wheatley flaunts her surgically enhanced assets and gym honed physique in a VERY skimpy bikini In the video shared to social media, Skye wore a brown bikini which showed off her sizable cleavage and pert behind. Skye sashayed to music as she twirled around for the camera, offering her fans a better glimpse of her toned figure. Tan lines visible, the former Big Brother contestant wore her blonde locks tousled over her shoulders. Dancing: Skye sashayed to music as she twirled around for the camera, offering her fans a better glimpse of her toned figure Curves ahead! Skye wore a brown bikini which showed off her sizable cleavage No one's looking at the product! Skye Wheatley spruiks fake tan in VERY skimpy underwear ... as fans express concern for her white couch Meanwhile on Thursday Skye promoted another product on social media, the surgically-enhanced blonde stripping down to advertise a brand of fake tan. But while Skye's busty assets nearly stole the show, her fans were more concerned about the white couch she was applying the bronzing product on. Skye struck a provocative pose as she perched on the edge of her pristine white couch, brandishing a tanning mitt and a bottle of bronzer. 'You absolute idiot tanning on a white couch': Fans were quick to comment on the photo, but most seemed distracted by the notion of Skye tanning on a white sofa The reality TV star's skimpy underwear showcased her ample assets and toned physique. Fans were quick to comment on the photo, but most seemed distracted by the notion of Skye tanning on a white sofa. 'You absolute idiot tanning on a white couch,' one person wrote in the comments section. Another agreed, asking Skye: 'Why would you do that on a white couch?' One person thought the couch's fate was already sealed, sadly posting: 'RIP to the couch.' Gone under the knife: Skye has continued to make headlines thanks to her many surgical enhancements Rising to fame as a contestant on the last season of Big Brother in 2014, Skye has continued to make headlines thanks to her many surgical enhancements. The social media fanatic traveled to Bangkok in 2015 for a $3,800 breast augmentation. However, Skye later claimed the surgery was botched, leaving her with a 'double bubble' in one breast. Since her boob job Skye has plumped her pout with lip fillers and underwent a nose job late last year. Boob job: The social media fanatic traveled to Bangkok in 2015 for a $3,800 breast augmentation Altered her face: Skye has also plumped her pout with lip fillers and underwent a nose job late last year The busty blonde told Yahoo Be she had the length of her nose shortened and her nostrils shrunk. 'When I woke up from surgery it was really painful because obviously I had just had my face half ripped up,' Skye recounted. 'The surgeon took most of the cartilage out my tip because it was really long and when you looked down at my face from a particular angle, it looked like a witch's nose. 'My nostrils were flared and I just wanted my them brought in and down.' Phone breakups are never a good idea. But it's been alleged that's exactly what's happened to Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek, who have reportedly been cut from KIIS FM a week early. According to The Herald Sun, management called the HIT network-bound hosts on Friday to inform them they needn't bother coming in on Monday. No KIIS goodbye? Dave Hughes and Kate Langrbroek have reportedly been cut from their final week at KIIS, without the chance to farewell fans before they move to HIT in 2018 '[Dave and Kate] were called after Fridays show and told they had done their final shift after three years at KIIS,' the publication claimed. Taking to Instagram, Dave shared a picture of their whole crew, appearing to acknowledge the cancellation in the caption. 'Call has come thru that this bunch of legends just had their last Drive shift ARN,' he wrote. Phone breakup: '[Dave and Kate] were called after Fridays show and told they had done their final shift after three years at KIIS,' The Herald Sun has claimed 'Weve loved working with so many great people there and are pumped to start with in 2018!' What's more, the duo offered no sign-off or farewell during Friday's shift - something they would almost surely have done if they'd known they wouldn't be back. If the report is true, the radio stars may have had the last laugh, with Dave claiming On Instagram that he would be taking all of the show's staff to Hit network. Acknowledged? Dave took to Instagram after Friday's shift, appearing to acknowledge the call: 'Call has come thru that this bunch of legends just had their last Drive shift ARN,' he wrote And Hughesy & Kate weren't the only ones reported to have been cut without notice, with The Herald Sun claiming Meshel Laurie and Matt Tilley also got the brutal call. The Australian Radio Network responded to the publication's request for comment, who labelled the statement they received 'rather odd.' No sign-off: What's more, the duo offered no sign-off or farewell during Friday's shift - something they would almost surely have done if they'd known they wouldn't be back 'The KIIS studios were due to be renovated later this year. With both Matt and Meshel, and Hughesy and Kate, due to finish up with KIIS on December 8,' it read. 'It made sense to give them a couple of weeks off early and bring forward the renovations.' The statement did not explain how the station's other shows would operate during the renovation period. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to representatives from both shows for comment. Last laugh? If the report is true, the radio stars may have had the last laugh, with Dave claiming On Instagram that he would be taking all of the show's staff to Hit network She is never one to shy away from flaunting her incredibly gym-honed physique. And Saturday proved to be no exception for Vogue Williams, 32, as she soaked up the final few days of sunshine while wrapping up her romantic break in Thailand with beau Spencer Matthews. Slipping into a barely-there yellow bikini, the Irish model made sure to grab attention on Instagram, as she showcased her enviably taut stomach and lengthy legs while parading by the pool. Scroll down for video Stunning: Vogue Williams made sure to grab attention on Instagram, as she slipped into a barely-there yellow bikini to showcase her enviably taut stomach and lengthy legs while holidaying in Thailand Showcasing her bronzed glow from her exotic travels, Vogue donned a skimpy triangle bikini top that framed her assets, as well as a pair of matching briefs that drew attention to her slender pins, thanks to their high-rise cut. She threw an open white shirt atop her beach attire and teasingly placed her sunglasses in between her chest, as she hung them from the strap line of her bikini. The TV personality finished off her ensemble with a straw fedora hat that she clutched onto while posing for her latest holiday upload. Alongside her snap, Vogue penned: 'Almost home time. I just want to live on an island forever!' Vogue's post had been just one in a string of swimsuit uploads she had shared with fans, as the starlet was also seen sporting a lemon yellow two-piece that boasted a cropped tee and matching briefs in another shot shared to her Instagram story. Sizzling: Vogue's post had been just one in a string of swimsuit uploads she had shared with fans, as the starlet was also seen sporting a lemon yellow two-piece that boasted a cropped tee and matching briefs Swit-swoo: The beauty is seen modelling a long-sleeved black swimsuit that made for a very sultry display, thanks to its plunging zipped design that left her assets firmly on view Besotted: Vogue had also paid reference to her boyfriend Spencer - sharing a photo of the Made In Chelsea star sporting a floral patterned shirt across from her at the table and adding two love heart emojis across it Positively glowing, Vogue ensured all eyes were on her killer abs as she posed in dark shades and with her lightened tresses pulled up into a bun on the top of her head. In another shot, the beauty is seen modelling a long-sleeved black swimsuit that made for a very sultry display, thanks to its plunging zipped design that left her assets firmly on view. While her bikini shots saw her taking centre stage, Vogue had also paid reference to her boyfriend Spencer - sharing a photo of the Made In Chelsea star sporting a floral patterned shirt across from her at the table and adding two love heart emojis across it. During their getaway, Spencer has been caught gushing over his new love - insisting he has never been happier. Alongside a photo of himself and his girlfriend, the reality star said: 'Never been happier in my life... @voguewilliams is mainly to thank for that but I guess I should give a nod to @intercontinentalsamui #Thailand #KohSamui' Smitten: The couple have gone from strength to strength since they fell in love on the set of reality series The Jump earlier this year Loved-up: Spencer has been caught gushing over his new love during their exotic getaway to Thailand - insisting he has never been happier alongside a selfie of the duo cuddled up The couple have gone from strength to strength since they fell in love on the set of reality series The Jump. The television personality revealed the secret to success with their relationship is that they never argue in a recent interview with The Sunday Mirror, where she said: 'He is my best pal. I remember thinking we would be best friends forever. It is the first relationship where I don't have fights with people.' The duo are currently living together and their move came after Vogue denied reports she had moved into Spencer's Chelsea home. Speaking during an appearance on Loose Women, Vogue revealed the pair have bought a new house together, saying: 'We moved in together last night. He arrived home at four in the morning from Greece and forced me to get up to have a glass of champagne to toast the new house. He didn't want me to move in to his house. Beach babe! In another image, Vogue soaked up the sun on the beach in a tiny orange bikini as the tide rolled in Cute couple: Vogue and Spencer looked smitten with each other as they cosied up for snaps 'He lives in a one-bed in Chelsea and I have a lot of clothes so that was never going to work. And I lived with two Irish boys so I think we've always wanted to have our own place so that's what we started looking at straight away.' Besotted Vogue also admitted she and her family fell in love with Spencer after they met him for the first time. Vogue added: 'My mum loved him... even my step-dad, who would've been the tougher one to crack, fell in love with Spencer and we get on really well with one another's family.' Famed for his lothario womanising ways on Made In Chelsea, the starlet confessed she finds it 'cringe-worthy' when people suggest she has 'tamed' him. Vogue added: 'My mum loved him... even my step-dad, who would've been the tougher one to crack, fell in love with Spencer and we get on really well with one another's family. 'He is very charming. I think when Spencer was on Made in Chelsea he was 21. As a 21-year-old boy, he was doing what a lot of 21-year-old boys wanted to do. 'He didn't want to be in a serious relationship for too long. I haven't tamed him in anyway which I keep reading about, it makes me cringe because I haven't done anything he was just like that when I met him.' Previously, Vogue was married to Westlife's Brian McFadden for three years before they parted ways in July 2015. Spencer, meanwhile, has dated a string of beauties including Louise Thompson, Stephanie Pratt, Vicky Pattison and Lauren Frazer-Hutton. She had given birth to her fourth son, and first child with fiance Michael O'Neill, just two months ago in September. And proving she is already snapping back into shape, Danielle Lloyd, 33, looked sensational as she slipped into a vibrantly patterned bikini to soak up the sunshine in Dubai. The former WAG has jetted overseas with her beau ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2017 event and confidently paraded her post-baby frame while on board a yacht. Scroll down for video Stunning: Danielle Lloyd, 33, looked sensational as she flaunted her post-baby frame just TWO months after giving birth by slipping into a vibrantly patterned bikini in Dubai Escaping her parenting duties for sunnier climes, Danielle looked simply stunning in the holiday snap that saw her clad in a revealing two-piece bikini for her jaunt out at sea. Her bikini top teased a look at her ample bust, thanks to its daringly low-cut design, and was paired together with matching briefs that sat high on her hips. The beauty teamed her attire with a colourful headband, as she left her brunette tresses down in a tousled style to fall past her shoulders and sported a mirrored pair of aviator shades on her face. Beaming from ear-to-ear, Danielle oozed confidence in her scanty getup as she gushed alongside her Instagram post: 'Day on the yacht with my boy.' Bundle of joy: She had given birth to her fourth son, and first child with fiance Michael O'Neill, just two months ago in September Candid: It comes after the former glamour model - who had hit out at the pressure new mums face to get back into shape on Instagram - confessed to her previous body battles It comes after the former Celebrity Big Brother star recently confessed to spending 'years' crying over her figure and her 'wobbly bits' - particularly after giving birth to her four children in a candid interview with Closer magazine. However, Danielle - who has sons Archie, seven, Harry, six, and three-year-old George with ex-husband Jamie O'Hara, and two-month-old Ronnie with fiance Michael O'Neill - insists she has finally learned to appreciate her figure Danielle soared to fame in 2004 when she was feted as Miss England before being crowned Miss Great Britain in 2006 although she was soon stripped of her title after posing in the December issue of Playboy in the same year. Woah mama! She found fame as a glamour model - stripping off for countless sexy shoots (pictured in 2004) Blooming: The 33-year-old former glamour model - who has sons Archie, seven, Harry, six, and three-year-old George with ex-husband Jamie O'Hara, and two-month-old Ronnie with fiance Michael O'Neill - has finally learned to appreciate her figure Content: She told Closer magazine: 'I've spent years crying over my figure, especially after I had my other children I felt so big and uncomfortable. But I've finally learned to love myself and that's taken me a really long time' She has since gone on to make various reality appearances, but has now confessed that beyond her confident public appearances, she has suffered an ongoing battle with her own body image. Danielle, who had hit out at the pressure new mums feel to lose weight as she proudly debuted her post-baby frame just one week post-partum, said: 'I'm so happy right now and I don't care if I'm not in perfect shape. I've got wobbly bits and a little bump on my tummy but it doesn't bother me. 'I've spent years crying over my figure, especially after I had my other children I felt so big and uncomfortable. But I've finally learned to love myself and that's taken me a really long time.' Danielle began working out twice a week just six weeks after giving birth to Ronnie but she insists the sessions are more for the mental benefits than the physical. Way back when: In January 2007, the Liverpudlian star (right) partook in Celebrity Big Brother's fifth season during which she became embroiled in a horrific race row when she and co-stars Jade Goody and Jo O'Meara as they were accused of abusing Shilpa Shetty Way back when: Danielle has entered a number of pageants over the years She said: 'I don't exercise for my body, although I do want to tone up my stomach and the top of my legs. Those two hours each week are just for me, where I can get out of the house and focus on myself. 'Things are hectic at home and I absolutely love it, but it's the one place I can channel my energy into something else.' And Danielle, who has previously spoken about her struggle with postnatal depression after her previous pregnancies, believes her fitness sessions have helped her keep the condition at bay this time around. She told the publication: 'I've been lucky this time around. I get such a huge boost of endorphins after exercising and that's made a huge difference.' He has found himself newly single following his recent split from wife of 20 years Alexandra. And hoping to show another side to him, Paul Hollwood will be returning to the place where he and his former spouse first met in 1998, as he revisits places he holds close to his heart while showcasing his culinary talent on new show A Baker's Life. Speaking in a new interview, the star has said he is hopeful viewers will 'get to know him more' as his new project airs on screen, while insisting 'everybody makes mistakes,' as he reflected on Prue Leith's mishap that saw her reveal the Bake Off winner hours before the televised final. Scroll down for video Reflecting: Paul Hollywood has spoken out about his new show, that will see him return to the place he first met his wife, and THAT Prue Leith mishap that went viral on Twitter Paul told TV Magazine: 'I think ultimately people will get to know a little bit more about me through this.' Showing a different side to him has become even more important to the professional baker, as he claimed he has been portrayed in the wrong light following the backlash he was subjected to after deciding to stay with The Great British Bake Off following its channel move. Switching from the BBC to Channel 4, Paul was the only star of the show to stick with it, with Mary Berry and hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins choosing to step down. New venture: Paul will revisit places he holds close to his heart while showcasing his culinary talent on new show A Baker's Life, telling TV Magazine: 'I think ultimately people will get to know a little bit more about me' Claiming he had been seen as a 'villain', Paul protested: 'But it is so different to the real me... it's time people met a bit more of me and [I] correct loads of things wrong about me on Wikipedia.' While the new series of the Great British Bake Off had been well received by viewers, despite its changes, it didn't end without controversy, as new judge Prue Leith had accidentally revealed the winner of the series, Sophie Faldo, on Twitter before it had aired. Despite deleting the tweet, Prue's mishap had gone viral and discussing the accidental reveal, Paul said in response: 'Everyone is entitled to a mistake - I'm sure she won't do it again.' Having his say: Claiming he had been seen as a 'villain' due to sticking with the Great British Bake Off following its channel move, Paul protested: 'But it is so different to the real me...' before weighing in on Prue Leith accidentally revealing this year's show winner early Oops: Discussing the accidental reveal, Paul said in response: 'Everyone is entitled to a mistake - I'm sure she won't do it again' Accidental: New judge Prue Leith had accidentally revealed the winner of the series, Sophie Faldo, on Twitter before it had aired, due to incorrectly working out the time difference while she was overseas Paul's comments come after Prue appeared to make a thinly-veiled dig at her co-judge Paul while appearing on This Morning on Wednesday. The 77-year-old celebrity chef seemed to take the swipe Paul - who had announced days earlier that he was splitting from wife Alex - as she reflected on her first marriage to Rayne Kruger who she met when he was married to someone else. Prue candidly revealed: 'He was my mums best friend's husband and we were family friends. I think adultery is wrong, I think stealing someones husband is wrong.' Candid: Prue appeared to take a thinly-veiled dig at Paul Hollywood as she appeared on This Morning on Wednesday Continuing to describe the first love of her life, Prue revealed: 'I know it was the wrong thing to do. But I was only 20. He was 40. He was like God to me.' Prue also offered her explanation as to why he left his wife for her: 'He married a woman who was 20 years older than him with three young children. 'She was like a mother to me and was deeply upset. But Rayne was determined we would remain friends,' she looked back. Prue's confessions comes after baking enthusiast Paul revealed he and wife Alex are set to go their separate ways. Blast from past: The Great British Bake Off judge took the swipe at Paul as she reflected on her first marriage to a man she met when he was married to someone else 'He was like God to me!' Despite knowing that it was the wrong thing to go, Prue revealed she couldn't help but fall in love with her mum's best friend's husband Paul and Alex confirmed their heartbreaking split in a joint statement on Monday saying: 'It is with sadness that we have decided to separate. 'Our focus continues to be the happiness of our son, and we would ask the press and public to allow us privacy as a family during this very difficult time.' The baking guru, who is now worth 10million, split from his wife, 53, temporarily in 2013 after admitting an affair with his US co-star Marcela Valladolid, 39. The couple reconciled a few months later and he described the incident as 'the biggest mistake of my life' in an interview with BBC radio. 'It is with sadness that we have decided to separate': This comes after Paul and Alex confirmed their heartbreaking split in a joint statement on Monday Former fling: The baking guru, who is now worth 10million, split from his wife, 53, temporarily in 2013 after admitting an affair with his US co-star Marcela Valladolid, 39 Speaking at the time, he told the BBC he 'was shocked about the whole thing kicking off the way it did... but I deserved it and I've taken it. It was my punishment'. However a source told The Sun: 'Paul was totally into Marcela and threw himself in with both feet. When it all fell apart he went back to Alex with his tail between his legs, but in reality if Marcela had wanted to keep it going he was all for it.' Recently, series seven winner Candice, who recently announced her engagement to Liam Macauley, was spotted with Paul as he cupped the back of her head and kissed her goodbye following a night out at the Pride of Britain Awards in London. Regret: The couple reconciled a few months later and he described the incident as 'the biggest mistake of my life' in an interview with BBC radio A spokesman for the pair said it was an 'innocent kiss on the cheek', and that it was 'untrue' to describe it as an 'intimate kiss'. The representative, who was also there on the night, told MailOnline: 'Following The Mirror Pride of Britain Awards last Monday, seven of us including Paul and Candice were seated outside waiting for cars home. 'The photograph was taken as Paul was saying goodbye to each of us.' Paul and Alex, who is also a chef, married in 1998, and have a 14-year-old son together, Joshua. It was claimed that Paul, who is worth an estimated 10m, could lose up to 5m of his fortune in the divorce. She's the Sudanese-born Australian who's taking the world by storm thanks to her killer good looks. And on Sunday, Ajak Deng revealed she's been trying her hand at acting. Speaking to Confidential, the 27-year-old confessed that she had auditioned to be a Bond Girl in the new James Bond film, but was rejected due to her 'good looks'. Not right for the role: On Sunday, Ajak Deng revealed she had auditioned for the new James Bond movie but was rejected because she was 'too pretty' 'I am studying acting and have gone to castings for some amazing roles,' she said. 'I tested for one of the Bond girls for the new James Bond movie, but....they told me I was too pretty for the role.' 'It was so good just to have that experience,' she continued.' Good looks got in the way: 'I tested for one of the Bond girls for the new James Bond movie, but....they told me I was too pretty for the role' Looking for change: An activist on diversity and cultural representation, the former refugee opened up last week about how she wishes the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show cast girls of different backgrounds and body shapes An activist on diversity and cultural representation, the former refugee opened up last week about how she wishes the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show cast girls of different backgrounds and body shapes. Speaking to Yahoo 7, the statuesque stunner said the brand could do better. 'I think it can be better,' said Ajak. Diversity: 'It wouldve been nice to see Ashley Graham (above) in there, thats my kind of diversity,' she added, referring to the American plus-size model 'It wouldve been nice to see Ashley Graham in there, thats my kind of diversity,' she added, referring to the American plus-size model. Although looking for more diversity, the class of 2017 saw almost 50 per cent of the models from an ethnically diverse background, compared to 30 per cent the year before, the publication reported. Ajak also added she was hoping to be called up for the 2018 show. She's just celebrated her 21st birthday. But Hailey Baldwin showed no signs of post-birthday blues when she arrived in Miami with friend and fellow catwalk prowler Bella Hadid, 21, on Friday. The pair almost immediately took to Snapchat to share their triumphant, casually-attired pose. No hangover: Hailey Baldwin, 21, showed no signs of post-birthday blues when she arrived in Miami with friend and fellow catwalk prowler Bella Hadid, 21, on Friday The daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and niece of Alec looked comfortable in a vintage Pink Floyd T-shirt , sweatpants and white sneakers. The French Connection model covered her eyes with a pair of dark, oversized trapezoid-shaped sunglasses, and her blonde tresses were pulled back in a low bun. The Saturday Night Live guest star was loaded up with shopping bags and was also carrying a red backpack. Monochrome model: Hadid, meanwhile, went for a black and white casual ensemble, decking herself out in white sweatpants and jacket, paired with black and white sneakers Hadid, meanwhile, went for a black and white casual ensemble, decking herself out in white sweatpants and jacket, paired with black and white sneakers. The monochrome look was completed with a black suitcase and black backpack. The daughter of real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and former model Yolanda Hadid wore her brunette locks pulled back in a tight bun and wore a full face of makeup for the day. Supermodels: The two beauties, who arrived in Florida on a private plane, later struck a pose for Hadid's social media fans The two beauties, who arrived in Florida on a private plane, later struck a pose for Hadid's social media fans. On Tuesday, birthday girl Baldwin posed with her bestie Kendall Jenner, 22, at her party, capturing a series of black and white snaps of herself goofing around with the reality TV star. BFF Kendall also shared several snaps of her evening with Hailey, writing the words 'bday b***h' atop a close up of the blonde. Famous friends: On Tuesday, birthday girl Baldwin posed with her bestie Kendall Jenner, 22, at her party, capturing a series of snaps of herself goofing around with the reality TV star TV royalty: Baldwin is the niece of SNL star Alec Baldwin, while jenner is the daughter of reality TV matriarch Kris Jenner She enjoyed a trip to Brighton with her 'dream man', boyfriend George Alsford, earlier this week. But Georgia May Foote was flying solo on Saturday, as she attended the 20th anniversary performance of The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre in London. The Coronation Street star, 26, paraded her bronzed lithe limbs in thigh-grazing checked shorts and racy thigh-high boots. Scroll down for video Turning heads: Georgia May Foote looked chic as she attended the 20th anniversary performance of The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre in London on Saturday The brunette beauty completed her chic look in a skintight black poloneck and a stylish leather jacket. Styling her glossy raven locks in a sleek middle-parting, the Strictly Come Dancing star framed her eyes with winged liner and plumped her pout with vampy red lipstick. Her outing comes days after she declared her love for her boyfriend George, with a sun-drenched snap of the model posing on Brighton beach. She gushed: 'Yes I'm a mess but I'm blessed to be stuck with you....you are everything.' Not shy about flaunting their love, Georgia said in another snap: 'My dream man right there. Reminds me what love is every single day. #getwellsoonmygza #sohandsome.' Looking good: The Coronation Street star, 26, paraded her bronzed lithe limbs in thigh-grazing checked shorts and racy thigh-high boots Chic: The brunette beauty completed her chic look in a skintight black poloneck and a stylish leather jacket George, who stands at 6ft 3in tall, no doubt caught her eye across their modelling agency. He has appeared in campaigns for Hugo Boss, Pepe Jeans and Russell & Bromley, among other top-flight brands, and frequently shows off his gym-honed torso on his Instagram account. The duo enjoyed a romantic getaway in Los Angeles at the start of the year with her new beau. The former Strictly Come Dancing flooded Instagram with pictures of herself with her hunky boyfriend, who is signed to Select Model Management - the same agency she is signed to. Taking centre-stage: Styling her glossy raven locks in a sleek middle-parting, the Strictly Come Dancing star framed her eyes with winged liner and plumped her pout with vampy red lipstick Loved-up: Her outing comes days after she declared her love for her boyfriend George Alsford, with a sun-drenched snap of the model posing on Brighton beach The new romance comes after her split with Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice, who she began dating shortly after her relationship with her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward. Georgia made her name in Coronation Street, but her character left in 2015 after five years amid promises that the door was always open. But it appears Coronation Street bosses have had a change of heart, as it's reported that Georgia May Foote's character will be 'killed off' in an off-screen accident. Georgia will not return to play Katy Armstrong and is instead expected to die in a car crash in Portugal during an episode next week, amid claims she 'has no future in the show'. Sweet: She gushed: 'Yes I'm a mess but I'm blessed to be stuck with you....you are everything' Loved-up: Not shy about flaunting their love, Georgia said in another snap: 'My dream man right there. Reminds me what love is every single day. #getwellsoonmygza #sohandsome' Lots in common! Her hunky boyfriend is signed to Select Model Management - the same agency she is signed to Having left the soap in 2015, Georgia's alter-ego Katy has been living overseas with her son Joseph. Katy's former partner Chesney (Sam Aston) will be shattered by the news and left feeling desperate to leave Weatherfield for Portugal. A TV source told The Sun newspaper: 'As Katy, Georgia was really popular with Corrie fans and had some big storylines. But bosses have clearly decided that she has no future in the soap, and have ruled out a return by killing her off. 'You might have thought they would show such a well-known character being written out on screen but that wasn't to be.' A decision was made to write Georgia out of the soap in April 2014, with bosses insisting that the door was still open and she was not being 'killed off'. She's the Australian supermodel, who continues to take the fashion world by storm. And years after her devastating plight as a child refugee fleeing war-torn Sudan, Ajak Deng, 27, is lending her star power to a good cause with the hopes of helping others overcome adversity. The statuesque beauty, who is often hailed for her Afrocentric features and endless legs, is the face of The Body Shop's new Play for Peace campaign, which seeks to raise $440,000 for child refugees impacted by war in Syria. Model on a mission: Years after her devastating plight as a child refugee fleeing war-torn Sudan, Ajak Deng, 27, is lending her star power to a good cause 'The Australian government brought us here because they felt sorry for my father with eight kids having just lost a wife, and that to me is such a beautiful thing,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald this week. 'The Australian people have such a heart, welcoming people in. She recalled her family's decision to flee Sudan during the second civil war: 'My parents got tired of running all the time... my father didn't want to keep worrying, 'will my family be killed?' Now I can give back and help the people who cannot help themselves.' In 2005, at age 11, Ajak, who has walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Lanvin among other big name brands, and her family fled Sudan as refugees. Giving back: 'The Australian government brought us here because they felt sorry for my father with eight kids having just lost a wife, and that to me is such a beautiful thing,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald this week Her mother died of malaria in a refugee camp in Kenya, where the family spent three years. After their resettlement in Melbourne, Ajak was discovered while still in high school and signed to FRM Model Management in 2008. She made headlines in February last year by declaring her plans to quit modelling over her frustration with the industry. Difficult past: She recalled her family's decision to flee Sudan during the second civil war: 'My parents got tired of running all the time... my father didn't want to keep worrying, 'will my family be killed?' Now I can give back and help the people who cannot help themselves' Ajak made the revelation in a post shared to Instagram, writing 'I am happy to announce that I am officially done with the fashion industry, I will be moving back to Australia in order to live the life that I fully deserved. Which is real life.' 'I can no longer deal with the fakes and the lies... My life is too short for this dramatic life.' The supermodel had previously taken to social media to vent her frustrations over racism in the industry, claiming in 2014 she was kicked out of Balmain for being black in a since-deleted tweet. Overcoming adversity: In 2005, at age 11, Ajak, who has walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Lanvin among other big name brands, and her family fled Sudan as refugees Her manager Stephen Bucknall backed Ajak's frustrations, telling The Herald Sun Ausralian brands were more willing to book Caucasian models. 'The budgets probably arent big enough for (Deng), because shes a big money earner, but they will spend the money on a Miranda Kerr or a Jess Hart,' he said. 'Theyll book the big caucasian girls, spend the big dollars, and fly them in from LA, but Im yet to see them book a dark skinned girl in that way.' But a week later Ajak vowed to stay in the modelling game and fight for wider acceptance of darker-skinned models in the fashion industry. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (C) listens to a supporter being interviewed in Buderim, near Brisbane on November 24, 2017 Voters in the Australian state of Queensland went to the polls Saturday in a snap election seen as a test of support for the far-right One Nation party ahead of possible national elections next year. Final opinion polls showed a tight race between the governing Labor Party and the centre-right Liberal National Party for control of the state, home of the Great Barrier Reef and a major tourist destination. The surveys indicate One Nation, which was created by Pauline Hanson in Queensland in the 1990's, could hold the balance of power in the event neither major party wins a majority in the 93-seat state parliament. The poll is seen as a bellwether of the national political mood at a time when Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's hold on federal government has been severely weakened, possibly forcing him into an early election next year. Queensland Liberals, led by Tim Nicholls, have left the door wide open to governing in coalition with One Nation if needed, an outcome which would further undermine the moderate Turnbull and hurt his party at a national level where there is less support for the far-right group. Labor leader and current Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has ruled out governing with One Nation even if it means going into the opposition. One Nation has enjoyed a tide of popular support in the state on its platform of zero-net migration and opposition to Islam. Voters stand by a "stop One Nation - vote Labor" sign in Graceville, near Brisbane on November 25, 2017 Support for the party is strongest in rural areas of the vast state, notably in the northern mining region which suffers from high unemployment and poor infrastructure and where many people feel neglected by authorities. "I think people are sick and tired of the two major parties, they've just left them behind," Steve Dickson, state leader for One Nation, told AFP during the last day of campaigning Friday. "If people are happy with the services they are getting for the last 20 years, vote for the major two parties. But where we sit at the moment, people aren't happy," he said. The party was at its height in 1998 when it won 11 seats in the state parliament, but it elected no one in the last election in 2015, which Labor won in a landslide. New elections were not due until May next year, but Palaszczuk suddenly called the snap poll last month, when Hanson was on an overseas trip and unable to begin campaigning for several days. Saturday's ballot comes at a difficult time for Turnbull, who lost his slim majority in Federal parliament earlier this month after two members of his coalition were forced to resign when it was found they held dual citizenship in violation of the constitution. Turnbull has maintained his grip on power thanks to support from independent and minor party deputies. But his coalition remains deeply divided between centrist and more hardline right-wing members and there are increasing expectations that national elections, not due until 2019, could occur early next year. Results from Saturday's vote are not expected to be known until late Saturday night or early Sunday. Veterans of Zimbabwe's 1972-1979 independence war led the violent campaign to seize white-owned farms in 2000 which was backed by Robert Mugabe Once Robert Mugabe's fiercest supporters, independence war veterans played a key role in ousting him,proving they still wield influence in Zimbabwe which only threw off colonial rule in 1980. Mugabe's reign was built on support from three pillars -- ZANU-PF party, the military and the war veterans -- and their hardening stance against him in recent years was a bellwether of his downfall on Tuesday. Last weekend, after the army took control, the war veterans rallied tens of thousands of ordinary Zimbabweans to join street protests against Mugabe in a sudden outpouring of public will. "Our relationship with Mugabe had irretrievably broken down," Victor Matemadanda, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association, told AFP. "We entered into a marriage, then problems started and we opted out." War veterans' leader Christopher Mutsvangwa led the hardening rhetoric against Mugabe, threatening to march on his private residence. Just before the president stepped down, Mutsvangwa called further street protests, telling him "Smell the coffee. Your time is up.". The war veterans now have their favoured candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa as president, and he was careful to mention them in his inauguration speech on Friday. - Violent mobs - War veteran's leader Christopher Mutsvangwa celebrating at the weekend when the ruling ZANU-PF party sacked Robert Mugabe as its leader just days before his resignation Veterans of the 1972-1979 independence war accuse Mugabe and his wife Grace of betraying their liberation struggle and enjoying extravagant, corrupt lives while former soldiers were left destitute. "The first couple's conduct was the last straw and we rallied the people to come together and unequivocally denounce that," said Matemadanda. For the war veterans, the idea of styling themselves as defenders of freedom sits uneasily with much of their history as enforcers in Mugabe's regime. They were the shock troops of Mugabe's violent election campaigns, especially in 2008, and were often implicated in the beating, intimidation and even killing of opposition supporters. Starting in 2000, they also led the violent campaign to seize white-owned farm in what Mugabe encouraged as a correction of the British colonial legacy of black people having only small areas of poor-quality land. Often drunk or on drugs, mobs of "war veterans" -- who have always included many activists too young to have actually fought in the war -- attacked farmers and labourers with machetes and axes, with the president's support. - Grace's enemies - War veterans accused Mugabe and his wife of enjoying extravagant, corrupt lives while former soldiers were left destitute But the relations between Mugabe and the veterans soured as Grace became more active in politics and emerged as a possible next president. Grace, backed by her younger "G-40" supporters, pushed them off the top table, and they found themselves no longer a priority for Mugabe's largesse and patronage. In a landmark moment in 2016, they issued an angry rebuke of Mugabe, decrying his "dictatorial tendencies" and withdrawing their support for his 2018 re-election bid. "They came to realise that they had been used as political storm-troopers for Mugabe and ZANU-PF -- and yet their real role was to take sides with the people and be as neutral as possible politically," said independent political analyst Alois Masepe. "They realised their error and apologised and I am hoping this new awakening is permanent even under a new leader." Mnangagwa still holds onto his wartime name of "The Crocodile", and the veterans believe his rise to power means they have regained their place in the country's power structure. "We want to continue to play the role of protectors of the revolution and be with the people," said Matemadanda. Taiwanese actress Vicky Chen, 14, saw off two former Golden Horse winners to collect the best supporting actress award for her performance in "The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful" Taiwanese director Yang Ya-che's thriller "The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful" dominated the Golden Horse awards, dubbed the Chinese "Oscars", winning the coveted best film and two acting awards on Saturday. The chilling drama about a wealthy family entangled in deadly political and business intrigues was also voted best film by audiences. Hong Kong actor Kara Wai bagged the best actress gong for her role as the manipulative and calculating matriarch of the family. "I want to thank my daughters (in the film) Vicky Chen and Wu Ke-xi. I couldn't have played the role so well without you," Wai said after receiving the statuette from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee and Hollywood star Jessica Chastain. Chen, 14, wept tears of joy after she saw off two former Golden Horse winners to collect the best supporting actress award for her performance in "The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful". "I am very fortunate," Chen told the crowd. "I want to thank the director ... and the production crew who encouraged, supported and cared about me." The teenager also made history as the youngest-ever best actress nominee for her role in Chinese filmmaker Vivian Qu's drama "Angels Wear White", which also competed in this year's Venice film festival. In it Chen plays a runaway who witnesses the sexual assault of two young girls and is torn between her conscience and saving her job by keeping quiet. The film earned Qu the best directing prize at the Golden Horse ceremony Saturday. "This is not just a story in China. This kind of story is happening around the world," Qu said. She thanked Chen and other young actresses in the film for "giving a voice to the children who are unable to speak up for themselves". - Heart-throbs empty handed - Chinese actor Tu Men beat better-known rivals, including Taiwanese-Japanese heart-throb Takeshi Kaneshiro and former Golden Horse winner Huang Bo, to claim the best actor title. Chinese actor Tu Men picked up the Best Leading Actor award for his role in "Old Beast", while Hong Kong veteran Kara Wai bagged the best actress gong for her part in "The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful" "The other nominees were nominated for their talents and strength. I got the award because of luck," said a humble Tu, who played a ruthless gambling addict who abandons his sick wife in the dark family drama "Old Beast". Taiwanese director Huang Hsin-yao took the best new director award for his popular drama "The Great Buddha+", which also won best adapted screenplay, best cinematography, best original film score and best original film song. The film, which tells the story of a security guard at a factory that makes Buddha statues, has struck a chord with Taiwanese audiences as it focuses on the struggles of ordinary people against the backdrop of a widening wealth gap. Taiwan theatre actor Bamboo Chen defeated Hong Kong star Tony Leung Ka-fai and Taiwanese-American actor Mason Lee, son of Ang Lee, to win best supporting actor for playing a transgender bar owner in "Alifu, the Prince/ss". Nearly 50 films are nominated for the 54th edition of the Golden Horse Film Awards. Although the Golden Horse is styled on the US Academy Awards, the winners are decided by a jury, along the lines of the Cannes film festival. Mick Mulvaney (R), with Vice President Mike Pence (L), Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (C), has described the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which he will lead as a "sick, sad joke" US President Donald Trump on Friday appointed White House budget director Mick Mulvaney to head a financial watchdog that the administration has sought to overhaul as part of its deregulation push. Mulvaney, who described the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as a "sick, sad joke" in a 2014 interview, will serve as acting director until a permanent head is nominated and confirmed, according to a White House statement. Richard Cordray, the first director of the CFPB who had long been in the banking industry's crosshairs, announced last week he would step down by the end of the month, several months early. The Trump administration's decision to appoint Mulvaney sparked some confusion over the interim CFPB leadership, as Cordray had already named Leandra English -- who was already part of the agency -- as his de facto successor by naming her deputy director. That move came hours before Trump tapped Mulvaney as the regulator's temporary leader. Since the start of his presidency Trump has decried financial rules and regulations, put in place through the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform legislation, to combat the excesses that led to the 2008 financial crisis. Trump's Treasury Department has produced three reports calling for a whittling down of rules imposed on mid-size banks, a scaling back of stress tests and a restructuring of the CFPB. Republicans have long deemed the bureau, which was founded in 2011 under the administration of former president Barack Obama, too far outside political control. Last month, the US Senate voted to terminate a rule created by the agency that would have allowed class-action suits against banks or credit card companies. The rule would have addressed fine-print clauses that bank and credit card consumers must agree to which bar them from seeking redress through litigation. The vote was criticized by many Democrats as a sop to Wall Street. The fate of President Bashar al-Assad (L) has been a major stumbling block in multiple rounds of negotiations between the Syrian regime and the opposition Syria's opposition on Friday selected a chief negotiator for a unified delegation to next week's UN-brokered peace talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Geneva. Nasr al-Hariri, head of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, was picked to lead a 36-member negotiating team for the talks on November 28, after three days of intense negotiations between various opposition groups in Riyadh. "Hariri was selected as the head of the delegation today," opposition member Jamal Suleiman told reporters. The unified delegation will comprise of members from various groups including the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) -- the largest bloc in the opposition -- as well as the Cairo and Moscow-based platforms. Syria's disparate opposition has been under heavy pressure to unify their ranks and row back on some of their more radical demands after a series of battlefield victories that have given Assad's regime the upper hand. "We expect the other side (Syrian regime) to come to the negotiations so that we can all move forward in the political process," Hariri said. Several rounds of talks hosted by the United Nations have failed to bring an end to the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 330,000 people since 2011 and forced millions from their homes. Assad's fate has been a major stumbling block in multiple rounds of negotiations between the Syrian regime and the opposition. burs-rs-mah-ac/iw US President Donald Trump's call to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came as Washington contemplates a longer term military presence to influence the fate of Syria The Islamic State group may be on the run from its last bastion in Syria but the United States is gearing up for a longer stay in the country. And if US forces are to counter Iranian and Russian influence as Syria struggles to emerge from civil war, they will need Turkey's help. But Washington's relations with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's testy government have been strained of late, posing a diplomatic challenge. So when US President Donald Trump called his counterpart Friday, he needed to make a significant gesture -- and he seems to have delivered. Tensions remain high, but Trump's apparent promise not to send any more weapons to the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia was a key concession to Ankara. Without it, a major NATO ally might have moved closer to Iran and Russia, who are battling to save Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime. Some in Washington and the region may see it as a betrayal of a battlefield ally that was instrumental in capturing the IS capital Raqa. But the Kurds now have the strength to hold their own in northeastern Syria, and Washington is turning to the bigger picture. "We can't operate in the long term in Syria without Turkish bases and Turkish airspace and to some degree Turkish diplomatic support," said former US ambassador James Jeffrey. "So that's what the call is all about," Jeffrey, a former senior US national security adviser and envoy to both Ankara and Baghdad, told AFP in Washington. Syria has been ensnared in civil war between Assad and an array of armed groups since 2011, and the chaos allowed IS to seize part of the east. US commanders mobilized a coalition -- including the YPG -- to take on the jihadists, and the Kurdish Syrian fighters were in the vanguard when Raqa fell last month. Turkey, a NATO ally, was nominally part of the US-led coalition, but in led its own intervention into northern Syria, battling extremists but also the Kurdish forces. The YPG is an offshoot of the same movement as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is waging a separatist insurgency inside Turkey. - Driving Erdogan crazy - According to Jeffrey, who as a fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy is still in touch with senior Turkish figures, "nothing drives Erdogan more crazy" than US backing for the YPG. But at the same time, Ankara and Washington share an interest in countering Russia and Iran's influence in Syria and in shaping the country's future as peace talks loom. After Friday's call, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Trump had promised arms supplies would halt and "essentially he said this nonsense should have been ended earlier." The White House was less explicit, but confirmed Trump "informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria." The White House also underlined that both leaders had discussed the importance of the upcoming United Nations-backed Syrian peace talks due to start next week in Geneva. This is important because Turkey is now also party to a parallel and potentially rival political process being conducted under Russian auspices in the Kazakh capital Astana. On Wednesday, Erdogan met presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Hassan Rouhani of Iran -- Assad's key allies -- in the Russian resort of Sochi, to discuss both sets of talks. This could explain the timing of Friday's call, explained former Turkish member of parliament Aykan Erdemir, in an interview with AFP. "There seems to be a greater convergence between NATO ally Turkey's Syria policy and Russia and Iran's Syria policy," said Erdemir, a scholar at US think tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. In the early years of the Syrian conflict, Erdogan like then US president Barack Obama was rhetorically a staunch foe of Assad, despite frequent US-Turkish diplomatic spats. But Russia's dramatic military intervention and steadily more powerful Iranian support saved the Syrian strongman's regime, and both Ankara and Washington confront a new reality. For Erdemir, Erdogan is edging towards accepting that Assad's regime will cling on in some form, and is seeking a tactical accommodation with Moscow and Tehran. He noted Turkey had allowed Assad to fly across its airspace for talks with Putin in Russia -- while Russian military transports brought war supplies in the other direction. "Erdogan recently referred to Assad as the central administration, the central government in Syria, and many saw that as a landmark statement," he said. - Radical U-turns - But he predicted the shift would not last; Erdogan has much invested in painting Assad as a war criminal, and Russian forces will eventually want to edge Turkish troops out of Syria. "I have serious doubts about the sustainability of Erdogan's game with Iran and Russia," he said, describing Turkish foreign policy in recent years as "a series of radical U-turns." It might not yet be a U-turn, but after Trump's called Jeffrey said: "Are we better off now than we were 24 hours ago with the Turks? Probably." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Iran's Hassan Rouhani this week in Sochi to discuss the Syria crisis Last week, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis stirred surprise when he announced US military presence in Syria would remain even after the Islamic State's defeat. "We are going to make sure we set the conditions for a diplomatic solution," he said. The solution Washington seeks would ideally lead to an elected government -- without Assad -- in Damascus, despite the effort invested by Iran and Russia to protect him. But if that proves impossible, the priority will be stability and curtailing Iran's growing power. To wield influence, the US will need the longer-standing military presence that Mattis envisages -- and to maintain that, Turkish support. Turkey, for Jeffrey, is posing Washington a legitimate question: "We want a policy. What is your policy?" Washington is now, perhaps, moving closer to an answer. A malnourished child receives treatment at a hospital in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on November 22, 2017 A UN plane carrying desperately needed vaccines landed in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday after a three-week Saudi-led aid blockade that had sparked warnings thousands could die. Three other aircraft -- two carrying UN aid workers and one carrying International Committee of the Red Cross staff -- also landed at the airport, which was repaired earlier this week after a Saudi-led air strike knocked out its radio navigation systems, an AFP correspondent reported. The UN humanitarian affairs office had said on Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa. But it added that desperately needed shipments of food and medicines to the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida remained blocked. An official from the rebel-run civil aviation authority confirmed that the flights had landed. But he warned that Saturday's aid delivery was not enough and demanded access to Sanaa airport for all flights in order to "save the lives of the sick", the rebel-run Saba news agency reported. In a statement to the rebel-run Al-Masira television channel, Huthi leader Abdelmalek al-Huthi urged his supporters to remain mobilised against any "new Saudi escalation". The UN children's fund UNICEF said Saturday's flight was carrying more than 15 tonnes, or 1.9 million doses, of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and other preventable diseases. The World Health Organization said earlier this week that diphtheria was spreading as children went unvaccinated and doctors in Hodeida reported three deaths. More than 2,000 people have died of cholera in Yemen this year, adding to the 8,600 who have been killed in the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the rebels since 2015. The aid blockade, put in place after the rebels fired a missile which was intercepted over Riyadh airport, has tightened the stranglehold on Hodeida, the conduit for UN-supervised deliveries of food and medicine to rebel-held territory. The UN humanitarian office said that a ship loaded with wheat and another with equipment to treat the cholera epidemic are ready to head to Hodeida as soon as the Saudi-led coalition gives the go-ahead. The coalition had said it would lift its blockade of the port from Thursday but it remains in place. The United Nations has warned that unless the blockade is lifted, Yemen will face "the largest famine the world has seen for decades". Yemen is highly dependent on imported wheat for its basic needs, and aid groups have warned that humanitarian deliveries cover only a small portion of the need. Seven million Yemenis are completely dependent on relief supplies for their survival, according to the UN. Egyptians carry victims on stretchers following an attack on the Rawda mosque in the Sinai on November 24, 2017 Egypt mourned on Saturday as the death toll from a gun and bomb assault on a mosque in the Sinai Peninsula soared above 300, including children, in the deadliest attack the country has witnessed. The army said warplanes had struck militant hideouts in the insurgency-wracked North Sinai in retaliation. According to the state prosecution, up to 30 militants in camouflage flying the Islamic State group's black banner had surrounded the mosque and massacred the worshippers during weekly Friday prayers. Twenty-seven children were among the dead, it said. IS has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is the main suspect as the mosque is associated with followers of the mystical Sufi branch of Sunni Islam whom it has branded heretics. Funerals for the victims were held overnight and many were buried unwashed in their bloodied clothes, according to the Islamic burial practices for martyrs, security and medical officials said. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared three days of mourning and vowed to "respond with brutal force" to the attack, among the deadliest in the world since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. "The army and police will avenge our martyrs and return security and stability with force in the coming short period," he said in a televised speech. Hours later Egyptian air force jets pursued the "terrorists and discovered several vehicles used in the terrorist attack, killing those inside near the vicinity of the attack", an army spokesman said. - 'Darkness pervades the village' - The state prosecutor's office said in a statement that 305 people were killed and 128 wounded in the assault on the Rawda mosque in a village roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish. It said the attackers, with long beards and hair often seen on jihadists, arrived in five all-terrain vehicles and surrounded the mosque. Witnesses said they heard gunshots and explosions before the assailants entered the mosque, according to the prosecution. "Nobody in that mosque escaped unharmed," said the brother of the mosque's imam, or prayer leader, Mohamed Abdel Fattah. "He was shot in the foot," the brother, Ahmed, told AFP in a phone call, adding that the religious leader was still in "too much shock" to speak. One of the wounded, Magdy Rizk, told AFP assailants wore masks and military uniforms, and that extremists had previously threatened people in the area. Egyptian soldiers stand guard outside a hospital in Ismailia on November 25, 2017 where the victims of a deadly mosque attack are receiving treatment Relatives visited victims in hospital in the city of Ismailia near the Suez Canal where the wounded were taken for treatment, an AFP photographer reported. Locals and relatives of people living in the village where the attack happened said the Rawda mosque was prominent. "This is the largest mosque in the area. It is the parent mosque, where events take place, funerals and weddings. When full it has 600 or 700 people," said Ahmed Sweilam, whose cousins live in the village. "Darkness pervades the village now." World leaders voiced outrage. US President Donald Trump denounced on Twitter the "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenceless worshippers". Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, Egypt's highest institution of Sunni Islam, condemned "in the strongest terms this barbaric terrorist attack". Israel's Prime Minister called for unity against "terrorism", saying: "Terrorism will be defeated even more quickly if all countries work against it together." - IS targeting of Sufis - Egyptians walk past bodies following a bomb and gun assault at the Rawda mosque, near the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, that killed at least 235 worshippers The Egypt branch of IS has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers, and also civilians accused of working with the authorities, in attacks in the north of the Sinai peninsula. They have also targeted Sufis as well as Christians. A tribal leader and head of a Bedouin militia that fights IS told AFP that the Rawda mosque is known as a place where Sufis gather. IS views Sufis as heretics for seeking the intercession of saints. The group has also killed more than 100 Christians in church bombings and shootings in Sinai and other parts of Egypt, forcing many to flee the peninsula. The military has struggled to quell the jihadists who pledged allegiance to IS in November 2014. The jihadists have since increasingly turned to civilian targets, attacking not only Christians and Sufis but also Bedouin Sinai inhabitants accused of working with the army. View of the Rawda mosque, roughly 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, after a bloody gun and bombing attack, on November 24, 2017. The group also claimed the bombing of a Russian plane that killed all 224 people on board after takeoff from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on October 31, 2015. Aside from IS, Egypt also faces a threat from Al-Qaeda-aligned jihadists who operate out of neighbouring Libya. A group calling itself Ansar al-Islam -- Supporters of Islam in Arabic -- claimed an October ambush in Egypt's Western Desert that killed at least 16 policemen. The military later conducted air strikes on the attackers, killing their leader. Iraqi forces advance into the western desert on November 24, 2014 in an operation to flush out fugitive Islamic State group fighters Iraqi forces thrust north from the Euphrates Valley into the desert on Saturday, opening up a new front in the drive to flush out fugitive Islamic State group fighters, a commander told AFP. IS has already been driven from all the towns it once held, but Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said he will not proclaim victory until the jihadists have been cleared from the western desert bordering Syria. Troops and paramilitaries had advanced into the desert from the east and north on Thursday at the start of an offensive aimed at inflicting a final defeat on the jihadists. On Saturday, troops and tribal militia pushed north from Al-Qaim and Rawa, two Euphrates Valley towns recaptured from IS earlier this month, in a pincer movement against retreating IS fighters, one of the operation's two commanders told AFP. "It's a matter of linking up with the forces advancing from Nineveh" province in the north, the commander said, asking not to be identified. Iraq-IS conflict "The aim of the operation is to clear the desert right up to the Syrian border and hunt down the terrorists who fled into the desert from the towns that have been liberated." The Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary force, which has played a key role in the offensive, said 100 villages and hamlets had already been cleared of IS fighters. "The battle for the desert is very important because it's from there that Daesh fighters coming from Syria can attack our defence lines," said Hashed number two Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, using an Arabic acronym for IS. In a video posted by the Hashed, Mohandis said the desert was "the last region where Daesh still has a military presence." He said operations against it were under away over an area of 27,000 square kilometres (10,400 square miles) But he warned that their completion would not spell the end of IS. Iraqi forces advance into the western desert on November 24, 2017, in an operation to flush out fugitive Islamic State group fighters "We must hunt them down in areas that have been liberated and we must arrest them before they slip back into urban areas," said Mohandis, who is widely regarded as the strongman of the Hashed, which is largely composed of Iran-backed Shiite militias. "We must remain in a state of alert," he added. "Security will not be fully assured until we have complete control of the border with Syria." At the peak of its power in 2014, IS ruled some seven million people in a territory as large as Italy, encompassing large parts of Syria and nearly a third of Iraq. It is now being flushed out of its last desert hideouts in Iraq at the same time as its final pockets of control in Syria face simultaneous operations by Russian-backed government forces and US-backed Kurdish-led fighters. South African white farmers want the government to take action on a string of murders targeting their community Hundreds of white South African farmers on Saturday took to the streets of Pretoria, demanding government action over a wave of murders targeting their communities in rural areas. The march is the latest protest staged over the murder of at least 72 white farmers so far this year, according to figures from campaign group AfriForum. "In the last six years, (there has been) an increase every year in farm attacks and murders," said Ernst Roets, a member of AfriForum, which advocates for its largely white membership, many of whom speak Afrikaans. Protesters marched under the rain to Union Building, seat of the South African government. "Stop farm murder" and "We are mourning", read some of the marchers' placards. Dirk Hermann, who helped organise the march, said "there is much more murder of farmers in South Africa" than of people in other professions, including the police force. On October 30, thousands of white farmers held large demonstrations in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, to protest against what they described as an explosion of violence against their communities. Roets demanded concerted action by the authorities, saying that Saturday's march sought to show "the South African government that people are fed up with farm attacks and the issue of safety". He also demanded that the government establish a "specialised unit" to protect his community. Tensions are running high in South Africa after two white farmers were convicted of forcing a black labourer into a coffin and threatened to kill him, as they accused him of stealing from their farm. Twenty-three years after the end of white-minority rule, South Africa is still beset by deep-rooted racial inequality. Mount Agung on Indonesia's resort island of Bali belched smoke as high as 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) above its summit sparking an exodus from settlements near the mountain A rumbling volcano on the Indonesian resort island of Bali spewed smoke hundreds of metres into the air Saturday, officials said, just days after thousands were forced to flee over fears it would erupt. Mount Agung belched smoke as high as 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) above its summit, twice as high as on Tuesday when smoke sparked an exodus from settlements near the mountain. There are fears the volcano could erupt for the first time since 1963, when nearly 1,600 people died. People living within 7.5 kilometres (4.5 miles) of the mountain have been told to evacuate, senior volcanologist Gede Suantika said, advising residents to remain calm. It comes after the volcano stirred to life in September, forcing 140,000 people to leave the area. There are fears Mount Agung on Indonesia's resort island of Bali could erupt for the first time since 1963, when nearly 1,600 people died Many returned home after the volcano's activity waned, but fresh smoke has sparked a further exodus and around 25,000 people have been evacuated to more than 200 temporary shelters. "We will continue to see eruptions like this on similar scales, but we cannot predict when Mount Agung will really erupt," Suantika told AFP. The volcano's alert level remains at the second-highest, he added. Bali is a major tourist hub and its airport is operating normally, but some airlines have decided to cancel their flights. Indonesia lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity. Mount Sinabung on Sumatra island -- which is currently at its highest alert level -- has been active since 2013. Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson led a small protest demanding the British government do more to help a woman jailed in Iran, accusing Boris Johnson of making her situation worse Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson led a small protest Saturday demanding the British government do more to help a woman jailed in Iran, accusing Boris Johnson of making her situation worse. Thompson said the foreign secretary should "get on a plane" to Tehran as she joined supporters of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, including her husband Richard Ratcliffe, in the couple's neighbourhood of Hampstead in north-west London. "We are a net of compassion and love for Nazanin and her family. This is what we human beings do best -- in stark contrast to the bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster," the actress said. "If I can get out of bed with pneumonia to support a horribly abused member of our community then our foreign secretary can get on a plane and go to Iran and deal with the problem he's so seriously exacerbated." Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian citizen, was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3, 2016, after visiting relatives with her young daughter. She was sentenced to five years in jail for sedition. Then last month authorities presented extra charges, and she will appear in court on December 10 accused of spreading propaganda. Johnson was accused of jeopardising her defence by saying she was training journalists before she was arrested -- something her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), and her family have strongly denied. The foreign secretary later clarified his remarks, saying it was clear that she was only on holiday. He is expected to raise her case when he makes an official visit to Iran in the coming weeks. Thompson, a mother of two who won a best actress Oscar for "Howard's End", is supporting a "mother's open letter" calling on Tehran to free Zaghari-Ratcliffe so she can be reunited with her daughter. Gabriella, now three, had her British passport confiscated and has since been living with her grandparents in Iran. Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni gives a press conference after meeting Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on November 25, 2017 The influx of Tunisian migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Italy is back under control after a spike in numbers at the end of summer, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Saturday. "After some problems over the course of the summer, the accord started to work very effectively again," he told reporters in Tunis, referring to a six-year-old agreement between the two countries aimed at curbing illegal immigration. According to the International Organization for Migration, 1,357 Tunisians reached the Italian coastline between January and August, a number which jumped to more than 1,400 in the month of September alone. Migration has become a burning issue in Tunisia since October 6 when around 40 people were killed in a collision between a migrant boat and a Tunisian navy vessel. Migrants use small vessels headed for the Italian islands of Sicily and Lampedusa. The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights said in a report last year that half of Tunisian youths from low-income areas were thinking of leaving the country, and one in three was prepared to do so clandestinely. The NGO said increasing poverty and unemployment in the North African country were to blame. Activists of the hardline Islamist group Tehreek-i-Labaik Yah Rasool Allah Pakistan had brought the capital Islamabad to a near-standstill Pakistan's government called on the powerful military to deploy in the capital Islamabad Saturday after deadly unrest broke out when police moved to dislodge an Islamist protest that has paralysed the city for weeks. At least six people were killed and some 190 injured -- around 137 of whom were security personnel -- in fierce clashes as police tried to disperse the demonstration earlier Saturday. Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets and demonstrators blocked roads and burned police vehicles around the site of the sit-in. As the violence intensified, protests sprouted in the major cities of Lahore and Karachi, as well as smaller towns across the country. "According to figures we have, at least six people were killed in violence today," Deeba Shahnaz, a spokeswoman for the Provincial Rescue department, told AFP. A security official also confirmed the death toll. Authorities had been attempting to clear a relatively small protest by the little-known hardline group Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLYRAP) that has blocked a main highway into Islamabad since November 6, causing hours-long traffic snarls and enraging citizens. It was not clear how many protesters remained in the streets of the capital late Saturday. There had been roughly 2,000 as the operation began, but AFP reporters said dozens more were arriving throughout the day. Many were galvanised by posts on social media, despite apparent efforts to block sites including Twitter. Police and paramilitary forces retreated following the clashes, with the Islamabad Capital Territory authorities making the request for the army to step in soon after. An interior ministry order said the federal government had authorised the deployment of "sufficient troops" to "control law and order" in the city until further notice. There was no immediate comment from military officials and no sign of troops in the streets late Saturday. The demonstrations have threatened the beleaguered Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government ahead of a general election due to be held next year. The PML-N is already reeling from a Supreme Court decision to oust former prime minister Nawaz Sharif over graft allegations in the summer, while finance minister Ishaq Dar -- also embroiled in a corruption scandal -- has taken indefinite medical leave. Sharif had repeatedly clashed with the military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its 70-year history. Analysts and critics accused the government of bungling its response to the protests, with authorities hesitating for days over fears of violence as the city's commuters seethed in the traffic choked streets. During the unrest Pakistan's media regulator barred local TV channels from broadcasting live images. Twitter said it was "monitoring" reports of the government blocking the site, adding "We... hope service will be fully restored soon". - Alarmed residents - The TLYRAP are demanding that Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid resign over a hastily-abandoned amendment to the oath that election candidates must swear. Demonstrators have linked it to blasphemy -- a highly contentious issue in Muslim Pakistan -- and claim the oath was softened to enable the participation of Ahmadis, a long-persecuted Islamic minority sect. Earlier, police in Karachi said some 200 protesters had blockaded a major road in the southern port, with at least 27 injured -- including 22 people with gunshot wounds -- brought to hospital, according to doctors. Markets and shops were shuttered in the megacity, Pakistan's commercial hub, as alarmed residents stayed inside, while hardline clerics urged more people to take to the streets. At least one person was killed and scores injured in clashes between hardline Islamist protestors and Pakistani forces An AFP journalist in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, said a main artery road was closed by police due to protests. Smaller rallies were reported in other towns across the country. Earlier in the day Pakistan's powerful military chief phoned the prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to urge the situation be handled "peacefully". General Qamar Javed Bajwa called for both sides to avoid violence "as it is not in national interest", army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said on Twitter. - 'Explosive' situation - The protesters come from the Barelvi sect of Islam that has strong ties to Sufism, a mystical branch of the religion that is seen as moderate. However the execution in 2016 of Barelvi follower Mumtaz Qadri -- who assassinated liberal Punjab governor Salman Taseer over his stance on the country's blasphemy laws -- led members of the group to take a more hardline stance against any moves to reform the legislation. "These people already had a grudge against the government and the government just provided them the opportunity to vent out their anger," said political analyst Hasan Askari. But weeks of inaction from authorities sparked the wrath of Pakistan's judiciary, with the Supreme Court issuing a blistering statement earlier in the week and the Islamabad High Court threatening to hold government officials in contempt. Despite the protest's relatively small intial size, authorities have hesitated to act against it, citing fears of violence as the demonstrators have vowed to die for their cause Analysts said the government had allowed a minor issue to grow into a headline-grabbing and potentially dangerous situation. Even before Saturday's clashes the sit-in had cost the life of an eight-year-old child whose ambulance could not reach a hospital in time due to the blocked roads. "Politically driven procrastination has its own costs and this is what the government is paying," analyst Imtiaz Gul told AFP, adding that the situation was "explosive". Russia's President Vladimir Putin, pictured here in November 2017, signed into law new rules on international media organisations present in Russia being termed "foreign agents" President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed into law new rules on international media organisations present in Russia being termed "foreign agents", following US pressure on the Kremlin-backed RT television channel. Already approved by both houses of parliament, the legislation was published on the Russian authorities' official website and comes into force immediately. The law allows any international media outlet operating in Russia to be classified under the controversial foreign agent label by the Ministry of Justice. The law is in retaliation to the United States registering Moscow-controlled RT Television by the same term. The Kremlin's council for human rights has denounced the bill, saying it was vaguely worded and difficult to reasonably enforce. "Any foreign media could be labelled a foreign agent quite arbitrarily by the justice ministry of the Russian Federation," the council said in a statement. Highly criticised by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, US and other foreign media will have to present themselves as foreign agents on all paperwork and submit to intensive scrutiny of staffing and financing. The 2012 law, which had applied only to non-governmental organisations, has now been formally extended. The Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, funded by the US Congress, are the first foreign media to have been warned by Moscow they may need to register under the new classification. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured here in November 2017, condemned the attack on the Rawda mosque in Egypt Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Saturday for countries to unify their efforts against "terrorism" as he condemned an attack on a mosque in Egypt that left 305 people dead. "Israel strongly condemns the horrific and criminal terrorist attack on the Rawda mosque near El-Arish," said a statement from his office. "Terrorism will be defeated even more quickly if all countries work against it together." Egypt was in mourning on Saturday as the death toll from the gun and bomb assault at the mosque in the Sinai Peninsula soared above 300, including children, in the deadliest attack the country has witnessed. The state prosecution said that up to 30 militants in camouflage flying the Islamic State group's black banner had surrounded the mosque and proceeded to massacre the worshippers during weekly Friday prayers. The army said warplanes attacked militant hideouts in the insurgency-wracked North Sinai in retaliation. IS has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is the main suspect as the mosque is associated with followers of the mystical Sufi branch of Sunni Islam whom it has branded heretics. Hafiz Saeed (2L), meeting with supporters after offering Friday prayers at a Lahore mosque on November 24, 2017, denies links to terrorism Pakistan-US ties could be affected if Islamabad does not act to rearrest and prosecute a mastermind of the deadly siege in India's Mumbai nearly a decade ago, the White House warned on Saturday. The statement came three days after a Pakistani court ordered the release of Hafiz Saeed, who heads the UN-listed terrorist group Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and has a $10 million US bounty on his head. Saeed's freedom came despite months of pressure by Washington on Islamabad over its alleged support for militants. Freeing him "belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists," President Donald Trump's press secretary said in a statement. "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistans global reputation," the statement said. Saeed had been under house arrest since January following a government crackdown on JuD, but a spokesman for his party said authorities had failed to provide evidence. Trump seeks "a constructive relationship with Pakistan, but expects decisive action against militant and terrorist groups on Pakistani soil that are a threat to the region," the White House said. "The release of Saeed is a step in the wrong direction." On Friday the US State Department expressed deep concern at Saeed's release and called for him to be arrested and charged. Six Americans were among 166 people killed in 2008 during the three-day siege in Mumbai when gunmen who arrived by sea sparked battles with Indian commandos. The drama, played out on live television around the world, nearly brought nuclear-armed enemies India and Pakistan to the brink of war. JuD is considered by the US and India to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group blamed for the attack on India's financial capital. In October, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington is concerned that extremist groups are threatening the "stability and security" of the Pakistani government. Trump has accused Islamabad of harboring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militants including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment. Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge. Saeed's party says he has no links to terrorism, and his spokesman said he was placed under house arrest for talking about the rights of people in the disputed Kashmir region. BERLIN (AP) - Pressure grew Thursday within Germany's Social Democratic Party to at least discuss the possibility of forming a new government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, after her talks with other parties collapsed over the weekend. SPD leader Martin Schulz ruled out returning to the current "grand coalition" with Merkel after leading his party to a disastrous result in September's election, but appeared to soften his stance before a meeting Thursday with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has urged politicians to compromise. "The SPD is fully aware of its responsibility in the current difficult situation," Schulz told German news agency dpa. "I'm sure we will find a good solution for our country in the coming days and weeks." Chairman of the Social Democratic party, Martin Schulz, speaks to journalists during a demonstration of Siemens employees against job cuts, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) Merkel's failure to reach a deal with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats after four weeks of talks put all of Germany's mainstream parties on the spot. If no one budges, the options are a minority government - never previously tried - or a new election. Several Social Democrats, while expressing skepticism, have suggested their party should discuss another coalition with Merkel or support for a minority government led by her. "If absolutely nothing else works, we must again consider a grand coalition," lawmaker Karl Lauterbach told public broadcaster ZDF. The party's deputy leader, Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel, said the Social Democrats shouldn't rule out anything. "We need to discuss every option," he told the Passauer Neue Presse. Meanwhile, the fate of another key figure in the German coalition talks could be decided later Thursday. Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Christian Social Union which forms the Bavaria-only part of Merkel's conservative bloc, was due to hold talks with senior party members late Thursday. There was widespread speculation of a party shake-up. Seehofer's party lost a significant share of its voters to the upstart nationalist party Alternative for Germany in the Sept. 24 national election. The Christian Social Union are keen to avoid a similar blow in next year's Bavarian vote, putting pressure on its 68-year-old leader to step aside and make way for a younger rival. _____ David Rising contributed to this story. Chairman of the Social Democratic party, Martin Schulz, speaks during a demonstration of Siemens employees against job cuts, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, left, arrive for a cabinet meeting of the German government at the chancellery in Berlin, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian opposition figures held meetings in the Saudi Arabian capital on Friday to name a unified delegation that will attend peace talks with the government as a Russian official said the issue of Syrian President Bashar Assad running for office in the future is still under discussion. The meetings in Riyadh came a day after Syrian opposition representatives called for direct and unconditional negotiations with the Syrian government over the more than 6-year civil war that would lead to the launch of a transition period. The opposition didn't condition its participation in upcoming U.N.-based negotiations on the departure of President Bashar Assad from office, signaling a degree of flexibility. The issue has always been the sticking point in previous rounds of talks, deepening division among an already fragmented opposition. Syrian opposition official Ahmad Ramadan said the opposition will likely name an 11-member delegation later Friday that will lead talks with the government in Geneva next week. The delegation will include members of the Saudi-based opposition as well as groups based in Egypt and Russia. "We have agreed with groups based here in Riyadh as well as those in Cairo and Moscow to form a unified delegation to participate in the direct negotiations in Geneva in the coming few days," leading opposition figure Basma Kodmani told reporters in Riyadh late Thursday. In Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Friday that the issue of Assad running for office in the future is still under discussion. Assad was elected for a seven-year term in 2014. Asked about a possibility of an early presidential election in Syria and Assad running in it, Bogdanov said in an interview with RIA Novosti: "This is under the discussion now, the work is ongoing. There are no results yet." Russia has always said that the fate of Assad will be decided by the Syrian people while Syrian government officials have said they will not give the opposition in peace talks what they failed to achieve by war. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not ruled out possible contact with Assad in a sign that his stance may be softening toward the Syrian leader. Erdogan has been one of Assad's harshest leaders and has been calling on him to step down since the early days of the conflict that began in March 2011. Responding to a question about a possible contact or cooperation with Assad in view of both leaders' opposition to Syrian Kurdish fighters, Erdogan told journalists: "The political doors are always open until the last minute." Erdogan was speaking on board his plane on his return from a trilateral meeting with Russia and Iran to promote a peaceful settlement in Syria that took place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Wednesday. His comments were reported by Hurriyet newspaper and other media on Friday. Turkey has strongly opposed Assad and has spoken against him having any future role in Syria. ____ Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey contributed to this report. TUCKER, Ark. (AP) - Two correctional officers at a maximum-security prison in central Arkansas were held hostage Friday by a pair of inmates, a prison system spokesman said. The officers, who suffered cuts and bruises, were freed a short time later, said Arkansas Department of Correction spokesman Solomon Graves. The incident occurred in a housing area at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker, 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Little Rock. Graves said the two inmates were taken into custody after "a use of force." He did not specify what kind of force was used. It wasn't immediately clear what led to the hostage situation. Graves said Arkansas State Police were investigating. Several violent incidents have occurred at Arkansas prisons, prompting investigations by the Correction Department and state police. On Nov. 2, two guards suffered minor injuries while trying to seize contraband from inmates at the Delta Regional Unit near Dermott in the southeastern corner of the state. A group of inmates refused to return to their cells on Oct. 20 at the Ouachita River Unit near Malvern. The standoff was resolved with no injuries. On Sept. 28, three guards were assaulted at two facilities on the same day. Two guards were assaulted by several inmates at the Varner Unit hours after a guard was assaulted by a prisoner at the Maximum Security Unit, also known as Tucker Max. On Aug. 7, several inmates held three officers in an area of Tucker Max for three hours before releasing them and surrendering. A spear fisherman was badly injured in a shark attack in California. State fire captain Josh Silveira said Grigor Azatian, 25, and his father, Armen, were several hundred yards offshore Friday at Pebble Beach when the son was bitten in the right thigh. 'He jumped in the boat, grabbed his spear gun went down and saw the shark,' Armen Azatian said to KSBW. 'Great white. From his description, it was about 15 feet long.' Armen claims that his son was bit by the shark about two or three times. Grigor Azatian, 25, and his father, Armen, were hundreds of yards offshore Friday at Pebble Beach, California, when the son was bitten in the right thigh Grigor was rescued by two off-duty deputies that had been fishing out on the water. Police in a helicopter also spotted a 'large aquatic animal off Pescadero Point, which may have been a shark' Grigor was rescued by two off-duty deputies that had been fishing out on the water. One of the deputies was able to stop the 'massive blood loss'. Silveira says the man's leg was intact but the bite was serious. The victim was taken to a trauma center for surgery but there was no immediate word on his condition. His father said that the shark ripped off chunks of flesh but didn't severe any major arteries. His father said that the shark ripped off chunks of flesh but didn't severe any major arteries One of the deputies was able to stop the 'massive blood loss' because he was adequately trained in emergency field medicine Police in a helicopter also spotted a 'large aquatic animal off Pescadero Point, which may have been a shark,' according to the Mercury News. The beach was tagged with warning signs. Silveira says there haven't been any recent shark sightings at the Monterey County beach. However, in March a great white shark attacked a kayak in Monterey Bay, knocking the kayaker into the water. He wasn't bitten. Police in a helicopter also spotted a 'large aquatic animal off Pescadero Point, which may have been a shark,' according to the Mercury News LONDON (AP) - British officials say a Heathrow Airport security worker has been arrested in an airport toilet after seven kilograms (15 pounds) of cocaine was seized. The National Crime Agency said Saturday the 30-year-old man, from London, was arrested Thursday with a 37-year-old Colombian man in a lavatory in Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Officials say the Colombian man had just arrived on a flight from the Colombian capital Bogota. Another man was arrested in the arrivals airport of the busy international airport and a fourth man was arrested at a London residential address. All four are being questioned on suspicion of importing drugs. WASHINGTON (AP) - The crush of unfinished business facing lawmakers when they return to the Capitol would be daunting even if Washington were functioning at peak efficiency. It's an agenda whose core items - tax cuts, a potential government shutdown, lots of leftover spending bills - could unravel just as easily as advance in factionalism, gamesmanship and a toxic political environment. There's only a four-week window until a Christmas deadline, barely enough time for complicated negotiations even if December stays on the rails. And that's hardly a sure bet in President Donald Trump's capital. FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, the Capitol is seen at sunrise, in Washington. The crush of unfinished business facing lawmakers when they return to the Capitol this week would be daunting even if Washington were functioning at peak efficiency. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Trump and congressional leaders plan a meeting Tuesday to discuss how to sidestep a shutdown and work though the legislative to-do list. For the optimistic, it's plain that Democrats and Republicans have reasons to cooperate, particularly on spending increases for the Pentagon and domestic agencies whose budgets otherwise would be frozen. An additional round of hurricane aid should be bipartisan, and efforts to reauthorize a popular health care program for children seem to be on track. Republicans are advancing their cherished tax cut measure under special rules that mean Senate Democrats cannot use delaying tactics. The measure passed the House just before the Thanksgiving break and moves to the Senate floor this coming week. After the Senate GOP's failure on health care this summer, the majority party is under enormous pressure to produce a victory on taxes. Still, GOP deficit hawks such as Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jeff Flake of Arizona remain uneasy about the overhaul. While Democrats are largely sidelined on taxes, they hold leverage over a mix of budget-related issues. First, there's the need to avert a government shutdown after a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 8. The most likely scenario, congressional aides say, is for an additional extension until Christmas. On a parallel track are talks to raise spending limits that are keeping agency budgets essentially frozen unless those caps are raised. If that happens, then negotiations could begin in earnest on a massive catchall spending measure in hopes of having it signed into law by year's end. Taxes have gotten all the attention so far, but the showdown over a potential shutdown right before Christmas could soon take center stage. Democrats are counting on GOP fears of a holiday season closure to ensure Republican concessions during December talks. Both sides would have to make concessions that may upset partisans in either party. Just as House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., fears a revolt on the right, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California risks an uprising on her left. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., round out the quartet of top negotiators. "Everybody's got complicated politics. The chance of short-term failure is pretty high - short-term failure being a shutdown," said Steve Elmendorf, a Democratic lobbyist. "But the four of them, assuming they don't want to shut the government down for a long time, are going to have to come to an accommodation." Talks on the spending caps are stuck, however, aides say. A GOP offer to lift the Pentagon budget by more than $54 billion next year and nondefense limits by $37 billion was rejected by Democrats demanding balance between the two sides of the ledger. Long-delayed battles over immigration and Trump's promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border are huge obstacles. Many Democrats whose votes are needed on the spending bills insist they won't vote for any legislation that includes the wall. Trump remains dead set on his $1.6 billion request for a down payment on the project. Those same Democrats also insist that Congress must act by year's end to protect immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children and whose protected status is set to lapse next year. Trump backs the idea despite issuing an executive order reversing the Obama administration protections, starting next spring. Conservatives oppose drawing in the immigration issue to legislation to keep the government running. Hurricane relief is adding one more wrinkle. Congress has approved more than $50 billion in aid in response to a series of devastating hurricanes. The most recent request by the White House is the largest yet at $44 billion, but it's not nearly enough to satisfy the powerful Texas delegation, which is pressing behind the scenes for more. "Completely inadequate," said Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas. "We must do far more to rebuild, repair and allow Texans to return to normal as quickly as possible." Trump is a wild card. He warmed to the idea of cutting deals with Democrats after a September pact with Schumer and Pelosi to lift the government's debt ceiling. He promised Democratic leaders that he would sign legislation to give the young immigrants legal status - provided border security is addressed as well. But that demand on border security came with a long list of conditions subsequently added by the White House. Among them: building his Mexico border wall, overhauling the green card system and strengthening measures against people who stay after their visas expire. Trump has not really engaged on the year-end agenda, however, and his impulsiveness could be a liability. He almost disowned an omnibus spending bill in May after media accounts portrayed the measure as a win for Democrats. QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Former Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa returned home Saturday for the first time since leaving office as he gears up for a political fight against his hand-picked successor. A chaotic scene awaited Correa at the arrival terminal of Guayaquil's airport, where police were called in as dozens of his supporters exchanged insults and even a few blows with a smaller crowd of protesting critics. The former president arrived shortly after midnight on a private flight from neighboring Colombia. FILE - In this July 10, 2017 file photo, supporters of Ecuador's former President Rafael Correa gather to bid him farewell before he departs for Belgium to live with his family, from Quito, Ecuador. Correa announced he would return to Ecuador as early as Nov. 24, where his once powerful Alianza Pais government party is virtually divided between those who still support him and a majority who have aligned with the current president, Lenin Moreno. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File) Correa returned to Ecuador to attend a Dec. 3 convention called by some of his top aides where President Lenin Moreno is expected to be expelled as head of the ruling Alianza Pais party. But Moreno's allies and an electoral court consider the congress illegal. Correa has accused Moreno of betraying his legacy by pursuing conservative economic policies and going after close allies such as Vice President Jorge Glas, who has been jailed on corruption charges. Correa currently lives in Belgium, where his wife is from, and has repeatedly said that he would only come out of political retirement if the social gains of what he calls his Citizens' Revolution were threatened. Moreno has distanced himself from his one-time political mentor, courting conservative business leaders, exposing corruption and smoothing over tensions with the media and indigenous groups that Correa shunned. He's even accused Correa of planting hidden cameras in his presidential office to spy on him. The conciliatory approach has proven successful: After winning election by a razor-thin majority, support for Moreno's government has soared to around 80 percent, according to several polls. He now wants to break even further from Correa by pushing through a referendum that would make it impossible for Correa to run again for the presidency and purge institutions of much of his influence. As part of the deepening feud, Moreno withdrew all powers from Vice President Glas, who has been jailed on charges of accepting bribes during Correa's decade-long rule. PARIS (AP) - The Latest on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (all times local): 7:30 p.m. Turkish police haven't intervened in a banned march that attracted more than 1,000 protesters to highlight the issue of violence against women and girls. A protestor shouts slogans during a demonstration for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The demonstration ended peacefully amid a tense atmosphere and heavy security after police told the group that the march wouldn't be allowed. Despite the ban, the march took place on Istanbul's main pedestrian avenue. But the protesters didn't march the entire route that they had planned to after police told them to stop. They read a statement to the media and dispersed peacefully. The group said that women faced violence from "husbands, fathers, lovers, ex-lovers . teachers, clients, police officers." Protests in Turkey have been especially restricted since 2013 after a wave of anti-government protests, extremist attacks and a state of emergency declared following a failed coup in 2016. Cilem Yagmur Cetiner, 19, said the women were demanding basic rights. She said "we want to live equally, no, we want to live." ___ 6:50 p.m. Hundreds of women have marched in Paris to protest violence against women, with some telling French President Emmanuel Macron to increase funding to meet his ambitions for change. Raphaelle Remy-Leleu of the group "Dare Feminism" complained during the march that France has no full-fledged ministry for women's affairs. The women marched shortly after Macron laid out a plan to change what he said is France's sexist culture, protect women and punish offenders. Remy-Leleu said that "it's easy to mislead everybody when you don't ... give precise numbers." Marches were held in other French cities marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Members of the Femen activist held signs reading "Women's Vendetta" and "Female Revenge." ___ 6:30 p.m. Women have marched through central Rome to encourage others to combat violence aimed at them by men. The noisy procession included participants who run safe houses for women escaping violent husbands or boyfriends and other groups. Women are pushing for more attention from lawmakers, including funding, for shelters and other institutions. Some banners held by marchers to mark an international day to focus attention on violence against women read: "Free to be" and "Free to live." ___ 5 p.m. Hundreds of protesters have gathered in Turkey for women's rights to mark a day on violence against women and girls. Turkish police have told the group the march wouldn't be allowed. Despite the ban, the march has started on Istanbul's main pedestrian avenue. The protesters, mostly women, shouted chants including "We won't be silent" and "we aren't afraid." Small demonstrations took place in several Turkish cities. Violence against women is one of the most "widespread, persistent and devastating" rights violations across the world, according to the United Nations. Monitoring group FemicideMap reports at least 1,915 women were killed in Turkey in the past seven years. The perpetrator was a victim's husband or boyfriend in 995 cases. ___ 2:40 p.m. President Emmanuel Macron has announced an initiative to address violence and harassment against women in France, with plans aimed at erasing the sense of shame that breeds silence among victims and changing France's sexist culture. In a speech on Saturday marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Macron laid out a plan to encourage women to take action, strengthen laws against offenders and educating citizens on the issue - starting from nursery school. He said that 123 women died of violence against them in France last year. Holding a moment of silence for them, he said: "It is time for shame to change camps." Protestors attend a demonstration for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Protestors hold a banner reading "Forever and everywhere against violence against women" during a demonstration for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Women take part in a march marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and his wife Brigitte Macron, second right, French Minister for Solidarity and Health Agnes Buzyn, second left, and French senator Laurence Rossignol listen as the French Junior Minister for Gender Equality addresses guests at the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Saturday Nov. 25, 2017 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) Women take part in a march marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A woman shouts slogans during a march as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Women hold a banner reading in Italian "Against the male violence on women we have a plan" as they take part in a march marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) LILLE, France (AP) - Yannick Noah took a big gamble in the Davis Cup final and it paid off. When the France captain fielded an inexperienced pair for the doubles, many were perplexed. He was rewarded by a victory that put France one point away from a 10th Davis Cup title. "It was a tough decision," Noah said after Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who had never played together before, defeated Ruben Bemelmans and Joris De Loore 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 on Saturday. France's Richard Gasquet, right, and Pierre-Hugues Herbert celebrate after winning a point as they play Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans and Joris De Loore during their Davis Cup final double match at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) France leads Belgium 2-1. Gasquet, who was initially named as a substitute in Noah's squad, replaced doubles specialist Nicolas Mahut for the final. Herbert and Mahut, who won two Grand Slams together and were paired in the Davis Cup semifinal win against Serbia, were an obvious choice, "the politically correct decision," Noah said. "To me, from a personal standpoint, it's very nice that they won that match," he added. He would have been "in the hot seat" if they lost. Noah said he made his mind up during training when Herbert shook off a back injury and Gasquet was in excellent form. "Their styles of play are matching well, with Richard really solid from the baseline, and PH, who has a huge presence at the net," Noah said. When Herbert and Gasquet prevailed, Noah danced on the court and hugged French sports minister Laura Flessel in the stands. In the first reverse singles on Sunday, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can clinch the final for France against Belgium's top player, David Goffin. If Tsonga fails, the tie will be decided between Frenchman Lucas Pouille and Steve Darcis. Tsonga and Goffin won their opening singles in straight sets. "I'm not feeling down at all," said Belgium captain Johan Van Herck, still hoping to deliver a first Davis Cup title to his country. "Jo made a good impression on Friday, but he will take on a different opponent on Sunday. David has the game to beat Jo. He is confident, and this will be a match worthy of the Davis Cup." Despite their lack of practice and matches together, Herbert and Gasquet got off to a flying start on the indoor hard court at Pierre Mauroy Stadium. Gasquet executed perfect passing shots from both sides and Herbert had a dominant presence at the net as they raced to 5-0. The Belgians saved two set points to finally hold serve, but Gasquet served out for the set. The French served poorly in the second and always trailed. Bemelmans served out the set and the Belgians celebrated with a chest bump. "They (Gasquet and Herbert) were on the brink of collapse," said Noah. "In the end, it came down to just one or two points, and being focused." The French were under pressure early in the third set and had to fend off four break points in their first three service games. They finally cracked in the seventh game when De Loore unleashed a forehand return straight into Herbert's head to seal the break, knocking Herbert to the ground. Herbert recovered but Bemelmans became nervous, with misses on important points. The French pair exploited his errors and leveled at 5-5 to the delight of the raucous home crowd. They dominated the tiebreaker. De Loore received treatment on his left foot before the start of the fourth set. Herbert hit consecutive double faults to trail 15-40 on serve in the sixth game, but the French held, and made the decisive break for 4-3 following another big mistake from Bemelmans, who buried a smash into the bottom of the net. French captain Yannick Noah reacts as France's Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert play Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans, and Joris De Loore during their Davis Cup final double match at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) French captain Yannick Noah reacts as France's Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert play Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans, and Joris De Loore during their Davis Cup final double match at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans, left, and Joris De Loore celebrate after winning a point as they play France's Richard Gasquet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert during their Davis Cup final double match at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) France's Richard Gasquet, left, and Pierre-Hugues Herbert celebrate after winning a point as they play Belgium's Ruben Bemelmans and Joris De Loore during their Davis Cup final double match at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) OBERHAUSEN, Germany (AP) - Seven months after a double hip replacement, Manuel Charr defeated Alexander Ustinov of Russia by unanimous decision for the vacant WBA heavyweight title on Saturday. The judges awarded it 114-111, 116-111 and 115-112 in favor of Charr, who became the first German heavyweight champion since Max Schmeling in the early 1930s. The Lebanese-born Charr, who was also shot in the stomach during an altercation at a kebab shop in 2015, said he would have been champion sooner had he undergone the hip operation before last April. Charr arrived in Germany in 1989 as a refugee. He was stabbed in the back with a knife when he was 16. "I have experienced much more than fits in a life," Charr said before the bout. "I'm like a cat with seven lives. I've used five so I have to change something." Charr rocked Ustinov in the seventh round when he had the taller fighter against the ropes and tried to finish off the bout. The Russian weathered the punches but seemed disorientated, allowing Charr through again and again with his left. Charr finished the eighth by catching Ustinov with a vicious left blow that left the Russian on his knees with blood streaming below his left eye. The bell provided respite. Ustinov displayed remarkable resilience as he lumbered through the next rounds but Charr had already done enough. Charr improved to 31-4 with 17 KOs, while Ustinov dropped to 34-2 (25 KOs). A Heathrow security worker who was arrested in an airport toilet after 700,000 worth of cocaine was seized has been charged with conspiring to import drugs. Farhan Iqbal, 30, was detained alongside 37-year-old Colombian national Camilo Alec Pulido Suarez in the Terminal 5 bathroom on November 23, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. Officers said the Colombian had recently disembarked a flight from his countrys capital Bogota. Heathrow Airport sign Four people, including an airport security worker, are being questioned in connection with a seizure of approximately seven kilos of cocaine at Heathrow, which has a potential street value of 700k once cut.https://t.co/XCoGKBFblo pic.twitter.com/PxmwQhvvtu National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) November 24, 2017 About seven kilograms of cocaine were seized, which is said to have a value of about 250,000, but could be sold for more than 700,000 if cut and sold on the street. Colombian national Wilmer Salazar-Duarte, 43, was separately arrested in the arrivals area of the airport, while 46-year-old Alexander Salazar-Duarte, also from Colombia, was arrested after a search at an address in east London. All four were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Saturday. They were remanded in custody until their next appearance at Blackfriars Crown Court on December 22. Senior investigating officer Darren Barr said: Heathrow Airport provided invaluable assistance in this operation, and working with partners such as the Metropolitan Police Service, Border Force and the Heathrow authorities we are determined to target those who may be involved in criminality at the airport. England suddenly had to battle to stay in the match on day three of the Ashes after Steve Smiths outstanding hundred helped to pile the pressure back on them at the Gabba. Joe Roots men did their utmost to frustrate Smith by drying up his run-scoring options, but he refused to be distracted for more than eight and a-half hours in his unbeaten 141 as Australia scrambled to 328 all out and a lead of 26. England then made a miserable start to their second innings against Josh Hazlewood on the way to 33 for two, with the early loss of Alastair Cook for his second single-figure score in three days and then James Vince unable to follow up his maiden Ashes half-century here. What they said (Jason OBrien/PA) England bowler Stuart Broad: I think after three days, were probably the best-placed England side here for 30 years. It was crucial we only lost two tonight. You can easily lose four of five, and thats the Test gone it could have been a lot worse. Australia captain Steve Smith: I thought they were pretty defensive from the outset. It was as if they were waiting for batters to make mistakes. It felt very defensive, (so) it might be a series where boundaries are hard to come by. Tweet of the day As good as it gets @stevesmith49 .... Unbelievable 100 ... #Ashes Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 25, 2017 Shot of the day Starc goes bang, but then Broad gets his revenge a short time later! https://t.co/P6sH6ROa7L #Ashes pic.twitter.com/vcpzi2XOHA cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2017 No doubt about this category, despite Smiths outstanding innings. Mitchell Starcs only scoring shot came from just his third delivery, and Stuart Broads second of a new spell with the second new ball. Marginally over-pitched, it disappeared over long-off to stun Englands attacking field. Two balls later, though, Starc was gone caught-and-bowled to Broad for six off five. Stat of the day 21.6 Smiths strike rate in the first hour as England strangled his progress with the old ball. It did not stop him in the long run, though. Is Anderson fit? If we take England at their word, and of course we should, then yes. Television cameras spotted a moment or two of pain, picked up too by their pundits but the odd grimace is surely hardly surprising at some point during 29 his overs on an unresponsive pitch, including many to Smith. Whatever his ailment, if any, England will be hoping he and others do not have too strenuous a workload left here so that they can head to the result environment of the inaugural Ashes day-nighter in Adelaide next week with a full complement of seamers. Cummins is an all-rounder SHOT! Cummins goes big to bring up the 250 for Australia! Trailing by 50 runs: https://t.co/P6sH6ROa7L #Ashes pic.twitter.com/1q9QVQoaRD cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2017 Australias current number nine is one of the quickest bowlers in the world, and a fearsome prospect against England if he stays fit through this series. His career-best 42 was an invaluable contribution as the hosts scrambled towards their first-innings lead. More than that too, it was the innings of a batsman with a sound defence and shots. Cummins maiden half-century may well not be long delayed. What next? Stumps! Another riveting day of Test cricket as England go to stumps with a lead of 7 runs: https://t.co/P6sH6ROa7L #Ashes pic.twitter.com/J65zqFlv6N cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2017 Spot of rain, apparently which will be such a shame if it stops this fascinating match from reaching a fitting conclusion over the next two days. Stuart Broad believes Englands tight spot in the first Ashes Test still represents their best position after three days at the Gabba since his dad Chris was in the team more than 30 years ago. Englands efforts to test Steve Smiths patience failed to stop him grinding out an unbeaten 141 - over more than eight and a half hours - in an Australia total of 328 all out as they eked out a lead of 26. Josh Hazlewood was then the successful new-ball bowler in a dramatic final session which ended with England 33 for two. Stuart Broad StuartBroad8: If we apply ourselves tomorrow, there are no demons in that pitch, we can bat big." #Ashes https://t.co/qd0GypCm4I pic.twitter.com/5C3grUdI7K England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 25, 2017 Even so, Broad was able to put a positive spin both on Smiths close-of-play remarks - the Australia captain accused England of defensive bowling from the outset - as well as a precarious match situation. England have famously not won in Brisbane since 1986/87, when Mike Gattings tourists had Broads father opening the batting and Ian Botham as their man of the match. After taking three for 49 here, Broad said with a smile: I think after three days, were probably the best-placed England side here for 30 years. WICKET Bad start as Cook caught in the deep for 7. Follow: https://t.co/viiODZuylw#Ashes pic.twitter.com/mVUZwhLz47 England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 25, 2017 WICKET Now Vince caught at first slip by Smith off Hazlewood. Updates: https://t.co/mbXsiUjfKr pic.twitter.com/TsamsqLToc England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 25, 2017 It was crucial we only lost two tonight. You can easily lose four of five, and thats the Test gone it could have been a lot worse. As for the frustrations voiced by Smith off the field, if none evidently shown on it, Broad added: Perfect. We know they like to score quickly. If we can restrict them from scoring boundaries, well have periods of taking wickets. He was nonetheless impressed with Smiths 21st Test century. Steve Smith: It meant everything. It was tough out there, the wicket was two-paced and they bowled some reasonable spells so it was about batting for a long period of time. I had to dig deep and wait for the ball to come into my areas. More here: https://t.co/oBV2wwF5eH pic.twitter.com/KYUB4mm2YD England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 25, 2017 He played brilliantly what you come to expect from him in Australia. He showed discipline around off-stump (but) credit to us, that was his slowest ton, so we didnt let him get away from us. If Smith was vexed at any point out in the middle, he dealt with them very effectively. But afterwards, he said: I thought they were pretty defensive from the outset. It was as if they were waiting for batters to make mistakes. Massive period in the game - these two are back on and looking for a wicket #Ashes Updates https://t.co/cPSaRCARrE pic.twitter.com/N1WC9Kx0Bo England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 25, 2017 It felt very defensive, (so) it might be a series where boundaries are hard to come by. Broad, meanwhile, was required to vouch for the well-being of both his captain Joe Root - who took a blow to the helmet from a Mitchell Starc bouncer - and his pace partner James Anderson. The latter got through 29 overs to Broads 25, but that did not stop high-profile pundits Michael Vaughan and Graeme Swann both voicing concerns about a possible, unspecified injury after Anderson was seen grimacing in the field on television footage. Craig Overton has come on as 12th man after James Anderson has gone off. Australia 246/7 Smith 94* Cummins 22* Follow it live https://t.co/MRbmWr0DNf#Ashes #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/7s4YSkSvSM Test Match Special (@bbctms) November 25, 2017 An England spokesman reported Anderson is fine, and Broad added: I dont really know where this mystery injury has come from. Hes just bowled 30 overs for 50. Ive spent the whole day with him hes not moaned about anything, or said hes sore or injured. Root continued batting and was unbeaten at the close after being hit by Starc, and Broad said: Its always worrying when you see someone get hit like that. But he has passed the concussion tests Im sure hell be fine. There is no direct link between prison suicides and overcrowding in jails, a study of almost 4,000 deaths has found. Psychologists examined suicides from 24 countries including England and Wales, following fears that prisoner numbers were contributing to the high rate of suicide. The research, published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal, found that a range of issues such as access to mental health care and the amount of daily activity could be more important risk factors. (PA graphics) After examining 3,906 suicides across 20 European countries, as well as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, it found deaths were highest in countries with the lowest rates of incarceration. The study said: Most of the examined prison-level factors were not associated with prison suicide rates, suggesting that prison suicides are likely to be the result of a complex interaction of different factors, and not merely due to the prison environment. Studying these factors within countries could be informative, and their interaction might also provide some explanation. It concluded there were no simple ecological explanations for prison suicide and called for national strategies to address the problem. Nordic countries had the highest prison suicide rates, with more than 100 per 100,000 prisoners. Denmarks rate was slightly lower, with 91 per 100,000. New research: Suicide in prisons: an international study of prevalence and contributory factors by @seenafazel & colleagues. #OpenAccess https://t.co/M09tLnshJY pic.twitter.com/q55imnuuD5 The Lancet Psychiatry (@TheLancetPsych) November 25, 2017 In western Europe, rates in France and Belgium were also more than 100 per 100,000 inmates. Australia, New Zealand and North American countries had ranges of 23 to 67. Out of the 3,906 deaths, 93% were male and 7% female. The research was prompted by concerns that overcrowding was contributing to the disproportionately high levels of suicide in prisons, with 119 out of 205 countries reportedly exceeding their prison capacity. In England and Wales, suicide rates are five or six times higher than among the general population. But the research found no clear link between suicides and prison overcrowding, except in low-income countries where extreme overcrowding might cause extra stress. It even suggested overcrowding could mitigate the risk of suicide as vulnerable prisoners were less likely to be left alone as so many cells designed for single use were in double occupation. Self-harm incidents in prisons But the research found a lack of detailed data on conditions in prisons and the individual prisoners circumstances that may have contributed to their decision to take their own life. Researchers said: Prison suicides are likely to be the result of a complex interaction of different factors, and not merely due to the prison environment. They argued that more sensitive markers of health care need to be routinely recorded to understand the high suicide rate in prisons, including how many people are engaged in active mental health treatment, and the extent and quality of prison care. They also made the case for better recording of ecological factors in prisons, such as assault rates, levels of self-harm, the amount of daily meaningful activity, and access to employment or training. Factors such as access to ligature points were also rarely recorded, the researchers found. The Prison Reform Trust has long blamed overcrowding for unsafe conditions in prison. In a statement in October in response to an increase in self-harm and assaults in prison, a spokesman for the charity said: Too many prisoners are held in overcrowded and impoverished conditions with too few staff to provide a safe and constructive regime. In response to the new research, the Prison Reform Trusts director Peter Dawson said: This useful research shows that reducing suicides in prison is complex. But we know in this country that between 2008 and 2014 the situation was improving before deteriorating sharply as staffing levels were drastically reduced. Good procedures and good relationships underpin every aspect of safety in prison overcrowding is just one of the reasons both are under pressure. Tackling it is long overdue and vital to prisons delivering every aspect of the Governments many ambitions for reform. Lionel Messi wants to finish his career at Barcelona after signing a new deal that commits him through to the summer of 2021. A renewal was agreed between player and club in July but it is only now that Messi has put pen to paper on the contract. Announcing the deal, the LaLiga club added that the Argentina forward has had a 626million buy-out clause inserted into his contract. Lionel Messi has committed to Barcelona That means the 30-year-old is likely to end his playing days at the Nou Camp and not, as has been reported for some time, move to Manchester City. I am happy. Weve been waiting for some time to complete the signing and it was done today, Messi told the clubs official website. Im happy to continue with the club which is my home, and Im happy to continue here to spend my entire life, my home, which is where I always wanted to have my career. My dream was to finish my career at Barca and we are moving down that path. Messi, who made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in a friendly against Porto, has eight LaLiga titles, four Champions League wins and five Copa del Rey successes among his list of honours with the Catalan giants. He is regarded by some as the greatest player of all time and the signing of his new deal means his Barcelona dynasty can continue apace. Messi arrived at Barcelona from Newells Old Boys as a teenager in 2000 and made his first competitive appearance against Espanyol as a 17-year-old. He scored the first of his club record 523 goals they have come in just 602 matches against Albacete in May 2005 and has since claimed the Ballon dOr on five occasions, more than any other player. On Friday, he was presented with his fourth Golden Shoe award for being the top scorer in Europe, while his 30 titles put him alongside team-mate Andres Iniesta as having the most success in club history. A British mother jailed in Iran has spoken from prison in Tehran to thank those campaigning for her release. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe addressed those attending a rally and march, including actress Emma Thompson, through a phone and loudspeaker to thank everyone for their support. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been imprisoned in Tehran since April 2016, when she was arrested at the citys airport after a holiday with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. She told the rally near her home in north London: Im so grateful for everybodys support and love I am so overwhelmed and moved. Richard Ratcliffe, centre, holds a poster calling for the return of his wife and daughter from Iran (Jonathan Brady/PA) All that is on my mind is to be back home and to be back with my family. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in jail on charges of spying and seeking to overthrow the Tehran regime, and has been held in solitary confinement. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has done nothing wrong. Yet she remains in prison, & has been told she will go to court again. Iran must #FreeNazanin & let her come home to her family in the UK. https://t.co/wyg2FjfiF5 pic.twitter.com/pU2lt0toN7 Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) November 23, 2017 Her family has led a long-running campaign for her release, saying she is innocent and raising fears for her physical and mental health. At the protest a tearful Thompson hit out at the bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster and urged the Government to do more to bring her home. An amazing show of support for the West Hampstead mums march with Emma Thompson and Richard Ratcliffe - thank you everyone #FreeNazanin pic.twitter.com/cPG4U7sIhx Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) November 25, 2017 The Love Actually actress, who was suffering from pneumonia, called on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to get on a plane, after his suggestion earlier this month that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran exposed her to the threat of her five-year sentence being doubled. The Oscar-winning actress said: We are a net of compassion and love for Nazanin and her family. This is what we human beings do best, in stark contrast to the bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster. If I can get out of bed with pneumonia to support a horribly abused member of our community then our Foreign Secretary can get on a plane and go to Iran and deal with the problem hes so seriously exacerbated. Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe who is detained in Iran, is joined by supporters including actress Emma Thompson (left) and Tulip Siddiq MP (right) in Hampstead, north London before setting out on a march to deliver a petition calling for her release from prison Thompson added: The screw is twisting more and more and her physical and mental health is deteriorating to such a degree now that I think we are in a very urgent situation. I cant imagine the effect of being separated for 19 months from your child. I would have gone bonkers if that had happened to me. Big turnout this morning in West Hampstead #FreeNazanin pic.twitter.com/IoMqUo00Wj Katherine Dickinson (@katd100) November 25, 2017 Im just so passionate about getting her back, its a sort of physical feeling of anguish for her. Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq spoke to Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and later said: We discussed how we would take both our daughters to Peppa Pig World when shes released. Mrs Zaghari-Racliffes husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said: It is profoundly moving to see so many people here. I can really feel the love, and Nazanin can feel the love, and in the end thats the most important thing, thats what keeps us going. An online petition calling for her to be returned to Britain has had more than 1.3 million signatures. Will Cliffs penalty was the difference as Sale ended a run of three successive Aviva Premiership defeats following an 18-15 triumph over Northampton at the AJ Bell Stadium. Northampton were the better team in the first 20 minutes, despite Faf de Klerks early penalty, and deservedly scored two tries via Cobus Reinach and Mike Haywood. The Saints failed to maintain that intensity, though, and Sale hit back via de Klerk and Ben Curry before Harry Mallinder equalised from the tee to set up an exciting finale. Will Cliff, left, was Sales hero (David Davies/PA) FT: @SaleSharksRugby 18-15 @SaintsRugby Saints huff and puff in the final minutes but Sale cling on for the win and gain ground on Newcastle Falcons.#SALvNOR #AvivaPrem pic.twitter.com/czRfIf6Ats Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) November 25, 2017 It was the Sharks who maintained their composure in the latter stages, though, Cliff kicking a three-pointer from in front of the posts to snatch the win. Rain and sleet from the kick-off made it difficult for free-flowing rugby, but Sale tried their best in the early exchanges when James OConnor almost broke through. Following the Australians half-break, the Saints were caught offside and de Klerk took the hosts into a 3-0 lead. However, it was a game that was always going to be decided by mistakes and OConnors inexperience in the 10 position was soon exposed. Northampton had already charged down two attempted clearance kicks by de Klerk when the South Africans half-back partner saw his effort blocked by Reinach. The visiting scrum-half duly picked up the bouncing ball and scampered in at the corner to move the Midlanders 5-3 ahead. Matters improved further for Jim Mallinders men eight minutes later as Haywood scored by the base of the post, increasing their buffer to nine points. Frustrated by their performance in the opening quarter, the Sharks increased the intensity and that led to yellow cards for Michael Paterson and Jamal Ford-Robinson. Although the Saints held out with Paterson off the field, the pressure eventually told and de Klerk touched down to reduce the arrears at the break. The hosts regained their advantage when good work from the backs sent Curry across the whitewash early in the second half. Mallinder did level matters from the tee going into the final quarter but ill-discipline continued to frustrate Northampton as another yellow card, this time for Ben Foden, allowed replacement Cliff to kick Sale back in front. Despite a late surge by the visitors, Steve Diamonds men managed to hold on to end their barren spell in the Premiership, moving them to within two points of the Saints in the table. What they said Sale coach Paul Deacon: We panicked a little bit with the weather conditions and I thought we went into our shells. We spoke about that and I thought we changed our mindset quite well, and it was pleasing to get through that tough period at the end. I can never doubt the players character, theyre in it together, theyre a close group of blokes and going two tries behind and coming back shows that. Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder: One of the yellows definitely was but Im not sure about the build-up to (Michael) Patersons. We will look at it, Im sure the referee will look at it and hopefully learn from his experience tonight. By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Somalia's government said on Wednesday it had requested a U.S. air strike that killed scores of suspected militants to help pave the way for an upcoming ground offensive against Islamist group al Shabaab. The U.S. military's Africa Command (Africom) said on Tuesday it had killed more than 100 of the al Qaeda-linked insurgents in the strike on a camp 125 miles (200 km) northwest of the capital Mogadishu. "Those militants were preparing explosives and attacks. Operations against al Shabaab have been stepped up," Somali Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman told Reuters. "We have asked the U.S. to help us from the air to make our readied ground offensive more successful." Al Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab denied the air strike had taken place. "It is just... propaganda," he told Reuters. The United States has ramped up operations in Somalia this year after President Donald Trump loosened the rules of engagement in March. Africom reported eight U.S. air strikes from May to August, compared to 13 for the whole of 2016. Including Tuesday's strike, it has reported five this month alone. The Pentagon said the U.S. military would continue to target militants in strikes in coordination with the Somali government. Al Shabaab has lost control of most of Somalia's cities and towns since African Union peacekeepers supporting Somali troops pushed the insurgency out of the capital Mogadishu in 2011. But it retains a strong presence in parts of the south and centre. Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a dual U.S.-Somali citizen, has taken a harder line than his predecessors against the insurgency since he was sworn in earlier this year. But his plans have been undermined by the poor state of the Somali military and political infighting. He has also had to try to mend fences with the powerful Habar Gidir clan, following a raid involving U.S. forces on the town of Bariire in August in which 10 people were killed including three children. (Additional reporting by Feisal Omar in Mogadishu; Writing by Maggie Fick; Editing by Katharine Houreld and John Stonestreet) By Stephen Kalin and Suleiman Al-Khalidi RIYADH/AMMAN, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Syria's main opposition group selected a new chief negotiator on Friday ahead of a new round of U.N.-backed peace negotiations with the Damascus government set to kick off next week. Nasr Hariri said the opposition was going to Geneva on Nov. 28 to hold direct talks and was ready to discuss "everything on the negotiating table". The announcement came at a summit in Riyadh where, a day before, the opposition stuck by its demand that President Bashar al-Assad play no role in an interim period, despite speculation that it could soften its stance because of Assad's battlefield strength. The opposition groups met to seek a unified position ahead of Geneva after two years of Russian military intervention that has helped Assad's government reverse major territorial losses incurred since the beginning of the war. Hariri replaces hardliner Riyad Hijab, who led the Higher Negotiations Committee at previous negotiations but abruptly quit this week, hinting that the HNC under him had faced pressures to make concessions that favoured Assad. U.N. peace talks mediator Staffan de Mistura, preparing for the next round of Geneva talks, met on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said Moscow was working with Riyadh to unify the Syrian opposition. For many years, Western and Arab countries backed the opposition demand that Assad leave office. But since Russia joined the war on behalf of Assad's government it has become increasingly clear that Assad's opponents have no path to victory on the battlefield. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a congress of the Syrian government and opposition to draw up a framework for the future structure of the Syrian state, adopt a new constitution and hold elections under U.N. supervision. But he has also said that any political settlement in Syria would be finalised within the Geneva peace talks process overseen by the United Nations. The opposition has long been suspicious of the parallel diplomatic track pushed by Russia, which before the proposed Sochi congress included talks in Kazakhstan, and has insisted that political dialogue should only take place in Geneva. Hariri said Sochi did not serve the political process and called on the international community, including Russia, "to concentrate all our efforts to serve the political process according to international resolutions in Geneva under UN auspices". Alaa Arafat, who represents the "Moscow Platform" political grouping, though, said he would attend Sochi and urged others to go too, reflecting lingering tensions within the diverse opposition. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir, who opened the summit on Wednesday pledging his country's support for unifying the opposition, praised the creation of "one negotiating team that represents everyone". Asked if there was any change in position towards Assad's future, he told reporters that Riyadh continued to support a settlement based on the U.N.-backed process at Geneva. "We support the positions of the Syrian opposition. We have from the beginning and we will continue to do so," he said. Syria's six-year-old civil war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee in the worst refugee crisis since World War Two. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Hugh Lawson and James Dalgleish) By Waqar Mustafa LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov 24 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Most of Tajammul Abbass 17 acres of farmland produces nothing but fodder for his buffalo and three goats. His land, and that around him in Punjab province, depends on rain to grow crops and rainfall has become much more uncertain as climate change takes hold, leading to lost harvests. But things are now looking more promising for him and for about 384,000 other people living in the Pind Dadan Khan-Khushab area, three hours drive from Lahore, Punjabs capital, after the government on Friday announced plans to build an irrigation system for the area. The effort is expected to convert 68,000 hectares of minimally productive farmland to full production, using water from the Jhelum River. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday approved a $275 million loan for the project, which is supported by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), a government agency that oversees water sharing between provinces. "Having a sufficient and effective irrigation system is fundamental in the development of Pakistans agriculture sector, a significant driver of the countrys economy," said Ryutaro Takaku, a water specialist at the banks Central and West Asia Department. The project "will help increase agricultural production and improve food security in Pakistan", he noted in a press release. Agriculture contributes 20 percent of Pakistans gross domestic product and employs 42 percent of the labour force, with Punjab province producing more than 80 percent of agricultural output, according to Pakistan Economic Survey data. Pakistans semi-arid climate means more than 90 percent of harvests depend on irrigation through the Indus Basin Irrigation System, which draws water from the Indus River. However, about 20 percent of the countrys cultivable area - including the project area, bounded by salt hills on the northwest and the Jhelum River in the southwest - is outside the system. MAKING ENDS MEET Abbas, who farms in the area, said a growing lack of water for crops has made surviving on the land increasingly difficult. "We are barely making ends meet. We have had only 2,800 kilograms of wheat from two acres of land. The rest of our land remained uncultivated. We have a small stock of animals, some of whom we sell whenever we can," Abbas told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview from Soduwall, his village. The 40-year-old said one of his brothers has joined the army and another has gone abroad for work, thanks to a lack of income from the farm. His wife, he said, has to walk two hours each day to fetch water in the arid area. Officials said the irrigation project will involve building a 117-kilometre canal to carry water diverted from the Jhelum River, 97 kilometres of secondary canals, and a range of other structures - some of which may require those now living on the land to relocate. The system aims to catch floodwater and monsoon runoff at heavy rainfall times of the year and channel it into the irrigation network. "There are about 128 structures that would need to be dismantled and land will have to be bought from people for the irrigation system. But there is no other option," said Muhammad Javed Iqbal Goraya, a water expert with South Asian Conservation Network, a non-governmental organization. In an area with poor rainfall, "irrigation (is) essential for crop production. The irrigation network will help the farmers in the area to adapt to climate changes and have more crops," he said. The area, if irrigated, could grow wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize, and other crops, said Goraya. The project will introduce advanced technologies such as laser land leveling and high-efficiency irrigation, according to the ADB press release. About 6,000 farmers also will have the opportunity to learn climate-smart agriculture practices and more profitable farm management, the release said. Goraya said that managing the new water resource and existing water with care will be key to ensuring the sustainability of agriculture in the area. The project envisions 485 water user associations being formed to have a say in planning, designing and constructing the new irrigation system. "Such associations and committees have been very helpful in some other areas of the country in managing watercourses and collecting water charges from users," Goraya said. For landholders such as Abbas the new irrigation system offers promising new opportunities. "Water through this system will be like gold," Abbas predicted. (Reporting by Waqar Mustafa; editing by Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate) The US president called on the international community to strengthen its efforts to defeat terrorism and extremism US President Donald Trump spoke with Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi by phone Friday, offering condolences to the Egyptian people after a deadly North Sinai mosque attack, the Egyptian presidency said. During the call Trump condemned the deadly attack where at least 235 worshippers were killed and 102 others injured attending Friday prayers at Al-Rawdah Mosque in Al-Radwa village, North Sinai. Trump added that the United States would continue to stand with Egypt against terrorism, calling on the international community to strengthen its efforts to defeat terrorism and extremism in all its forms. Following news of the attack Friday, President Trump condemned the attack on Twitter, announcing that he would call the president of Egypt to discuss the "tragic" incident. Egypt's security forces have been fighting an Islamist insurgency based in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula that gained pace since the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. The insurgency has mostly targeted security forces, with attacks on military and police checkpoints commonplace. Search Keywords: Short link: By Ian Ransom BRISBANE, Nov 25 (Reuters) - England's veteran pacemen blasted through Australia's middle order to reduce the hosts to 213 for seven at lunch on day three of the series-opening Ashes test on Saturday. A fired-up Stuart Broad captured two wickets, most importantly breaking a 99-run stand between captain Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh, and fellow seamer James Anderson chipped in with another. Smith, who rescued his team from a position of peril at 76 for four late on day two, remained unbowed on 81, with tail-ender Pat Cummins hanging on grimly at the other end with two runs to his name. The home side, who had resumed on 165 for four on a muggy, overcast morning at the Gabba, were still 89 runs adrift of England's first innings total of 302. Having shown impressive resolve after tea on day two to support his captain, Marsh lasted five overs in the morning before being dismissed softly for 51 by a slower delivery from Broad, which he spooned straight to Anderson at mid-off. Tim Paine, who replaced Matthew Wade in part due to his better form with the bat, managed 13 in a 42-ball knock before departing with a nick behind off Anderson with the fourth delivery of the new ball. Jonny Bairstow dived to his right to glove a sharp one-handed catch and remove his fellow keeper, leaving Australia wobbling at 202 for six. Tail-end slogger Mitchell Starc came to the crease and got off the mark with a six from the third ball he faced, smashing Broad over the long-off rope to leave the Englishman smiling wryly. Broad turned the tables on his fellow quick two balls later, however, inducing a leading edge from the Australian and taking the catch himself. (Editing by ......) BEIRUT, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Saturday that he would not accept Iran-backed Hezbollah's positions that "affect our Arab brothers or target the security and stability of their countries", a statement from his press office said. The statement did not specify which countries he meant. Hariri announced his resignation from his post on Nov. 4 in a televised statement from Saudi Arabia, a Sunni monarchy and regional powerhouse locked in a confrontation with Shi'ite Iran. Hezbollah is fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Gulf monarchies have accused the Shi'ite group of also supporting the Houthi group in Yemen and of backing militants in Bahrain. Hezbollah denies any activity in Yemen or Bahrain. Hariri's resignation pitched Lebanon to the forefront of a regional power tussle this month between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which backs Hezbollah. The two regional powers back competing factions in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. After returning to Lebanon this week, he shelved the decision on Wednesday at the request of President Michel Aoun, easing a crisis that had deepened tensions in the Middle East. Following his announcement, made on Lebanon's independence day, hundreds of Hariri supporters packed the streets near his house in central Beirut, waving the blue flag of his Future Movement political party. On Saturday, he said that his decision to wait instead of officially resigning is to give a chance to discuss and look into demands that will make Lebanon neutral and allow it to enforce its "disassociation" policy. "Disassociation" is widely understood in Lebanon to mean its policy of staying out of regional conflicts. The regional role played by the Hezbollah political and military movement has greatly alarmed Saudi Arabia, Hariri's long-time ally. On Saturday, Hezbollah's International Relations Officer Ammar Moussawi said that the Shi'ite group is ready to reach understandings with "our partners in the country", and that the group is open to real dialogue and cooperation with all, Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported. Moussawi added that Hariri's resignation, which he said was done under coercion from Riyadh, was a spark that aimed to ignite Lebanon. Top Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblatt on Saturday called on Saudi Arabia to enter dialogue with Iran and said that the kingdoms modernisation plans could not work while Riyadh was engaged in a war in Yemen. (Reporting by Sarah Dadouch; Editing by Alison Williams and Stephen Powell) Minister Marapana told Daily Mirror that China fully endorsed the various joint ventures Sri Lanka has launched with India, in particular those with strategic importance such as the Mattala Airport Development Project and the Trincomalee Oil Tank Project. Speaking to Daily Mirror on the outcome of his recent official visit to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) Minister Marapana said it was sad and indecent that certain political elements were trying to misinterpret Sri Lankas warm and friendly links with China and India. Their modus-operandi is to create a rift between Sri Lanka and two friendly countries by making unfounded and misleading allegations. I explained in detail to the Chinese side the extremely warm and close cultural, religious and trade contacts Sri Lanka has with both countries and the importance of improving this friendship for the mutual benefits of all, sentiments that China fully endorsed," Minister Marapana stressed. (Sandun A Jayasekera) The CMA Sri Lanka Toastmasters Club successfully conducted the fifth consecutive batch of speechcrafters sponsored by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA). Thirty two members, passed finalists and final year students attended the programme over a period of 10 weeks. This speechcrafter batch in particular showed great commitment and dedication with 11 participants achieving 100 percent attendance and the rest fulfilling the minimum requirement of 80 percent attendance to successfully receive the certificate of successful participation from Toastmaster International USA. In total, six speechcraft programmes have been conducted and 150 students have benefited by attending this programme. The first speechcraft programme was conducted by the Colombo Toastmasters Club, which initiated to form the CMA Toastmasters Club in 2015. Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala together with the Council Members of CMA has continued to display commitment to enrich and enhance the knowledge and soft skill development of its members, passed finalists and final year students, enabling them to develop their leadership skills and achieve career progression in the corporate world. The performance displayed by the fifth batch of speechcrafters showed tremendous progress and enthusiasm with speeches on Lifestyle and stress and an interesting speech on After departing from this world under Project 3 speeches. Four other excellent speeches at Project 2 level were delivered creating much interest and impression on the audience. The final award ceremony of the fifth batch was successfully concluded at the CMA Auditorium recently. The chief guest, Prof. Watawala, expressed his congratulations to the participants for their amazing performance. The certificates were presented by Prof. Watawala, CMA Sri Lanka Vice President Hennayake Bandara, CMA Sri Lanka CEO Kanishka Jayasinghe and CMA Consultants L.B. Wattegedara and Kosala Dissanayake. CMA Sri Lanka Toastmasters Club Vice President Education Anil Indika, IPP CMA SL TMC Achala Perera, Charter President CMA SL TMC Chandana Samaraweera and other club members were also present. The awards ceremony was conducted by Course Director Toast Master Dian Abeyewardene. The next batch of the speechcraft programme will commence in January 2018 for members, passed finalists and final year students of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants following the footsteps of the successful batches of participants. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said he had a successful round of discussions with Indian leaders on the development projects planned for Sri Lanka with the India's assistance and on the proposed Economic Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) during his visit to the subcontinent. Mr Wickremesinghe told journalists here before his departure back home that progress had been made on the proposed Economic Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) that is to be signed with India. " I had extensive talks with the Indian Prime Minister and our discussions concluded positively," he said. The Prime Minister said discussions were also held on the agreement signed between India and Sri Lanka in April this year in which both countries have decided to implement several development projects in Sri Lanka. " Our discussions focused on the delay in implementing some of these projects and certain clarifications on others. Japan will play a part in two of these development projects together with India," he added. " I met Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Indian Congress Party Leader Sonia Gandhi and each of these discussions generally focused on Indo-Lanka ties," he added. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to the island yesterday (24). He was accompanied by Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister's Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Additional Secretary Saman Attaudahetti, Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayake and the Prime Minister's special aide Sandra Perera. (Yohan Perera in New Delhi) It was reported that Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya PC had assured party leaders yesterday that he would move a motion next Monday (27) to take up the petition filed against the delimitation gazette on November 30. The party leaders meeting was convened yesterday at the speakers office presided by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and was attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Attorney General and the Elections Commission Chairman. The Prime Minister, party leaders, Attorney General and the Chairman of the elections commission had agreed that the local government elections should be held without delay. The party leaders are reported to have put forward two proposals - firstly to expedite the case filed in court and resolve the matter related to the case and secondly to pass a special law to rectify the error in the gazette while the case was ongoing. Another party leader had proposed to cancel the gazette notification. However the UNP had objected to the proposal. Meanwhile, the Elections Commission Chairman had said that elections should be held in 133 local government bodies which were not affected by the stay order. He has further said that the decision with regard to that would be taken at todays election commissions meeting. However, even though party leaders had put forward several proposals, they had not reached at a consensus. (Ajith Siriwardana) The Sri Lankan Government condemned the yesterdays terrorist attack on a Sinai Mosque in Egypt in which more than 200 people were killed. In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday that the Government condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on worshippers at a mosque in the Sinai region of Egypt. Attacking those at prayer is an act of inexplicable brutality. The Government and people of Sri Lanka offer deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wish those who are injured, a speedy recovery, it said. While expressing solidarity with the Government of Egypt at this time of national mourning, it said the Sri Lankan Government urges the international community to join hands to find effective ways and means to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Two government Ministers representing Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)- John Seneviratne and Susil Premajayantha had discussion with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday morning to seek the possibility of uniting the two factions. Minister Seneviartne confirmed that an information meeting took place at the residence of the former President. We discussed how this unity can be brought about, he said. Asked whether there was any positive response, he replied, It is not discouraging. He said the former President had assigned some of his people to work in this regard. (Kelum Bandara) After receiving condolences, President El-Sisi expressed appreciation for France's support, underlining the need for international efforts to combat terrorism French President Emmanuel Macron offered his condolences to the Egyptian people over the deadly North Sinai mosque attack in a phone call to Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi Friday evening, Egypt's MENA news agency announced. According to the state-owned agency, Macron expressed his country's full solidarity and support with Egypt in its fight against terrorism. For his part, President El-Sisi expressed appreciation for President Macron's support, underlining the importance of strengthening international efforts to fight terrorism. On Friday afternoon, at least 305 people were killed and 128 others injured in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Egypt at Al-Rawdah Mosque in Al-Rawdah village, North Sinai. Egyptian armed forces declared late Friday that air forces launched strikes in North Sinai, killing a number of terrorists behind the attack. No group has thus far claimed the responsibility for the mosque attack. Search Keywords: Short link: The attack is one of the deadliest in Egypt's recent memory At least 305 worshippers were killed and 128 were injured during Friday prayers at a North Sinai mosque by gunmen belonging to the terrorist group Daesh, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Egypts recent memory. The victims, who were praying at Al-Rawdah Mosque in Bir Al-Abd city, include 27 children killed in the attack, Egypt's prosecutor-general announced on Saturday. The prosecutor-general said that according to eyewitnesses, 25 to 30 gunmen in camouflage trousers and bearing the Daesh black flag rode up to the mosque in five SUVs and started shooting at worshippers. The gunmen, some of whom wore masks, attacked the mosque as the imam was starting the Friday sermon. No group has claimed the responsibility of the attack so far. Most of the terrorist attacks to take place in North Sinai in recent years mainly targeted security forces, and have been claimed by the Daesh-affiliated North Sinai-based group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis. In January 2017, the Daesh-affiliated online publication Rumiyah released an interview with an alleged leading figure in Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, who described Al-Rawdah village as a Sufi centre, adding that the group is fighting Sufism in North Sinai. In late 2016, Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for killing Sinai's oldest Sufi Sheikh Soliman El-Harez as well as the destruction of two Sufi shrines. Sufism, often described as Islamic mysticism, involves a spiritual form of worship where adherents attempt to become close with God through meditation and asceticism. Daesh considers Sufi Muslims to be heretics. Al-Rawdah Mosque was built by El-Jaririyah, one of Sinai's largest Sufi orders. Earlier today, Egypts army said that its air forces launched strikes in North Sinai, killing a number of terrorists involved in the Friday attack. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said on Saturday that an urgent plenary meeting will be held on Monday to discuss a draft law aimed at regulating nuclear businesses in Egypt. A press release said that the meeting will be held to debate amendments to the 2010 law regulating nuclear businesses in Egypt. Deputy speaker Mahmoud El-Sherif told reporters that although parliament's plenary meetings were scheduled to be held on 3 December, the urgent meeting will be held on Monday to discuss a number of issues related to Egypt's nuclear power projects. Parliament will also discuss the ramifications of the terrorist attack on Al-Rawda Mosque in North Sinai on Friday, which left 305 worshippers dead and 128 injured. "Article 277 of parliament's internal bylaws allows [the speaker] to hold such urgent meetings," said El-Sherif. Egypt's agreement with Russia to build four nuclear power stations at El-Dabaa, west of Alexandria, has seen a number of positive developments in recent days. Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker announced last week that the State Council has finally revised contracts on the four stations, and "it is now up to the political leaderships in Egypt and Russia to finally sign and ratify these contracts." Shaker said he expects that construction on the first nuclear power station at El-Dabaa will begin in December. Russian state-owned company Rosatom, which will be in charge of implementing the project, said at a press conference on 21 November that both Egypt and Russia will lay the foundation stone of the El-Dabaa project within two months. Rasheed Sadikov, Russia's consul in Alexandria, said that Russia has given Egypt a $25 billion loan to help build the El-Dabaa plants. On Saturday, parliament's energy and environment committee approved a legislative amendment exempting the El-Dabaa plants from taxes and custom tariffs. Talaat El-Sewedi, the head of the committee, told reporters that MPs approved an amendment to Article 7 of the 1976 law, which regulates the performance of the Egyptian Nuclear Power Authority (ENPA), to help facilitate the construction of El-Dabaa project. "El-Dabaa will be Egypt's first nuclear project and it is expected to boost the countrys power capacity by at least 20 percent," said El-Sewedi, adding that the project will also make Egypt a major exporter of power to neighbouring countries. Article 7, in its newly amended form, states that "all equipment, tools, cars, spare parts and materials to be imported by ENPA will be exempted from any custom duties, and all companies and institutions contracted by ENPA will be also granted the same exemptions." Article 7 also stipulates that ENPA's loans and credit facilities borrowed from foreign sources to build nuclear power projects in Egypt are to be completely exempted from all taxes, and that contractors and sub-contractors employed by ENPA to build its projects will be granted the same exemptions. Foreign contractors and sub-contractors employed by ENPA will also be exempted from any restrictions in terms of foreign workers and profit-share ceilings. Parliament's energy and environment committee is also currently debating a government-drafted law aimed at the creation of "the Executive Authority for the Administration of Nuclear Power Generation Projects." The authority, which will be affiliated with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and will be located in Cairo with possible branches inside or outside Egypt, will be responsible for the technical supervision of nuclear stations designed to generate electricity. "This will include supervising the performance of contractors employed to implement nuclear stations in Egypt, issue progress reports on nuclear projects, and release annual reports on the authority's finances to be revised by the minister of electricity and parliament's energy and environment committee," the draft law said. "The Executive Authority will also take charge of the experimental operation of nuclear projects and make sure that they are implemented on time and in coordination with other authorities involved in implementing nuclear power stations in Egypt. El-Sewedi said that parliament and the government are now moving by leaps and bounds to pave the way for the construction of the four nuclear power stations at El-Dabaa. "All the legislative amendments related to nuclear activities will help implementing the El-Dabaa project on time and without facing any legislative obstacles or financial impediments," said El-Sewedi. Search Keywords: Short link: The defendants were arrested in Hamam City in Matrouh governorate in 2015 and accused of planning and conducting terrorist attacks, among other crimes Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Saturday seven members of what is known in the media as the Libya terrorist cell to death on a number of terror-related charges. The courts final verdict came following referral last September to the countrys Grand Mufti for a consultative non-binding opinion, as per Egypts penal code. The court also ordered life sentences for 10 other defendants, and 15 years for three defendants in the case. The defendants are charged with joining a terrorist cell in Egypt's governorate of Marsa Matrouh affiliated with the Daesh militant group in Libya. The defendants are also charged with joining training camps of the terrorist group in Syria and Libya, and obtaining military training, as well as planning terrorist acts in Egypt. According to the court order, the defendants committed their alleged crimes between 2012 and 2016 in Matrouh, Cairo and Alexandria governorates. The defendants were also charged with participating in the beheading of 21 Egyptians in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte claimed by Daesh in February 2015. The defendants were arrested in Hamam City in Matrouh governorate in 2015 and accused of conducting attacks on a police station and vital establishments in the city. In November 2016, the case was referred to court, after the State Security Prosecution revealed the defendants were also involved in attacks on Christians in their governorate, as well as hiding and training seven German citizens who were planning to join Daesh in Libya. Search Keywords: Short link: JSPL says it has supplied 150,000 tonnes of rail to Iran since 2016, did not respond to a request for immediate comment. New Delhi: A clause in Indias global tender for steel rails, part of a $130 billion overhaul of its railways, could help Jindal Steel and Power Ltd win up to 20 per cent of the work, sources said. The worlds fourth-largest rail system is undergoing a five-year overhaul to replace ageing tracks, improve efficiency and end a spate of deadly train accidents, including one on Friday. State-run Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has struggled to supply the steel, however, and is expected to deliver 920,000 tonnes of it this financial year, just 65 per cent of its target. In response, the Ministry of Railways last month opened up a global tender for 717,000 tonnes of steel rail worth an estimated 30 billion rupees ($464 million) to private bidders for the first time. Global steelmakers such as ArcelorMittal and Thyssenkrupp could bid, as could Jindal Steel and Power, Indias only private producer of the steel. Indias steel ministry has objected to the tender, pointing out that preference should be given to local suppliers in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modis drive to boost manufacturing. Indian Railways officials have also expressed concern that JSPL lacks experience building rails, three people with knowledge of the conversations told Reuters this month. A senior Railways official said any decision for the tender would depend on competitive bidding, which opens next month. Developmental clause However, Indian Railways is considering using a clause in the October 18 tender that allows for a developmental or a trial order of up to 20 per cent of the steel to be awarded to a domestic manufacturer, four officials with direct knowledge of the proposal said. It can award that work even if the bidder does not have proven performance of supply of rails, according to the tender. JSPL, which says it has supplied 150,000 tonnes of rail to Iran since 2016, did not respond to a request for immediate comment. The railways ministry is likely to make a decision within two weeks and is keen to award work to JSPL in light of the governments policy on local producers, two officials with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. The ministry did not respond to a request for immediate comment. New Delhi: Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that Standard & Poor's (S&P) is a conservative agency and its decision to retain India's rating with stable outlook is a "huge endorsement" of the policies of the Modi government. "We are extremely happy that S&P has continued to affirm 'BBB-minus' with a long term sovereign rating with stable outlook," Goyal told reporters here. The rating agency is known worldwide to be a far more conservative when compared with Moody's or Fitch, he added. "The fact that they have continued to give stable rating but in the text have given so much praise for the policies of the government and for PM Modi's bold reform initiatives is a a huge endorsement for the work which this government has done," Goyal said. S&P on Friday kept its sovereign rating for India unchanged at 'BBB-minus' with 'stable' outlook saying vulnerabilities stemming from low per capita income and high government debt balance strong GDP growth. "S&P usually has a time lag and in that circumstance to get the kind of favourable comments that S&P has given in its report is an affirmation of the policies of the PM Modi's government being recognised worldwide," Goyal noted. The report has spoken at length that growth will continue to remain strong, they have recognised that the quarterly slowdown in the GDP growth is a temporary phenomena largely due the the implementation of GST which has been praised at length in the report, he added. "They (S&P) have also reflected confidence that India's external position will continue to remain strong and fiscal deficit will remain in line with the expectations," Goyal said. The report has also suggested that despite hurdles coming in the upper house, the Narendra Modi-led government has been very deft and successful in making transformational reform possible in India, he added. He said that policy initiatives like GST, the bankruptcy code, NPA resolution framework and bank recapitalisation among others were praised by the rating agency. "They have also praised India for having strong democratic institutions including the press and have said free press promotes policy stability and compromise," Goyal said. "So all in all it is a very satisfying report from S&P. I am quite delighted that they have reflected on the successes of the Modi government in state elections and have actually predicted following the series of successes in state election in 2017; they expect many more success in state elections in the months ahead," he added. Mumbai: The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has cleared Padmavati with no cuts, but has restricted its viewing to audiences above the age of 12 years, for its minor violence. The movie can also be released in the UK as per its old schedule of December 1. However, the producers Viacom 18 Motion Pictures wont release the movie anywhere abroad unless Padmavati has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), on the same day as its release in India. Former chairperson of CBFC, Pahlaj Nihalani, wonders how movies can be sent to the overseas boards, without clearance in India. This is against the law, he says. You cant send your film, or any other Indian goods for that matter, out of the country, without the clearance of the government. If a film isnt cleared by the CBFC, it cannot go abroad. However, for decades now, film producers have been following this practice of sending their film for certification to foreign countries, without obtaining clearance from the CFBC. Now, with films going digital, they dont even have to pass through immigration. I think the practice of allowing films to go out of the country without a certificate shouldnt be legalised. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Saturday that he will not accept Iran-backed Hezbollah's positions that "affect our Arab brothers or targets the security and stability of their countries", a statement from his press office said. Hariri announced his resignation from his post on Nov. 4 in a televised statement from Saudi Arabia. After returning to Lebanon this week, he shelved the decision on Wednesday at the request of President Michel Aoun. On Saturday, he said that his decision to wait instead of officially resigning is to give a chance to discuss and look into demands that will make Lebanon neutral and allow it to enforce its "disassociation" policy. "Disassociation" is widely understood in Lebanon to mean its policy of staying out of regional conflicts. Top Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblatt on Saturday called on Saudi Arabia to enter dialogue with Iran and said that the kingdoms modernisation plans could not work while Riyadh was engaged in a war in Yemen. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Priyanka celebrating Thanksgiving weekend with her friends and family. Mumbai: After celebrating Diwali in NYC, this week, Chopra has whisked off to LA for the Thanksgiving weekend with close friends and family. The desi girl was seen preparing a traditional Thanksgiving treat that included roasted turkey, gravy, greens, roast yams, pies and more with film producer, Mubina Rattonsey and many more delicacies. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada, the United States and some parts of the Caribbean islands. The tradition began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Over the years it became a day for the common gathering of friends and families who come together to express their gratitude towards the people and the year gone by and pray for an even better year ahead. The actress had earlier posted a picture when she was leaving from New York for LA to celebrate the Thanksgiving. You can see her pictures here: Officially Thanxgiving break!!! #LAbound #cantwait #party #family A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Nov 22, 2017 at 8:37am PST Lol! God bless this meal. @mubinarattonsey cant believe Im chopping! #thanksgiving A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Nov 23, 2017 at 2:03pm PST This is how we do it.. #thanksgiving #foodcoma A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Nov 23, 2017 at 11:29pm PST So Thankful for my family and friends. Happy thanksgiving to everyone celebrating . Im grateful for everyone who has stood in my corner through it all.. you are the family I choose... #foodcoma A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Nov 23, 2017 at 8:29pm PST Casual. @irfan525 #thanksgiving A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Nov 24, 2017 at 12:11am PST Simple pleasures Long weekend. #lalife #thanksgiving #homeiswhereyouparkit A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Nov 22, 2017 at 5:38pm PST Before heading to Los Angeles for the extended Thanksgiving weekend, Priyanka Chopra was filming Quantico in NYC. Priyanka plays lead character Alex Parrish on the show and she will be seen donning the new hairstyle in season 3. Priyanka has two new Hollywood projects in her kitty - 'A Kid Like Jake' and 'Isn't it Romantic?'. Mumbai: Shahid Kapoor's 2017 release 'Rangoon' was a colossal box-office disaster, and the actor had all his hopes pined on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's multi-starring period juggernaut 'Padmavati'. However, when the film got mired in controversy throughout the nation ultimately getting indefinitely postponed, the onus has now shifted to his next project. Shahid's next, his maiden collaboration with 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' director Shree Narayan Singh, has been in the news for a while now. With rumours of Shraddha Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha being in contention to be his leading lady gaining momentum, a leading publication ran a story citing Shahid Kapoor's apprehension with not wanting to star opposite Katrina Kaif as one of the reasons behind her not featuring in the film, despite being in contention. However, the award winning actor squashed all rumours with a single tweet. Director Shree Narayan Singh also rubbished the news. This is absolutely untrue I do not even understand where this is coming from why would Shahid be unhappy? Firstly Shahid does not interfere with the creatives and casting, secondly, We are yet to take a call on this. Myself and Prerna producer will take a joint call very soon. Regards to Katrina or any actor, it is the directors call and Shahid equally supports this. To sum it up Shahid has no reservations at all if Katrina is on board, in fact, he will be glad to have her on the film. Its better not to speculate things like this," Pinkvilla quoted the director as saying. Shahid, who'll star as Maharawal Ratan Singh in 'Padmavati,' will be seen alongside Deepika Padukone as the eponymous queen and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji. Watson, who is notoriously private about her personal life, has never spoken about her relationship with Knight publicly. Mumbai: Yet another celebrity couple has come to the end of the road. Emma Watson and her boyfriend of nearly two years, William "Mack" Knight, have called it quits, Us Magazine reported. A source told the outlet that the Ivy League-educated pair split "earlier this year," but kept the breakup under wraps. The 27-year-old actress and the 37-year-old tech entrepreneur were first spotted together back in October 2015, when they attended the Broadway musical 'Hamilton.' After shooting to fame as a child star playing Hermione Granger in the 'Harry Potter' franchise, Watson graduated from Brown University in May 2014. Knight received a Bachelor's in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton in 2003, as well as an MBA from Columbia Business School in 2011. Chennai: A Kannada film producer has approached the Madras high court to restrain Kotapadi J.Rajesh of KJR Studios, Gopi Nainar, director and actor Nayanthara from exhibiting the Tamil film Aramm all over India.The civil suit filed by M/S Vishnu Movie Makers, Mysore, represented by its authorised signatory H.G.Manoj Kumar, which also sought a direction to the trio to pay a compensation of Rs 2 crore, is likely to come up for hearing next week. In his suit, the plaintiff submitted that it had produced a Kannada film titled Parivara in 2013 and obtained censor certificate also in December, 2013. But the film could not be released due to financial problems. When it arranged a preview show to the distributors and friends at that time, Gopi Nainar also saw the film and appreciated the plaintiff. While so, the plaintiff was shocked to see the Tamil film Aramm, a replica of Parivara. Gopi Nainar had copied the Kannada version of his film without obtaining any rights or permission from the plaintiff. The film Aramm has been released in Karnataka also. Therefore, the plaintiff has filed the present suit, the plaintiff added. Rating: Cast: Sri Vishnu, Nivetha Pethuraj, Amrutha, Sivaji Raja, Raj Mudiraj Director: Vivek Athreya Like with Pelli Choopulu, which he handed over to debutant director Tharun Bhasker, producer Raj Kandukuri gives the baton to Vivek Athreya who justifies the confidence placed in him. Like with Pelli Choopulu, Mental Madhilo, which also revolves around marrage, was screened for a select audience in advance and has generated much buzz. The film introduces Nivetha Pethuraj, who turns out to be the highlight. She is stunning and gives a lively performance with the ease of an experienced actress. She is the big surprise from the film. Vivek Athreya takes the story of a young man who is befuddled with choices who suddenly finds himself in the marriage market and narrates it in a hilarious and entertaining manner. He establishes the lead actor Sri Vishnus character in an amusing manner from his childhood, and cleverly inserts a new girl in his life to much comical effect. Despite this, it must be said the first half is interesting and the film tends to drag in the second. The young director deserves a pat for this neat romantic entertainer. Most of the scenes and the dialogues are uncomplicated, and flow like a conversation between friends. Sri Vishnu, known to be reserved in real life, gets to play a similar character on screen and lives the role. He looks natural and Mental Madhilo must count among his best films. The story revolves around Aravind Krishna (Sri Vishnu), who is confused when he is given choices. This is a problem from his childhood, whether it is to select a shirt or to answer a multiple choice question. Besides, he is shy and avoids talking with girls. His father (Sivaji Raja) looks for a suitable alliance for Aravind who is rejected by many girls. An alliance is struck through a friend, and Swecha (Nivetha Pethuraj) likes him for his innocence. Both want to know each other better before the engagement. In the meantime, Aravind leaves for Mumbai on his office work where he meets the mischievous Renu (Amrutha). Vivek Athreya and the cast delightfully help the perplexed Aravind. Sivaji Raja is gets another meaty role, playing the father of Sri Vishnu. He brings his experience to make it entertaining. It is good to see him get lengthy and good roles. Amrutha looks good in the second half. Kireeti, Anitha and Raj Mudiraj support with good performances. Prashanth R. Vihari provides good music and the cinematography by Vedaraman is impressive. Mental Madhilo is a decent film with a simple narration. It cannot be described as great, but director Vivek Athreya does come up with something new and interesting. If you like Pelli Choopulu, you may like this too. Men with the most desirable personality profiles were rated more favourably than their counterparts only when they were also at least moderately attractive. (Photo: Pixabay) New York: Unattractive men are not viewed as potential dating material by women and their mothers even when they possess the most desirable traits, a study claims. Researchers at the Eastern Connecticut State University in the US assessed the mate preference of 80 women between the ages of 15 and 29 years old, and 61 mothers. The women were presented with colour photographs of three male targets varying in attractiveness. Each photograph was paired with one of three trait profiles. The "respectful" profile included the traits "trustworthy and honest", and the "friendly" profile included being "friendly, dependable and mature". The "pleasing" profile meant that the man was "of a pleasing disposition, ambitious, and intelligent," according to the study published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science. The women had to rate the photographs and trait descriptions in response to how attractive they found the man, how favourably they rated his personal description, and whether they would consider the person as a dating partner for themselves or their daughters. Physical attractiveness strongly influenced how women and their mothers saw the target men. The attractive and moderately attractive ones came up trumps. Men with the most desirable personality profiles were rated more favourably than their counterparts only when they were also at least moderately attractive. Even when unattractive men possessed the most desirable traits, the mothers and daughters did not view them as potential dating material. "We conclude that a minimum level of physical attractiveness is a necessity for both women and their mothers," said Madeleine Fugere, from the Eastern Connecticut State University. It was also found that daughters are pickier than their parents when it comes to choosing between potential mates. Mothers rated all men, even the least attractive ones, as potentially desirable partners for their daughters, while the younger women did not. "This may signal that unattractiveness is less acceptable to women than to their mothers," she said. "It might also mean that women and their mothers may have different notions of what constitutes a minimally acceptable level of physical attractiveness, with mothers employing a less stringent standard than their daughters," she added. The Nonhuman Rights Project announced Monday it has filed a lawsuit in Connecticut Superior Court on behalf of elephants named Beulah, Karen and Minnie. (Photo: Pixabay) An animal rights organization has asked a court to legally recognize the personhood rights of three elephants at a Connecticut zoo and order them released. The Nonhuman Rights Project announced Monday it has filed a lawsuit in Connecticut Superior Court on behalf of elephants named Beulah, Karen and Minnie at Commerford Zoo, a traveling petting zoo based in Goshen. The nonprofit wants the court to release the elephants to a natural habitat sanctuary. It has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which for people relates to whether someone is being unlawfully detained and should see a judge. #RumbleForRights Online Activist Toolkit: Help raise awareness of the world's first elephant rights lawsuit https://t.co/0FN2XZgKnk pic.twitter.com/gMDFCJ45PD Nonhuman Rights (@NonhumanRights) November 13, 2017 The organization argued unsuccessfully this year for two adult male chimps to be considered legal people. Commerford Zoo hasnt responded to a request for comment on the lawsuit. The bears had come to feast on the carcass of a bowhead whale that washed ashore, later resting around the food source. (Photo: AFP) A boatload of tourists in the far eastern Russian Arctic thought they were seeing clumps of ice on the shore, before the jaw-dropping realisation that some 200 polar bears were roaming on the mountain slope. "It was a completely unique situation," said Alexander Gruzdev, director of the Wrangel Island nature reserve where the encounter in September happened. "We were all gobsmacked, to be honest." The bears had come to feast on the carcass of a bowhead whale that washed ashore, later resting around the food source. The crowd included many families, including two mothers trailed by a rare four cubs each, Gruzdev told AFP. Climate change means ice, where polar bears are most at home, is melting earlier in the year and so polar bears have to spend longer on land, scientists say. This might wow tourists but means the bears, more crammed together on coasts and islands, will eventually face greater competition for the little food there is on land. Locals are also at risk from hungry animals venturing into villages. Wrangel Island, off the coast of Russia's Chukotka in the northeast, is where polar bears rest after ice melts in early-August until November, when they can leave land to hunt for seals. It is also considered the birthing centre for the species, with the highest density of maternity dens in the entire Arctic, Gruzdev said. "A whale is a real gift for them," he said. "An adult whale is several tens of tonnes" that many bears can feed on for several months. Studies have shown that, compared with 20 years ago, polar bears now spend on average a month longer on Wrangel Island because "ice is melting earlier and the ice-free period is longer," said Eric Regehr, from the University of Washington, the lead American scientist on the US-Russian collaborative study of Wrangel Island polar bears. Changing ice conditions could also be responsible for the increasing number of bears flocking there, Regehr said. This autumn, the number of bears observed was 589, far exceeding previous estimates of 200-300, he said, calling it "anomalously high". The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates there are about 26,000 polar bears in the Arctic, with a long-term "potential for large reductions" due to ice loss. Ice is key as polar bears hunt exclusively on the ice surface, often staking out seals by their breathing holes. - Nothing can replace seals - Regehr said the polar bear population in the shared US-Russian Chukchi Sea "appears to be productive and healthy" at the moment, but as time spent on land continues to increase, the bears' nutrition and body condition will be affected. "The question is at what point the population will begin to experience negative effects, is that at one and a half months (more time on land than normal), two months, more?" he asked. "We don't know exactly, but there is a threshold somewhere in the future." Despite some food sources on land -- including musk oxen, lemmings, or even grass -- nothing can completely replace the energy-packed seals that bears have evolved to rely on. "They are resourceful and adaptable animals, and some bears will probably find something to eat, but the number of bears we currently have in the Arctic definitely cannot be sustained on land," Regehr said. That made the image of hundreds of bears around the whale carcass both impressive and concerning, he said. "There is evidence that it foreshadows the future: larger numbers spending more time on the island and ultimately less time on the sea ice with fewer prey, with a negative cascade of effects." - Moving walruses - One effect is the increasing chance of conflict between polar bears and humans, for example in native Chukchi settlements, all of which are located on the coast. Since mid-October, polar bears have been coming dangerously close to a Chukotka village called Ryrkaipy, which is located near Kozhevnikov Cape, an important site for walrus gatherings, or haulouts, that lies about 200 kilometres (about 124 miles) south of Wrangel Island. With changing ice conditions, walruses can be forced to come ashore in steep unsuitable areas. This year, hundreds died as the huge animals crushed one another, possibly after being disturbed by a predator, said Viktor Nikiforov, a polar bear specialist and coordinator of Marine Mammals expert centre. The problem is that some walrus corpses then floated to the village, attracting polar bears. "One bear broke the window of a house," Nikiforov said. The village went on high alert, forbade children to walk to school and cancelled some public events, reports said. Nikiforov said scientists and locals used bulldozers to move walrus corpses away from the village. He echoed concerns that bears spend more time ashore as the ice-free period becomes longer. "The concentration of people and animals in one area increases and there is conflict," he said. "We cannot stop climate change, but we can sort out the situation on the shore and make life easier for the bears," he said, referring to measures such as bear patrols to minimise conflict with humans. "With changes in nature, that has to be attended to." Chennai: Four girls, all aged 16, committed suicide by jumping into an 80-ft farm well at Ramapuram near Arakkonam in Vellore district on Friday. Students of the government girls' higher secondary school at Panapakkam, were allegedly upset after their teachers scolded them for scoring poor marks in the tests. While the bodies of three girls were retrieved from the well after much effort by the state fire and rescue services and the national disaster response force (NDRF), the fourth girl remains missing, police said. They said preliminary investigation revealed that the girls, all classmates and close friends, took the extreme step after their class teacher asked them to bring their parents to discuss their poor performance in the tests. Police said the girls gave the afternoon session a miss, leaving their school bags in the class. After word spread about the missing girls, a local spotted their cycles near the well in the farm belonging to one Venkatesan, a few kilometres from the school. The police was alerted and a team rushed there. As the well was very deep, it was difficult to reach the bodies and after much difficulty, three were lifted up by ropes. The bodies were removed to the government hospital for autopsy while search continued late into night for the fourth missing girl. Vellore superintendent of police P. Pakalavan and other senior police officers along with revenue personnel oversaw the rescue operations. Police sources said that rescue operations would continue late into the night. A case has been registered and the school HM and teachers were quizzed till late night by the police. Hyderabad: Gullipally Appala, a 65-year-old army veteran was arrested by Keesara police on charges of cheating. Mr Naidu, a resident of Old Nagaram village, had married a woman around six years ago. The marriage happened at a temple in Secunderabad in the presence of the womans father. He told the woman that he had divorced his first wife legally and had been single since then. However, he had registered his first wife as a nominee and her daughter as legal heir for the pension he was receiving. All the rights on the mans properties were with his first wife. Police said that he intentionally made sure that there was no evidence or record for his second marriage. The accused was sent to remand on Friday. More than 30 migrants died and 200 were rescued on Saturday after their boats foundered off Libya's western coast, the Libyan navy said. The coastguard conducted two rescue operations off the city of Garabulli, 60 kilometres (40 miles) east of Tripoli, spokesman Colonel Abu Ajila Abdelbarri said. He added that patrols had found 31 bodies and 60 survivors from one boat, along with a further 140 survivors from a second. "When we arrived at the spot, we found an inflatable dinghy with several people clinging to part of it," he said. He did not specify whether any people had been reported missing. "The weather conditions these days are favourable for sending migrants to European shores on boats that are often unseaworthy," he added. Libyan patrol boat commander Nasser al-Ghammoudi said one of the vessels was three-quarters under water when the coastguard arrived. "We looked for other survivors for more than five hours," he said. "We were able to rescue one woman after we heard her shouts." A French NGO, SOS Mediterranee, said later Saturday that it had rescued over 400 people from a stricken wooden boat in international waters further from the Libyan coast. Other rescue operations were ongoing on Saturday evening, Italian coastguard told AFP. Italy's coastguard, which coordinates the rescue effort in international waters, reported that a total of 1,500 people had been saved on Thursday and Friday. The large numbers of recent days contrast with the sharp drop since mid-July in the number of migrants being brought to Italy. On Thursday, the UNHCR put the number of arrivals at Italian ports in the previous three months at 21,666, the lowest total registered in four years for that period of the year. The downward trend has been attributed to a controversial combination of an Italian-led boosting of the Libyan coastguard's ability to intercept boats and efforts to enlist the help of powerful militias to curb traffickers' activity. There have also been moves to tighten Libya's southern borders, accelerate repatriations directly from Libya and measures to stem the flow of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa through transit states such as Niger and Sudan. Those rescued by Libyan coastguard on Saturday were brought back to a naval base in Tripoli where the authorities provided them with water, food and medical care. Migrants intercepted or rescued by the Libyans are usually held in detention centres to await repatriation, but waiting times are often long and conditions deplorable. UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein in mid-November labelled as "inhuman" European Union support for Libyan authorities to intercept migrants in the Mediterranean and return them to "horrific" prisons in Libya. Last week, US television network CNN aired footage of an apparent slave auction in Libya where black men were presented to North African buyers as potential farmhands and sold off for as little as $400 (350 euros). Libya's UN-backed unity government said it would form a "commission to investigate these reports in order to apprehend and bring those responsible to justice". People trafficking networks have flourished in the chaos that followed a NATO-backed uprising which toppled long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The unity government has said Libya is "a victim of illegal immigration, a transit state, not its source", adding that the only solution is a return to stability. Search Keywords: Short link: Vijayawada: Jaguar Land Rover India has opened 3S dealership facility with their authorised retailer Lakshmi in Vijayawada, thereby expanding its network in India. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has inaugurated the showroom at Atmakuru, Mangalagiri. He has seen the models introduced by Jaquar and the company officials have explained him the features of those vehicles. Lakshmi has developed a state-of-the-art multi-level 3S facility which was inaugurated by Rohit Suri, president & managing director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL) and Jairam Kambhampati, managing director, Lakshmi. This dealership facility is designed and equipped to provide the highest quality of sales and after-sales services. The facility can display 10 cars enabling the display of almost the full range of products from Jaguar and Land Rover portfolio. The facility has an integrated service workshop and is equipped with 20 service bays with state-of-the-art equipment manned by a team of highly-trained staff, including technicians and other service personnel. Mr. Rohit Suri said: We are delighted to introduce our new dealership facility in Vijayawada and are committed to easy accessibility for our customers to Jaguar and Land Rover products. The opening of this ultra-modern, integrated, one-stop facility offering our esteemed customers, sales, service & spare parts from the same location is in line with that objective. Mr. Kambhampati Rammohanrao, TD leaderl has attended the programme on behalf of Lakshmi company. Eminent businesspersons of Vijayawada, Guntur attended the programme. JuD head and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. (Photo: File | AFP) Washington: Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed has "blood on his hands", and wants to bring extremism into the mainstream politics of Pakistan, a former top American spymaster said on Saturday. The JuD head and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder, who has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan on Friday. "Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with the LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaida on attacks," Michael Morell, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deputy director, who has also served twice as its acting director, said in a tweet. "He has blood on his hands. Now wants to bring extremism into the political mainstream in Pakistan," he said after Saeed, a UN and US designated terrorist, was released from house arrest in Lahore. Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaida on attacks. He has blood on his hands. Now wants to bring extremism into the political mainstream in Pakistan. https://t.co/0RhjyQ3NkW Michael Morell (@MichaelJMorell) November 24, 2017 Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. Read Also: After releasing Hafiz Saeed Pak now justifies setting 'global terrorist' free A deeply concerned US has asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. It also asked Pakistan to ensure that the LeT leader is behind bars. "NO! JuD is NOT tied to Islamic State. What a rookie... Seriously. Hafiz Saeed's Release Completes the Political Mainstreaming of Jihadists in Pakistan," tweeted Christine Fair, a well-known South Asian expert on terrorist groups. NBC news said Saeed's release could once again sour US relations with Pakistan. The New York Times said, for decades, Pakistan has cast a benign eye on groups like LeT which is perceived as an asset because its attacks target Indian soldiers in Kashmir even as the government battles jihadist groups like the Pakistan Taliban that directly threatens the country. "But despite its pressure on Pakistan to move against militants like Saeed, the United States has also sent mixed messages. Just a month ago, the United States Senate struck down a provision tying American government funding to Pakistan to the country's efforts to curb Lashkar-e-Taiba's operations. The provision, part of a broader Pentagon-funding legislation that Congress introduced this past summer, would have forced the secretary of defence to certify that Islamabad was thwarting Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities inside Pakistan or risk USD 350 million in American assistance," the Times wrote. Meanwhile, in an op-ed, The Washington Examiner said the Trump administration "should work with India" to "capture or kill" Saeed. "Trump should call Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and offer to work with him to capture or kill Saeed," the daily said, adding that Saeed intends to lead a new Muslim theocratic political bloc in next year's parliamentary polls. "Although Pakistan's electoral commission has refused to certify the bloc, Saeed's populist power should not be understated. Charismatic and determined, if left unchecked in his political party or terrorist activities, Saeed could destabilise the region," the daily added. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the banned LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attack. The faeces are treated, and converted to compost, and used to return the nutrients from human waste to the soil. Hyderabad: Dr Sasha Kramer, a delegate of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), says that it is good for sanitation to be considered within the realm of entrepreneurship. Dr Kramer co-founded the Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) group in Haiti in 2006. She says that the organisation sees human waste as a valuable resource. SOIL builds toilets that separate urine and faeces through the use of specially-designed toilet seats. The faeces are treated, and converted to compost, and used to return the nutrients from human waste to the soil. It is very difficult to explain something like toilets to people. We need to talk about the circular economic system, and the various aspects related to it. Sanitation brings together health and the environment. 1,500 entrepreneurs like Dr Kramar will participate in the GES. These types of summits help people meet sanitation practitioners who understand that basic sanitation is a human right, she says. At the summit, she hopes to connect with like-minded people. It is inspiring to see people from around the world. I am excited about this opportunity, she says. Dr Kramer, who has visited India several times in the past, says that she is impressed by the Swacch Bharat campaign. She says that she hopes the Government of Haiti will prioritise sanitation in a similar manner. Her advice to female entrepreneurs is, Dont let anyone tell you what you cannot do. SC on October 30 had directed Hadiyas father to produce her before the court on next date of hearing (November 27). (Photo: File) Kochi: Supreme Court will hear the Kerala love Jihad case on Monday. Hadiya who has been asked to be present before the apex court during the hearing said, I am a Muslim. I want to go with my husband. Nobody forced me to convert. Hadiya on Saturday left Kochi in Kerala for New Delhi for the hearing of the case on November 27. SC on October 30 had directed Hadiyas father to produce her before the court on next date of hearing (November 27). Earlier on Saturday, Hadiya's husband Shafin Jahan filed a complaint stating that attempts were being made to reconvert her to Hinduism ahead of her being produced in the apex court on Monday. The Supreme Court had on Wednesday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea filed by the father of the woman, who converted to Islam before marrying Shafin, that interaction with the woman be conducted in-camera. The counsel for Ashokan KM, Hadiya's father, sought an urgent hearing on his plea saying that it would become infructuous if the earlier order mandating open court interaction is not modified. Ashokan referred to the communally sensitive nature of the case and sought in-camera interaction on some grounds including that radical elements could jeopardise the safety and privacy of his daughter and the family. The apex court had earlier observed that the free consent of a major to marriage has to be ascertained amid an assertion by National Investigation Agency (NIA) that an indoctrinated person may be incapable of giving free consent to marriage. The NIA had claimed that this was a case in which the woman was indoctrinated and hence the court could invoke parental authority even if she was a major. The woman, a Hindu, had converted to Islam and later married Jahan. It was alleged that the woman was recruited by Islamic State's mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge. Prof A R Yusuf, who heads a group the conservation of Srinagars Dal Lake, said the cyber environment has witnessed gradual degradation due to the proliferation of technology in this cyber age. (Photo: Representational/File) Srinagar: India registered over 100 per cent increase in cyber crime during 2016-17, a two-day conference on cyber laws and cyber security being held in Srinagar was told on Saturday As per the statistics made available to the participants of the conference, there has been a significant rise in attacks on government and private sector, particularly financial sector. In government sector, there has been 136 percent increase in cyber crimes while the private sector has seen 119 percent in 2016-17, said Prof Yasir Latif Handoo, assistant professor, Kashmir Law College. He added that there is need for International Court on cyber Crime on the lines of International Court of Justice to deal with such crimes. The conference has been organized by Anjuman-e-Vukla ( organization of lawyers) and is being attended by several prominent lawyers from across the country, academia, students from different colleges and universities, as well as officials of the J&K government. V Shekhar, senior advocate, Supreme Court of India, who was the chief guest, said the information technology has witnessed innovations in hardware and software components but there is a need for aggressive legal recourse to happenings in cyber world. After IT Act 2000 was enacted, many amendments have been brought in to cope with growing challenges in terms of privacy and theft in cyber world but we are far behind, he said asserting Our country also has to find solutions to mounting problems in cyber world. Prof A R Yusuf, who heads a group the conservation of Srinagars Dal Lake, said the cyber environment has witnessed gradual degradation due to the proliferation of technology in this cyber age. Our world has passed into a new era where youngsters using new technology are vulnerable to cyber crime. On social media, people fall prey to rumours and become carriers of misinformation because of which they have to face consequences, he said. He urged Anjuman-e-Vukla, Kashmir to organise such seminars in schools and colleges in rural areas and make people aware about the cyber laws and cyber security. A well-known Kashmiri lawyer Ateef Kanth said the cyber laws in India are nascent and a lot of education and research are required to formulate effective legislation on cyber crimes, The scale of cyber crimes in India is negligent, mostly dealing with privacy issues, while huge cyber scams have been reported globally. Keeping this in mind, we have to be proactive in evolving an effective, since most of offences defined in IT Act 2000 are bailable, he said. Tahir Majid Shamsi, additional solicitor general of India, J&K High Court, said that the scale of information available online makes the internet users vulnerable to privacy intrusion. Securing data is a big issue. In todays world, most people dont know importance of cyber laws, which are meant to protect your information. There is need to educate people on cyber laws, he said. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan released 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest. (Photo: File | PTI) New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan released 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest, saying that the former's 'Hugplomacy' with US President Donald Trump failed. Rahul Gandhi took to his Twitter handle and said "more hugs were urgently needed" between Modi and Trump. Narendrabhai, . Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed.https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 25, 2017 On November 24, Saeed was released from house arrest in Lahore. Police guards were removed from his residence where a large number of supporters gathered to celebrate the end of his house arrest. In his first address after being released, Saeed blamed India and the US for detention and raked up Kashmir. Saeed is said to be the head of the US-designated terror outfit, LeT and had been under house arrest since January 31, 2017. The decision to put Saeed under house arrest in January was seen as a response to actions by US President Donald Trump's White House against nations deemed linked to terrorism. He has been declared a global terrorist by the United Nations and the US for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attack which claimed the lives of 166 people and maimed over 300 others. He has a USD 10 million bounty on his head. The decision to suspend mobile internet has been taken by the state government in view of maintaining law and order ahead of the two public rallies. (Representational Image) Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Friday suspended mobile internet services in 13 districts of the state till the midnight of November 26. This decision has been taken by the state government in view of maintaining law and order ahead of the two public rallies. An official statement issued by the Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) S S Prasad reads, "Internet services provided on mobile networks except voice calls shall remain suspended for the next three days until midnight of November 26 beginning today (November 24) in the territorial jurisdiction of districts of Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri." "This order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of the State district as mentioned and shall be in force for the next three days," the order adds. The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), led by Yashpal Malik, announced a rally at Jassia village of Rohtak district on Sunday. On the same day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Raj Kumar Saini will address another rally at Jind. A group of Jats opposing Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini's rally at Jind reportedly clashed with the police and blocked the Jind-Chandigarh national highway in Jind. Lawyer Tanveer Ahmed Mir (Centre) on Friday confirmed that he will be defending the 16-year-old student accused in the murder of Pradyuman Thankur in Gurgaon's Ryan International School. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: Lawyer Tanveer Ahmed Mir on Friday confirmed that he will be defending the 16-year-old student accused in the murder of Pradyuman Thankur in Gurgaon's Ryan International School, according to a report in Hindustan Times. Ahmed Mir has successfully defended Rajesh and Nupur Talwar accused in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, after which they were acquitted by the Allahabad High Court on October 12. Seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur was found dead with his throat slit inside the toilet of Ryan International School on September 8. In a sensational twist to the case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a class 11 student of the same school and gave a clean chit to the bus conductor, Ashok Kumar, who was arrested by the Gurgaon police for the murder and sexual assault of the child. According to the agency, the Class 11 student, believed to be weak in his studies, allegedly slit Pradyuman's throat to get the school to declare a holiday in order to defer a scheduled parent-teacher meeting (PTM) and an examination. The CBI is also investigating the involvement of a second student in the case. The Pradyuman murder this september has drawn certain similarities with the 2008 Aarushi murder case because of its twists and turns. Investigation in Pradyuman murder case has revealed illegality and destruction of evidence by Gurgaon police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources said on Sunday. A shoddy investigation and lapses by the CBI and the UP Police not only delayed investigations but also generated considerable controversy. The police also did not bother to search the terrace of the house even though bloodstains were clearly visible on the staircase, and announced its honour killing theory even before the investigations were over. UP Police accused Rajesh of killing his daughter in a fit of rage. Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the Muthupettai town panchayat, Thiruvarur district, to demolish the construction, designed to offer namaz (prayer) and run a Madrasa, in violation of the planning permission and if no action is taken, initiate disciplinary action against those responsible for not taking steps to demolish the building and any major punishment should be imposed on them, which should be reflected in their service records as a black mark. Justice S. Vaidyanathan, who gave the directive, also said if no action is taken against those persons responsible for demolishing the construction, the person, who is liable to take disciplinary action should be dismissed from service. The judge dismissed a petition from P. Abdul Azeez and K. Sathick Basha, President and Treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Thavheed Jamath Muthupettai Branch respectively, which sought to quash an order of the Muthupettai town panchayat, which cancelled the sanction for construction. According to petitioner, after obtaining necessary approval for constructing a superstructure on their land measuring 2,400 sq.ft, they had completed the basement work and when they were erecting the ground floor, a stop-work notice was issued and later cancelled the sanction. The panchayat submitted that the petitioners submitted an application to construct ground and first floor on the land. Following complaints, the executive officer of the panchayat visited the place and found that the construction was designed to offer namaz and run a Madrasa and hence the present order was passed. The judge said it has been categorically stated in the stop-work notice that the planning permission was obtained for the construction of a residential house and not for any jamath/prayer hall/madrasa. When there was a specific plan accorded for construction of a residential house, the petitioners cannot deviate and hence the panchayat was right in issuing the stop-work notice and thereafter passing the impugned order of cancellation of planning approval. Proceeding with construction and claiming investment of huge amount on the same cannot be a ground to permit the construction of superstructure to stand there, the judge added. Hyderabad: Twelve sensitive locations have been identified along the route that will be taken by delegates to the GES along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) starting from RGI airport to Kothaguda in Gachibowli where the ORR ends. The Cyberabad police, who have jurisdiction along this stretch, will deploy around 30 vehicles for round-the-clock patrolling till the summit concludes. The 30- km stretch will be guarded by armed men and commandos from Octopus, the outfit engaged in anti-terror operations. Most of the 1,500 delegates participating in the summit will land at the RGI airport and travel to the hotels allotted to them and to the venue, the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). From the airport, all the delegates will take the ORR, including Ivanka Trump, advisor to the US President, who is expected to stay at the Westin Hotel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will leave Hyderabad after the dinner at Falaknuma Place on the first day, may also take the Outer Ring Road to reach the airport. To ensure that the entire stretch is secured for the movement of VVIPs and delegates from all over the world, foolproof security has been set up on the ORR. A vehicle, with at least three men, will be deployed along every kilometre on both sides of the stretch, a senior official said. The men will see that the vehicles carrying the delegates will have a smooth ride and act if the vehicles meet with an accident or break down midway, and coordinate with the control centre. Tourism department vehicles have also been kept on standby, the official added. Hyderabad: Ahead of the Ivanka Trumps visit to Hyderabad, the citizens have aggressively taken to social media platforms requesting her to visit their localities so that at least then, the GHMC will clean up the places on a war-footing. One such message is a purported WhatsApp conversation between a Manikonda resident and Ms Trump, where the resident requests her to visit Manikonda so that new roads will be laid before her visit. When she replies that she will inform the Prime Minister, the resident says the Centre would then impose road service tax. Touche. Netizens have taken to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to extend an invitation to the visiting dignitaries to tour their localities. Tarusha Saxena, a PR professional posted, Ms Ivanka Trump, we the citizens of Masab Tank, Banjara Hills and Punjagutta collectively cordially invite you to grace Banjara Hills Road No. 1 and Pun-jagutta with your convoy during your Hyderabad visit. This will ensure smooth and traffic-less roads for us for next 3-4 months in these areas. Another Facebook user, Sandesh Johny, posted, Ivanka Trump is coming to Hyderabad and all the routes she will be taking are being repaired. I hope she comes to Hafeezpet... Bahut hi kharab road hain. Citizens also expressed their happiness over the sudden appearance of new footpaths. In a personal mail to GHMC commissioner, an anonymous resident wrote, Impressive, the way footpaths are being developed all over Western Hyderabad. It has already given a clean look to the roads. However, citizens are apprehensive about how they are going to be maintained. I foresee th-em being occupied by the food trucks that will soon damage the footpath. Please dont allow this to happen, GHMC must issue a stern warning and stringent action should be taken on those who destroy the footpaths. Hyderabad: Indias defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Telangana minister for IT K.T. Rama Rao will share the stage with Ivanka Trump, the daughter of the US President, and a presidential advisor, at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit-2017 (GES) in Hyderabad next week. Ms Trump will reportedly be participating in two sessions on November 29 following the inaugural ceremony on November 28. She will speak in the Plenary Session of the summit whose theme is Women First, Prosperity for All. In this session, chairman of the board of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) John Chambers and chairman of the Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Marcus Wallenberg, will be participating along with Ms Sitharaman and Ms Trump. In the subsequent session on women at the workplace, the panellists will be Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation and wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and CEO of ICICI Bank Ltd, Chanda Kochhar along with Mr KTR and Ms Trump. The inaugural ceremony will feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi, TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Ivanka Trump. Ms Trump will be leaving for the US soon after the session. Ms Blair too will grace the summit for a short time. The VVIPS will leave the summit on the second day by noon. Dar was on a vacation and had gone missing on Tuesday. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Srinagar: An off-duty Army jawan was killed by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Shopian district overnight, the police said on Saturday. We have taken up investigations. It appears to be a case of kidnapping and murder and we suspect terrorists are involved, he said. No militant outfit active in J&K has, so far, claimed responsibility for killing Dar. The deceaseds family told the police that Dar had come home on vacation. They said that he had left home in his car on Friday evening and did not return. His vehicle was found one kilometre from the place where his body was found on Saturday morning, the police said. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was touring neighbouring Kulgam district as part of her public outreach, condemned Dars murder. She tweeted, Strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed, a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian. Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace and normalcy in the Valley. Her predecessor and Opposition National Conference working president, Omar Abdullah, also took to the micro-blogging site to condemn the killing. He wrote, The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family. Kochi/Kottayam: Hadiya aka Akhila, who is allegedly a victim of Love Jihad, said on Saturday that she had embraced Islam on her own free will and wanted to go with her husband Shefin Jahan. She also said she needed justice and that there was no compulsion from anyone in her changing the religion. Hadiya, who will appear in the Supreme Court on Monday as directed by a bench headed by the chief justice, expressed her stand to mediapersons at the Nedumbassery airport before she was taken to New Delhi by a flight in the afternoon. It was for the first time that she appeared in public after the Kerala High Court, in May this year, had annulled her marriage to Shefin Jahan and given her custody to her father K.M. Asokan of TV Puram, Vaikom, Kottayam district. Hadiya was taken to the airport amidst tight security by the police who tried to prevent her from speaking to the media. However, she managed to say a few words to the reporters before she was whisked away to the airport building. Chaotic scenes prevailed at the airport as mediapersons jostled to get close to Hadiya to get a response from her. She later took a flight to Delhi accompanied by her father, mother Ponnamma and a team of police personnel headed by Kaduthurthy circle inspector John-son, another woman circle inspector, two women civil police officers and a male civil police officer. Hadiya and others are expected to stay in Kerala House in Delhi. The Kerala High Court had annulled Hadiyas marriage after her father approached the court expressing fears that his daughter will be taken abroad for alleged terrorist activities. Her husband Jehan, who had married her while she was studying in a homoeopathic college in Salem last year, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the HC verdict. The apex court in October had ordered the authorities to produce Hadiya before it on November 27. TIGHT SECURITY AT VILLAGE: Hadiya and her parents were taken from TV Puram by the policemen around 2 pm, while their house was surrounded by hundreds of curious people and mediapersons from the morning itself. The police had provided unprecedented security at the village. A number of police vehicles were lined up before their house and the cops tried to shield Hadiya from public view while she entered a police vehicle along with her parents. Kottayam Special Branch DySP J. Santhosh Kumar, Vaikom DySP K. Subhash, Vaikom CI Binu, Sub-Inspector M. Sahil also accompanied the vehicle to the airport. Weather blogger Pradeep John said that north east monsoon is to boost from month end and heavy downpour can continue till the first half of December. Chennai: Though dry days continue for Tamil Nadu, rainy days are expected to be back within 48 hours after the formation of a low-pressure area along the southern parts of the state, said regional meteorological centre on Saturday. The low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal is gradually heading westward which seems to be a good sign for rains in the southern and coastal regions in next 2-3 days. Southern districts, Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli, Tiruvallur, Ramanathapuram and delta belt are expected to receive intermittent spells. Parts of Chennai can receive short spells of rain depending upon moisture content, wind speed and direction, said S Balachandran, Director, area cyclone warning center. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over South Tamil Nadu in next two days as per the RMC forecast. Weather blogger Pradeep John said that north east monsoon is to boost from month end and heavy downpour can continue till the first half of December. However, the city is to receive only moderate rainfall for next two days. Even as the day of inauguration nears a lot of work at Uppal stadium still remains incomplete. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: The police have deployed about 150 police personnel at the 24 Metro stations and other installations. Commissioner of Rachakonda, Mr Mahesh Bhagwat, Hyderabad commissioner (incharge) V.V. Srinivasa Rao and Cyberabad commissioner Mr Sandeep Shandilya on Saturday travelled in the Metro between Miyapur and Nagole. A garbage dump yard adjacent to the Nagole Metro station releases an unbearable stench for people travelling this route. (Photo: DC) They were accompanied by the Metro Rail and L&T officials. The officials inspected security equipment including surveillance cameras, metal detectors and access control mechanism. Cameras have been installed in the trains, concourse, ticketing areas at gates and platforms apart from other important points. The 150 police personnel who have been deputed towards security for the Metro Rail have been trained at the Metro Rail Bhavan over the last three days. They will be posted at all the 24 Metro stations. Meanwhile, the police have decided to begin a Metro security wing in the next one year. The wing will have all security teams including bomb disposal squad, dog squad and a quick response team. The director general of Police, Mr M. Mahendar Reddy has asked the Cyberabad, Rachakonda and Hyderabad police to provide overall security to all HMR stations for the time being. Lucknow: The release of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba leader Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan led to celebration by members of one community in Lakhimpur district on Saturday. The police went into tizzy as soon as the local people started bursting crackers and decorated their houses with green lights. Some residents of Begum Bagh colony in Shivpuri area allegedly decorated their houses with green flags and also raised slogans like Hafiz Saeed zindabad and Pakistan Zindabad. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The two sensational rabbits that were supposed to be pulled out of the GST hat increased tax compliance and a wider tax base have not yet materialised. This failure has worsened the states finances because of the nature of commodity placements under five major GST slabs; commodities are grouped under these slabs in such a way that the state will gain less from each good sold than before. In more definite terms, the tax the state can collect from nearly 80 per cent of the goods has fallen 5.5 percent from what it could under the VAT system. If during the VAT regime, nearly 80 per cent commodities were taxed at 14.5 per cent, under the new system 80 per cent of commodities sold in the state will be taxed at 18 per cent. This means the states share will be just 9 per cent, 5.5 per cent less that what the state had been collecting a top finance department official said. (Only half of the GST rate flows to the states coffers.) The fall in income became more pronounced on November 10, when 177 goods were transferred from the 28 per cent GST slab to 18 per cent. The state, therefore, is in an unenviable position. Not only has GST failed to deliver, but it has also robbed the state of a part of its traditionally assured revenue. The commodities that fetched the state its largest share of tax revenue like cement, white goods, electrical goods, and tiles have now been put under the 18 per cent slab. Many of the mass consumption consumer goods like mineral water, ice cream, hair oil, and tooth paste would now provide the state just 9 per cent, as against the 14.5 per cent it had pocketed before July 1, 2017. Similar is the case with watch, clock, ceramic ware and helmet; all of which had yielded a higher tax under VAT. Some of the commodities which were earlier in the 5 per cent VAT rate, like dry fruits or edible oil or cotton textiles, will continue to be in 5 per cent GST slab. But the states revenue from these items will fall by half to 2.5 per cent. Nonetheless, there are items like paint and automobiles that have been retained in the 28 per cent slab, but even here the state's share, which is 14 per cent (half of 28 percent), is 0.5 per cent lower than what it had extracted under VAT. Here is what the report of Kerala State Expenditure Review Committee says: The reduced rate of most commodities may have an adverse impact on the state revenues unless there is corresponding increase in the base to compensate the loss due to reduction in the rate. The report came out in August, long before the Centre had shifted 177 commodities were shifted to a lower tax slab. Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court held that a candidate who tells a deliberate lie when specifically asked cannot be taken even with a pinch of salt. He is wholly unworthy of being drafted into the police department which calls for the highest degree of honesty and rectitude, it said. A division bench comprising Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy and Justice G. Shyam Prasad while allowing a batch of petitions by the State Level Police Recruitment Board of AP, observed, Furnishing of false statement would even dwarf his earlier conduct of his involvement in a criminal case. The board had challenged the orders passed by the AP Administrative Tribunal setting aside the cancellation of candidature of P. Vinay and five others selected as constable in 2014. The board cancelled their candidature based on the common ground of suppression of their involvement in criminal cases. The tribunal set aside the cancellation holding that offences against the selected candidates were not heinous like murder, rape, involving moral turpitude. The tribunal held the view that the acquittal by Lok Adalat would erase the stigma. Referring to a judgement of the Supreme Court in Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, v Mehar Singh, the bench said Indub-itably an applicant seeking employment in the police force is expected to make a fair disclosure of their antecedents for a disciplined force like police department, a fair disclosure is an essential requirement and an aspirant is expected to state these facts honestly, which is an inbuilt requirement of any public employment. This obligation to make a fair disclosure was incorporated in the Rule and the consequences of failure to discharge this obligation was also made explicit. These candidates had failed to disclose their involvement in criminal cases, they have gone a step further by making a blatantly false statement in the relevant column, Justice Nagarjuna Reddy and Justice Shyam Prasad said. DOnt harass dhaba owner: HC The Hyderabad High Court directed the city Central Crime Station police not to interfere with the business activity of petitioners who were running restaurants with a name identical to Santosh Dhaba while investigating the case of alleged trademark infringement against them, except in a manner known to law. Justice S.V. Bhatt was disposing of a petition by owners of Maa Santosh Dhaba alleging that the CCS deputy dommissioner of police and other officers were harassing and threatening to close their business stating that the name and style of Maa Santosh Dhaba in Somajiguda was identical to Santosh Dhaba. According to the petitioners, one Manoj Kumar Shukla lodged a complaint with the CCS police claiming that he had the registered trademark of Santosh Dhaba and running a dhaba identical to it would infringe on his copyright. While disposing of the case, the judge refused to restrict the investigation officer from the probe, but directed that the process of investigation ought not to interfere with the business of petitioner. Justice Bhatt made it clear that the alleged trademark infringement was not considered by the court. Plea seeks checks on LPG vehicles A PIL has been moved before the Hyderabad High Court challenging the inaction of the transport authorities in inspecting vehicles run with LPG periodically. Mr R. Haribabu, president of the Twin Cities Consumers Rights Forum, moved the PIL stating that the periodical inspections were required for old vehicles which were fitted with LPG tanks but the authorities were not taking any care to check the safety of the tanks and cylinder fitted into the vehicles. He urged the court to direct the authorities to take steps to ensure safety of old vehicles runing on LPG. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former chief minister Oommen Chandy was caught off guard when his wife Mariamma made a speech at a venue in Kuwait on Friday in his presence. She recalled the path she had been treading for the last several years ever since the solar scam cropped up. She urged the women to think of 'tensions' she was undergoing which would enable them to see theirs as "trivial". The couple left for Kuwait on Thursday to attend the Overseas Indian Cultural Congress award night to felicitate winners from different spheres. In his speech, Mr Chandy came down on the wrong policies of the BJP Government especially, demonetisation and the GST. But he did not forget to remind the audience revival of the Indian National Congress spearheaded by vice-president Rahul Gandhi. When his 68-year-old companion came to the podium to address them, she began by saying that her husband is tense, thinking about what she is going to blurt out. "You all must be already aware of the travails of my husband over the last several years. If wives and mothers just think about my tensions that would immediately help you to forget yours. My simple theory is that life is too short and anger is not a solution for anything," said Mariamma Oommen who had retired as a senior bank official eight years ago. It was for the first time she openly commented about her husband's travails in the aftermath of the solar scam. AICC spokesperson Kushboo Sundar also attended the programme. Mr Chandy and his wife returned to Kochi on Saturday. Sitharaman accused the Congress of failing to take any action against black money despite a SC order on the issue. (Photo: File) Ahmedabad: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Congress in Gujarat has "failed" to play the role of a responsible opposition. The BJP leader also targeted Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over the alleged stalling of projects in Gujarat during the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, and said he needs to answer certain questions related to that. "Instead of replying to these questions, he keeps asking more questions. It is the responsibility of the opposition party to answer questions related to its government when it was in power at the Centre," she told reporters in Ahmedabad. Sitharaman is here to campaign for the BJP for the next month's polls. Sitharaman said the opposition party's strength in the Gujarat assembly has gone down to 43 as the party has "failed to project an image of a responsible Opposition". "From 57 MLAs in 2012, the Congress is down to 43 MLAs today. The party was rejected four times by the people of Gujarat...What have you (the Congress) done as a responsible opposition party?" she asked. Sitharaman rejected the Congress criticism of visits by Union ministers to poll-bound Gujarat to campaign for the BJP, saying no work of the government had been hampered due to their trips. "We are party workers even when we are in the Cabinet. If he (Gandhi) says the work of the central government is hampered (due to our visits), then let him say so. We will say that the work there is going on without any hindrance." She criticised the Congress for taking its MLAs to a Bengaluru resort to prevent alleged poaching by the ruling BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha election in July when parts of the state were reeling under floods. She claimed the UPA government prevented a 32km national highway project in Gujarat on environmental ground. Sitharaman asked Gandhi to question former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as to why he wrote to the Centre opposing construction of a dam under the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi's pet "Sujalam Sufalam" project for water harvesting. Gehlot, now the party's Gujarat election in-charge, "worked against the interest of Gujarat," she said. The Union minister said a Congress MP from Maharashtra had protested against the Narmada dam. "He (Gandhi) asks questions instead of giving replies. He will ask questions to the entire world but not to his own MLAs, his own UPA government which created hurdles in construction of dams roads in Gujarat," she said. She attacked Gandhi for allegedly diverting Rs 2,000-crore party fund to the National Herald Trust. On the Dokalam issue, the Congress leader should have met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to get details about the stand-off instead of meeting the Chinese ambassador, Sitharaman maintained. It was an "irresponsible act" on the part of the Opposition party, the defence minister said. Sitharaman said the Congress, when in power, did little to curb black money despite a Supreme Court orders on the issue. The BJP leader said the Gujarat government has taken a slew of welfare measures for fishermen. Gandhi earlier had an interaction with fishermen. The measures include a Rs 11,000-crore 'Sagar Khedut' programme which is going on well, the minister said. She said the NDA government has also announced projects related to marine product processing and export which will benefits the fishermen of Gujarat. Hyderabad: Due to the tight time schedule, there will be no public meeting to mark the inauguration of Hyderabad Metro Rail, the worlds largest public-private participation costing an estimated Rs 18,000 crore. Public meetings are usually organised for the dedication of major projects by Prime Minister. Mr Modi had addressed the inaugural function at Metro Kochi on June 17. According to sources, the state government had proposed holding a public meeting near the Miyapur Metro Rail station, where it expected the Centre to announce a commitment for the expansion of the project. The idea was dropped due to Mr Modis tight schedule. The Metro Rail launch was included in his itinerary just two days ago, a senior officer said. The governments request for an hour for the inaugural was not considered, he said. Mr Modi has spared 10 minutes for a political reception in his honour to be held by state BJP leaders at the Begumpet airport on Tuesday. Soon after landing at the airport, and after the state governments ceremonial reception ends, Mr Modi will come over to a special stage being erected by BJP leaders near the entrance. According to city BJP president and party MLC N. Ramachandra Rao, Mr Modi will receive greetings from party leaders and wave to the cadre. All the important BJP leaders will be introduced to Mr Modi. Whether he will address the cadre for a few minutes or not depends on the situation, Mr Ramachandra Rao said. Ramanathapuram: Slamming the Opposition for unfair criticism that his government was acting subservient to the BJP regime at the Centre, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday said here that the state had now secured much by way of Central assistance and allocations only because of the close rapport between the two governments. Recalling the announcement of a massive Rs.one lakh crore Central allocation to Tamil Nadu that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari made during his recent visit to Chennai, the Chief Minister said such a massive help was possible only because of the good relationship between his government and the Centre. They (DMK) are accusing us of being subservient to the Centre. But can they tell us what they had done for the people of Tamil Nadu when they were part of the Union Government as Congress allies? asked the CM while addressing a massive rally as part of the MGR centenary celebrations. Listing out the various projects initiated by the Jayalalithaa government, such as the Rs 20,000 crore Chennai-Bengaluru expressway and the Rs 900 crore expansion for Tuticorin port, the Chief Minister said, The Centre has been supporting our government to carry out various projects only because of our close rapport with the Centre. Speaking earlier, deputy chief minister O. Panneerselvam recalled a story narrated by his late leader Ms Jayalalithaa that stressed the need for unity in order to be able to defeat the enemy. It was a story about the five fingers in a wrestlers hand. While the man slept, the fingers fought among themselves on who was superior to the rest. But when an enemy attacked, the fingers got together and vanquished the adversary. Such is the power of unity, he said. Party MP Dr V. Meitreyan, who has been in the news for his charge that the OPS followers are being treated as second class members in the party, lashed out at the CM again on Saturday when OPS was not invited for the partys celebration of the MGR centenary together with Jayalalithaas birthday and the retrieval of the two-leaves symbol at Madurai despite the temple town being OPS stronghold and his constituency Periyakulam is barely an hour away. Also missing in the invitees list were the party MP and MLA from Madurai, which made it look that the CMs gala celebration there was out of bounds for the OPS camp, argued Dr Meitreyan, looking very sad and bitter before the huge media gathering outside the Raj Bhavan, where he had gone to meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Dr Meitreyan insisted that he had not discussed politics at the Raj Bhavan and was there along with industrialist A.C. Muthiah to invite the Governor for the 75th anniversary celebration of Tamilisai Sangam at the Raja Annamalai Manram on December 21. New Delhi: Hitting back at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his jibe at Prime Minister Modi, the BJP said on Saturday that its government had succeeded in isolating Pakistan over terrorism, while the UPA treated it as a victim state and let it off lightly. Minutes after Gandhi termed the release of JuD chief Hafiz Saeeds release a failure of PM Modis hugplomacy, the BJP hit back by calling the Congress leader a known sympathiser of LeT, and asking if he had congratulated the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks yet. Rahul Baba, aadatein nahin badalti hain (Rahul Baba, habits dont change). For once, stand with the country & not with terrorists as is your habit. You are a known sympathiser of LeT. WikiLeaks & Ishrat Jahan case cover-up exposed your links. BTW, have you congratulated your Hafiz Saheb on his release yet? @officeofrg, tweeted G.V.L. Narasimha Rap, BJPs national spokesperson. Congress ka haath, aatankivadiyon ke saath is a more appropriate slogan for the Opposition party, he added. The Congress condemned the BJP over its shameful barb, with party leader Anand Sharma saying that the BJP leaders in their arrogance have lost their mental balance as they targeted Gandhi. He said the BJP needs to be reminded that Gandhi belongs to a family which made sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the country and accused the BJP of taking political discourse to a new low. It is shameful. It deserves to be condemned. The BJP leaders have lost their mental balance in arrogance. Gandhi is the leader of Congress. While the official announcement of who will be the next Congress president will be known in a few days from now, it hardly leaves any doubt that Rahul Gandhi is all set to take over as the new president of the party. The long-awaited change in the party leadership will soon be known to the world. Questions are being asked if this change will help in rebuilding the party or if electoral fortunes of the party will change after this. It is difficult to imagine that the problem of the Congress (being unable to win elections) will come to an end with Rahul Gandhi becoming the party president. It will still be long before he can lead the party to electoral successes. But electing Rahul Gandhi as the new president would certainly help in keeping the Congress party united. A member of the Nehru-Gandhi family heading the Congress leaves little scope for a rebellion within the party, even though there may be some undercurrents of dissatisfaction with the leadership. But any effort to elect someone from outside the family to lead the party might result in a situation of serious infighting within the Congress with various factions challenging each other. Except keeping the party united during difficult times, Rahul Gandhis elevation to the top post hardly means anything. It will be too much to expect that the same Rahul Gandhi who has till now not won any votes for the Congress will suddenly become a vote-catcher. The Congress, which Rahul Gandhi is all set to lead is very different from what it was in the past. Let us not even look at how strong was the partys support base was when leaders like Kripalani, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Jawahar-lal Nehru, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy or Indira Gandhi headed it. The leadership of each of these persons was unchallenged. The Congress had a decent support base even when Rajiv Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi became the party chief. When Rajiv Gandhi became the Congress president in 1984, the party had an overwhelming support among the people, a record 415 seats in the Lok Sabha and about 48 per cent share of the national votes. When Sonia Gandhi took over as the party president in 1999, the party had witnessed decline and was not in power at the Centre but it still had a sizeable support (28 per cent vote share and 114 members in the Lok Sabha). At that moment, the Congress was the ruling party in as many as 16 states. Sonia Gandhi did face initial challenges from Sharad Pawar and P.A. Sangma, who eventually walked out of the party, but later she managed to consolidate her position and led the party to victory in 2004 Lok Sabha elections. For most of the previous presidents, the leadership was not as challenging as it is going to be for Rahul Gandhi. Those leaders faced the challenge only from the senior party leaders. Rahul Gandhi faces a far more tough challenge as compared to any other Congress chief in the past as the party at present is at the lowest level of popularity. And the challenge comes from none other than the leader of the party in power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Though it is true that Rahul Gandhis ability to counter the high-pitched campaigning of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is limited, it would be unreasonable to question all his abilities. The Congress has 44 members in the Lok Sabha and its vote share during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was 19.3 per cent. The story of the decline of the party in not limited to only the national elections. Its electoral success is very poor even in the state Assembly and local body elections. The party has hardly managed to win any Assembly election held after 2014 parliamentary elections, except Punjab. At the moment, the Congress is ruling only in five states Karnataka, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Of these five states Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram are small and hence of very little electoral significance at the national level. Of the total 3,896 Assembly seats in the country, the Congress has 732 seats as compared to BJPs 1306; 1858 seats are with regional parties. If seen in terms of vote share, the Congress has a combined vote share of 18.6 per cent votes in the present Assembly while the BJP has 25.6 per cent. The Congress performance in the local body elections in different states is no better. The parties vote share in Assembly polls might change after Himachal Pradesh results are out. Indications are strong that the Congress might lose in HP; and find it difficult to retain power in Karnataka, Megha-laya and Mizoram which go to the polls early next year. Rahul Gandhi can hope to change the wheel of fortune in the favour of Congress only if the party manages to win the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh or Chhattis-garh, capitalising on anti-incumbency mood. The two states with a BJP government for last 15 years may be facing an anti-incumbency mood of the voters. If that does not happen, the task cutout for Rahul Gandhi, of leading the party to victory during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which already seems difficult, would become an impossible one. But if Rahul Gandhi manages to pull a victory in Gujarat, the fortunes of the party and Rahul Gandhi might change sooner than later. But that certainly is an uphill task. Regardless of which way the Gujarat election result goes, adrenalin appears to be coursing through the veins of parties that stand to oppose the Modi government. This is directly traceable to the credible election campaign in Gujarat being run by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who was being projected in unfavourable light until recently. There appears to be an acknowledgment of this in the BJP camp as well. The changed mood is causing hope to build among Prime Minister Modis opponents that careful tactical footwork among them can lead to a worthwhile electoral challenge being mounted against his dispensation in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Inherent in this thinking is the admission that Mr Modi, widely regarded as probably the shrewdest political leader to emerge in years, may be hard to beat unless his opponents can display a credible sense of unity among themselves. At a public function in New Delhi on Friday, Arun Shourie, a former member of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government, urged the need for Mr Modis opponents to offer a single candidate from one among themselves to oppose the BJP on every seat. This is a variant of the formula adopted by then PM Indira Gandhis opponents in the 1970s who merged their respective parties to form the Janata Party and trounced the Congress in the North. In the changed circumstances of today, this will be impossible to replicate. Besides, the ignoble fate of the Janata after it defeated Mrs Gandhi is still fresh in the minds of the political class. Evidently, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been working behind the scenes to bring about a measure of understanding among parties that are at odds with the BJP of Mr Modi and his organisational commander Amit Shah. This was strongly hinted at on a television programme recently by a leader of her party in Parliament, Derek OBrien. The difficulty of the task is evident from the campaign for the Assembly election in Gujarat, where the stakes are high. Let alone a defeat, a significantly good showing for the Congress is likely to have a negative impact on the BJPs preparations for 2019. And yet, Sharad Pawars NCP is going it alone. This will split the anti-BJP vote. Nitish Kumars JD(U), which jumped ship to join the BJP recently, has announced it will be fielding around 100 candidates in Gujarat. This is with a view to deny the Congress the votes of the powerful Patel community, a section of which is veering toward the Congress this time. So many left-leaning and liberal political commentators have believed for long that the civil-military imbalance lies at the root of most of the countrys ills. With Nawaz Sharif taking up the cudgels for civilian supremacy and blaming his ouster from office on it as well, many conservative and right-of-centre commentators and opinion writers/anchors have also joined the ranks of those who believe in civilian supremacy as a means to stability and sanity. Agreed that many major policy areas such as national security and foreign affairs and the direction that the country follows in each must be decided and set by the constitutionally-empowered civilian leadership, with input from all key institutions. It is and should always be a civilian prerogative. The ground reality tells a very different story. Civilians can try, and have tried, to assert themselves. In the end, however, their stance, even as it is in line with constitutional provisions, represents no more than token defiance. Just rewind to where the government started on coming to office in 2013 when the then Prime Minister spelt out and tried to execute his own foreign policy. Whether on India or Afghanistan, he increasingly found no elbow room to manoeuvre. Some four years later, the once-robust politician, who could hold his own on the issue of Constitution and civilian supremacy, and now the foreign minister, does little better than to parrot with near relish the militarys views in key policy areas. One can understand the frustration of Rawalpindi-Islamabad residents who are justified in attacking the government and its interior minister for their apparent inertia in dealing with protesters blocking a major artery connecting the two cities and also the capital with the airport. But one must also be mindful of unsaid government concerns that if administrative action sparks wider protest whether forces other than police would follow its orders. After all, the interior minister will recall what happened when he demanded action against a paramilitary Rangers soldier. The soldier had blocked the ministers path to an accountability court where he was headed to witness Sharifs trial. When the interior minister reacted angrily and demanded action, the Armys chief spokesman advised him to give shabaash (pat on the back) to the soldier for doing his job. Then there was the unprecedented seminar co-hosted by the ISPR on the economy where not a single civilian government voice was represented. Among the speakers were a couple of harsh critics of government economic policy with one known to embellish his facts with non-facts. When sections of the media criticised that the Army had been open with its reservations on the governments economic policy, the military spokesman remained unapologetic and robustly defended his institutions right to formulate and express an opinion in this area too. These examples represent the tip of the iceberg. Should this civil-military tussle where (some allege) the judiciary also weighs in on one side or the other prevent the civilian setups at the centre and provinces from delivering good governance in areas where they do indeed have the authority? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Well leave the performance of the other provincial governments for another time but a recent, quick visit to Karachi painted a tragic picture of neglect at the hands of the only political party Id vote for in the past. There are no doubt big capital expenditure projects being executed perhaps because of the associated economic opportunities they represent to those authorising them. I must have counted several new underpasses and flyovers compared with a visit last year. But side by side, it was shocking to see a large number of tall buildings mushrooming across the Clifton area where clearly land-use change had been authorised after only who knows what considerations, with no accompanying mandated upgrade of the utilities. I bet untreated sewage from many of these projects will find its way to the sea which, in some cases, is merely a few hundred metres away. The countrys most avowedly democratic party, the PPP, agreed to hand over local bodies to the elected representative after much-delayed elections which too followed Supreme Court intervention. But not before emasculating their powers through amendments to the law. The result: one of the biggest urban conurbations in the world looks to the provincial and not its city government to provide as basic a service as garbage removal. Garbage removal does not seem to sit anywhere in the list of priorities of the Sindh government. Wherever one drives in Karachi and this includes the so-called upmarket, posh areas piles of rotting rubbish are never out of sight. At least the one blame the PPP wont have to shoulder is elitism. Crumbling roads, piles of rubbish and not a semblance of civic services is common to all rich, middle-class and poor neighbourhoods alike in Karachi. Wouldnt one way to civilian supremacy be through enhancing ones credentials through exceptional governance delivered transparently and cleanly? Of course, the civilians can argue what credentials or track record does the military high command have enabling it to claim primacy? My only response would be not to compare chalk and cheese. In a recent interview, Gen. Musharraf conceded he lacked legitimacy during his years in power. Those whose claim to power is legitimate must not dilute it with poor governance. By arrangement with Dawn This is the fourth TechEdSat satellite carrying an updated version of the Exo-Brake that will demonstrate guided controlled re-entry of small spacecraft to safely return science experiments from space. NASA has recently launched the Technology Educational Satellite or TechEdSat-6, to the International Space Station on Orbital ATKs Cygnus spacecraft from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on November 12. This bread loaf-sized satellite is part of a continuing series to demonstrate the Exo-Brake parachute device, advanced communications and wireless sensor networks. TechEdSat-6 was released into low-Earth orbit from the NanoRacks platform on November 20, to begin a series of wireless sensor experiments which will be the first self-powered tests, expanding the capabilities of sensor networks for future ascent or re-entry systems. This is the fourth TechEdSat satellite carrying an updated version of the Exo-Brake that will demonstrate guided controlled re-entry of small spacecraft to safely return science experiments from space. The Exo-Brakes shape can be changed to vary the drag on the satellite. With the help of high-fidelity simulations, we will demonstrate a low-cost, propellant-less method of returning small payloads quickly, and to fairly precise locations, for retrieval, said Michelle Munk, NASAs System Capability Lead for Entry, Descent and Landing. We are excited about tracking TechEdSat-6 as it re-enters the atmosphere. While the goal of returning samples from the space station and orbital platforms is integral to the project, NASA seeks to develop building blocks for large-scale systems that might enable future small spacecraft missions to reach the surface of Mars and other places in the solar system. The Exo-Brake is funded by the Entry Systems Modeling project within the Space Technology Mission Directorates Game Changing Development program. Additional funding for the Exo-Brake is provided by NASA's Ames Research Centre in California's Silicon Valley and the agency's Engineering and Safety Centre in Hampton, Virginia. The TechEdSat series is a science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, collaborative activity that involves NASA early-career employees, interns and students from several universities. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The militants, according to a witness, stormed the mosque from several doors and when they opened fire, many worshippers started jumping out of windows.(Photo: AP) Ismailia: The imam had barely made it atop the mosque pulpit to deliver the sermon when intense gunfire rang out and Ebid Salem Mansour knew exactly what was going on. We knew that the mosque was under attack by (militants), he said Saturday, a day after the attack, giving a detailed account of the deadliest assault by Islamic extremists against civilians in Egypts modern history. At least 305 people were killed in Fridays attack on a mosque filled with worshippers in the troubled region of northern Sinai, a grim milestone in Egypts brutal fight against increasingly emboldened militants. Egyptian warplanes were in action on Saturday over Sinai, according to the military, targeting several vehicles in which some of the culprits of the attack were traveling. All passengers of the vehicles were killed, it added. It was impossible to independently verify the claim since the media is virtually banned from working in Sinai. Witnesses speaking to The Associated Press in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia where some of the wounded were taken spoke of horrific scenes during the approximately 20 minutes it took the militants to kill and maim worshippers. They spoke of some jumping out of windows, a stampede in a corridor leading to the washrooms and of children screaming in horror. Some spoke of their narrow escape from a certain death, others of families that lost all or most of their male members. Mansour, a 38-year-old worker in a nearby salt factory, said he settled in Bir al-Abd, the small town where the attack took place, three years ago to escape the bloodshed and fighting elsewhere in northern Sinai. He suffered two gunshot wounds in the legs. Everyone layed down on the floor and kept their heads down. If you raised your head you get shot, he said. The shooting was random and hysterical at the beginning and then became more deliberate: Whoever they werent sure was dead or still breathing was shot dead. The militants were shouting Allahu Akbar, or God is great, and the children were screaming, Mansour said. I knew I was injured but I was in a situation that was much scarier than being wounded. I was only seconds away from a certain death, he said. As the shooting took place, many of the worshippers recited their final prayers, he added. Fridays attack targeted a mosque frequented by Sufis, members of a mystic movement within Islam. Islamic militants, including the local affiliate of the Islamic State group, consider Sufis heretics because of their less literal interpretations of the faith. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi vowed that the attack will not go unpunished and that Egypt would persevere with its war on terrorism. But he did not specify what new steps might be taken. On Saturday, he ordered that a mausoleum be built in memory of the victims of Fridays attack. The military and security forces have already been waging a tough campaign against militants in the towns, villages and desert mountains of Sinai, and Egypt has been in a state of emergency since April. Across the country, thousands have been arrested in a crackdown on suspected Islamists as well as against other dissenters and critics, raising concern about human rights violations. Seeking to spread the violence, militants over the past year have carried out deadly bombings on churches in the capital of Cairo and other cities, killing dozens of Christians. The IS affiliate is also believed to be behind the 2016 downing of a Russian passenger jet that killed 226 people over Sinai. Fridays assault was the first major militant attack on a Muslim congregation, and it eclipsed past attacks, even dating back to a previous Islamic militant insurgency in the 1990s. The militants descended on the al-Rouda mosque in four off-road vehicles as hundreds worshipped inside. At least a dozen attackers charged in, opening fire randomly, the main cleric at the mosque, Sheikh Mohamed Abdel Fatah Zowraiq, said. He spoke to the media over phone from a Nile Delta town where he was recuperating from bruises and scratches suffered in the attack. The militants, according to one witness, stormed the mosque from several doors and as soon as they opened fire, many worshippers started jumping out of windows. The small door that leads to the corridor for the wash rooms was about the only one where worshippers rushed to escape, said a 38-year-old government employee who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation. There was a stampede. I fell down and then bodies piled up on top of me. I was the only one alive underneath. The shooting was heavy, insane and random, he recalled. These are not terrorists. These are not humans. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. But the IS group affiliate has targeted Sufis in the past. Last year, the militants beheaded a leading local Sufi religious figure, the blind sheikh Suleiman Abu Heraz, and posted photos of the killing online. Islamic State group propaganda often denounces Sufis. In the January edition of an IS online magazine, a figure purporting to be a high level official in the Sinai affiliate of the group vowed to target Sufis, accusing them of idolatry and heretical innovation in religion and warning that the group will not permit (their) presence in Sinai or Egypt. Millions of Egyptians belong to Sufi orders, which hold sessions of chanting and poetry meant to draw the faithful closer to God. Sufis also hold shrines containing the tombs of holy men in particular reverence. Islamic militants stepped up their campaign of violence in northern Sinai after the military ousted the elected but divisive Islamist Mohammed Morsi from power in 2013 and launched a fierce crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group. The result has been a long, grinding conflict centered on el-Arish and nearby villages and towns. The militants have been unable to control territory, but the military and security forces have also been unable to bring security, as the extremists continuously carry out surprise attacks, mostly targeting outposts and convoys. The attacks have largely focused on military and police, killing hundreds, although exact numbers are unclear as journalists and independent investigators are banned from the area. The militants have also assassinated individuals the group considers to be spies for the government or religious heretics. Egypt has also faced attacks by militants in its Western Desert. The death toll from the deadliest terrorist attack on Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Egypts restive North Sinai region was raised substantially to 305, which included 27 children, the state prosecutor said on Saturday. (Representational Image) Egyptian air force jets have destroyed vehicles used in the Sinai mosque attack and terrorist locations where weapons and ammunition were stocked, the army spokesman said. The planes destroyed several vehicles used in the attack, Tamer el-Refai said, adding they had also targeted terrorist spots containing weapons and ammunition. The death toll from the deadliest terrorist attack on Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Egypts restive North Sinai region was raised substantially to 305, which included 27 children, the state prosecutor said on Saturday. General prosecutor Nabil Sadek said in a statement that another 128 people were wounded in the attack, when heavily-armed militants bombed the al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city and opened fire on people attending the Friday prayers. The death toll was reported at 235 on Friday. Sadek said the number of terrorists involved in the attack varied from 25 to 30, some of whom had raised the Islamic State flag during the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The Egypt government announced three days of mourning, even as President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi chaired an emergency meeting with officials to review security after the attack. Egypts Army said in a statement that a number of terrorists have been killed in air strikes in North Sinai since the attack. The Army was conducting raids in the troubled region to eliminate terrorist hideouts.The Al-Ahram newspaper, citing a military source, reported that a military operation was underway in North Sinai. Demonstrators protest as police fire tear gas shells to disperse them during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: A security person was killed and over 150 others were injured on Saturday in Pakistan during clashes which broke out after police and paramilitary forces launched an operation to disperse hundreds of protesters blocking main highways leading to the capital Islamabad. The operation was launched after Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notice against Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads The Pakistan government has blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube amidst ongoing operation against protesters. The decision was taken after almost all news channels were suspended. Military spokesman said that army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on telephone and urged for peaceful solution to the problem. So far police have failed to dislodge the protesters from Faizabad interchange which they have been occupying for about three weeks. At least one security person was killed and over 150 persons, including protesters and security personnel, were injured, police said. About 2,000 activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) for more than two weeks have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The protesters demand the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. More than 70 people have been injured. They were shifted to hospital of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, a health official said. Those injured include also more than 35 security personnel who were hit by stones thrown by protesters, the official said. Islamabad city magistrate on Friday issued a warning to protesters to disperse by midnight or face the consequences. TV footage showed police firing teargas and security personnel in riot gears charging at the protesters. Dozens of them were arrested and shifted to various police stations. Some of the security personnel were injured due to stone pelting by protesters. According to a security official, more than 8,000 security personnel took part in the operation against around 2,000 protesters. The operation was still going on and police were facing stiff resistance from the protesters. Earlier, IHC last Friday had given a 24-hour deadline to the government to clear the roads which was later extended till Thursday. However, the court on Friday expressed strong displeasure at the government for failing to take action against the protesters. The injured include also more than 35 security personnel who were hit by stones thrown by protesters, a health official said. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Over 70 people, including security personnel, were injured on Saturday in clashes in Pakistan after police and paramilitary forces launched an operation to disperse protesters who have been occupying main highways leading to the capital Islamabad. The operation was launched after Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notice against Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. About 2,000 activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) for more than two weeks have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The protesters demand the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. More than 70 people have been injured. They were shifted to hospital of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, a health official said. Those injured include also more than 35 security personnel who were hit by stones thrown by protesters, the official said. Pakistani authorities also ordered private television channels to go off air on Saturday during the crackdown. The suspension was ordered by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for violating media regulations showing live coverage of a security operation, a statement from the regulator said. State-run Pakistan Television continued to broadcast, but aired a talk show discussing politics. Islamabad city magistrate on Friday issued a warning to protesters to disperse by midnight or face the consequences. TV footage on Friday showed police firing teargas and security personnel in riot gears charging at the protesters. Dozens of them were arrested and shifted to various police stations. Some of the security personnel were injured due to stone pelting by protesters. According to a security official, more than 8,000 security personnel took part in the operation against around 2,000 protesters. The operation was still going on and police were facing stiff resistance from the protesters. Earlier, IHC last Friday had given a 24-hour deadline to the government to clear the roads which was later extended till Thursday. However, the court yesterday expressed strong displeasure at the government for failing to take action against the protesters. The United States will cut off its supply of arms to Kurdish fighters in Syria, President Donald Trump told the Turkish president on Saturday, in a move sure to please Turkey but further alienate Syrian Kurds who bore much of the fight against the Islamic State group. In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump said hed given clear instructions that the Kurds will receive no more weapons - and that this nonsense should have ended a long time ago, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The White House confirmed the move in a cryptic statement about the phone call that said Trump had informed the Turk of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria. On Friday, Egypt witnessed country's deadliest attack in recent memory. 235 worshippers were killed in the attack. (Photo: AFP) Cairo: Attackers killed at least 235 worshippers Friday in a bomb and gun assault on a packed mosque in Egypt's restive North Sinai province, in the country's deadliest attack in recent memory. A bomb explosion ripped through the Rawda mosque, roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, before gunmen opened fire on the Sufi worshippers gathered there for weekly Friday prayers, officials said. Witnesses said the assailants surrounded the mosque with all-terrain vehicles and then planted a bomb outside. The gunmen then mowed down the panicked worshippers as they tried to flee and used congregants' vehicles they had set alight to block routes to the mosque. Between 10 and 20 armed attackers "entered the mosque, killing more people than they injured," Magdy Rizk, who was wounded in the attack, told AFP. "They were wearing masks and military uniforms," he said, adding that the area was predominantly Sufi and that locals have received threats from extremist groups. The state prosecutor's office said in a statement that 235 people were killed and 109 wounded in the attack, the scale of which is unprecedented in a four-year insurgency by Islamist extremist groups. US President Donald Trump condemned on Twitter the "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenceless worshippers". Horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshipers in Egypt. The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017 A furious Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared three days of mourning and pledged to "respond with brutal force". "The army and police will avenge our martyrs and return security and stability with force in the coming short period," he added in a televised speech. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to Sisi, calling the attack "striking for its cruelty and cynicism", while condemnations poured in from Israel, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other countries. UK foreign minister Boris Johnson decried the "barbaric attack", while his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian labelled it "despicable". 109 people were injured in the attack on Friday. (Photo: AFP) Pope Francis and Egypt's highest Muslim religious authority joined in the condemnation. "His Holiness joins all people of good will in imploring that hearts hardened by hatred will learn to renounce the way of violence," the pope's office said. The grand imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, condemned "in the strongest terms this barbaric terrorist attack". ISIS targeting of Sufis There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bloodshed. The Islamic State group's Egypt branch has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers, and also civilians accused of working with the authorities, in attacks in the north of the Sinai peninsula. They have also targeted followers of the mystical Sufi branch of Sunni Islam as well as Christians. The victims of Friday's attack included civilians and conscripts praying at the mosque. A tribal leader and head of a Bedouin militia that fights IS told AFP that the mosque is known as a place where Sufis gather. The Islamic State group shares the puritan Salafi view that Sufis are heretics for seeking the intercession of saints. The jihadists had previously kidnapped and beheaded an elderly Sufi leader, accusing him of practising magic which Islam forbids, and abducted Sufi practitioners later released after "repenting". An IS propaganda outlet had published an interview earlier with the commander of its "morality police" in Sinai who said their "first priority was to combat the manifestations of polytheism including Sufism". The group has killed more than 100 Christians in church bombings and shootings in Sinai and other parts of Egypt, forcing many to flee the peninsula. The military has struggled to quell jihadists who pledged allegiance to IS in November 2014. IS regularly conducts attacks against soldiers and policemen in the peninsula bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip, although the frequency and scale of such attacks has diminished over the past year. The jihadists have since increasingly turned to civilian targets, attacking not only Christians and Sufis but also Bedouin Sinai inhabitants accused of working with the army. The Gaza Strip's border crossing with Egypt that had been due to reopen Saturday will remain closed until further notice because of the attack, a Palestinian official said. Aside from IS, Egypt also faces a threat from Al-Qaeda-aligned jihadists who operate out of neighbouring Libya. A group calling itself Ansar al-Islam -- Supporters of Islam in Arabic -- claimed an October ambush in Egypt's Western Desert that killed at least 16 policemen. Many of those killed belonged to the interior ministry's secretive National Security Service. The military later conducted air strikes on the attackers, killing their leader Emad al-Din Abdel Hamid, a most wanted jihadist who was a military officer before joining an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Libya's militant stronghold of Derna. The Pakistan government called in the Army when clashes broke out after police and paramilitary forces cracked down on protesters from hardline religious groups who were blocking a key highway to the capital, leaving over 200 people injured. The interior ministry issued a statutory regulatory order (SRO) authorising the deployment of the Army in aid of the civil administration to control law and order in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The Army would be deployed for an indefinite period to maintain peace, the ministry said. The development came hours after Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi over the telephone and discussed the security situation. The government also ordered suspension of private TV channels and blocked popular social media sites as police and paramilitary personnel fought pitched battles with activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Ras-ool Allah (TLY) and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) who torched vehicles and attacked houses of political leaders. The protesters regrouped again and continued their siege of the capital that started about three weeks ago, demanding sacking of law minister Zahid Hamid over changes in a law related to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (finality of prophethood) oath in the Elections Act 2017. They alleged the action undermined Islamic beliefs and linked it to blasphemy. The government has amended the law and restored the original oath but the clerics refused to call off the protests until the minister is sacked. The siege played havoc with the over half-a-million commuters who daily travel between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The government was reluctant to use force, but launched the operation after the Islamabad High Court issued contempt of court notice against interior minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. The Islamabad magistrate issued a warning to protesters to disperse by midnight or face consequences. Coal shortage, coupled with rising demand, has forced the Energy Department to tap into hydel sources, but that might lead to a tougher summer. The other options are buying additional power or load-shedding. With the state going to the polls next year, the second option is ruled out. The department is already purchasing 900 MW a day until March. If it goes for further purchase, the burden on the exchequer will be substantial. As a result, the department has turned to drawing an average of 15 million units (MU) from the three major hydel stations, as against the stipulated 10 MU. According to officials in the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia had directed the department not to draw more than 10 MU from hydel stations. But after the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) downgraded its supply from the thermal stations, the department made it clear to the government that drawing power from hydel stations is inevitable. The KPCL recently downgraded its supply by 500 MW a day. But it is still not meeting its revised target, according to SDCL officials. For example, the KPCL has committed to supplying 1,100 MW from the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) until January. But it is supplying just 800 MW to 1,000 MW, which has affected power supply during peak hours. Out of the 900 MW being purchased, the SLDC gets just 800 MW, officials said. "The demand is increasing by the day, and without thermal support, things will get difficult. If we restrict the usage to 10 MU, we will be forced to go for load shedding. That's why we have sought permission to use up to 15 MU on average. If we start drawing anything over and above this, things will become difficult in the summer," an official said. The SLDC has resorted to drawing power from hydel stations in the evenings as it is able to meet the demand during the day by drawing power from other sources such as solar (300 MW to 400 MW). Officials, however, said relying entirely on solar or wind sources was ill-advised as the quantum of power generated on a daily basis was uncertain. KPCL managing director G Kumar Naik, however, maintained that the situation was not as grim. "The coal problem that we faced a few weeks ago has slightly eased," he added. The coal supply has, however, taken a hit yet again, with Singareni Collieries Company Ltd not meeting its commitment owing to heavy rainfall in mining areas. In addition, three units of the RTPS are down. While two are undergoing an overhaul, one has developed technical glitches. Amid the Padmavati row, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said today that giving violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm was not acceptable in a democracy. Not directly referring to the controversy, but films and art in general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country. Naidu, at a literary festival here, said there is now a new problem over some films where people feel that they have hurt the sentiments of some religions or communities and that has led to protests. He said while protesting, some people go overboard and announce rewards. "Whether these fellows have that much money or not, I doubt. Everyone is announcing Rs one crore reward. Is it so easy to have Rs one crore? "This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and can't give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law," he said. Stressing that he was not talking about a particular film but in general, Naidu read out names of previously banned films like Haram Hawa, Kissa Kursi Ka and Aandhi. His remarks, however, assume significance as they come amid protests by many groups against Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Padmavati, alleging that the movie distorts history. Historians are divided on whether Rani Padmavati even existed. Some leaders and groups have also reportedly announced a bounty for beheading Bhansali and the female lead Deepika Padukone. "You have no right to take laws into your own hands. At the same time, you don't have the right to hurt the sentiments of others", Naidu said. The vice president also warned against selective condemnation and said it was wrong to link it to religion. He said there was a difference between religion and culture. While religion was a way of worship, culture was a way of life, he said. Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia said that the evil practice of 'Pankti Bheda' (serving food separately for Brahmins) should be stopped in the temples across the country. Speaking at the second day of Dharma Sansad, the VHP's international working president said that there should not be discrimination practised in any form by the religious institutions and the religious heads. The people at the lower strata of society should be taken in the flow of Hinduism. He added that the religion with its ancient importance has to be more inclusive to fight the external invasion. Stating that inequality is not acceptable and the practice of untouchability is nowhere mentioned in Vedas, he questioned why one cannot observe divinity among Dalits, and maintained that God is present in everyone and everything. Reiterating that untouchability is an evil which weakens the religion, Togadia said that inequality should be eliminated and religious ideals should be disseminated all over and the mass should be told about the sanctity of the religion, which is the oldest civilisation in the world. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poll-bound Gujarat today and alleged that the latter did not want the "truth" behind the multi-crore Rafale deal and Jay Shah issue to come out before the Assembly election in his home state. He also alleged that the NDA government was delaying the Winter Session of Parliament as Modi was not ready to discuss the Rafale and Jay Shah issues in the House before the Gujarat polls. "I would ask Modiji three questions (on the Rafale deal). First, is there a difference in the cost of planes in the first and the second contract (signed with a French firm) and did India pay more or less money as per the second contract? "And, has the industrialist (whose company has formed a joint venture with the French firm), who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?," he asked while addressing a public gathering here in Gandhinagar district. The Congress leader also sought to know if the due procedure was followed while inking the deal with France last year to procure the Rafale fighter jets. "And a more important question, did you follow the due government procedure? Why was the (then) defence minister seen catching fish in Goa? And, was an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security taken (for the mega-deal)?" he asked. Gandhi alleged that the prime minister was avoiding answering these questions due to the fear that the "truth" would come out before the crucial polls in his home state. "Narendra Modiji is not replying to these questions because he wants that the truth of Rafale and Jay Shah should not come before the public ahead of the Gujarat elections," he said. "Rafale is a matter related to the Indian Air Force, national security, martyrs. Modiji will have to answer these questions before the people of the country and Gujarat," he said. The 47-year-old Amethi MP said while the media persons asked him a lot of questions, they did not do the same with the prime minister over the Rafale and Jay Shah issues. "Modiji will make many tours of Gujarat. Press reporters ask me various questions. Why don't you ask Modi about the Rafale deal and Jay Shah? The people should also ask Modiji about Rafale and Jay Shah when he comes to Gujarat," he said. The prime minister is scheduled to address a series of poll rallies in Gujarat in support of the BJP candidates next week. The 182-member Gujarat Assembly will go to the polls in two phases -- on December 9 and 14. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 18. "Generally, Parliament's (Winter) session is held every year in November and discussions (on crucial issues) take place in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. But, due to two reasons, Parliament is opening after the Gujarat polls this time. "First, (BJP chief) Amit Shah's son (Jay) converted Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in three months. Second, and a more important reason, is the Rafale deal. The entire procedure went on for the purchase of the planes and after all the discussions were over, Narendra Modi himself went to France to change the contract," he alleged. In September last year, India had inked an intergovernmental agreement with France for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The Congress had recently raised questions over the deal and accused the Modi-led BJP government of compromising on national interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer. However, the BJP had rubbished the allegations. In an article published on news portal The Wire, it was alleged that the turnover of a company owned by Jay Shah grew exponentially from Rs 50,000 to Rs 8 crore after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014. Both Amit Shah and his son have denied any wrongdoing by the company. Jay Shah has filed a criminal defamation case against the news portal. The JD(U) and the BJP are "natural" allies and the two parties will fight the 2019 polls together, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said. "When the time comes, we will sit together and divide the seats. We will fight together and Narendra Modi will be again the prime minister in 2019," he said at the India Today Conclave East here last night. He was replying to a question on whether the BJP might not feel the need for JD(U)'s support in the elections in 2019. The BJP in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Hindustani Awam Party accounts for 32 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. "Alliance is a give and take. When both the partners feel they will benefit from it then only it will work. We will fight together with Nitish Kumar-led JD (U) in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," he said. His remarks assume significance as there were some discordant voices from leaders of both the parties on seat sharing for the next general elections earlier. After a meeting with MPs from Bihar, BJP chief Amit Shah had asked partymen to strengthen it down to the booth level in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The JD(U) also appealed to its workers to brace for the contest on all the 40 seats. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and other opposition parties leaders had used the occasion to attack Nitish Kumar, claiming that he was marginalised by the saffron party to avenge an incident in 2010 when he had cancelled a dinner for BJP leaders over a tiff with Narendra Modi, the then chief minister of Gujarat. "The JD(U) and the BJP are made for each other," Sushil Modi said. "Nitish Kumar has been our partner for 17 years and again the JD(U) and the BJP have come together, it is a natural alliance," said the senior BJP leader, who also served as the deputy chief minister in the earlier NDA government. The JD(U) had severe ties with the BJP in June 2013 over the elevation of Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. After collapse of an alliance comprising the JD(U), the RJD and the Congress in July this year, Nitish Kumar and the BJP once again joined hands after four years to form a coalition in the politically sensitive state. Sushil Modi's allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family of acquiring benami properties had played an important role in the disintegration of the alliance comprising the JD (U), the Congress and the RJD. When the JD(U) and the BJP coalition was sworn in again on July 27 this year, Sushil Modi was made the deputy chief minister. The senior BJP leader dismissed speculation that a seat-sharing adjustment, in which the JD(U) would also be accommodated, might upset the sitting BJP MPs if they were denied tickets. "What is the guarantee that every MP will get party ticket a second time? And what will they do by getting upset? If people make up their mind then it hardly matters who is getting ticket or not," Sushil Modi said. Sushil Modi accused Lalu Prasad of being "chaotic, disorganised and an irresponsible man". "No gentleman can work with a person like Lalu Prasad. An unnatural alliance (of the JD(U), RJD and Congress) died a natural death. The day Nitish Kumar left the NDA, I knew this alliance (with the RJD) would not work but, I never thought it would break so soon," he claimed. Hadiya, the 25-year-old woman at the centre of Kerala's controversial "love jihad" case, on Saturday reiterated that her conversion to Islam did not involve coercion. The homoeopathy graduate from Vaikom in Kottayam district said she wanted to be with her husband Shafin Jahan. In May, the Kerala High Court had annulled their marriage. Hadiya (Akhila Ashokan, before she converted to Islam) spoke to reporters briefly at the Cochin International Airport, amid high police security, before leaving for New Delhi for a hearing at the Supreme Court, scheduled for Monday. "I want to be with my husband, I demand justice. I'm a Muslim, no one forced me to change my religion," Hadiya told reporters after she arrived at the airport with her parents, K M Ashokan and Ponnamma. She was escorted by a team of police personnel from her home in Vaikom to Kochi. Shafin Jahan had stated in a police complaint that attempts were being made to reconvert Hadiya to Hinduism. On October 30, the Supreme Court said it would hear Hadiya in the case which has triggered national interest over reported organised attempts at conversions to Islam in Kerala. Ashokan, Hadiya's father, has submitted in the apex court that his daughter was "misled and misguided" to embrace Islam and Shafin Jahan has links with radical outfits. A S Zainaba, president of the National Women's Front - women's wing of the Popular Front of India - was identified as a key figure in the Hadiya case and other cases of religious conversion in the state. Reported to have coordinated mass proselytisation at Sathya Sarani, a Malappuram-based organisation, Zainaba has denied role in Hadiya's conversion. The apex court has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe possible links of these conversion rackets with recruiters for terrorist outfits, including the IS. The Kerala government has, however, maintained that the police investigation on the case is on course and a NIA probe into the religious conversions was not required. Hadiya and family are scheduled to stay at the Kerala House In New Delhi. The BJP will stage massive protests in all the district headquarters, demanding the ouster of Mines and Geology Minister Vinay Kulkarni from the Siddaramaiah cabinet on November 27. The saffron party, which has charged Kulkarni's direct involvement in the murder of the Dharwad zilla panchayat member and its leader Yogesh Goudar, has decided to take its demand for his resignation to a logical conclusion. The decision was taken during the party core committee meeting where Karnataka election in-charge Piyush Goyal and party general secretary Muralidhar Rao impressed upon the state leaders to chalk effective strategies and ensure the removal of both Kulkarni and Bengaluru Development Minister K J George from the cabinet. Addressing the media in Bengaluru, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa demanded a CBI probe into Goudar's murder. Stating that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence against Kulkarni, he demanded that the minister's mobile phone be confiscated for forensic analysis. He also demanded the government suspend DySP Tulajappa Sulfi, who is facing charges of exerting pressure on Goudar's family to withdraw the case against the murder accused. Yeddyurappa said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had maintained a convenient silence on the charges against Kulkarni, but had strongly defended his other ministerial colleague George, who is facing charges in the death of DySP M K Ganapathi. Party conventions The BJP will be organising three conventions in Bengaluru on December 10 and 17, and January 7, ahead of its massive rally on January 28, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Central leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley are scheduled to participate in the precursor rallies. The party has, so far, completed its Nava Karnataka Nirmana Parivartan Yatra in six districts covering 50 constituencies. On December 21, the party will host a convention in Hubballi where Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is said to participate. Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a dig at Narendra Modi after Pakistan released 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed from house arrest saying the prime minister's relationship with US President Donald Trump was failed "hugplomacy". "Narendrabhai, baat nahi bani (things didn't work out). Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just de-linked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed," Rahul said on Twitter. The BJP hit back at Rahul accusing him of siding with terrorists and wondering whether the Congress vice president had "congratulated Hafeez saheb" on his release from house arrest. "Rahul baba, aadate nahin badli (your habits have not changed). For once, stand with the country & not with terrorists as is your habit. You are a known sympathiser of LeT. WikiLeaks & Ishrat Jahan case cover-up exposed your links. BTW, have you congratulated your 'Hafeez Saheb's' on his release yet," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said. He was referring to a remark by AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh who had called the LeT boss 'Hafeez saheb'. "Was it not on Family's orders that @PChidambaram_IN changed affidavits giving a clean chit to LeT operative Ishrat Jahan killed in assassination bid on @narendramodi ji? What was @INCIndia's motive in bailing out LeT, Ishrat ignoring NSA? Rahul, speak up," Rao said on Twitter. The Congress vice president's remarks and the BJP retort came a day after Pakistan released Saeed, the founder of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, from house arrest. Last week, the US Congress had also passed a bill that sought to de-link the activities of the Haqqani terrror network from that of the LeT. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma hit back at the BJP recalling the "sacrifices" of late prime minister Indira Gandhi and former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi. Sharma said it was Modi who went to Pakistan as a wedding guest and got the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase as a "gift". Vice President Venkaiah Naidu denounced threats to filmmakers and actors in the wake of the row over Padmavati, saying violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm is not acceptable in a democracy. Inaugurating a literary festival, Naidu said, "There is now a new problem over some films which people feel have hurt the sentiments of some religions or communities, which then leads to protests. While protesting, some people go overboard and announce rewards." Naidu said, "Whether these fellows have that much money, I doubt. Everyone is announcing Rs 1 crore reward. Is it so easy to get Rs 1 crore?" Naidu did not directly refer to the ongoing row over Padmavati. But it was clear he was alluding to certain groups - and some BJP leaders - who have made threats to Padmavati's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and lead actress Deepika Padukone, seeking a stay on the release of the film. "You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities... you cannot physically obstruct and give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law," he said, speaking at a literary festival. He stressed, however, that he was not talking about one particular film but speaking in a general sense. Naidu, however, took the names of some films that were banned in the past, such as Garam Hawa, Kissa Kursi Ka and Aandhi. The vice president also warned against selective condemnation and said it was wrong to link the issue to religion. The Goa government has decided to formulate a heritage conservation policy for Portuguese-era structures in the state. Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai said on Saturday that the policy would be framed after consulting experts in the field. He said the policy would not only document the existing heritage structures but will also work to give them a new lease of life. The minister informed that the Department of Archives and Archaeology could also be roped in to restore the dilapidated structures if they are covered under the policy. "Incentives would be introduced for those who have conserved their ancestral structures with heritage and architectural value," he said. He said the state-based Charles Correa Foundation, which has been working towards heritage conservation, has been requested by the government to document and list heritage buildings across Goa. "The structures would be graded by the foundation. They had started grading the heritage houses in Panaji much before we approached them. We have now asked them to extend scope of their work to other places too," Sardesai said. The coastal state has several hundred houses with the Indo-Portuguese architecture, built during colonial rule. With the first phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail ready to roll from November 28, the Telangana state government is preparing to pose the second phase of the project to funder Japan International Cooperative Agency (JAICA). Under the second phase, the government proposes to expand metro up to Hyderabad Airport and connect the city to neighbouring towns. The 30-km stretch of the total 72-km-long first phase is ready for launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The remaining stretch of this phase under Public Private Partnership (PPP) is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2018. State Urban Development Minister K Taraka Ramarao, who took elected representatives on a trial run from Nagole Mettuguda stations on Saturday, told mediapersons that the government is keen on expanding metro. He said that he will be visiting Japan next year to hold talks with JAICA. Confirming the proposal, Shivanand Nimbargi, MD & CEO, L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited (LTMRHL), said the pre-feasibility studies are underway. II Phase The LTMRHL said that the construction major L&T, which is already here, would be interested in the 2nd phase. The company is already helping the government with technical inputs. "We are in the initial stage. We are doing studies and exploring different possibilities and financial opportunities, including JAICA," said N V S Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) Limited. The state government has gone on record that it is considering a new proposal where 60% of the cost for the metro project will be met through external loans, while the Centre and the state governments will chip in 20% each. Billed as one of the world's biggest metro rail projects under PPP, the first phase was taken up in 2012 at a cost of Rs 14,132 crore. Two persons, including a woman, died on the spot in an accident near Kumsi, Shivamogga taluk, on the Sagar-Shivamogga stretch of NH-206 on Saturday. According to police, the deceased are M Lokesh (35,) who was serving as a section officer in the Energy department secretariat in Bengaluru, and Netravathi, (34), an employee in the Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru. The accident took place when Lokesh, who was driving a car, lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree by the road, while trying to avoid hitting a cow at around 2.30 pm. It is said they were on their way to Jog Falls from Bengaluru to spend their weekend. Police said the husband of the woman had lodged a complaint at the Vijayanagar police station in Bengaluru, saying that his wife had gone missing from their house since November 22. The Kumsi police have registered a case and are investigating. Lake borders sacred no more Shock, anger and extreme frustration greeted the legislature panel revelation that 10,785 acres or almost a fifth of Bengaluru's lake area has been encroached. But why did the government sit on the panel's recommendations on reviving those lost areas, expert advice submitted 18 months ago? This is a critical question that demands immediate answers. In 18 months, much could have been done to address those encroachments. But beyound short-term, cosmetic measures, precious little was done, notes senior scientist Dr T V Ramachandra from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, who, as an active member of the panel, had offered well-researched scientific inputs on ways to arrest the dramatic decline of the city lakes. Lake connectivity De-silting and establishing the connectivity between the lakes was a key input. "The Rajakaluves have to be cleared at any cost. Diverting them is suicidal. Any concession on this front looks like guided by political motives. This give and take policy is just not acceptable," says Dr Ramachandra. In total disregard to the National Greens Tribunal (NGT) order, the buffer zones around the Rajakaluve linking the Bellandur and Varthur lakes have been encroached. This violation is both by private interests and by government-sanctioned projects. "They talk about inter-linking of rivers. First, let them demonstrate how they can re-establish the links between the city lakes." Mafia back in action Demolition of illegal structures on encroachments had created much hype. But once it died down and faded from public memory, the encroachment mafia is back at its old game. The tell-tale signs of its deeds are visible on lake areas across the city. Construction debris and solid waste are being dumped, some under the cover of darkness and some, openly. The encroachment pattern is similar across water bodies: Debris is dumped surreptitiously or otherwise; mud is overlaid and the land compressed over months. Once it settles adequately, the earthmovers and monster drillers come in. This has been clearly visible on the wetlands of Bellandur lake for years, a pattern visible now in Varthur lake as well. Well-oiled nexus The house panel has named the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) as one of the biggest offenders. Residential societies were built over 41 lakes. But officials of civic agencies were also hand-in-glove with private builders, allowing huge apartments to come up, violating every norm. Land records were fabricated and maps altered. Insiders say local corporators are also often part of this mafia, striking a deal of silence in return for a few flats. Official apathy in lake upkeep has been another key factor in promoting encroachments. For instance, the Pattandur Agrahara lake, the Bagalagunte lake, Sadaramangala lake and the water body in Hoodi are in a deplorable state. For several years now, no official has turned up to undertake restoration work. Official apathy It has been almost 20 years since the Pattandur Agrahara lake in Kadugodi dried up and started losing a part of its area to encroachers. Recently, hundreds of people and schoolchildren living near the lake formed a human chain and protested against the indiscriminate dumping of debris. Citizens had complained that about 50 loads of debris are dumped every night. Even the local corporator, S Muniswamy joined the protest. Although the dumping of debris has stopped for now, the lake survey or restoration work is yet to begin, say the residents. "We have learnt that the government is planning to build a road cutting through the lake. This is a clear violation of the NGT rule, which bans construction of any structure in the buffer zone of the water bodies," says Sandeep Anirudhan, who had initiated the protests. A new link road is being constructed from Varthur Kodi main road to 80 feet ITPL main road. This will not only lead to felling of hundreds of trees but also pass right through the lake and a school nearby. Buffer zone encroachments The case of Bagalagunte lake near Dasarahalli Metro station is even worse. It has been dead for a while now. The recent rains had filled up the lake. Yet, it has now been transformed into a garbage dumping yard, laments a local resident. Another localite points to a slum with several houses that has emerged right on the lake bed, earmarked as the buffer zone. The Sadaramangala lake near Hoodi is another case in point. Residents there had complained against private encroachments that were even drawing water illegally from the lake. The BBMP has now begun a survey to restore and rejuvenate the lake. This lake too was filled up after the heavy rains. "We hope that the lake revival efforts will bear fruit," says Balachandran, a resident actively involved in mobilizing support to save the lake. The CMR National Public School hosted a theme design thinking challenge titled 'CMR for Better Bangalore' on its premises in Kalyan Nagar on Saturday. "The series of innovative products designed by the students were the result of the design thinking workshops that the students attended over a period of eight weeks. They used the hands-on iterative process to help the differently abled participate actively in society," said a press release. "The students were given an opportunity to interact with differently abled people from various walks of life, thus giving them the time and space to empathise with the issues faced by the physically challenged community," it said. The school also launched 'The Makery' - its on-campus Makerspace to encourage the students to translate their ideas and innovate by providing them the right opportunities and tools. Citizens campaign against encroachers, yet efforts flounder Encroachment of lakes and storm water drains (SWDs) in Bengaluru has assumed monstrous proportions in recent years. Result: Large parts of the city have now been left extremely vulnerable to inundation and floods, as illustrated by the copious rainfall over the last few months. To know what exactly this means to the man on the street, DH spoke to a few Bengalureans. One of them, Ameeruddin D A, a teacher and long-time resident near Sarakki lake in JP Nagar, has this to say: "The land mafia and the public as well are largely responsible for encroachment of lakes." He describes the process that put Sarakki lake in dire straits: "Over a long period they began dumping sand and built many buildings to occupy the land illegally. The government has not been vigilant enough to evict these occupants. The lake is now dying slowly." Shreya Praveen, a Residents Welfare Association member in Sector 7 of HSR layout speaks for the residents of 197 apartments. "We are facing the issue of illegal construction on the storm water drain here and fighting it. Constructing any sort of structure over the drains will not allow periodic inspections and de-silting of the drains," she explains. Citizens and RWAs, she says, can play a vital role since public service personnel are stretched in their roles. "Need of the hour are technology-enabled platforms where citizen forums can login real-time challenges of illegal construction/encroachments. This can trigger complaints and can allow the respective authority personnel to address these challenges," notes Shreya. B N S Ratnakar, an independent financial consultant says, "Storm water drains are important outlets not only for draining the water during rains but also a conduit for flooded lake water to enter the city areas. They must be laid scientifically and maintained well." According to him, RWAs and other citizen forums play an important role in completing the efforts of civic agencies. "Their support should be enlisted at all stages to ensure effective management of storm water drains. Encroachments across the city must be cleared and severe penalties must be imposed on errant citizens. The BBMP should also educate the public through various media about proper maintenance of drains." Muralidhar Kopparam, RWA secretary of HSR layout sector 1, talks about encroachments by both the government and the public. "In many cases, the land mafia has shifted the drain itself. However, the BBMP has not taken any action against them. Even the BDA has encroached many areas," he explains. The scope for RWAs and citizen driven initiatives is limited if the civic agencies remain non-responsive or demand bribes to do the work they are supposed to do. "Whenever we meet higher officials, they talk positively and build up our hopes. However no action actually takes place on the ground," points out Muralidhar. Siddharth Varma, a psychologist wants civic agencies to do more. "All they seem to do is dig up roads to lay pipes and leave behind a mess. I doubt there is a single place in the city which has an efficient SWD. The water will obviously stagnate when it has nowhere to go, which leads to deterioration of roads," he says, suggesting an interconnected drainage system which runs below the roads. Businessman Sunil Malapat, who lives in Whitefield near Sadaramangala lake says, "There is a group of people who are trying to work closely with authorities to save Sadaramangala lake. However, there are vested interests within the government who make sure things don't get going." The citizens had taken up this issue with multiple government authorities. "Everyone does sugar-coating and talks sweetly in public forums. On the ground no work happens. Encroachment can be seen all across Sadaramangala lake. In the last 5-6 years the lake is getting smaller and smaller," he says. He is convinced that a nexus between government officials, elected representatives and the land mafia are all out to grab the lake in any way possible. "Even grabbing a few acres gets them a fortune, so they do it." A 23-year-old destitute woman hailing from Nepal was gang-raped in Anekal, on the outskirts of the city, on Thursday. The incident came to light on Saturday when a volunteer from an NGO noticed the petrified woman sitting at a bus stand in Avadadevanahalli. The volunteer put her in touch with the police. The woman is homeless. Taking up odd jobs, she has been living in Bengaluru since 2003, a senior police officer said. On Thursday, when she was sleeping at a bus shelter, a group of four to five men dragged her into a dilapidated house and raped her, taking turns. They brutally assaulted her and fled when she fell unconscious. The gang also ripped off and burnt her clothes, police said. She regained consciousness the next morning and was sitting in a daze at the bus stand. She is now being treated at a hospital in Shivajinagar. The Anekal police have registered a case, and are awaiting medical reports. "We have some leads. We are in the process of identifying the accused," said Amit Singh, superintendent of police. BMTC employees have charged that the money deducted from their salary towards insurance have not been paid to the Life Insurance Corporation for the past six months. "There are 34,281 staffers in the corporation. Deductions are made in their salary every month towards insurance. Totally, the corporation deducts Rs 3 crore, but the money is being spent for other purposes," said H V Anantasubba Rao, general secretary, KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation. 'This is misuse' According to Rao, the employees have received text messages on their phones, stating that the insurance payments have not been made. "This is misuse. The BMTC should make payments to the LIC immediately and pay any fines incurred due to the delay," he said. Noting that the employees will not get insurance if the policy is allowed to lapse, he said the LIC will reject claims made by them. "Then, the BMTC should settle the claims," he has written to BMTC managing director, V Ponnuraj. RTI activist Srinivas said it was not the first time that the BMTC has diverted the insurance money for other purposes. "The corporation is running on losses for several years now. They are playing with the lives of employees by not making insurance payments," he said. Mines and Geology Minister Vinay Kulkarni and Labour Minister Santosh Lad stayed away from the centenary celebration programme of the Karnatak College, Dharwad (KCD) on Saturday after a Supreme Court judge refused to share the dais with the two 'tainted' ministers at the event. According to the invitation, Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar had to inaugurate the programme. Ministers Kulkarni, Lad, Basavaraj Rayareddi and H K Patil were the chief guests for the programme. Though, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi and RDPR Minister H K Patil attended the programme, Kulkarni and Lad stayed away. Sources in the KCD said that when Rayareddi went to invite Justice Shantanagoudar for the programme, the judge clearly instructed him not to allow ministers Kulkarni and Lad to sit along side with him. This instruction from Justice Shantanagoudar was reportedly due to Kulkarni's name being linked to the murder of the local BJP leader and Dharwad Zilla Panchayat member Yogishgouda Goudar. The sources said that Rayareddi tried his best to convince Justice Shantangoudar. However, the judge stuck to his decision and told Rayareddi that he would not attend the programme, if Kulkarni participated. This caused huge embarrassment to the Higher Education Minister, who later called up Kulkarni asking him not to attend the programme. In his inaugural speech, Justice Shantanagoudar referred to the name of all the dignitaries but skipped those of Kulkarni and Lad. Rayareddi reacts Speaking to reporters after the inaugural ceremony, Rayareddi stated that as serious allegations have been levelled against Kulkarni and Lad, the two ministers themselves decided not to share the dais with the Supreme Court judge, and hence did not attend the programme. Similar to steel flyover beda campaign, another silent campaign against the construction of Shivananda Circle flyover was organised against the construction of flyover at Kumara Park on Saturday. The residents living near the circle along with some volunteers who are working for the same cause came out in protest against the construction of the flyover. Dr. Nalini Krishnan, long time resident of the area said "I've been here 61 years, if the government doesn't know how to make this city better, the least they could do is not make it worse with such unnecessary flyovers. We can't sit quietly when such terrible projects are thrust upon us when there is no need." "We do not support the project which creates more harm than help. They are spending about Rs 50 crore on the project which is of no use. We believe building flyovers is not the solution to ease the traffic problem but creating efficient public transportation system is," said Srinivas Alavilli of Citizens for Bengaluru organisation. The protesters have decided to meet the area corporator to discuss the issue next week. First Look Of Manchu Vishnu's 'Voter' Featuring Prominent Politicians Revealed Worried officials to mobilise president-level security for Ivanka's India visit US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump will get president-level security during her visit to India amid a heightened threat perception, authorities revealed on Friday. Ivanka, who is an advisor to the US President, will on 28 November address the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre in Hitec City, which houses several US technology giants. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the summit. The Hyderabad Police is making elaborate arrangements for the visit of PM Modi and Ivanka to the city next week. During his day-long visit, Modi would inaugurate the Hyderabad metro rail project and also the three-day GES. During her visit, Ivanka will use three of her own vehicles while a total of 2,200 police personnel would be deployed for the two events. The eighth annual GES will highlight the theme 'Women First, Prosperity for All' this year, and focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and fostering global economic growth. Ivanka Trump was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, and she will lead the US delegation to the summit. Talking about the arrangements for this visit, Hyderabad police commissioner V V Srinivasa Rao told media the prime minister will arrive on 28 November and inaugurate the Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd project at Miyapur. After this, he will inaugurate the GES. Modi and Ivanka will also attend a special dinner at the Falaknuma Palace in the old city on 28 November along with 100 special guests. The dinner will be served on a Nizam-era table at which 101 people can sit. The palace is now a plush hotel. A separate dinner has been arranged for about 1,500-2,000 delegates on the lawns of the 19th century palace, Rao said. Reports say Ivanka Trump may attend the GES on 29 November and leave the city the same night. ( See: Tillerson to skip Hyderabad GES meet in 'snub to White House') Govt to invite bids for 20,000 MW wind power capacity The government on Friday announced plans to invite bids for its third wind power auction and also announced the road map for achieving the targets of commissioning 175 GW of renewable energy, including100 GW of solar generating capacity and 60 GW of wind power, by 2022. Elaborating the RE development road map, Anand Kumar, secretary MNRE, said the ministry, along with the states, would lay out bids for ground mounted solar parks for 20 GW in 2017-18. Out of this 3.6 GW have already been bid out, 3 GW will be bid out in December 2017, 3 GW will be bid out in January 2018, 5 GW in February 2018 and 6 GW in March 2018, he said. Another 30 GW will be bid out in 2018-19 and 30 GW in 2019-20, he added. Further, Kumar said that against the target of 60 GW for wind power, 32 GW have already been commissioned. The central government in participation with the state governments intends to issue bids of cumulative capacity of about 8 GW this year. Out of this, 5 GW (including present 2 GW) have already been bid out, 1,500-2,000 MW will be bid out in January 2018 and 1,500-2,000 MW in March 2018. A total of 10 GW will be bid out in the financial year 2018 and another 10 GW in 2019, leaving a margin of 2 years for commissioning of projects. Kumar said his ministry would soon be issuing the guidelines for bidding at wind power auctions. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under the union ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), meanwhile, signed power supply agreements with utilities of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab, Goa and Odisha. Addressing a function in the capital, union minister of state for power and new and renewable energy Raj Kumar Singh said his ministry will soon issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the industry for establishing domestic capacity of 20 GW, which will also meet `Make in India' goals. He pointed to the industry's long pending demand to declare the government's renewable energy roadmap. He said the government intends to speed up renewable energy capacity installation in the country and strengthen the RE manufacturing base in India. Further, he said, the MNRE is exploring innovative ways to achieve additional installed renewable capacity through floating solar power plants over dams, offshore wind energy systems and hybrid solar-wind power systems, which may provide over 10GW additional capacity. He said an MNRE team of experts has already surveyed the Bhakra Nangal dam for floating solar power plants and off-shore Gujarat and Tamil Nadu for wind power plants, the minister added. The minister expressed confidence in achieving a minimum RE target of 175GW by 2022 and even exceeding it, along with providing 24x7 affordable, clean and efficient power for all. Singh said these targets would be achieved with the cooperation of the states while ensuring that their power utilities (Discoms) remain financially viable. The centre has provided all the required support, including funds under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), to the states to ensure `24x7 Power for All' by strengthening the intra-state transmission networks and by ensuring mandatory presence of metered connections, he said. The ministry is in talks with the states to ensure 100 per cent metered connections through smart/pre-paid meters, Singh added. Singh emphasised the need to states and discoms ensuring that power purchase agreements (PPAs) are mandatorily honoured. He said his ministry is in constant talks with state governments, including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, to ensure that PPAs are honoured. He also spoke of the need to strictly adhere to the renewable power purchase obligations (RPOs) in order to ensure success of the programme. Kumar also said that with wind power tariffs becoming competitive and state Discoms encouraged to buy more of renewable power, the government has doubled the auction capacity for the third national level wind auction from 4GW last year to around 9GW in the current year. Regarding clarity on GST rates on solar panels, Kumar said the MNRE is in talks with the ministry of finance and in the next 7-10 days all the issues would be resolved. The present scheme of wind power auction is for setting up of 2,000 MW wind power project connected to inter-state transmission system (ISTS). The bidder can bid for a minimum capacity of 50 MW and maximum up to 400 MW. The projects under this scheme are expected to be commissioned towards the end of 2019. On the occasion, power sale agreements (PSA) for purchase of wind power under second wind auction with states were also signed with Solar Energy Corporation of India with utilities of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab, Goa and Odisha. The reverse auction for SECI-II wind bid was conducted on 4 October 2017, which resulted in very competitive tariff of Rs2.64/2.65 per unit. It may be mentioned that the winners of SECI II wind bid included: Renew Power (250 MW at Rs2.64/unit), Orange (200 MW at Rs2.64 per unit), Inox (250 MW at Rs2.65 per unit), Green Infra (250 MW at Rs2.65 per unit) and Adani Green (50 MW at Rs2.65 per unit) would be setting up wind power plants in states of Gujarat, TN and MP to sell power to these utilities. PPAs with these winners are expected to be signed shortly. New FFA officers Future Farmers of America from Marianna High School have elected officers for the 1973-1974 school year. The group is under the leadership of Leon Nobles. Officers are: Marcus Chatwood, reporter; Sid Hardy, president; Alex Sims, vice president; Donnie Mercer, parliamentarian; Tommy Melvin, treasurer; Wiley Barnes, sentinel; Ronald Tanner, chaplain; Tim Folsom, secretary. Jackson County Floridan, Friday, Nov. 23, 1973 Calhoun votes on wet-dry issue On Nov. 27, a Wet-Dry election will be held in Calhoun County to determine whether sale of intoxicating liquor shall be prohibited in the county, and if not prohibited, to determine the method of sale. County residents are asked to vote. Jackson County Floridan, Friday, Nov. 23, 1973 Bible presented In accordance with National Bible Week this week, Mrs. Larry Harris of the Home Life department of the Marianna Junior Womans Club presented a large Bible to Mrs. Eileen Bramlett, R.N., director of nurses at the Marianna Convalescent Center. The Bible will be used by Center residents. Jackson County Floridan, Friday, Nov. 23, 1973 Kidnappers sought in Georgia South Georgia authorities pressed a search today for three young men who abducted the wife and daughter of a Methodist minister. Ms. Jackie Nelson, 44, and her 16-year-old daughter, Debbie, were released unharmed Thursday, after being held hostage more than 30 hours. The women told police their kidnappers released them on a rural road more than 100 miles south of their home in Jonesboro, an Atlanta suburb. The men fled in a white Cadillac, they said. Jackson County Floridan, Friday, Nov. 23, 1973 RICHMOND, Va. - Two weeks ago, I encouraged readers to keep your casserole-loving selves in check by filling your Thanksgiving plates with side dishes heavy on roasted root vegetables, lightly breaded and baked Brussels sprouts, and simple gratins void of butter and gobs of cheese? Yeah, well, leftovers dont necessarily count. Many people look forward to the days after Thanksgiving because mashing a variety of foods together into one bowl or between bread slices and drenching everything in rich gravy is, at least where I come from, typically more accepted on those days rather than at the main event. But before you skip off to the kitchen on Friday (and again on Saturday, maybe) to construct a five-layer meal with no discernible resemblance to anything you ate on Thanksgiving, consider a few other ways to use up those beloved turkey day leftovers. For example, you could fill roasted and charred poblano peppers with cheesy leftover mashed potatoes and corn. Hand pies turn into convenient, portable lunches and can be made either savory or sweet think turkey, stuffing and a little gravy for some, then leftover sweet potato casserole for others. (We all know that casserole is basically dessert disguised as a vegetable, anyway.) Then theres the cranberry sauce. So lovely on its own, the leftovers can be used for so many things whipped into compound butters, slathered on those aforementioned unrecognizable sandwiches or baked into cakes and cookies for dessert, pancakes and waffles for breakfast. But, and I may be going out on a limb here, what if you added that cranberry sauce to ... homemade ice cream? My friends, welcome to the reason you make (or buy) cranberry sauce this year. In fact, if you intentionally keep the cranberry sauce tucked away behind the turkey and mashed potatoes where no one can find it on Thanksgiving Day, and then later make ice cream with it, likely no one will care. Cranberries and cream strike an amazing combo here, so pull out the ice cream maker you havent seen since July and let it do most of the work. This works with both smooth and chunky cranberry sauce, though Im partial to the chunky. Depending on your ice cream makers instructions, you can add the sauce at the beginning or the end of the process, but either way, that crimson color is a thing of beauty. Throw in some dark or white chocolate chips and youve got a magical dessert experience suitable for any lingering holiday house guests. And an icy treat is the perfect complement to the stuffed peppers youll make for dinner. Not that poblanos are very spicy. On the official Scoville heat scale, they rank just below jalapenos, with just a slight kick. To elevate their smoky flavor, you can roast the peppers first just a few minutes under the broiler, until their skins are charred and blistered but its not necessary. Slice down the middle, take out the seeds and membranes and then stuff them with leftover mashed potatoes (why not use up the corn, too) followed by your favorite cheeses before baking. Serve with chunky salsa or sour cream, or simply eat them on their own. Poblanos are large enough that one pepper per person makes an excellent side dish. Lastly, the hand pies. If youre like me, you tend to have a package of ready-made pie crusts on hand for those moments when youre not up to making crusts from scratch. Or maybe in the midst of the pumpkin-pie prepping for Thanksgiving Day, you made one or two extras. Either way, once the feast is over, pull out those extra crusts and stuff them with all sorts of leftovers. I found that sweet potato casserole is the perfect filling because you dont have to add any additional ingredients. Receive emails for Trending news. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As a clever colleague pointed out, serving the hand pies warm from the oven with a scoop of cranberry ice cream would be sublime. And chances are, this time around, there will be no leftovers. More recipes Sweet Potato Hand Pies To save time and effort after a day of cooking on Thanksgiving, use pre-made pie crusts for these convenient, tasty hand pies. Sweet potato casserole works well, since it's already sweetened. Makes 10 to 12 hand pies. 2 pre-made or from-scratch pie crusts 2 cups leftover sweet potato casserole cup heavy or whipping cream 2 tablespoons sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough and cut into roughly 4-inch circles with a large biscuit cutter or wide-mouthed glass. You may need to reroll scraps as you go. Place 5 or 6 circles on a baking sheet. Top each circle with a scant tablespoon of sweet potato casserole and place another circle on top. Crimp the edges together with a fork. Spread heavy or whipping cream on tops and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until tops are golden-brown. Holly Prestidge Cranberry Ice Cream Ice cream makers vary, so follow your machine's instructions. The cranberry flavor is subtle, but feel free to add white or dark chocolate chips or ribbons of chocolate fudge to complement it. Makes approximately gallon. 1 cup whole milk or half-and-half cup sugar 2 cups heavy cream 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 cups cranberry sauce (chunky is better) cup chocolate chips, optional Combine whole milk or half-and-half with sugar and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Pour in heavy cream and vanilla. Turn on ice cream maker and add contents to the bowl. Follow your machine's instructions for when to add other ingredients. I added the cranberry sauce and chocolate chips about 5 minutes before the ice cream was finished churning. For better consistency, freeze immediately for at least 2 hours or overnight. Holly Prestidge A DUNDALK man who was involved in four car accidents and suffers from chronic pain has welcomed the Department of Health's decision to grant a license to treat chronic pain with medicinal cannabis. Former Colaiste Ris Secondary School teacher Gerry Malone was diagnosed with chronic pain in 2002. The Blackrock man told The Dundalk Democrat that would like Louth TDs to fully support the legalisation of medicinal cannabis. I've got spinal issues. I was knocked down when I was 28-years-old in Dublin and four years later in Castlebellingham, said Gerry. I was knocked down when I was six-years-old in Blackrock but thankfully I was fine after it. The final straw was when a car crashed into the back of mine on Clanbrassil Street in 2002. That last incident triggered a lot of issues. Within three months of that accident I had severe back pain. The Department of Health has approved a three-month licence for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for the treatment of severe chronic pain, a move which has been hailed as an important development by medical professionals and campaigners. Presently, it's illegal to use medicinal cannabis for medical reasons in Ireland, however, a patients consultant can apply to the Minister for Health for a licence on a case by case basis. At the moment I'm using the second highest pain killer available. I don't want to use the strongest one because it has too many side effects, said Gerry. Medicinal cannabis should be made available as an option to people like myself and others in need. 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Pope Francis and World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit have condemned the "brutal" attack at a mosque in Egypt during which 305 were kllled on Nov. 24. People fleeing an explosion were gunned down at a Sufi mosque in Egypt's North Sinai region, according to multiple news sources, in what appears to be the deadliest terror attack ever on Egyptian soil on Nov. 24. Francis sent a telegram of condolence for the attack, saying he was "profoundly grieved to learn of the great loss of life caused by the terrorist attacks on Rawda mosque in North Sinai. The Pope also renewed "his firm condemnation of this wanton act of brutality directed at innocent civilians gathered in prayer". The pontiff said he joins "all people of good will in imploring that hearts hardened by hatred will learn to renounce the way of violence that leads to such great suffering, and embrace the way of peace." And in a letter to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr Ahmad al-Tayyeb on Nov. 25, Tveit said, We pray that our Lord grants them comfort and healing," He wrote, "We condemn strongly this tragic attack against our Muslim brothers during prayer time, in a place of worship dedicated to peace and devotion." Egyptian security forces were hunting for the attackers of a Sufi mosque during Friday prayers in the northern Sinai, a military source said, after the brutal and lethal assault. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Egypt would respond to the attack on al Rawdah mosque with "brute force" CNN reported Nov. 24. Some 109 others were injured, Egyptian State media reported. It was the deadliest attack of its kind since an Islamist insurgency in the peninsula was stepped up in 2013, BBC reported. No group has yet claimed the attack, but extremists affiliated with so-called Islamic State (IS) have been responsible for so many deadly attacks in the province. They usually target security forces and Christian churches, and the bloody attack on a mosque associated with Sufi Muslims shocked Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Church, representing some 11 million Egyptian Christians was quick to denounce the attack. A Coptic Orthodox Church spokesperson said the Church condemned "the flagrant attack that targeted worshipers in Deir Al-Abd's Al-Rawda mosque," Ahram reported. "We pray to God that Egypt is preserved from such unprecedented brutal terrorism," the Christian statement read. The attack triggered a new element into Egypt's struggle with extremists because most of the victims were Sufi Muslims, who practice a mystical form of Islam that the Islamic State and other Sunni extremist groups deem heretical, The New York Times reported. The Times commented that it underscored the failure of President el-Sisi, who has justified his harsh crackdown on political freedom in the name of crushing Islamic militancy, to deliver on his promises of security. The gunmen had set up "ambush" locations and opened fire on ambulances as they were transporting wounded worshipers from al-Rawdah toward al-Arish before the arrival of security services, eyewitnesses reported, according to CNN. The mosque that was attacked is known for being the birthplace of Sheikh Eid al-Jariri, a Sufi cleric considered the founder of Sufism in the Sinai peninsula. No-one had claimed responsibility for the attacks but IS has targeted Sufis in the past. PKK-supporter USs dirty history in Syria All these years US armed terrorists for its own benefits in Syria, they now stated they will stop providing guns to PKK. Following the phone call between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that US will no longer provide arms to terror organization PKK in Syria. President Erdogan and Donald Trump discussed recent developments in Syria, during a phone call on Friday. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference in Ankara: "Our discomfort regarding the provision of weapons to the YPG was conveyed to Mr. Trump once again. Trump very clearly said he had given instructions to not provide weapons to the YPG. We welcome the promise of not providing weapons to the YPG, and want to see it implemented practically." Trump: No weapons will be given to PKK/YPG Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu gives details of telephone conversation between President Erdogan and Donald Trump. Cavusoglu said, one of the topics that negatively affected Turkey-US ties the most, were the weapons that Washington supplied to the PKK/YPG. Minister said that President Trump relayed his decision during a telephone conversation between the leaders on Friday. THIS NONSENSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENDED BEFORE Cavusoglu was present in President Erdogan's office during the telephone call. He stated that "President Trump clearly stated that weapons will not be given to YPG anymore and said that essentially this nonsense should have been ended before." "Our discomfort regarding the provision of weapons to the YPG was conveyed to President Trump once again. He very clearly said that he had given instructions to not provide weapons to the YPG." Following the phone call, President Erdogan tweeted: "I had a productive phone conversation with the US President Donald Trump today." Bella Hadid and Drake are no longer talking, according to a new report. Weeks after the alleged couple was seen spending time with together at the 21-year-old model's birthday party in New York City, a source claims they are completely estranged after the "Hotline Bling" rapper reportedly ghosted her after their brief fling. Things ended over text when he basically ghosted her, a source told Us Weekly magazine. While a source close to the rapper claimed that he and Hadid were nothing more than friends, other insiders have said that the two of them were casually dating up until recently. Bella Hadid And The Weeknd May Have Become Single At The Same Time As Hadid's relationship with Drake came to an abrupt end at the end of October, so did the romance between Hadid's ex-boyfriend, The Weeknd, and his former girlfriend, Selena Gomez. As fans will recall, The Weeknd dated Gomez for 10 months and the couple was believed to be living together up until their split at the end of October. Following the breakup, The Weeknd seemingly retaliated against Gomez and her new (and old) boyfriend, Justin Bieber, by spending time with Bieber's former flame, Yovanna Ventura, at a club in Los Angeles earlier this month. As Us Weekly magazine revealed, the two were photographed together on Friday, November 10, and the previous day, they attended French Montanas birthday party. The Weeknd was there hand in hand with Yovanna Ventura all night, a source told the magazine at the time. They arrived together. They were holding hands. He was there for a solid two hours with her and everywhere they went they held hands. Bella Hadid And The Weeknd Reunited Last Week In NYC After The Weeknd's outing with Ventura, the musician traveled to New York City and reunited with Bella Hadid at her apartment. Shortly therafter, Gomez appeared to respond to the outing by unfollowing her former boyfriend on Instagram. Hadid's reunion with The Weeknd came just days before the model flew to Shanghai, China with her fellow models, including Adriana Lima, Elsa Hosk, and Karlie Kloss, to tape the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. While Hadid's older sister, Gigi, was supposed to walk in the show, she pulled out at the last minute and told fans she looked forward to returning to the catwalk next year. Kylie Jenner is reportedly not handling her pregnancy very well as she allegedly prepares to welcome her first child with boyfriend, Travis Scott. Travis Scott To Blame? A source claims that the 20-year-old Keeping Up With the Kardashians star and lip kit creator Jenner is at a very low point" in her life. However, according to a source, her emotional state has to do with how she looks at the moment while reportedly pregnant with Scott. "She is really bummed out, a source told Radar Online on Nov. 22. She is horrified at how her body has ballooned up, and it really bothers her that she cannot fit into any of her clothes. She thinks that she looks hideous right now. Jenner is reportedly having a hard time with her new shape and allegedly can't stop crying. However, rather than do her best to stay healthy and in shape throughout her pregnancy, the reality star is said to be indulging in junk food as remains holed up at her home in Hidden Hills, California. Kylie doesnt even want to leave the house right now and is telling her family that she is going to stay inside until she is skinny again, the source told Radar Online. Shes also terrified about becoming a mom because she doesnt know how to raise a baby! She just wants this whole pregnancy thing to be over, but she knows that she still has a long way to go. Kylie Jenner Barely Seen In Public Since rumors began swirling in regards to her pregnancy, the reality star has rarely been seen in public. Whenever she steps out, she's wearing a very baggy clothing. As for her ongoing social media feed, she hasn't shown much of her body in months. Recent speculation suggests she is expecting a baby girl. Meanwhile, Kylie Jenner has also not been seen with her boyfriend, Scott, a whole lot in recent months, which is likely due to his busy touring schedule. Jenner and Scott stuck up a romance that appeared to many to be a rebound romance just weeks after Jenner split from Tyga. Then, just months later, Jenner began facing pregnancy rumors, which she failed to address. To see more of Kylie Jenner and her family, including sisters Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner, tune into new episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians season 14 on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on the E! Network. No word yet on whether Kylie Jenner's pregnancy will be addressed during the current season of the popular reality show. It looks like Jenelle Evans had a Happy Thanksgiving this year. Unfortunately, the Teen Mom 2 star may have been forced to celebrate the holiday without her oldest son. Jenelle Evans Celebrates Thanksgiving Without Jace The longtime reality star posted a family photo on Thursday that featured her two youngest children, 3-year-old Kaiser and 10-month-old Ensley, her husband David Eason, as well as Eason's oldest daughter, Maryssa. Apparently, her oldest son, Jace, was not seen in the photo with the rest of the family. "Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! Hope everyone had a great day like we did! #GobbleGobble @easondavid88," Evans wrote in the caption of her Nov. 23 photo. Evans and Eason have a blended family of five children including Eason's middle child, son Kaden. However, Kaden hasn't been seen much and doesn't appear to be living with the couple at their home in North Carolina. Lost Custody Battle It has been months now since Evans' mother, Barbara Evans, was granted full custody of 8-year-old Jace. In May of this year, Evans and her mother went to court to battle over custody of her oldest child. While Evans was awarded visitation rights to the boy, which she didn't have before, she was not given any custodial rights to Jace. Perhaps it explains why her son wasn't able to celebrate the festive occasion with her this year. "I'm not restricted to when my mom says I can have my son anymore," Evans told E! News, "and at the moment that's all I care about. [I] just want to spend time with my son. He will be home one day but today wasn't the day, sadly." Following the court hearing, Evans made it clear that she did not have plans to rekindle a positive relationship with her mother and proceeded to ban her from her September wedding. "I'm really happy we could to a decision for Jace but it doesn't change my feelings towards my mom," Evans explained. "She still isn't giving up my son to me but I will fight again in the future when the time is right." Although Evans has a long road ahead of her, she isn't jumping back into another court battle with her mother quite yet. Instead, as she and Barbara remain estranged, Evans is slowly planning to embark on a new court battle next year, after the judge on their case has time to see that she has made good progress and proved herself that she is a capable parent. Jenelle Evans, her family, and her co-stars including Kailyn Lowry, Chelsea Houska, Briana DeJesus, and Leah Messer are believed to be in production on the upcoming season of Teen Mom 2. Hey All, I am an engineer in IT industry. I want to know my feasibility for Australian PR. Can someone please give me some leads. Below is my information: Total Work Experience : 4 years Education: BE, Computer Engineering from a reputed College. Currently working in PUNE. Let me know if any other information required. Thanks, Sandeep I had something similar happen - only with the convenience store down the street that serves as a drop point for Colissimo packages. Got a notice saying that they had "attempted to deliver" but no one was there. I knew that was wrong because I had been home all day, and at the time they indicated that they had "attempted" I was looking at my watch and wondering where the hell they were! In response to that, I told them to deliver to the convenience store. So the next day I had notification that the package had been delivered there. Went down to the convenience store and - no package for me. Exchanged a bunch of increasingly more tacky mail messages with Colissimo, complaining about poor delivery (always on Friday afternoons) and they kept insisting that the package had been delivered to the drop point. After about a week of this, Colissimo contacted the drop point and I guess must have insisted that the guy go in the back and check each package that was waiting in the back. What he found was that when they re-directed my package after the initial "failure" to deliver, they slapped a new bar code label on the package over the original label. When the new label was scanned, it did not have my name anywhere on the code - so when the store clerk scanned the packages, there was no indication who the package was for and my name didn't show up on the list of packages waiting to be picked up. It was only when he went into the back and looked at each package that he saw my name on the original label. If it helps, you could ask them to go in the back and look at the packages waiting to be picked up. It's possible there was a "scanning error" if it wasn't a delivery that required a signature. (Or if they can't produce a slip with your signature accepting delivery. I notice these days that whenever the mailman delivers a package, he asks me to "sign" for it on his mobile phone. They should be able to produce a slip showing that "signature.") Cheers, Bev Mattskii said: I need to post a handpan to Italy. It's heavy, fragile and large! Can anyone let me know where I can get a good strong box and packaging, I am currently in the Algarve, Portimao/Albufeira area mainly. Also who is a good courier? I looked at the DHL website and they wanted something like 800 - I could fly there myself for less than that! Lol Will CTT take it? It will be 70*70*40cm and at least 5 or 6 kilos. Thanks everyone Hi allI need to post a handpan to Italy. It's heavy, fragile and large!Can anyone let me know where I can get a good strong box and packaging, I am currently in the Algarve, Portimao/Albufeira area mainly.Also who is a good courier? I looked at the DHL website and they wanted something like 800 - I could fly there myself for less than that! Lol Will CTT take it? It will be 70*70*40cm and at least 5 or 6 kilos.Thanks everyone Click to expand... Hi MattNot your beloved pan or is this another? I can't help with packaging but I'm sure that someone down there will know of an office supplies store that would be able to help. If you Google 'Office supplies Algarve' you will get some ideas.As far as carriers go, I would never recommend tying yourself to one company, but instead try a parcel wholesaler. They buy capacity in bulk from wherever is cheapest and sell on to the end consumer. Take a look at these two as examples. I have no connection with either company and these are not recommendations. I have used the first one but they wanted to deal with GLS for that particular consignment to the UK. Other than that I was very happy with their service. If you search 'reviews for GLS' you will see why I was not happy with that and they did change it for me. Email or PM me for the details of my particular experiences if you wish, as posting them here previously got me in to trouble from one particular Mod!Best of luck! Hello, Iam Mark Sala, 38 Years Expat live in Bangkok since 2010. Iam Social Media and Digital Marketer,Freekancer. Offcourse this Country (Thailand ) is the best Country i ever seen,Best People,Best Weather ,Best Food,Good Prices,Freedome . I would appreciate help anyone Expat or plan to come Thailand with my best efforts,depend on my long experiance here. Also can help i Digital World if you want. Thanks and happy coming new year 2018 for everyone. Mark Sala This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Juan Antonio Vasquez is still in his first year studying mechatronics and automation at the Universidad Tecnologica General Mariano Escobedo in Monterrey, Mexico, but several months ago he was already planning a semester in the United States. Vasquez, 18, with good grades and an intermediate grasp of English, was one of 76 students who won scholarships from a public-private partnership in Mexico to study this semester at the Alamo Colleges. Its the fourth annual cohort to enroll for a semester in the community college district as part of the Becalos program a name that loosely translates to, Give them scholarships. For me, its a big opportunity to travel, to meet new people, to know a new culture, Vasquez said as he measured voltage using an electrical circuit he made in a lab at St. Philips College. I want to motivate other students to join the program as well, because theyll learn a lot in this country. Becalos students came to the Alamo Colleges this year from 13 different technical or polytechnic universities in Mexico, said LaTanya Kurney, coordinator of international programs for the community college district. They enroll in courses that align with their degree plans back home, take supplemental English classes, participate in leadership workshops, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and the San Antonio Food Bank and get to hike Enchanted Rock, she said. The visitors are either lodged with host families, in student housing at Tobin Lofts or at the Villa Maria Residence downtown, Kurney said. The Mexican students enroll in any of the five Alamo Colleges except Northeast Lakeview, which is awaiting independent accreditation. They have studied a range of disciplines including accounting, marketing, international affairs and biomedical engineering. They return to Mexico to finish their four-year degrees after the semester ends, Kurney said. The program is an agreement between the Alamo Colleges and the Mexican government, funded through the Mexican federal department of education, Banco Santander and the Televisa Foundation, she said. Vasquez and seven other Becalos students worked with their American peers on a recent Monday in Brenda Clarks DC/AC circuits class. They also were taking three other classes in electronics instrumentation technology, Clark said. Students of both nationalities learn from each other, Kurney said. We have a lot of interaction in the colleges at various levels, to where the Becalos students are not just isolated, but they become a part of the Alamo Colleges community, she said. Theyre not just Becalos students. They are Alamo Colleges students. Vasquez said he had been worried people would be impatient with his halting English but that hasnt been the case. People here are better than I imagined, he said. Vasquez is living in Tobin Lofts and has experienced been some culture shock. Im surprised that the bus has Wi-Fi, he said. Juan Pablo Acosta Arevalo, 19, is also in his third quarter at the Universidad Tecnologica de la Zona Metropolitana del Valle de Mexico, in the state of Hidalgo. He worked on the circuit activity with Rigoberto Renteria de Leon, 19, a St. Philips student working toward a degree in biomedical engineering. Renteria, whose mother immigrated from Mexico, said he found some common ground with the Becalos students. Acosta said his American classmates have been kind. If you have a doubt about something, theres lots of support, Acosta said in Spanish. The Mexican students have a strong background in the metric system, essential to engineering technology, Clark said. This is her first year teaching students in the Becalos program. Its just been an absolute pleasure, Clark said. I really hope I get to do it again. ...Im learning just a little bit of Spanish. amalik@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Since 1923, the goal of the Animal Defense League of Texas has been protecting the animals of San Antonio. The nonprofit organization sprang from the Child Protective and Humane Society, led by Herman H. Ochs and Mrs. Scott C. Applewhite. According to an Express-News story, the mission was to prevent ignorance, pauperism, immorality and crime among children and cruel beating, harnessing, starving, overloading and other brutal use of animals. The group of animal advocates built a series of makeshift, open cages that served as home for the stray and injured cats and dogs roaming San Antonio. The ramshackle shelter was little more than lengths of chicken wire, nailed to scraps and planks of wood, plunked down on a stretch of prairie that would become the Austin Highway. By the early 1960s, ADL had relocated to the Northeast side, expanding its mission from supplying basic shelter to securing homes for the scores of dogs, puppies, cats and kittens they cared for each year. The main campus, located at 11300 Nacogdoches Road, spreads across more than 12 acres that includes an adoption center, a cattery complex, an education center and a separate clinic for ADL medical care and animal surgeries on site. In 2016, the ADL took on a second location, the Paul Jolly Center for Pet Adoptions in Brackenridge Park, where potential adopters could see prospective pets through glass enclosures. From the early hardscrabble days to the advancements of the present, ADL has always been a true, no-kill shelter. According to an ADL operating statement, no animal will be euthanized if it can be cared for and returned to health. And if they reach the maximum capacity of 400 animals, no more animals would be taken in, nor euthanized to make room for other dogs and cats. An example of the ADL creed for the past 94 years can be seen in the story of Melon, a black Labrador Retriever mix, who arrived at the shelter as a pup and died at ADL at the age of 12. In 2009, he held the title of the stray that had lived the longest at the shelter. According to ADL, the shelter is funded through adoption fees, bequests from individuals, donations, special events and grants. In a letter to the community, executive director Janice Darling, thanked the public for its help through gifts of time, money, resources and advocacy. The thought that the love of an animal makes us more human, humane and compassionate and being part of a community of people who care is inspiring, Darling said. Some year, maybe in the not-too-distant future, our work may no longer be needed. But that time has yet to come, and Darling thanked San Antonio for supporting the difficult but gratifying work. ADL spokesman Matt Elmore said the ADL is the states oldest, continually running animal shelter. Walking the grounds, Elmore said they often change the building spaces to meet their needs. He pointed out a building that was configured to take in animals rescued from Houston shelters after Hurricane Harvey. In the past several years, the campus has seen new buildings rise to better serve its occupants. In September 2014, the nonprofit opened a 1,600-square-foot hospital addition that included 31 kennels, larger runs and more capacity to care for more ill and injured animals. Veterinarians at the state-of-the-art clinic perform an average of 40 surgeries each day and more than 100 sterilizations in a five-day week. That same year, two new kennels opened as the result of a partnership between ADL and the city. The $2.2 million facilities included a room with 18 kennels for up to 72 puppies. Elmore said at the core of their work is an effort to solidify best practices and work in the best interest of their orphaned pets. He said the shelter is one of Animal Care Services rescue partners that pulls stray dogs from ACS six times a week to make more room in the city shelter and help decrease the stray dog population. Along with the other large animal organizations in the city, were all working toward the same goal, Elmore said, to make San Antonio the largest no-kill city in the United States, and we are right there. ADL dog trainer Jamie Gibson said their focus is trying to re-home animals in the best homes possible. Were kind of like the bridge, Gibson, 33, said, between from where they came from to where theyre going. While theyre in our care, were trying to make sure theyre getting all of their needs met, physical, mental and emotional. Our main goal is to make sure were the best caretakers while we find them their forever homes, and our volunteers are a big part of that. vtdavis@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As darkness fell at Travis Park on Friday night, Carrie Briseno recalled when she was a little girl and her parents took her to Alamo Plaza for the traditional lighting ceremony of the city tree. Now she was with her daughter, Vanessa Aguilar, and son-in-law, Gilbert Aguilar, who brought their 2-year-old son, Dominic, who danced to the songs of mariachis at the lit stage. I used to bring my kids when they were little, said Briseno, 55. Now, they bring their kids. Its time for a new tradition, she said, both for her family and the city. For the first time, the giant 55-foot fir tree stood at the heart of Travis Park instead of in front of the Alamo, as it had for more than 30 years. Briseno and the Aguilars joined in the whooping and hollering as the crowd watched the bright red lights of the tree and 200,000 white ones throughout the park flicker on, kicking off the citys yuletide season and the 33rd Annual H-E-B Tree Lighting Ceremony. City officials said future construction linked to Alamo master plan development led to combining the lighting of the tree with Centro San Antonios Annual Lighting of Travis Park. With the controversial Confederate memorial gone, there was room at the much larger park with easier access for the public, officials said. Now Playing: The City of San Antonio celebrates the 33rd Annual H-E-B Tree Lighting Ceremony at Travis Park, the new location for the holiday event. Video: Brandpoint The tree and lights will be on display through Jan. 7. Lori Houston, assistant city manager, said visitors to Alamo Plaza would still be able to snap holiday photos of a tree in front of the historic structure: an 18-foot-tall decorated one also provided by H-E-B. Theres a contingent of San Antonians who arent happy about the move and are leaving a tangible statement at the old site in the form of small Christmas trees. Local resident Steve Monreal told mySA.com that he set up his tiny tree to protest the break with the traditional ceremony. Opponents plan a ceremony of their own at 1 p.m. Dec. 2 to light up more than 100 trees at Alamo Plaza that are all less than 3 feet tall, Gina Castaneda said. For his part, Gilbert Aguilar didnt mind the change of venue. I like it, he said. Its more open here. Over there, its more crammed in. For the past three decades, numerous grocery chains have sponsored the trees that became a yuletide icon outside the Alamo. H-E-B has provided the Christmas tree since the mid-1990s. Before the lights turned on across the grounds at Travis Park, Mayor Ron Nirenberg welcomed the crowd and noted that the event has always been about tradition and celebrating the holidays together. Nirenberg also said the hearts and prayers of San Antonians go out to neighboring cities that have suffered hard times this year. Throughout the evening, Santa Claus wandered through the crowd, stopping to pose for photos and hand out candy to the little ones. The lights and music drew Diane and Rich Weyer and their friends Jim and Donna Franklin, on vacation from central New Jersey. Jim Franklin, in his mid-50s, said they didnt have any idea about the tree lighting ceremony when they made plans to visit San Antonio. As they walked beyond the towering bright-red tree, Diane Weyer, 64, said the ceremony was a bonus to their holiday trip. We just started walking and saw the lights, she said. Its very festive. Tradition continued as San Antonians and visitors headed to the River Walk and the bridges to watch the 36th annual Ford Holiday River Parade. A crowd estimate was not provided, but last year 50,000 people attended the parade, according to the Paseo del Rio Association. This years theme was Christmas at the Movies, and each of the 28 floats had movie themes, including A Christmas Story, The Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Cheryl Ladd of Charlies Angels fame was the grand marshal. Christmas music heralded the approach of many of the floats. One played Lets All Go to the Lobby and released a buttery popcorn scent. Carla Rodgers, 44, and her two daughters hadnt attended the parade in at least four years. But this year, Rodgers in-laws from Cibolo wanted to buy tickets, so the family went. This is awesome because last time it was freezing cold, said Rodgers about 8 p.m., as temperatures hovered around 60 degrees. The family also paid for a better spot this year, on the River Walk between the Shops at Rivercenter mall and the Convention Center. Emily Rodgers, 12, said she liked the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer float, which featured several frisky dogs. Julia Aguilar, 43, of San Antonio, and her family watched nearby, eating a Chinese dinner from the malls food court. Aguilar and her sons, ages 19 and 7, come to the parade every year. The kids get to enjoy the night, Aguilar said. Her friend Maria Lopez, 42, begged to differ as she waited for the float from her daughters alma mater, the University of the Incarnate Word, depicting the movie A Christmas Carol. Im enjoying myself more than the kids, Lopez said. I love to see the kinds of designs they show. A Star Wars float was a big hit with the crowd, which cheered as stormtroopers waved. Oh my gosh, is it Star Wars? called Brandy Flores, 33, from her perch on a 4-foot wall outside Range, a steakhouse on the river near Houston and St. Marys streets. Boba Fett! Princess Leia! Flores and her mother, 54-year-old Sheila Melnick, come to the parade every year, but Flores husband, Albert Flores, said this was his first time at the parade despite his lifelong residence in San Antonio. The family said they enjoyed the lights, festive atmosphere and easy access to the parade after seeing retired Spurs player Matt Bonner at the tree lighting in Travis Park. All you had to do was walk right down the road, Melnick said. I love San Antonio. I think its a fantastic city. vtdavis@express-news.net | amalik@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN It took months to find the medication that would temper Dakota Flores sons anger and help keep him awake and focused in school. Now the eighth-grader at Jones Middle School is earning accolades in classes and choir, but Flores is afraid that it could soon slip away. Congress missed the September deadline to renew funding for the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which covers doctor visits, prescriptions and other medical needs for Flores son and nearly half a million more low-income Texas children. With no action in Washington, Texas is projected to run out of money for CHIP by the end of January. I cant sleep. I am nervous. I dont know whats going on, said Flores, a single mother of four who works at a pawnshop in San Antonio. He is going so far due to his medication. You take it away and you will see his progress drop. CHIP has typically enjoyed support from Republicans and Democrats, but this year lawmakers havent found agreement on how to fund it. Subsidized by federal and state dollars, CHIP will end under Texas law if money from Washington dries up. Texas legislators and advocates are now starting to push for state backup plans if federal delays persist. House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, recently called on the state health agency to work with the legislative budget office to come up with contingency funding options in order to avert any potential disruptions to this important program. Ensuring the programs continuity is a priority of the Texas House, Straus wrote in a letter Nov. 16 to Health and Human Services Commissioner Charles Smith. Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, wrote Texas congressional delegation last week demanding quick reauthorization of CHIP. In light of Hurricane Harvey and all the other things in Texas, its not the time to be messing around with children, Menendez said, adding that he supports Straus request. CHIP covers roughly 100,000 children in counties hardest hit by Harvey, while more than 27,000 children in Bexar County get the government-subsidized health coverage, according to figures from the state commission. Advocates, meanwhile, are warning that enrollees could soon get notice from the state that their benefits are ending, potentially sparking panic and confusion. In most cases, the state must notify families 30 days in advance of any termination in benefits, which means letters could arrive right around Christmas if Congress doesnt act before then, advocates said. We are very worried about these letters going out just because of the enormous amount of stress thats going to cause for families and the amount of work thats going to be needed to undo the harm, said Laura Guerra-Cardus with the Childrens Defense Fund of Texas. Agency officials wouldnt say when theyre planning to send out such notices or confirm whether the agency has requested supplemental federal funding to keep CHIP running past Jan. 31, when money is expected to run out. Were closely monitoring congressional efforts to reauthorize the program and are hopeful that it will be extended prior to the exhaustion of our current allotment, HHSC spokeswoman Carrie Williams said in a written statement. At least five other states, including Arizona, Ohio and Oregon, could run out of CHIP funding by years end, according to news reports. Nevada recently requested $11.3 million from the federal government to keep the states CHIP running through February, while Congress debates whether to renew it. Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, said its her understanding that the states health and human services agency has similarly submitted a federal funding request to cover CHIP clients through the end of February. Because CHIP long has enjoyed bipartisan support, I am optimistic that Congress will reach a deal that will reauthorize it timely. In the event it does not, however, Texas should take swift action to ensure the children of our state are not impacted negatively, she said in a written statement. If the program isnt renewed in time, the state agency will send Texas children who lose CHIP coverage into the insurance marketplace, Williams said. But advocates warn that many families likely cannot afford coverage in the health care exchange. CHIP is meant for kids whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay for private insurance. The program in Texas, for example, covers children in a family of four that earns between roughly $33,000 and $50,000 a year. There will be families that fall in that gap of affordability and will not find affordable coverage for their kids, said Guerra-Cardus of the Childrens Defense Fund. Flores previously had private insurance at a corporate job, but she had to find new work with more flexible hours when her teenage daughters special health needs grew. Now Flores relies on CHIP for both her son and her youngest daughter, who was born with bad vision in one eye and sees a specialist regularly. Flores hasnt gotten any information from the state, she said, but rather learned from a Texas lawmaker in October that her childrens CHIP was at risk. In preparation, Flores is seeing her childrens doctors in mid-December to discuss alternatives the family might be able to afford. Mostly though, she is praying. The anxiety and fear for parents of losing this is heartbreaking, she said. There are so many kids on CHIP that benefit. Taking it away will injure our future and our children. amorris@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When he was in middle school, Elionas Puente heard about SAY Si from his sister Asaiah and decided to see for himself what it was all about. Nearly four years later, Elionas, 15, speaks highly of the multidisciplinary arts training program that enables kids from middle school and high school to unleash and develop their inner artist. School programs are not as hands-on as SAY Si is, said Puente, a Central Catholic High School sophomore. Its been a great starting point for artists who dont know what they want to pursue. Catherine Cat Quinn, 17, a junior at Communications Arts High School, a magnet school of the Northside Independent School District, is also keen on SAY Si. Quinn has been taking classes there since she was in the sixth grade. Shes tried all kinds of media but in recent years, has developed an interest in textile work. I had done weaving and even made my own loom, she said. Right now, Im more interested in textile art and the different textile processes. More Information By the numbers Students on-site: 150 to 200 Students served annually through Artists Building Communities: 3,000 Cost: Programs are tuition-free Graduation rate: 100 percent graduate from high school and go on to college. Retention rate: 95 percent of middle school students have gone into high school programs offered by SAY Si. Graduates since 1994: More than 2,000 See More Collapse Puente and Quinn are just two of the students who currently participate in the creative youth development program. The best thing, the two said, is that there is no tuition. Ours is a completely free program, with no fees charged, said Jon Hinojosa, SAY Sis Artistic/Executive Director. Open year-round, SAY Si serves urban inner city economically-disadvantaged youth. In addition to the after-school classes at its building at 1518 S. Alamo, SAY Si has an outreach program, Artists Building Communities (ABC). We wanted to expand to the community not getting artistic opportunities such as hospitals, Title I public schools, community centers, Hinojosa said. The biggest frustration for us is that many times, there are places that want us to come but they dont have the support or funds to pay for our teaching artists and for materials. Recently completed was an eight-week project with children who are patients at University Hospital, Hinojosa said. SAY Si alumni who are attending college in San Antonio are recruited as teaching artists for the ABC program. Weve found that because of their youth, our alumni who work as teaching artists build quick relationships and rapport with the children, Hinojosa said. Thanks to continued funding from the Rackspace Foundation, SAY Si has been working with students at Windcrest Elementary for several years, added Hinojosa. If we had funding, we would like to take our ABC program to other Title I schools, he said. According to its web site, the Rackspace Foundation is funded by payroll contributions from employees of the San Antonio-based managed cloud computing company. The foundations philanthropic focus is on science, arts, math, education, technology and engineering. For nearly a quarter of a century, SAY Si has been nurturing young people interested in the arts. Started under the aegis of the King William Neighborhood Association, SAY Si began offering classes in February 1994 at the Blue Star Arts Complex. Woven into the arts programs are components that teach participants, many of whom are third and fourth generation Mexican-American, about their culture. Prior to the inauguration of SAY Si Muertitos Fest 2017 earlier this month, a professor of Mexican-American studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio spoke to students about culture and tradition in Mexico. SAY Si's first students just 12 were from Brackenridge High School. Studio sessions were limited to eight hours a week at Blue Star, located across the San Antonio River from the King William Neighborhood. In 2000, SAY Si moved to larger space at the Blue Star Arts Complex and began its Media Arts Studio, designed to provide students marketable skills that would lead to careers in areas such as advertising, graphic design, commercial art and printing. One year later, a Saturday program held year-round for middle school students began. It offered classes in visual and media arts with high school students as instructors. With expanded programs and need for more space, in 2007 SAY Si moved into its own building, a 26,00-square foot warehouse on South Alamo Street that once housed a beer distributor. That same year, the theater arts program was added. There is even a black box theater. Through the years, programs have been expanded. In 2015, the HIVE Studio (Home for Innovation and Video Ecology), a game design studio, was added. Today, its alumni who began the program as children number more than 2,000. Currently, four alumni work on the SAY Si staff. Many return to the organization during the summer. Weve got alumni doing great work in other cities, Hinojosa said. One former student is a tenured art professor at a small suburban college outside Chicago. Another alum, Gerardo Oyervides Garza, uses art to teach high school physics at Poteet High School. Im trying to incorporate art into the curriculum, said Oyervides, 24, a first-year teacher and UTSA graduate. I want students to be engaged in the work. He added, Im inspired by my high school physics teacher but also the people at SAY Si, who are very supportive and positive. I owe a lot to them. Meanwhile, expansion of programs is never far from Hinojosas mind. What we dont have is a literary arts component, or journalistic and culinary arts, he said. Music is also being looked at. But even with current programs, space and a lean budget limit what the organization can offer. Its disappointing to us that because of lack of adequate capacity and space, we have to turn away students when our goal is to reach more and more, said Hinojosa. Gwendoline Christie has wanted to be in 'Star Wars' since she was six years old. Gwendoline Christie The 39-year-old actress felt "unbelievable joy" when she was cast as Captain Phasma in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' because she'd dreamed of being a part of the sci-fi universe after being captivated by the late Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia in the original movies when she was a child. She said: "I can remember the precise moment I was cast as Captain Phasma in 'Star Wars'. It was an explosion of unbelievable joy. "For a long time, I had campaigned to be in the franchise to anyone who would listen, "It was an ambition motivated by one of my earliest memories, of when, aged six, I was placed in front of the flamboyant space opera. "I marvelled at this fantasy world in a way I couldm't yet articulate, with its misfits and droids and a woman who fought the enemy with intelligence, who was funny and refused to be shackled - the inimitable Princess Leia. "I recall thinking even then, 'She isn't like all the other women on TV. She won't be told what to do.' " And Gwendoline felt "truly electrified" when she saw her costume for the first time because it hadn't been made sexy just because of her gender. She said: "When I was taken to the top-secret wardrobe department to see my Captain Phasma costume - a shiny, full-body suit of armour - I was truly electrified. "Kathleen Kennedy, president of LucasFilm, had asked me if I'd ever Googled 'female superheroes' and proceeded to show me the results; a plethora of scantily clad, cartoon-like women and not a whole lot else. "The concept of a female character in a huge film like 'Star Wars', whose flesh we are denied from the outset, felt fresh and exciting. "A suit of genderless armour for a female character shouldn't have felt new, but it did." Being the first conscious electronic world music artist I love to transgress borders and mindsets with my music by infusing electronica with world music instruments. Nathassia hopes to change the world through her music Since the invention of the 80s term World Music, it has connected countries, cultures and languages. The term was initially invented to bring foreign music closer to the mainstream of western popular music. Even though the UK charts are now filled with South American style floor fillers, I feel that the evolving of this process has maybe reached it peak. On the contrary, electronic music has spread out in the last few years like a virus all over the globe, infecting an entire new generation of music lovers. And its evolvement is ongoing. I decided it would be a great opportunity to use the fluidity of electronic music, to continue the progress of world music by merging the two. The ideology of connecting countries, cultures and languages could expand in a new way. After all, isnt that what music is all about! I am lucky that I have so many wonderful fans all over the world from such diverse countries as Egypt, Morocco, India, Mexico, Portugal, Greece, Brazil and Suriname. A really important aspect of connecting with my international fans is social media. The fact that they can watch my videos and stream my music so easily and often for free, means I can have an instant rapport with all those enjoying my music. Regular live streaming sessions gives me the opportunity to have real-time and a personal connection with my fans. Thanks to technology the actual distance between us simply fades away and we can be instantly connected as if we were in the same place. I am also in discussions with a new virtual reality company to take this process further. Another advantage of the internet is that it allows me to get my message out there. I have strong views on many subjects that I like to entwine with the electronic beats such as male & female relationships, multiculturalism, paganism and love consciousness merging with artificial intelligence. A recent publication in Brighton described my views as both gnostic and futuristic. This is no surprise as I tackle these subjects in my live show. With songs about goddesses, powerful women from the past like queen Nefertiti and whats coming soon with A.I. and robotics. Something I did not expect was for my music to hit a nerve with so many different cultures and appeal to men and women from so many ethnic backgrounds. Unusually, a very high percentage of my fans are from Arab countries, but I dont speak a word of the language and I havent really been there much! Thank goodness for Google Translate! Being described as a role model for multiculturalism by the Mauritius Times meant such a lot to me. I was born in The Netherlands as a product of two controversial cultures, my mother being from Indian descent but born in Suriname, South America, and my father Dutch. Growing up meant absorbing so many different cultural and musical influences, but at the same time it was a challenge to find my own identity without shaking off either the Dutch or Indian side. Especially being a female. A pleasant surprise is how accepting men have been of my image from what are perceived to be places where it is much more difficult for females to branch out and have their own career. This sits well with me as I champion the emerging independence of women. It feels like things are really moving faster in this area but there are still a lot more changes that need to happen. I have recently received many requests from radio and publications on this subject, for instance next weekend I will be featuring on the first ever all-female artists day on South Africans leading EDM and electronica radio station. To conclude, from my perspective, technology has made it much more accessible for me to reach my goals. I can record, produce my music & vocals by myself without necessarily the need of the strong arms of a man to carry heavy equipment! (Perhaps with the exception of when I perform live!) As we enter the feminine cycle, the world will allow the divine feminine to play a more equal role on the world stage. Bangladesh has decided to amend its labour law and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) law to comply with the European Union (EU) recommendations. The decision was announced by law minister Annisul Huq after a recent meeting of stakeholders and will be conveyed to the prime minister and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).The amended laws will be introduced in parliament this winter, Huq said. Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, junior minister for labour and employment Mujibul Haque, representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) were present in the meeting, according to media reports in the country. Bangladesh has decided to amend its labour law and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) law to comply with the European Union (EU) recommendations. The decision was announced by law minister Annisul Huq after a recent meeting of stakeholders and will be conveyed to the prime minister and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).# The EU had earlier called on Bangladesh to show tangible progress on labour rights to avoid temporarily losing the generalised system of preferences (GSP) benefit that allows the country duty-free export to the 28-nation economic bloc.Bangladesh exported goods worth $18.68 billion to the EU in fiscal 2015-16, which was 54.57 per cent of the total receipts for the year. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Cambodias private sector is worried over the uncertainty created by the proposed universal minimum wage law, according to Sok Lor, secretary general of the Cambodian Federation of Employers, who said recently that new labour laws, including a national social security scheme and a higher minimum wage for garment workers, have already put businesses on edge.The government is also planning to introduce a new minimum wage law, rather than solely focusing on the garment sector, and the labour ministry is likely to send a draft of the same to the council of ministers by 2017 end, he said. Cambodia's private sector is worried over the uncertainty created by the proposed universal minimum wage law, according to Sok Lor, secretary general of the Cambodian Federation of Employers, who said recently that new labour laws, including a national social security scheme and a higher minimum wage for garment workers, have already put businesses on edge.# As it is politically incorrect to say employees should not have increased wages and new regulations are a result of populist government policies, wage has to be attached to productivity, a newspaper report in Cambodia quoted Lor as saying.The private sector under any situation cannot fight any government decision, he added.Moeun Tola, director of labour rights group Central, said that if a universal minimum wage is adopted, it should reflect the increased cost of living, not an employers perception of productivity or profits. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Kazakhstan is now exporting its cotton varieties to 11 countries Russia, Belarus, Germany, Latvia, Moldova, China, Belgium, Iran, Ukraine, Italy and Korea, said Askar Nametov, chairman of the board of the National Agrarian Scientific-Educational Centre under the agriculture ministry. In 1991, the nation did not have a single cotton variety of its own.Out of ten new varieties created, five successfully passed tests, a Kazakh news portal quoted Nametov as saying. Raw cotton yield now is 22-23 centners per hectare, although the potential of new domestic varieties is 38-40 centners per hectare, he said. Kazakhstan is now exporting its cotton varieties to 11 countries Russia, Belarus, Germany, Latvia, Moldova, China, Belgium, Iran, Ukraine, Italy and Korea, said Askar Nametov, chairman of the board of the National Agrarian Scientific-Educational Centre under the agriculture ministry. In 1991, the nation did not have a single cotton variety of its own. # The challenge is to raise yield by 30-40 per cent along with improving fibre quality, which will help increase the produces competitiveness in domestic and international markets, he said.About a quarter of the Kazakh population is employed in the agriculture sector. Family farms own nearly 70 per cent of land in southern and south-eastern parts of the country and account for 95 per cent of the total cotton production.Despite being significantly larger in area than its Central Asian neighbours, the countrys cotton production is relatively lower due to the significance of grain cultivation and other food crops. (DS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Amid a sharp fall in exports, especially in October 2017, the Indian government has increased the incentive under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for readymade garments and madeups. The incentive has been increased from two per cent to four percent of value of exports made during the period from November 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The estimated annual incentives will be Rs 1,143.15 crore for 2017-18 and Rs 685.89 crore for 2018-19, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in its Public Notice no. 42 for 2017-18. This measure will incentivise the exports of labour intensive sectors of readymade garments and made ups and contribute to employment generation, the DGFT notification said. Amid a sharp fall in exports, especially in October 2017, the Indian government has increased the incentive under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for readymade garments and madeups. The incentive has been increased from two per cent to four percent of value of exports made during the period from November 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.# The announcement of MEIS increase is a relief to the ailing knitwear garment export sector, said Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) president Raja M Shanmugham in a press release. Under MEIS, exporters are given duty exemption scrips that are pegged at a certain percentage of total value of their exports. These scrips can be used by exporters to pay duties on inputs including customs duties. Indias apparel exports fell by 40.75 per cent in October 2017 to Rs 5,398.08 crore compared to exports of Rs 9,110.75 crore in same month of the previous year. This includes garments of all textiles, according to the quick estimates of Indias foreign trade during the month, released by the ministry of commerce and industry. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/24/17 -- Big Wind Capital Inc., ("Big Wind" or the "Company") (CSE: BWC)(CSE: BWC.CN)(CNSX: BWC)(OTC PINK: BGGWF) and Hill Top Security Inc ("Hill Top") are pleased to announce that, further to the terms of the previously announced letter of intent agreement, through which Big Wind will acquire various interests in Hill Top and its assets (the "Transaction"), Big Wind has closed the 2nd tranche of its non-brokered private placement of $0.15 common shares and advanced a total of USD$600,000 to Hill Top. Dev Randhawa, CEO of Big Wind, commented, "In the recent months, Hill Top has continued to enhance its patented, military-grade, cybersecurity platform, as well as its exciting cryptocurrency product, and this USD$600,000 payment is an important step towards completing the existing binding LOI of July 4, 2017. With cybercrime now prolific across the world, cybersecurity has never been more important and with Hill Top's unique products, and highly-skilled team, we are well positioned to grow shareholder wealth in the rapidly-growing sector." Hill Top Security Highlights and Recent News -- Unique cybersecurity platform: Hill Top has a patented, military-grade cybersecurity platform - originally developed for and currently used by the US government and big business - now being made available to the small and medium sized business (SMB) sector. -- Strategic Partnership: Hill Top recently partnered with GuardSight - a cybersecurity specialist with a strong customer base of Fortune 1000 companies, -- Cryptocurrency product development: Hill Top is at an advanced stage of development in developing its first crypto currency product for the mining and metals industry. The product, called MineCoin, will enable Hill Top to expand its current protection of company networks and communications to include the protection of company transactions. -- Team with military background: The platform has been developed by a team of security experts with substantial military and commercial experience, including the US Army, Marine Corps and Wall Street. The Company has closed the second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of common shares of Big Wind, pursuant to which, Big Wind issued an additional 3,290,247 common shares for gross proceeds of CAD$493,357. These common shares have a hold period that expires 8 months and a day after the date of distribution. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of other conditions, including but not limited to acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange and entering into a definitive agreement. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Further details regarding the proposed Transaction will be provided in a news release, if and when the parties enter into a definitive agreement. Both parties are completing the definitive agreement and intend to finalize and enter into the definitive agreement once all financial statements, MD&A, and pro forma have been completed. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management or the negative thereof or similar variations. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. 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. All information in this news release concerning Hill Top has been provided for inclusion herein by Hill Top. Although the Company has no knowledge that would indicate that any information contained herein concerning Hill Top is untrue or incomplete, the Company assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any such information. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the listing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Statements about the closing of the Transaction, expected terms of the Transaction, and the parties' ability to satisfy any and all other closing conditions, and receive necessary regulatory and CSE approvals in connection therewith, are all forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the Transaction will occur or that, if the Transaction does occur, it will be completed on the terms described above. Big Wind assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Contacts: Big Wind Capital Inc. Richard Matthews rmatthews@dccnet.com 778 484 8028 Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal compensation software marketreport. This research report also lists 22 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170821005562/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global compensation software market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The global compensation software market is expected at a CAGR of almost 9% during the forecast period. One of the major reasons for this growth is the need to streamline data management and compensation workflows in enterprises, enabling decision makers to make informed reward decisions. Compensation software consolidates compensation and performance-related data securely in one place and utilizes advanced analytical tools to drive and report employee reward strategies. Competitive vendor landscape This report provides an exhaustive list of all the global vendors that provide the compensation software. Vendors are identified based on the revenue and market dominance in terms of their geographical presence, product portfolio, and R&D. The vendor matrix included in the report gives a detailed comparison of the features, deployment model, training and support, customer size, and geographical presence of each major vendor. "The global compensation software market is witnessing intense competition because of the presence of many vendors. The major vendors are constantly competing for a leadership position in the market. The major vendors such as ADP, Oracle, SAP SuccessFactors, Ultimate Software, and Workday in the global compensation software market are identified based on the market visibility, market penetration, and market momentum," says Amrita Choudhury, an industry expert in enterprise application research from Technavio This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free Top five compensation software market vendors ADP ADP offers cloud-based HCM solutions that integrate payroll, talent management, HR, time management, and tax and benefits administration. The company offers HCM solutions for both SMEs and large enterprises. Oracle Oracle provides hardware systems (includes Oracle engineered systems, storage, servers, networking), database and middleware software, application software, cloud infrastructure software, along with support and related services. SAP SuccessFactors SAP acquired SuccessFactors a provider of cloud-based human capital management software for talent management, core HR, and HR analytics in 2012. After the acquisition, the company functions as an independent entity and was renamed SAP SuccessFactors. This acquisition has helped the company to establish its presence in cloud services and analytics. Ultimate Software UltiPro, the cloud-based solution from Ultimate Software, simplifies and improves work experiences for all employees. The solution helps the organizations to manage global people, data, and process easily. Workday Workday provides enterprise cloud applications for finance and HCM. The company provides software solutions for financial management, HCM, and analytics. In addition, the company also provides professional services, training and support, and customer services. Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Browse Related Reports: Global Courier Management Software Market 2017-2021 Global Gym Management Software Market 2017-2021 Global Social Media Management Software Market 2017-2021 About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170821005562/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/25/17 -- A recent injunction application filed by CUPE in Federal Court to prevent the transfer of more RCMP civilian employees to the flawed Phoenix pay system has achieved the desired result, even though it had yet to be heard by a judge. RCMP civilian employees, who want to join CUPE, will now be protected from the government's Phoenix fiasco. The federal government just informed Canada's largest union that the transfer of the remaining RCMP civilian employees to Phoenix scheduled for April 26, 2018 is being put on hold "indefinitely". The blackout period scheduled to start on December 1, 2017 is also postponed, which means that the pay of employees who are promoted, reclassified or transferred will continue to be adjusted immediately in the current pay system, and will not be put at risk. An injunction application hearing scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 29, will now be adjourned. "CUPE's political and legal pressures clearly forced the government to completely change course.This is a sweeping victory for the RCMP telecommunications operators and intercept monitoring analysts who want to join our union," said CUPE's National President Mark Hancock. "It gives them a taste of what CUPE can do to protect the interests of its members. No employee in any part of the public service should ever have to see their livelihood jeopardized the way so many have under Phoenix." "Since the problems with Phoenix won't be fixed anytime soon, according to the recent Auditor General report, the President of the Treasury Board now has to make sure that the indefinite hold will mean that not another RCMP civilian employee will be transferred to Phoenix. Nobody should be forced to live under the stress and uncertainty of wondering whether they will get a paycheck or not," added CUPE's National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury. CUPE has filed applications for certification of RCMP telecommunications operators and intercept monitoring analysts with the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB). Contacts: Philippe Gagnon Media relations, CUPE (613) 894-0146 pgagnon@cupe.ca Technavio analysts forecast the global subsea umbilicals, risers, and flow lines (SURF) marketto grow at a CAGR of almost 8% during the forecast period, according to their latest report. The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global SURFmarketfor 2017-2021. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171125005025/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global subsea umbilicals, risers, and flow lines market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) Global SURF market at a glance SURF act as a vital link between various operation centers in subsea drilling. They are designed to withstand high mechanical and chemical stresses and high operating temperatures and pressures to ensure the continuous and reliable supply of services in challenging environmental conditions below the sea. The global SURF market is highly dependent on the growth of the upstream oil and gas industry, which, in turn, is dependent on global crude oil prices. The rise in demand for oil and gas globally is expected to be the major driver for the market during the forecast period. The slump in crude oil prices has affected the upstream industry significantly while benefitting the downstream industry. This report is available at a USD 1,000 discount for a limited time only: View market snapshot before purchasing Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free Technavio analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global SURF market: Deepwater drilling turns economical Rising global oil and gas demand New exploration policies Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Deepwater drilling turns economical The shale boom that led to a sharp decline in oil prices in mid-2014 made it difficult for companies operating in deepwater to extract oil feasibly. Since crude oil prices slipped below the $50/barrel mark, it became almost impossible for companies drilling in deepwater to break-even, since costs incurred in deep sea drilling were high. As a consequence, many oil and gas companies reduced their capex and many planned projects were shelved or deferred. Gaurav Mohindru, a lead unit operations research analyst at Technavio, says, "Though the deepwater technology has been in existence for years, the process has become economically feasible only in recent times. The streamlining of operations by producers and prioritizing drilling in core wells resulted in reduced costs, which made producers capable of achieving breakeven at lower crude oil prices Rising global oil and gas demand Oil producers, especially OPEC countries, need to increase their production or venture into drilling new wells to meet the rising fuel demand. Most oil-producing countries do not have large additional capacities. Therefore, to meet the high fuel demand, oil companies will be required to explore and drill greenfield wells in new and existing oil fields. "Natural gas has seen a higher rise in consumption than oil and the adoption of natural gas as a fuel is increasing. The continuous growth in the demand for oil and natural gas is expected to drive onshore and offshore exploration activities, in turn driving the growth of the global SURF market," adds Amit. New exploration policies In a move to attract companies to explore oil and gas fields, countries, such as India, Brazil, and Israel, have made noteworthy changes to their existing oil and gas exploration policies. To encourage the influx of investments in the oil and gas industry, the federal government of Brazil announced a change in its policies. The existing Brazil policy requires a number of goods and services produced in the country to be hired or contracted. Numerous changes have been made to existing policies. A single license for conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration, decrease in royalty values, and change in fiscal regime to revenue sharing contracts are a few of the major changes. HELP is still in the formulation stage and is expected to be rolled out shortly. These policy changes are anticipated to attract new investments from global players and drive the global SURF market. Top vendors: Aker Solutions Prysmian Group Schlumberger (OneSubsea) TechnipFMC Browse Related Reports: Global Smart Transformer Market 2017-2021 Global Submarine Power Cable Market 2017-2021 Global Advanced HVAC Controls Market 2017-2021 About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171125005025/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com LONDON UK / ACCESSWIRES / November 25, 2017 / At its core, a successful distribution business functions to add value to the customer, by flawlessly delivering the desired product or set of products at the right point in time, without quality defects and in the most cost-effective fashion. It is imperative that a successful distribution business operates with the costumers top-of-mind. According to Jozef Opdeweegh, a Miami businessman with over 17 years of experience as CEO, Chairman and Board Member of private and public companies, there are 9 key tenets that make up an ideal distribution business model, that will not only emanate in the highest level of customer satisfaction but will also reward associates for their contribution to the success of the company and shareholders for their confidence in the company's strategic plan. Quality of operations The breadth of the product range, fill rate, on-time delivery, competitive pricing, a multi-channel approach, along with extensive and up-to-date product information, are vital in creating an excellent customer experience. In order to satisfy these demands, the logistics operations behind the distribution business need to be of exceptional quality: qualified and well-trained personnel, real-time inventory visibility throughout the cycle, continual optimization of the process flow inside the distribution centers, a relentless focus on continuous improvement/six sigma/lean manufacturing and the automation of put away and pick processes are key focal points to differentiate the business from its competitors. Furthermore, the choice of like-minded transportation and last-mile delivery partners who equally view customer service as their core mission is key to the overall customer experience. Organic Growth The key differentiating factor as well as the proof of concept, and one of the main drivers of shareholder wealth creation is the achievement of organic growth exceeding that of the relevant competition. Customer empathy, SKU (Stock Keeping Units) proliferation, relevant information and excellent knowledge about the product range, as well as the overall quality each aspect of the supply chain are indispensable characteristics that define a better distribution business. This type of distribution business will garner outsized customer loyalty and recurring sales. Gross Margin Management One of the most relevant success factors for a distribution business is the laser-focused management of gross margin, both in percent of sales and in terms of currency. In some instances, the sales force has not be provided with the analytical tools to allow them for the promotion of those products that generate the highest margin potential. This is of particular importance in a landscape with certain SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) that have identical characteristics and can serve the customer requirements with the same effectiveness, which is often the case. Additionally, in their quest for revenue, the sales force may be inclined to engage in price discounting, which harms the margin potential of the sale. Finally, a number of distribution organizations lack the sophistication to keep track of ancillary services that may have been offered to the customers or are reluctant to charge for those services, which further erodes the margin. The key is to develop the business analytics and IT infrastructure that will allow for the identification and sale of the highest margin product in order to serve customer's needs at the right price. This also allows for the appropriate charge to the customer for the ancillary services and the delivery method he or she enjoys. Back Office Efficiency Many distribution businesses maintain a back office that is inert, too large and costly. By virtue of their business model, large distribution businesses operate via geographically dispersed distribution centers. Lack of an integrated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution and the absence of a standardized operating platform often create a detrimentally decentralized management structure. This leads to a large discrepancy in customer experience, in product and service offerings, and in the quality of operations across geographies. Furthermore, it may lead to an erosion of the leverage the distributor otherwise would be able to exercise on its suppliers. Lastly, it creates duplication in management and support structures - efforts and costs that can easily be avoided. In a successful distribution business, the operating system and the SKU management should be centrally managed, with the execution residing in the different regions, but based on a provided prescriptive playbook. Network Optimization A large number of distribution businesses operate from a suboptimal set of distribution centers. Often their network consists of a combination of too many facilities and less than optimally located distribution centers from a geographic perspective. This leads to duplicative inventory and inflated working capital requirements. A distribution business needs to constantly assess the size and location of its distribution facilities, so it can live up to its (next day) customer delivery promises from the fewest number of distribution centers. Case studies show huge savings can be generated in the area of network optimization, with a payback that often is less than 12 months, while at the same point in time enhancing the overall customer experience. E-commerce Since an online sales model does not require brick and mortar, and it does not require a direct sales force and the related costs, the bottom-line profitability of e-commerce sales vastly exceeds the profitability of the same SKU through another sales channel. A successful e-commerce sales effort requires a user-friendly web experience, impactful SEO efforts, detailed product information, breadth and availability of inventory, and on-time delivery of the entire order. It is also essential to have a simple return policy and a great back office to deal with product information, defects, and returns. Online sales may be boosted through the creation of an online user community consisting of customers who have purchased the product and can provide others with first-hand product information and applicability. Most often than not, e-commerce is one of the channels through which sales can be generated, in a multi-channel strategy that also includes direct sales and catalog sales. It is most certainly the most cost-effective and agile sales channel. ERP-Solutions (Enterprise Resource Planning) A distribution business may handle as many as 1 million distinct SKUs. In order to effectively run the distribution organization, it is imperative the company has real-time global inventory visibility to know exactly where different SKUs are stocked. This level of visibility allows for the avoidance of duplicative inventory, the calculation of appropriate inventory levels in the network through demand forecasting, and the minimization of risk of obsolescence. In many regards, the ERP solution is the engine of the distribution organization and is an invaluable part of network optimization. While implementation of a state-of-the-art ERP solution may be costly and time-consuming, with the cost amounting to as much as the equivalent of one year EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Appreciation & Amortization), it is hard to imagine a world-class distributor that does not possess such a tool. Customer and Supplier Segmentation In any distribution business, there are a number of items that are high volume. Conversely, there typically are a number of products that are only sold very occasionally and may have a negative impact on the profitability of the organization. In a similar vein, the average distribution business will spend time, effort and money maintaining relations with suppliers who provide low-demand products. It is important to continually reassess the contribution margin of low-selling items and to cut certain parts of the long tail, both in product and in supplier range. Private Label A distributor can significantly enhance its gross margins by focusing on the sale of private-label items, or items that have the desired functionality but that are being sourced through contract manufacturing and branded under a proprietary brand name. Certain competing suppliers may react negatively towards competing private-label products. Nevertheless, in the area of more generic SKUs, a distributor should aim at selling its own branded products and ideally, private labels will constitute 15% or more of overall revenue. About Jozef: Jozef Opdeweegh, also known as Jos, has served as CEO for over 17 years of global technology, distribution, and supply chain optimization companies with 5,000 to 20,000 employees, public or privately held. Opdeweegh has extensive board membership experience on 4 continents with related and unrelated companies. Website- http://jozef-j-opdeweegh.com/ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jos-jozef-j-opdeweegh-13986b70/ Related Articles: Jozef Opdeweegh- 6 Core Organizational Values and the Importance of Corporate Culture Source: European News Daily NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 25, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. ("Omega" or the "Company") (NYSE: OHI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Southern District of New York, and docketed under 17-cv-09024, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Omega securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you are a shareholder who purchased Omega securities between February 8, 2017, and October 31, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until January 16, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and amount of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Omega is a self-administered real estate investment trust ("REIT") that invests in income-producing healthcare facilities, including long-term care facilities located in the United States and the United Kingdom. The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) financial and operating results of certain of the Company's operators were deteriorating; (ii) as a result, certain of the Company's operators were experiencing worsening liquidity issues that were significantly impacting the operators' ability to make timely rent payments; (iii) as a result, certain of the Company's direct financing leases were impaired and certain receivables were uncollectible; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' statements about Omega's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On July 26, 2017, after the market closed, the Company issued a press release entitled, "Omega Announces Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results; Increased Dividend Rate for 20th Consecutive Quarter." On the next day, July 27, 2017, the Company held a conference call to discuss its second quarter results. On this news, the Company's stock price fell $1.35 per share, or 4%, to close at $32.10 per share on July 27, 2017, on unusually heavy trading volume. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP It is often said that the screenplay is the soul of a film. The greatest filmmakers from all over the world have stressed on the importance of the script and the role it plays in turning a film into a great film. In the Indian film industry, for an astonishingly long period of time, very few people seemed to talk about the script. This, however, in no way meant that the script was considered any less important in this part of the world. It simply meant that in the bright firmament of dazzling stars and star directors, somehow, the script writers face and name often used to get lost. They may or may not have gotten their due credit, but it is undeniably true that very few of these script-writers got the limelight they deserved. But now, when theres so much talk about the screenplay and its role in the making of a film, it is only fair that we rectify our past mistakes and make a genuine effort to bring into the spotlight the scrip-writers of some of the greatest films of Indian cinema the very people who were responsible for entertaining us over the decades. Film journalist, festival curator and author Ratnottama Senguptas documentary film And They Made Classics is a well-meaning and successful effort to do the same, because it tells the story about her father, the veteran screenplay-writer Nabendu Ghosh, who along with legendary filmmakers such as Bimal Roy, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Bhattacharya, gave us such landmark films as Devdas, Parineeta, Sujata, Bandini, Abhimaan and Teesri Kasam, among many, many others. And They Made Classics opened to a packed auditorium at the recently concluded 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival. The hour-long film was in the form of an interview of the late author, script-writer and National Award winning filmmaker Nabendu Ghosh, as he spoke about his association with his film guru Bimal Roy in an interview with the latters son Joy Bimal Roy. As the film progresses, we learn how, in his youth, the writer was moved beyond words on watching a Bengali film that was playing in the local theatre in Rajshahi, and how upon stepping out of the theatre, he had vowed that if he ever wrote for films, it would be for the director of the film he had just watched. That film was the Bengali classic Udayer Pathey (Towards the Light), and the filmmaker was, of course, none other than Bimal Roy himself. A couple of years later, Ghosh had the opportunity to meet Roy, but it was not until 1951 that their association really began when Ashok Kumar, the owner of Bombay Talkies, invited Roy to come to Bombay to work on a film titled Maa, and Roy asked Ghosh to come along with him. What happened next is truly the stuff dreams are made of. One after the other, the filmmaker-writer duo created films which are considered classics today essential viewings included in any good book on Indian cinema worth its salt. Throughout the documentary, what perhaps strikes the viewers the most is the placid, unassuming charm of a man so immensely talented a man who seemed more keen on talking about the people he had worked with than about himself. A man who remained almost faceless to the film-going public for decades, and yet one who had written these marvellous gems for the screen. A man who, at the height of the freedom movement, had not cowered down from writing a novel in the backdrop of the Quit India movement, even if it meant losing his job with the Accounts Department of Patna Police. And a man who knew his place in the world, made it to that place with vigour, passion and hard work, but chose never to boast about it. Even as Nabendu Ghosh sat in his pristine white dhoti and kurta and narrated tale after tale from the days of yore, several quotes by such eminent people as Dilip Kumar, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Nutan, Nargis, Shammi Kapoor, Gulzar, Subhash Ghai and many others appeared on screen all of them speaking fondly of his humility and rare talent not only as a writer, but as one who truly understood the medium of film. And even as the gentleman spoke, it was so vivid that Nabendu Ghosh had lived his life well and that the precious memories of the golden age of Indian cinema were his most prized possessions. Film lovers in India are in debt of Ratnottama Sengupta for having brought this legend to the limelight. As you watch her film, you realise that somewhere, in some unannounced corner of every frame, along with the fond working relationship between a protege and his guru, along with several behind-the-screen anecdotes from the making of some of the greatest films ever made, and along with the haunting scenes and the melodious scores from those very films, lies the simple, reverential love of a daughter for her father. And thats what makes the film more than a documentary. Thats what makes it a human story. Bhaskar Chattopadhyay is an author and translator. His translations include 14: Stories That Inspired Satyajit Ray, and his original works include the mystery novels Patang, Penumbra and Here Falls The Shadow. Nivin Pauly is currently one of the most popular actors in Malayalam cinema; his films have had terrific openings, and have received a great response from family audiences the most important viewer segment. His last release Njandukkalude Nattil Oridavela emerged as the big Onam winner. Nivin has been eyeing Kollywood for sometime now, and his second Tamil film Richie, where he will be seen playing the title role, is due for release on 8 December. In an exclusive interview to Firstpost, the soft-spoken and elusive actor opens up. How did you land Richie, your second film in Tamil after Neram (2013)? I always wanted to do a Tamil-only film; Neram was a bilingual in Malayalam and Tamil. Richie is not made as a bilingual, because I believe you can be faithful only to one language. The film is releasing in Kerala, my home state, only in the Tamil version. The trade experts in Kerala wanted it dubbed and released in Malayalam, but I made it clear that the essence of the original will be lost. Is it a remake of Kannada star and director Rakshit Shettys hit film Ulidavaru Kandanthe? Yes, you can say that it is an adaptation and not a scene-to-scene remake. When Gautham Ramachandran, the director of Richie, narrated the Tamil script, I was hooked. Tell us about the character you play in the film. I play a local rowdy in this crime drama which revolves around a mysterious murder that happens during a village festival. A journalist played by Shraddha Srinath tries to piece together the incidents that lead to the death of the person in question. The story is told through five different people, with each one narrating his or her own version of the incident. There are interesting shades to each of the characters, as well as twists. I saw a sneak preview of Richie and loved it because it is slickly made and pacy with a running time of two hours. Premam is the film that established you as a Malayalam superstar and also allowed you to capture the market outside Kerala, as the film ran in a Chennai screen for 258 days. Is this the reason why you are doing films in Tamil? I would say that today, cinema cannot be rooted to a particular language or region as it has become global. Social media has changed the way we look and react to a film. Im always on the lookout for exciting scripts and a fusion of cinema. I will be doing another Tamil film next year, based on a script written by producer RD Raja of 24 AM and directed by a debutant. Right now I have completed an exciting film, Moothon, directed by Geetu Mohandas in Malayalam. Anurag Kashyap has written the Hindi dialogues of this fantasy adventure shot in Mumbai and Lakshadweep. A lot of people in Kerala say that you should stick to Malayalam films which are your core strength, instead of doing films in other languages. Your thoughts? What excites me is the script; the language is not a barrier. I have a lot of Malayalam movies coming up back-to-back. I always try to choose films with strong content something audiences can relate to. Equally, I also consider how I can make such strong content commercially viable. I also believe that there is an audience out there which wants to see me experiment. I do not want to fall into an image trap. After Premam, I received more offers to do only romantic characters, but if you look at my last few releases, I have played varied characters. And in Richie I have broken the mould; there is not a single romantic scene in the film! (laughs). Veteran directors in the Malayalam film industry say that you are ignoring them and giving dates only to newcomers. Why? It happened such that I have given breaks to directors who have come out with terrific scripts like Premam, Vadakkan Selfie, Jacobinte Swargarajayam, Sakhavu, Njandukkalude Nattil Oridavela, and they worked for me at the box-office too. Im also working with seniors like Shyama Prasad and Rosshan Andrews in my upcoming films. What are your upcoming projects? After Richie my next release is Shyama Prasads Hey Jude, a romantic story where Trisha plays my heroine. Then I will start work on Love, Action Drama, which is the directorial debut of Dhyan Sreenivasan, the brother of director and producer Vineeth Sreenivasans (director of Malarvadi Arts Club, Nivins first film, and Jacobinte Swagarajayam). Nayanthara is the heroine in this film. Right now, Im shooting for the big budget project Kayamkulam Kochunni, a Robin Hood-like highway man who lived in 19th century Kerala. I have learned kalaripayattu and horse riding, and am very excited about this film which has been shot in natural light by ace cameraman Binod Pradhan. It will be my summer 2018 release. Now you have forayed into production too... Yes I have produced two films; Action Hero Biju, a very satisfying film, which received acclaim from critics and at the box-office. The film is now being remade in Hindi by Rohit Shetty with Ajay Devgn. I also produced Njandukkalude Nattil Oridavela. The next production will be on the mysterious disappearance of the ship Kairali owned by the state government, which occurred a few years back. You seem to be in a happy frame of mind, with recent addition to the family. Im happy and contended; my career is going well and five months ago, my daughter Rose Treesa was born, which brought a lot of joy to my family. My son Daveed Pauly is a lovable brat. I think it is all a blessing. Mumbai: Amid protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film Padmavati, the Indian Films and TV Directors' Association (IFTDA), along with 20 other bodies of the film and television industry, is planning a 15-minute blackout in support of the film and "to protect the right to freedom of expression of creative individuals". Confirming the plan, Ashoke Pandit of IFTDA told IANS, "We will keep showing our support for Padmavati and SLB (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) because it is the basic right of a creative person to tell a story in his own way. "Sanjay is a responsible filmmaker, and making a film on history is not something easy for him but a big responsibility. To express our solidarity (with the film), we are gathering on Sunday for a 15-minute blackout where all shooting units in Mumbai will put off lights and no shootings will take place." Pandit said, "We strongly protest against the non-institutional bodies who every now and then protest against movies and threaten actors and makers of films. We will keep condemning their actions in a democratic manner. We have faith in our Prime Minister...for justice to Padmavati," added Pandit. Earlier this month, IFTDA, along with several other cine bodies, came together in support of Padmavati. "We as film industry feel hurt every time such groups target our films and try to control our freedom of expression. Unfortunately, we do not get support from any other industry, not even from the government as if we are orphans as a community," Pandit added. The controversy started with the assumption that there are some intimate scenes between Rajput queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji, which could hurt the sentiments of the Rajput community. Thereafter, the Rajput Karni Sena started a protest and threatened the makers of the film to stop its release. "We are living in a democracy and I have faith in the government and its judiciary. These protesters have not watched the film, and Sanjay has already made it very clear by releasing a video that it is a tribute to Padmavati and no obscene scenes are there," Pandit added. The members of film and television industry will be joining the blackout protest, titled "Main Azaad Hoon", on 26 November at the Film City main entrance starting 3.30 pm. In the rhyming stanza of the famous poem about Jhansi Ki Rani by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, the words go as 'Bundele Harbolo Ki Mooh Hamnein Suni Kahaani Thi, Khoob Ladi Mardaani woh to Jhansi Wali Rani Thi'. In its rhyme, the poem gives away its political standing. Composed to rouse nationalist spirit during the long march to freedom that Indians made back in the day, this poem is a reflection of oral history. In this oral history by the Nomadic tribe of Bundelas, Jhansi Ki Rani is celebrated for her bravery and heroism. However, if one looks at contemporary texts of the Revolt of 1857, she is counted as one among the troupe led by Tatya Tope in an unplanned, impulsive retaliation of the East India Company Army. In legend, she stands tall as a brave warrior and mother figure. In reality though, the Ranis decision to stand up against the British was a knee-jerk defence to their annexation attempt. Such is the nature of oral history. One doesnt need to quote the context, reign and space of Padmavat, Malik Muhammad Jayasis poem, to understand that lore passed down through multiple generations is bound to distort. Yet, some historical figures, when made on celluloid, invite ire while others dont. Take for instance, Jodha Akbar. This visually spectacular film featuring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan focused on the classic love story of Jodha Bai and emperor Akbar. It reformed a king and pulled him deeper towards his spiritual connect. However, in reality, Akbar married many times over for political and diplomatic alliances. Hagiographies and court documents from his era, one of the most well documented phases of medieval Indian history, cant gloss over the fact that the emperor had a most calculative approach towards marriage. He had married three Rajput princesses to manage the Rajput kingdoms and strike a secular balance. Which one of these three was the beautiful Jodha Bai, again, varies as per oral histories. Any tour guide at Fatehpur Sikri, the magnificently well-planned palace of the emperor, will walk you to the intricately designed Mariam-E-Zamaani, the palace he had designed for his Rajput wives. A level below are the smaller, less airy quarters and home to his wives earned in conquest. This section even has a prison, where misbehaving wives from the harem would be imprisoned for a short period. A visual walk through this space is self-explanatory Akbar never quite lost his heart to one woman. But his self-indulgence when it comes to treating women like war booty has never been viewed negatively. In fact, the king of Mewar, Maharana Udai Singh II lost his life to Akbars armies in 1567 and the entire women folk of this small kingdom committed Jauhar to save their honor. So how does that set Akbar apart from Alauddin Khilji? In fact, oral histories of emperor Shah Jahan perhaps offer the most colorful bouquet of interpretations. Shah Jahans cruelty and obsession come alive in the legend which reveals that he got the architects arms chopped off after the design of Taj Mahal was complete. No scope of replication there. Oral histories also indicate his lovelorn, art loving and self-indulgent behavior. A close look at Shah Jahans track record, though, shows a poor king, whose expensive choices for monuments and complete lack of interest in the sophisticated taxation system designed by Akbar, led to the downfall of the mighty Mughal. Shah Jahan remains a poetic figure of classic love, despite it all. Beyond cantankerous politics, Alauddin Khiljis demonisation is linked to his reputation for brutality. For a king that united central and North India under one rule and also standardised tax collection across religious and local hierarchy, Alauddin still remains evil. He did massacre women and children, but these came from the Mongol hordes that he managed to stop. His massacres were no less bloody than those of other emperors. Khiljis extreme persona is also a consequence of oral history, as beyond Amir Khusro, there arent any surviving court texts. Editors note: Patio Unplugged a platform for indie artistes and a Lazy Patio Films production is bringing over 30 musicians from Mumbai in its first season, to audiophiles. Born out of a love for acoustic music and a passion for film-making, Patio Unplugged not only provides a stage to artists but also a chance to record their music, and shoot two music videos. What sets this programme apart, is that artistes from across genres recreate their music in an unplugged format. Each artist/band featured on the show will perform two original songs. The Habitat Comedy and Music Cafe is the audio partner for the show. The Habitat also records, mixes and masters the tracks for Patio Unplugged and hosts the artistes every Saturday as an event called 'The Listening Room Sessions'. We're featuring each of the artistes from season 1, on Firstpost. *** Artists like Bob Dylan and Neil Young (even Nirvana on MTV Unplugged) have proven over the decades that you don't always need a stack of Marshall amps to make a decent record. Without any heavy-handed attempts to sound hip or screaming guitar solos, they managed to make emotionally resonant music with a simple combination of sensitive to vigorous acoustic guitar-plucking and pensive lyrics. Patio Unplugged's sixth indie artist Abeineth's barebones, all-natural approach to music is steeped in similar old-fashioned, folky acoustic traditions. But unfortunately his efforts sound, perhaps by most metrics, pretty uninspiring. Abeineth says he learnt the rudiments of playing the guitar from his musician father but, after familiarising himself with a few chords, he took a more self-taught learning approach. By the age of 18, he tried his hand at writing lyrics and then soon began composing original music. Week 6 of Patio Unplugged sees Abeineth play two acoustic ballads: Frightening us and On my own. After seeing a post on SoFar Sounds about the global refugee benefit concert series Give A Home, Abeineth was inspired to write a song about what is arguably the moral crisis of our era. On 20 September 2017, across more than 200 cities in 60 countries, over 1000 musicians including Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande and Jessie Ware came together to demonstrate their solidarity with the refugees. So, galvanized by the crisis, Abeineth too joins in with Frightening us, an anti-war protest song that hopes to raise awareness of the plight of refugees. His monotone flow and brooding lyrics work well with music stripped down to its acoustic basics. "Have you been silenced almost all your life now? Have you seen violence like all of us?" he sings in interrogative fashion. The song also features a pretty catchy, sing-along refrain. "Why are we fighting? Hold it. Hold it. They keep on frightening us!" Abeineth's second song 'On My Own' is a moody and meditative ballad. "It talks a lot about myself and how I came up doing all of this on my own," he says. The confessional-style tune is one of those love-it-or-hate-it tracks. The vocals on the melancholy refrain, "If I keep waiting and I don't make it, I'll just stay here on my own" sounds awfully puffed against the backdrop of steady acoustic guitar strums. Though his drawl provides an interesting contrast to his finger-picked guitar melody during the refrains, his vocals still feel laboured and listless in the remainder of the tracks. But Abeineth does possess the raw songwriting talent to create more captivating music in future. When they came together on-screen for the first time in 1991 Tamil film Thalapathy, their fans went quite nuts. Now, after nearly 26 years, south India's biggest superstars Rajinikanth and Mammootty may be seen together in the upcoming Marathi film Pasaayadan, reports Mumbai Mirror. The film will also be the Marathi debut of both the superstars. Mirror adds that the film is expected to go on the floors in February, 2018. Producer-politician Balkrishna Surve is most likely to produce the film, as he is the one who got Rajinikanth on board. First-time director Bhave had worked as a co-writer on the Marathi film Idak (helmed by Deepak Gawade) which premiered at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) this year in Goa. Both Rajinikanth and Mammootty command immense fan following in south India. Such was their idolatry, when Thalapathy released, the makers of the film had to shoot different climaxes so as to comply to the requirements and sentiments of the fans of these two actors in Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively. While Mammootty has a bevy of Malayalam films to release next year, Rajinikanth is currently busy promoting his sci-fi film 2.0 with Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson. What's more fun than passing off stalking celebrities on social media as work? Very little, right? And so, we scanned the Instagram and Twitter accounts of celebs from India and abroad, to bring to you weekly updates from the interwebz. Who tweeted to whom? Who re-posted last night's party pics? Who went on a rant about what. Whatever it is, don't worry, we've got you covered. We stalk, you read. Deal? This edition of the Social Media Stalkers' Guide is dedicated to Rakhi Sawant, who has made a return to Instagram after her account was hacked! She's back, and she's verified. We know how much she enjoys posting on Instagram and how much we enjoy watching her, so here's a look at what she was up to for the last few days. She wished herself on her birthday, obvz A post shared by Rakhi Sawant Official (@rakhisawant2511) on Nov 24, 2017 at 11:42am PST She told us that she's on her way to her party, and that she was going to have a ball! We'd say "You do you, Rakhi," but she understands that adequately well. She reminded people to wish her for her birthday A post shared by Rakhi Sawant Official (@rakhisawant2511) on Nov 23, 2017 at 9:15pm PST Isn't that something we all want to do? At least for some forgetful people in our lives? She had fun with the filters A post shared by Rakhi Sawant Official (@rakhisawant2511) on Nov 23, 2017 at 10:38am PST A post shared by Rakhi Sawant Official (@rakhisawant2511) on Nov 23, 2017 at 12:24am PST She's always enjoyed experimenting with them, to be honest. She told us about her dance institute in the US! A post shared by Rakhi Sawant Official (@rakhisawant2511) on Nov 23, 2017 at 2:17am PST Rakhi Sawant is starting her own dance institute in America, and she roped in everyone from Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Dutt to Anu Malik and even Mithun Chakraborty to talk about how they enjoyed working with her, and how well she dances. She spoke about Padmavati and about freedom of expression A post shared by Rakhi Sawant Official (@rakhisawant2511) on Nov 18, 2017 at 11:02pm PST At a time when many actors and directors in Bollywood are shying away from commenting on Padmavati and the threats and opposition that Sanjay Leela Bhansali, as well as Deepika Padukone and Ranveer, have had to face, Sawant voluntarily spoke about how she thinks the film deserves a release. She also acknowledged the effort put in by the cast and crew, and how stopping the film's release is not fair to them. She warned off hackers and called out harassers A post shared by Rakhi Sawant Official (@rakhisawant2511) on Nov 19, 2017 at 2:10am PST Following her comments supporting Padmavati, Rakhi Sawant found herself at the receiving end of rape threats and lewd comments, and she made it amply clear that she would not tolerate it, threatening to submit their details to the police. She also spoke about how her contact details were revealed, and the trouble she had to go through as a result. Her Instagram account is a party in itself, and she stands up for what she believes in. And that is reason enough to follow her. Directed by Shakti Soundar Rajan, Tik Tik Tik, an upcoming Tamil film starring Jayam Ravi and Nivetha Pethuraj, calls itself India's first space film. The Tamil flick's trailer, launched last evening on 24 November, has created much hype thanks to this new genre. This film too is a thriller except looks like it's majorly set in space. Tik Tik Tik starts as a story about an asteroid that strikes a town in Tamil Nadu and how officials are now nervously awaiting another disaster to strike and destroy the livelihoods of many. For the same, Jayaprakash who is seen leading the squad, employs Jayam Ravi who happens to be a magician and an escape artist. The upcoming space flick is all about how Jayam Ravi risks his life to capture the missile that will save planet earth. The actor is shown as this macho guy, trained in almost every survival tactic, except this time he doesn't play the cop like in his highly acclaimed Thani Oruvan. Through this rather interesting premise, we see glimpses of sleek action sequences, but only this time they are set in space and not earth. We also see little of Nivetha Pethuraj who is on the same mission along with Jayam Ravi. However, we are yet to feel the seriousness of this plot said to be dealing with the future of 4 crore people. D.Immam's background score for this space thriller increases our interest and is quite a throwback to few Hollywood space flicks. So, can a con man actually save the country with his schemes? We need to wait and watch. Produced by Nemichand Jhabak Tik Tik Tik, this one of a kind space drama is set to release in December. The draft of the Bill may come up before the next Cabinet meeting. Jaipur: The third India-United Kingdom joint army training exercise 'Ajeya Warrior' will be conducted in Rajasthan next month, a defence spokesman said on Saturday. "A training exercise between the armies of India and the United Kingdom will be held from 1 to 14 December at the Mahajan Field Firing Range. It will be the third joint military exercise between the two countries," defence spokesperson Leuitantt Col Manish Ojha said. The first exercise was conducted in 2013 at Belgaum, Karnataka, whereas for the second exercise in 2015, an Indian Army contingent had visited the United Kingdom. Approximately 120 personnel from the 20th Battalion of Rajputana Rifles and the 1st Battalion of Royal Anglican Regiment of the Royal British Army will participate in the exercise, Ojha said. "The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral relations and enhance interoperability while sharing experiences between the Royal British Army and the Indian Army," he added. 20 Rajputana Rifles has extensive experience in counter-terrorism operations, while the 1st Battalion of Royal Anglican Regiment has been involved in combat operations across Afghanistan and Iraq. Thane: The death toll in a building collapse in Bhiwandi has risen to four after the recovery of a woman's body and the police has booked its owner in connection with the case. The unauthorised four-storey 'Tahir Biznor' building, situated in Navi Basti area, had collapsed on Friday. Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Santosh Kadam told PTI that the fourth deceased was identified as Parvin Khan (65). The other three deceased were Ruksar Yakub Khan (18), Asfaque Mustaque Khan (38) and Jaibunissa Rafique Ansari (61). The officer said nine people were injured in the collapse and they were admitted to various hospitals. He also said rescue and relief operations launched by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called off at 6.45 am. A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act was registered against the building's owner, a senior police official said. The accused, Mohammad Tahir Rafique Ahmed Ansari (46), was absconding, he said, adding that efforts were on to nab him. Bhiwandi tehesildar Shashikant Gaikwad had said the building was over ten years old and it was not in the list of dangerous buildings. "I read the Firstpost report on how the banks have fudged data on the loan waiver scheme. If the banks are guilty of committing fraud, then why is Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis silent? The government must file criminal case against the banks or chief minister reveal the truth about the mess," said former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan as he lashed out at the BJP government for the delay in the disbursal of the Rs 34,022 crore loan waiver. Speaking exclusively to Firstpost over the telphone from Karad in western Maharashtra, Chavan on Saturday said: "The first phase of the loan waiver scheme was released on 18 October. The second list was announced on Friday night without any details of bank names, disbursement amount and district-wise farmers' names. The government, especially Fadnavis, is just using the loan waiver as a publicity tool. He should disclose the details of the nationalised and District Cooperative Central (DCC) banks which have given ghost account numbers, fake farmers' names, and wrong Aadhaar details." After Firstpost broke the story on the irregularities by banks on Friday, Fadnavis has been facing intense heat from the Opposition. "I demand a judicial probe into the large number of bogus names which have allegedly crept in the list of beneficiaries. I suspect that most of the corrupt activities have taken place because of the online system. "Who are the officialsprivate and governmentinvolved in pocketing money from the IT contract (for setting up the online system) worth crores? Why is the chief minister shielding them? Why is IT principal secretary VK Gautam being sent on 15 days leave when the online process incomplete? It's all suspicious," Chavan told Firstpost. Interestingly, the state IT portfolio is with the chief minister. "Ten days ago, I wrote to the Union Bank of India to enquire how the number of farmers applying for beneficiary loan waiver dropped from 6.48 lakh to 1.34 lakh. Did they take action against the officer who is responsible for the drop in numbers?" asked Chavan. He added that he is yet to receive a reply to his letter. "The farm loan waiver was not mentioned in the original contract for the firm which was awarded the DBT scheme. Which close aides of the chief minister are responsible for this mess? Why does the gang of educated people always back the chief minister for digital Maharashtra?" Chavan wondered. The senior Congress leader alleged that multiple conditions for the loan waiver scheme had affected the number of beneficiaries. "They announced that loans of 89 lakh farmers would be waived off, but now the figure is around 67 lakh. They have put so many conditions that many farmers are being left out," Chavan claimed. Chavan alleged that the Maharashtra government was humiliating the farmers by deleting genuine names and adding fake beneficiaries. "The government had said that the Aadhaar-based linking will help avoid any duplication as well as fake accounts getting the benefit of the loan waiver. But in reality, the Aadhaar compulsion and too much complexity with 66 fields to be filled in the form has affected roll out," he said. On 24 June, Fadnavis announced on Twitter that 89 lakh farmers would be eligible for loan waiver and that the Maharashtra government would waive off the outstanding loan amount worth Rs 34,022 crore. Chavan sought to know how the scheme failed to reach farmers. He said: "There should be a judicial inquiry. After SLBC (State level bankers' committee) meeting, the numbers came down from 89 lakh to 77 lakh. Who deleted 12 lakh names?" The former chief minister made it clear that the onus lies with his successor for the goof-up since it was Fadnavis who announced that online submission and Aadhaar number were mandatory to avail benefits under the loan waiver scheme. "Aadhaar is made compulsory by the government, and not by banks. The government is not able to get its information technology act together. The chief minister's mindset is that loan waivers only help banks and most cooperative banks are controlled by the NCP and the Congress. It's a totally baseless allegation," Chavan said. Though it is the primary responsibility of the banks to ensure that the accounts are adjusted against correct Aadhaar numbers, multiple names have appeared against same Aadhaar numbers. This raised eyebrows as many suspect it to be an attempt to divert money. "The implementation of the loan waiver scheme is being completely mishandled. It's not a mistake. The mess has been deliberately made. It is a well-planned exercise to reduce the number of farmers. This would automatically reduce the loan waiver amount," said Chavan. Chavan said that the Congress was demanding a judicial probe because of the belief that bogus names of farmers have been included in the list of beneficiaries. "There should be a transparent probe. The name of those responsible for the mess should be revealed by Fadnavis as early as possible," Chavan said. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday spoke to her Egyptian counterpart to strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on a mosque in North Sinai province that left 235 worshippers dead. Armed attackers today killed the worshippers in a bomb and gun assault on the packed mosque in Al-Arish city. "I have just spoken to the foreign minister of Egypt (Sameh Shoukry) and conveyed the feelings expressed by our Prime Minister," Swaraj tweeted. I have just spoken to the Foreign Minister of Egypt and conveyed the feelings expressed by our Prime Minister. https://t.co/tUo2M08LR6 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 24, 2017 She also also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tweet to reiterate India's support to Egypt in the fight against all forms of terrorism. "Strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on a place of worship in Egypt. Our deep condolences at the loss of innocent lives," the prime minister tweeted earlier. Mumbai: Former Mumbai Police commissioner MN Singh on Friday said the minorities in the country are feeling a "bit uneasy", and this issue needs to be addressed. He said the current narrative on cow slaughter ban should change and the focus should be on improving internal security. The retired IPS officer was speaking on the topic 'How Safe is Mumbai?', at a function organised by the think-tank Observer Research Foundation. "The minorities in the country are a bit uneasy and it needs to be addressed. The (current) national narrative, the debate, is creating some anxiety. It has to change," he said. "The issue of Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir has to be solved amicably," Singh said. "This Babri Masjid issue has to be amicably settled between the two communities. It is not an easy solution. Any decision coming from the top or court will be half-accepted. It (the issue) will never end," said the former top cop. "There are some private groups that are talking sensible things, going and meeting so many Muslim groups. I think that is what should be encouraged," he said. There have been some 12 terror attacks in Mumbai, of which three have been very deadly. The first was in March 1993 (serial bomb blasts), but security measures improved only after the November 2008 carnage, he said. V Balendran, a former special secretary in the central government, said, "It is sad our police and anti-terror squads had no night vision cameras; hence the terror attack continued for three days in Hotel Taj (during 26/11). The situation has slightly improved since then." Hafiz Saeed being set free by Pakistan is no surprise. He was, anyway, only under house arrest and provided protection. That does not mean outsiders were not allowed to meet him, he could not confer with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistani military and his coterie of radical rodents: Same as Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who as per Pakistani media, was being given the red carpet by the Pakistan military in prison before he was set free on bail. As Pakistani scholar Ayesha Siddiqa wrote in January after Qamar Javed Bajwa was appointed army chief and superseded his seniorsincluding Zubair Mahmood Hayat, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee since November 2016 even his (Bajwas) epaulette weighs heavy. With his limited maneuverability before Islamists, hell continue to clean his yard and pet the useful jihadis. Incidentally, Zubair recently alleged Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) established a $500 million fund to disrupt the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC). That allegation was promptly trashed by China to boost Bajwa (the more useful pawn) with the ongoing tussle between Zubair and Bajwa within the Pakistani military. Najam Sethi writing in Friday Times on 16 March, 2012, said the ISI has walked into GHQ (General Headquarters) and seized control of the armed forces, indicating a critical point in Pakistans political history was a harsh reality. That is as stark as Sidiqqas reading of Bajwa. Looking at the radical pedigree of Saeed and Masood Azhar, both of them are more that useful not only to Pakistani military, ISI and the Chinese, with China using Pakistan (as a borrowed knife) to destabilise India. So, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes the initiative to improve relations, these radical mullahs can be used to launch terror attacks such as the one on the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot. And, of course, Nawaz Sharif can be sacked, Panama papers or any other pretext notwithstanding. The cover for the release of Saeed was lack of enough evidence. It is extremely convenient that the prosecutors were doing just that: Producing just enough evidence to set him free and suppressing critical proof. Some critics in India talk of the need for Pakistani justice system to be reformed without realising judges in Pakistan not adhering to the writ of the military can simply vanish overnight. Before Saeeds release, the US issued a formal statement: "The US is deeply concerned that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed has been released from house arrest in Pakistan. LeT is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks, including a number of American citizens. The Pakistani government should make sure that he is arrested and charged for his crimes. In 2008, US designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, in addition to the UN designating him so in the same year. Since 2012, the US has offered $10 million reward for information to bring Saeed to justice. But isnt it ironic that the US has not pursued the incriminating statement of David Coleman Headley, the American terrorist of Pakistan origin in US prison, who admits he conspired with the LeT to plot the 2008 Mumbai attacks? Ironically, US focus has been on focusing the Haqqani Network attacking Afghanistan, not terrorism across Pakistans eastern borders. This, even as the involvement of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations such as LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) undertaking terror attacks in Afghanistan have been acknowledged by the UN Assistance Mission Afghanistan (UNAMA) since July 2016. It is also known that the ISI formed the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISK) in Peshawar region by amalgamating what the US intelligence acknowledged as disgruntled elements of both Taliban, pushing them west into Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. Afghans often describe the ISK as ISI, different from the Islamic State of Iraq-Syria, cadres of which are now homing on to the Af-Pak region. Significantly, Afghanistan officially told Pakistan in July 2016 that Saeed was directing Islamic State operations in Afghanistan. It is a different issue that the actual Islamic State has started extracting blood in Pakistan. The latest victim was Ashraf Nur, Additional Inspector General, Pakistan Police, who was killed along with two other police personnel and another six injured on 24 November in Hyatabad, Peshawar. On being freed, Saeed called Nawaz Sharif a traitor for seeking peace with India. He said he will continue to fight for the Kashmiris and "liberate" them from India. Saeed recently launched a political party while under house arrest: The Milli Muslim League (MML), which won thousands of votes in by-elections. Now that Pakistan has absolved him of involvement in any such case, why should Saeed not contest elections? Why would the Pakistani military not be amenable to install him even as the prime minister? Wouldn't Beijing be absolutely thrilled? The timing of his release was also carefully chosen: Cocking a double snoot at the US and India just before Ivanka Trumps visit. As after every Pakistan-sponsored terror attack, there is a furore in our media about Saeeds release. It is humorous to see questions on social media: What is America doing, why are they not rescinding of the Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) status accorded to Pakistan? Why are they not designating Pakistan a terrorist state? But how about looking in the mirror? Have we had the gumption of even withdrawing the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status from Pakistan? Not to mention, when a motion designating Pakistan a terrorist state was introduced in Parliament by MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, not even 50 MPs turned up. MK Dhar, former Joint Director Intelligence Bureau wrote in his book Open Secrets: The Pakistani establishment is a geopolitical bully. The best response to blunt such a bully is to take the war inside his home. The sabre rattling of coercive diplomacy, which is nothing but sterile military power, cannot convince the Islamist Pakistani Establishment that India can take the border skirmishes inside their homes and hit at the very roots of the jaundiced Islamist groups. So, what are we going to do: More missile tests and keep thumping our chest about surgical strikes on terrorist launch-pads? Are we aware that in many foreign lands, India is referred to not NATO-member but NATO itself: No Action, Talk Only? Isnt it ironic that during elections we try the dirtiest of tricks but when it comes to dealing with a rabid neighbor, we want to comply with the rules of Mahabharat? The media is reporting that a town in Uttar Pradesh celebrated Saeeds release: Biased reporting? Pervez Hoodbhoy, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, wrote in 2008: The promotion of militarism in Pakistans schools, colleges and universities has had a profound effect on young people. Militant jihad has become a part of the culture in college and university campuses, with armed groups inviting students for jihad in Kashmir and Afghanistan. The immediate future of Pakistan looks grim, as increasing numbers of mullahs are creating cults around themselves and seizing control over the minds of their worshippers. Interlocutors of all hues report progress in Jammu and Kashmir, but has anyone addressed what the young generation is being taught? A Class five textbook of a schoolnot a madrassain the Valley teaches non-Muslims are to be hated. And are madrassas elsewhere in the country preparing youth for jihad? Killing 190 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir this year is good, but 110 of these were foreigners as per Jammu and Kashmir DPG SP Vaid. Meanwhile, 32,000 madrassas in Pakistan are producing a million radicals annually. It is time to stop being No Action Talk Only and take the hybrid war into enemy territory. That is, if policymakers understand what that means, and more importantly, have the guts to do so. The author is retired lieutenant-general of the Indian Army It is tempting to interpret Pakistan's move in releasing Hafiz Saeed from "house arrest" as a hackneyed script trapped within a capsule of time where characters are forced to eternally repeat their actions. The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder will be "arrested" and released, "arrested" and released, "arrested" and released in sync with varying degrees of pressure stimuli on the Pakistani State. And yet such an interpretation, this time, could be misleading. In the events that led up to Saeed's so-called arrest, his subsequent release and behaviour of the major players, there is an indication that the power equation in South Asia is irrevocably changing, and we must be sensitive to those changes. In very broad terms, the Hafiz Saeed episode captures the reality of waning US influence over Pakistan in line with its increasing inability to carry out the role of a global influencer. Thiscoinciding with the growing clout of Chinais creating more space for Islamabad to pivot towards Beijing in defiance of the US. The trend presents both an external and internal challenge for India, whose strategic interests are better served by an US-led regional order in South Asia than a China-led one. New Delhi must calibrate its foreign policy to adapt to the post-Cold War era reality and brace for impact in Kashmir where the trouble is more likely to intensify. It shouldn't surprise that in his very first speech following release, Saeed targeted Kashmir and vowed to ramp up jihadist violence. This reality, in a rather counterintuitive way, is reflected in the sharp US response against Pakistan's decision to set free the UN designated terrorist just ahead of the ninth anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The State Department release claimed the Donald Trump administration was "deeply concerned that LeT leader Hafiz Saeed has been released from house arrest in Pakistan." Recognising LeT as a "designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks, including a number of American citizens," the statement urged Pakistan to "make sure that he is arrested and charged for his crimes." Time was when the global superpower ensured favourable outcomes without having to huff and puff over it. Rather than demonstrate resolve, this US statement ends up showcasing its erosion of clout where even openly coercive behaviour isn't bringing desired outcomes. This vocal admonition is more likely aimed at India, to show that Washington is not equivocal in the war on terror. It requires a great deal of gullibility to assume that Washington did not conceive of such an eventuality when it decided to delink Coalition Support Funds (CSF) from verifiable action against the LeT while requiring Pakistan to do so only against the Haqqani Network. In the Senate version of the defence bill passed in September, the CSF was tied to demonstrable action from Pakistan on both the LeT (which operates against India) and the Haqqani Network (which is active in Afghanistan). Section 1212 of the defence authorisation bill demanded that Pakistan must validate that "it has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba from using any Pakistan territory as a safe haven and for fundraising and recruiting efforts" and also demanded (albeit indirectly) action against "senior leaders and mid-level operatives of the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba". However, under pressure from the US Department of Defence, the US Congress modified the key provision to drop the mention of LeT from legislation, ostensibly to maintain exclusive focus on Pakistan's compliance in Afghanistan. The LeT reference was deemed as premature and distracting. This indicates that US action against "war on terror" lacks consistency and homogeneity and is subject to prioritisation of interests. It seems to be at odds with Donald Trump's iteration of Afghanistan and South Asia policy where Pakistan's status as a "safe haven" for "terrorist organisations, the Taliban, and other groups" was severely criticised, and specific mention made that Pakistan's actions are posing a "threat to the region and beyond." Trump also demanded that Pakistan must "demonstrate its commitment to civilization, order, and to peace." This led some commentators, such as Chidanand Rajghatta in The Times of India, to point out that "as with all previous US administration, this one too has shown that when it comes to a toss-up between its objectives in Afghanistan (where it has a military presence) and India's interests in Kashmir, its objectives will win." The truth is a little more complex. More than US equivocation on terror, the prioritisation indicates that Washington is now dependent more than ever on regional players to achieve its foreign policy objectives. This creates tension in its bilateral ties. Therefore, while it must align with India and "like-minded democracies" to contain the rise of China in South Asia, it equally cannot afford to antagonise China (in so far as the Trump administration is concerned) and complicate further the North Korea situation. Similarly, while backing India on its position in Kashmir, it needs to leave Pakistan with enough lollies to ensure compliance of objectives in Afghanistan. These cleavages will become even more pronounced as US power wanes, and its dependence increases on regional players. It is instructive to compare US behaviour with China, which seems to be achieving its foreign policy objectives much more silently, and without much ado, as ORF fellow Abhijnan Rej explains in an essay for Livemint (What China does when it disagrees with you). It is pointless for India to outrage against Pakistan, whose dependence on terrorism as a foreign policy tenet will continue as long as its serves domestic interests and benefits outweigh the costs. It is equally futile to feel betrayed by the US in its policy priorities. India must instead take note of the shifting sands in power balance and calibrate its response. A good start will be to understand that Saeed's release is as much triggered by shift in US policy as an attempt by the Pakistan's military-industrial complex to degrade the capabilities of its civilian government in controlling the direction of foreign policy. In fact, Saeed's targeting of Nawaz Sharif for "cosying up with Narendra Modi" is a dead giveaway. As Kunwar Khuldune Shahid writes in The Diplomat, "Saeeds release has both symbolic and actual perils for the political parties gearing up for the 2018 elections. This is as firm a sign as any that anyone eyeing improved relations with India by putting the Kashmir conflict on the back burner will not be allowed to run the country. But, of course, with Saeed himself now free to plan electoral strategies there should be a tangible presence of jihad-mongers in the Parliament: A constant reminder of the fate of civilians that do not toe the lines on security and diplomacy." As elections in Pakistan draw near, as an immediate aftermath, violence in Kashmir may increase manifold. So what are the policy lessons for India? Work with the US in areas where there is an alignment of strategic interests (Afghanistan, the Quad) and start delinking the dialogue process with Pakistan from terrorism. Empowering the civilian government in Pakistan is the only way to restrict the influence of Rawalpindi. There are likely to be stiff political challenges domestically, but policy paralysis might extract a greater pound of flesh from us. The Hyderabad Metro Rail, the countrys first elevated metro rail on PPP (private public partnership) is finally ready to chug after a rollercoaster ride of a decade. It will not only change travel patterns but also behavioural patterns of people in the Nizams town, said NVS Reddy, MD of HMRL, as it gets ready for launch on 28 November. This comes as a great relief for the core management team of L&T MRH, its chairman SN Subramanyam and MD Shivanand Nimbargi who, over almost a decade, went through several ups and downs caused by successive political interventions, social activism leading to delays, PILs and cost hikes. Thank God, we are rolling finally, said a representative of the L&T MRH, which is the concessionaire, spending almost 90% of the project cost of Rs 16,375 crore at Rs 13,000 crore. The L&T MRH, which is implementing the project with Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) (a Telangana government entity) and the Government of India, enjoys the concession for 35 years. The company laments that it has already lost two years since the appointment date of June 2012 set during Congress Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy as the real work picked up only after the formation of Telangana in 2014. Even after resolving the issue of diversion and re-routing with the current Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) government, they have been able to complete only 30 km of the 72 km route for which they originally inked the PPP deal and need an extension of 2 more years. The TRS Roadblock The scene changed in 2014 after the TRS government took over the reins of the project and its Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao declared that Hyderabad would have a 200 km metro and that it would not be allowed to pass over historic locations like the Assembly and Sultan Bazaar. As if on cue, its political ally MIM also raised its voice against the Metro crisscrossing 12 historical locations in the Old City and sought realignment of the route. L&T group chairman AM Naik wrote several detailed letters to KCR in a bid to resolve the issues and also called for caution about the legal aspect. The letter of February 2017 was part of a huge correspondence with the government to resolve challenges in execution of the project. The letter of Naik sought to relieve L&T from the project as there were unusual terms from the Telangana government and adverse economic conditions contributed to unforeseen cost escalation which made the project incapable of performance. The letter seeking termination of the project was wrongly highlighted by the newspapers, it was only a gesture and not final, said VB Gadgil, Chief Executive of L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail in a media interaction in September. L&T had allegedly lashed out at the government interference and delay in finalisation of routes and corridors. Politically, the Centre which had put in 10% of the cost at Rs 1458 crore was also wary of the Telangana governments unsteady approach. It is alleged that the Centre finally cautioned that such an unclear approach by the Telangana government would only cause setbacks to other projects and subsequent central support cum guarantees. We kept mum and Telangana finally saw the light, and GoI intervention also helped, said a spokesman of the L&T HMR requesting anonymity. The issue was discussed at a cabinet meet and finally the CMO which had initially leaked the letter of the L&T threat to walk out worked out a compromise and dropped its demand for realignment and re-routing and asked the concessionaire to complete the project as scheduled. But the builder had lost two precious years already and the Telangana government kept dismissing L&Ts demand for an extension of the deadline by a year or two, insisting instead on completion of at least the first phase by hook or crook. We wanted to showcase the Metro during the Global summit at Hyderabad, said the CM who also holds the industry portfolio. A Tunnel of Woes The Metro Rail, Outer Ring Road and PV Expressway were part of the Vision 2020 document released by the Chandrababu Naidu government as urban infrastructure initiatives to support the IT explosion that began in early 2000. The Naidu government had done its homework on land acquisition from Wakf and endowment departments for development, and also the estimated Metro Rail cost at around Rs 10,000 crore. But his successor, YS Rajashekhara Reddy, with his focus on welfare schemes, put the Metro project in cold storage. After his 2008 electoral victory for a second innings, YSR finally brought the Metro Rail project out for bids. The first bids of the PPP project took place in 2008 and was awarded to the consortium of Maytas, a wing of Satyam group. This was cancelled after the unraveling of the massive Satyam scam involving its founder Ramalinga Raju and the failure of Maytas to raise funds. YSR died in a chopper crash the following year and the Metro Rail project was back in cold storage in the political anarchy that followed. The last Congress Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N Kiran Kumar Reddy relaunched the process and awarded it to L&T in 2010 for Rs 12,132 crore and after preparatory work the launch date was set as June 2012 with a deadline for 2017 to complete the project. The Telangana agitation then intensified and work was hit once again. When the project was finally flagged off in 2014, after the creation of the new Telangana state, the government wanted the project to be completed in three years. At present there are over 200 court cases including 12 public interest litigations (some of them filed by TRS supporters in 2010 protesting against Wakf land acquisitions for Metro) pending against the Hyderabad Metro Rail. The officials of HMRL and L&T claim that work is gathering pace and the project would be fully operational by December 2018 for the 72 km stretch of initial bidding. If the government is keen to take up other corridors, the project will have to go back to the negotiation table with the concessionaire. Stage Of The Hyderabad Metro The L&T MRH is ready to roll out six car trains with capacity to carry 2000 passengers at a frequency of 15 minutes each on its 24 stations between Miyapur-Ameerpet-Nagole, the maiden corridor being unveiled on November 28. It also has plans to install over 670 escalators at a cost of Rs 400 crore. The Telangana government has also invited Ivanka Trump for a journey with the Prime Minister, but US government officials have not approved it yet. As per the projections of L&T and HMRL the travel time is 45 minutes on Corridor 1 from MiyapurL B Nagar (29 km) as against 144 minutes by road, 22 minutes for Corridor 2 from Jubilee Hills to Falaknuma (15 km) as against 140 minutes by road and 39 minutes for Corridor 3 (28 km) from 126 minutes on road. In September last year, Congress leaders went to visit the works, but were stopped by the police on the directions of Metro officials and the government. Leader of Opposition in Telangana legislative council Mohammed Ali Shabbir says that the delay was deliberately caused by the TRS-MIM combine for political gains in the Hyderabad civic polls of 2016 by influencing Muslims voters of old city. Both TRS and MIM played to the gallery as protectors of Hyderbad heritage and put roadblocks in L&T works, he charged. Shabbir has sought PM Narendra Modis intervention at the Metro inaugural to assure that the Old City circuit of 5.5 km from Imliban to Falaknuma would be completed at the earliest in the interests of the development and progress of Muslim community. The political elements of MIM, who are scared of their (Muslims) growth and empowerment of youth and women in Old City, are opposing the Metro, he added. The Congress has also charged the TRS and MIM combine as responsible for the hike in project cost by a whopping Rs 4000 crore as a result of their political dillydallying. Now the people of Hyderabad who have already gone through hell due to the traffic jams during the construction of Metro rail have to bear the brunt of high tariffs, he said. L&T HMR now seeks a further extension of the deadline by a year or two along with the concession so that they can reap the benefits of their huge investments in the PPP. They have already projected the revenue as 40% from passenger tariff, 50% from malls and shops at Metro stations and only 10% from advertisements over 30 years i.e. till 2047. As of now L&T has invested 90% of the project cost at Rs 13,000 crore and may have to put in more for the final stage, said an L&T spokesman. The government of Telangana pitched in a mere Rs 300 crore towards land cost and the GoI is picking up 10% at Rs 1458 crore. As on date, we have put in Rs 9,000 crore which includes Rs 2700 crore equity, Rs 600 crore from VGF and the rest is debt, said J Ravikumar, Chief Financial Officer of L&T MRHL. The ball is also in the Telangana governments court now as L&T has made it conditional for extension of both deadline for construction and also the concession. The concession is for 35 years, including 5 years of construction period, which ended in June 2017. Only 30 kilometres have been completed in the scheduled 72 km and 42 km of construction activity remains, of which nearly 78% of works are already complete. The developer has requested the government for extension of schedule for a year or two and it is under consideration of the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said Chief Secretary SP Singh. But there is not enough light at the end of the tunnel. L&T will have a tough task in building the Old City corridor of Metro Rail. As many as 145 heritage structures including 15 listed heritage structures have been identified, though the builders contend that it will pass through only nine heritage structures. The convener of Forum for Better Hyderabad Veda Kumar who has filed a PIL on the issue wants the L&T and HMR to dig tunnels as in Delhi and Bengaluru to protect heritage townships and monuments instead of overhead tracks. The tunnel will cost Rs 600-700 crore per km, say the builders. As the future of the Metro Rail in the 400-year-old ramparts of Hyderabad city still hangs in confusion, the project shows why politics of development, votes and heritage should not be mixed up. Chandigarh: Haryana has been put on alert and the state government has sought 25 companies of paramilitary forces in view of the proposed rallies of a Jat body and a BJP MP on Sunday. The Haryana Police said that "adequate" number of security personnel have been deployed in almost 13 districts of the state to maintain law and order, and claimed that the situation was "peaceful and under control". Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini, who has been opposing reservations for Jats, would be holding a "Samaanta Maha Sammelan" in Jind while the All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti's chief Yashpal Malik would take out a rally at Jassia village in Rohtak district on 26 November. "The situation is peaceful and under control," Haryana Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Muhammad Akil told PTI this evening. "We have deployed adequate forces in 12 to 13 districts of Haryana," he said without specifying the number of security personnel. The state has also sought 25 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre in view of the two rallies being organised in Rohtak and Jind districts, the officer said. However, the paramilitary forces are yet to arrive, he said. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Rohtak Range, Navdeep Virk said that as many as 3,500 security personnel have been deployed in Rohtak. Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rohtak, Yash Garg said, "Prohibitory orders banning the carrying of arms, weapons or lathis has been issued." Besides, routes have been diverted at several points so that those participating in the rally at Jassia village would not have to pass through the city, he said. "As many as 19 police check posts have been set up while 38 duty magistrates have also been deployed in the district," the officer said. DC, Jind, Amit Khatri said that the district administration and the police are on alert and adequate security forces have been deployed. "Hisar Range IGP is also camping in the district," he said, adding that no prohibitory orders have been issued. On Friday, a group of Jats, who had been opposing Saini's rally, had clashed with police in Jind and had blocked the Jind-Chandigarh national highway. The police had to use a mild lathi charge to disperse the protesters and clear the highway. The Haryana government had yesterday suspended mobile internet services at 13 places in the state for the next three days, apprehending breach of peace and law and order problem because of the rallies. Mobile internet, SMS and dongle services provided by cellphone networks, except voice calls, would remain suspended for the next three days, till 26 November midnight, in Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts. Kolkata: Union minister Kiren Rijiju said India has "good relations" with China and there is "enough space" for both countries to work together. He said that India believed in keeping friendly relations with its neighbours and was approaching with "the correct policy" in the North East. "We have good relations with China. There is enough space for India and China to work together and we believe in friendly relations with our neighbours and are approaching a correct policy now what should have done before," Rijiju said at 'India Today Conclave East'. The Union minister of state for home, asserted that India was not aggressive against anybody, "but, at the same time, is firm in protecting its national interests". In order to empower the north-eastern states in terms of trading prowess, he said the government had identified many pockets along the Northeastern border for opening up with the neighbouring countries, except with China, Rijiju said. "It has become imperative for the Act East Policy," he said, adding the country enjoyed the best relations with Myanmar, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. "With China, the border line in Arunachal Pradesh is not properly delineated and after 1962, commerce with China has stopped along this route," he said. Chandigarh: The Haryana government has suspended mobile internet services in 13 districts for three days, apprehending law and order problem in view of two public rallies by a Jat body and ruling BJP's Kurukshetra MP on 26 November. MP Raj Kumar Saini, who was opposing quota for Jats, had announced a "Samanta Maha Sammelan" in Jind while All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti national president Yashpal Malik had also announced a rally in Rohtak district's Jassia on the same day. Internet services on mobile networks, except voice calls, in the districts of Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri shall remain suspended for three days until the midnight of 26 November, an official order said on Friday. The order, which came into force on Friday, was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) SS Prasad. "The order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of state of districts as mentioned...," it said. It said there was a likelihood of tension, danger to human life and property, disturbance of public peace and tranquility in Haryana by protestors and anti-social elements during the two public rallies on Sunday. On Friday, a group of Jats who were opposing Saini's rally at Jind clashed with the police and blocked the Jind-Chandigarh National Highway in Jind. The police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the protesters and the highway was cleared for normal movement of vehicular traffic after a while. Jat leader Sandeep Bharti, who led the protesters, was demanding cancellation of Saini's rally. Bharti alleged that Saini was known for his anti-Jat rants and accused him of spreading communal hatred by making inflammatory and derogatory statements against the community. Officials said the situation remained tense in Rohtak and Jind. Nagpur: The NCP will launch an agitation in Maharashtra next month to highlight the "failures" of the BJP-led government and hardships caused to people due to policy decisions like GST and demonetisation, a party leader said on Friday. The Sharad Pawar-led Opposition party will launch "halla bol" (raise your voice) agitation on 1 December and it will go on till 11 December, Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said. The stir comes in run up to the winter session of Maharashtra legislature scheduled to begin in Nagpur on 11 December. Claiming that the BJP government has "failed" on all fronts, Tatkare said the stir's objective is to "awake the government from its deep sleep on the issues of incomplete loan waiver scheme, deteriorating law and order situation, lack of jobs and hardships faced by people due to the adverse impact of GST and demonetisation." The farm loan waiver scheme, which was widely publicised by the Devendra Fadnavis government, has not served its stated purpose and cultivators are still committing suicide, the former minister said. He said the 'halla bol' padyatra will begin from Yavatmal on 1 December and end in Nagpur on 11 December. All prominent NCP leaders will take part in the stir. Similarly, a joint 'halla bol' agitation with the Congress and other like-minded opposition parties will be held on 12 December at Nagpur during the winter session, he said. NCP chief Sharad Pawar will address a gathering being organised as part of the stir, Tatkare said. Editor's note: In light of the fact that the Centre is planning to introduce a new legislation to outlaw triple talaq, Firstpost sought opinions from various experts about how the legislation should be drafted and what are some of the issues that the government should keep in mind. By Sharanya Gopinathan "It's all nonsense, whats going on!" says 25-year-old Amina, a homemaker in Bangalore. Reports from Wednesday suggest that the central government is set to draft a law that will not only make triple talaq invalid, but also a criminal offence. The bill is likely to be tabled in the Winter Session of the Parliament. A committee of ministers has been formed to fine-tune the legislation. Unfortunately, none of them are Muslim women. However, Amina is effusive when trying to establish that this law has nothing to do with her life. She says, Triple talaq is not mentioned in the Quran, and it is mentioned in the Hadith in very specific circumstances. Even then, a man doesnt randomly give talaq and get divorced! This is not a real practice in our community. Only people who dont read the Quran and dont practice true Islam fall into such things. Why are we wasting time debating such petty issues? Its been three months since an all-male bench set aside the practice of triple talaq, or instant divorce in Muslim communities, rendering such divorces invalid, and opinions seem to be as strong as ever. Its always been a controversial issue, given the loaded nature of personal law. There is also the fear of a right-wing governments attempt to co-opt the struggle of Muslim women to free themselves from this tool for their own political gains. So how do Muslim women really feel about this new development? Do they feel, like Amina, that this is a non-issue being blown up on TV debates? Or do they welcome the move as a long-awaited change for Muslim women? More importantly, do women feel that the nature of their marriages is going to change without the threat of triple talaq looming over their everyday interactions? Sarah, a Bangalore-based journalist, thinks this is a welcome development that will shake up a lot of family dynamics. Through triple talaq, men feel they can threaten at the drop of a hat. So long as they have the power to use triple talaq, its like theyre constantly saying, 'You know I can send you to your mothers house at any time, right?'" For Reema, a 27-year-old fashion designer, divorce wasnt an empty threat, but it didnt come the triple talaq route. Reema and her husband had a mutually accepted divorce, but she recalls that her husband used to throw the threat of divorce around in fights. At the same time, she wants the world to know that Muslim women have equal rights and powers to divorce in Islam. Shes referring to the practice of khula, a form of divorce where the wife is free to leave without having to pay any money or maintenance, unlike men who give triple talaq. She still recalls that her husband would often threaten her, saying, I should just divorce you this instant. But she knew that triple talaq wasnt an accepted reality, so she never took the threat seriously. Reema thinks Muslim men make the threat loosely because they dont understand the obligations of marriage. Before Muslim women get married, they read the Quran, they learn and study everything they need to know about marriage beforehand. Muslim men just celebrate with their friends, saying they have someone to cook them dinner every day. Many Muslim women, when asked about triple talaq, turn to the belief that Islam already contains guidelines for lifes crises, big and small. Its one of the reasons why they are furious that the government is now trying to pass laws that interfere in their most personal matters. Alia, a homemaker from Bangalore, asserts that Islam already has many in-built protections for Muslim women. In triple talaq, a man has to return to the wifes family the expenses they paid on the wedding. If a woman takes khula, she doesnt have the right to claim any money or maintenance back. In many cases, women dont take the option of khula and wait for triple talaq because they know that they wont get their money if they take that route. Taking a different view on the issue, Dr Kala Balasubramaniam, a marriage counsellor at Bangalores Inner Peace Counselling Center who counsels Muslim couples, thinks removing the looming spectre of triple talaq can help women feel more secure and confident. You need security and belonging in a marriage, and a tool like triple talaq is like having a Damocles sword over your head all the time. Sarah believes that this development will influence norms outside marriage too. She believes it will make families more confident when their daughters marry. She says that this tool was the reason why Muslim women were raised by their parents to be quiet and docile. Until now, mothers would tell their daughters, 'Dont try to be Jhansi ki Rani, be Allah ki gaai'. After this rule, mothers dont have to tutor their daughters to not be be bold and dont talk. Theyll say you have a legal right. If you face any injustice, raise your voice. She also floats the intriguing possibility of it having the opposite effect, similar to the kind of backlash Susan Faludi documented in the wake of second-wave feminism in the West. She wonders if losing this power would make Muslim men feel threatened and insecure, and increase the desirability of uncommonly quiet women. Maybe after this decision, there will be more demand for such girls and Muslim girls will be taught even more not to be the ones who ask for their rights. Muslim women activists who have been working in the field for several years also have similarly complex and contradictory views on the matter, but they have clear ideas about what shape they want the August judgement to take. On Thursday, we spoke to Hasina Khan, of the Bebaak Collective, a Muslim womens rights group, just as she was returning from a press conference in Mumbai, where the collective publicly opposed the governments decision to make triple talaq a criminally punishable offence. This criminal offence act wont have a good impact on any kind of healthy relationship, she says. The insecurity and threat of divorce? Every marriage [in every religion] has it. But triple talaq is not an offence. We are very opposed to this, and many Muslim women came together today to oppose it because the government should implement the judgment through awareness programs, and various kinds of agencies to educate and inform Muslim women, and give them guidance. Not this. She believes the government is going beyond the apex court judgment. The mindset that the government is taking is that divorce is a crime. The SC judgement set aside triple talaq and said its not valid. Sarkar yeh keh raha ki agar husband divorce kar raha hai toh crimes mein daal denge. Theyre overdoing it. Noorjehan Safia of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, on the other hand, thinks that criminalisation is a meaningful actualisation of the judgement for which Muslim women have fought so hard. BMMA has always said if somebody does give an oral divorce, the Domestic Violence Act should apply. The punishment described there is applicable. Thats how it is in other personal laws, there are punishments for polygamy, underage marriage, in POCSO and the DV Act. So why such a big hue and cry about triple talaq being made into a punishable offence? She says she doesnt know if it will affect the dynamics between husbands and wives right away, but adds that it doesnt matter if theres no translation into immediate action. The question is, how do we make gender justice available to women? How do we ensure she continues to get her maintenance, her house, her access to matrimonial property, the custody and maintenance of her children? Those are aspects that need to be assured by the law. If a husband does land up giving a divorce and if he isnt hauled up for it, how will it help the women? Men are continuing to give divorces to women as recently as yesterday. If the man continues to get this message from the state and society De doh, kya hoga? then the poor woman will continue to run around asking for maintenance, custody, all her rights, and he will be as free as he was when the law was not there. She nods to the many complex issues around this development, and specifically, to the widespread concern that the government is using the issue as an excuse to persecute Muslim men. That fear of how the state will use it against Muslim men is always there. We are also concerned about Muslim men, but what about the concerns of Muslim women? We know the attitude the government has. Of course we are aware. But legal protection of Muslim women has to be made concrete. Otherwise whats the point of codification, if theres no fear of law? The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between. The Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign managers must be happy. Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity, on which hinges saffron party's fortunes, remains intact, said a survey by American think-tank, Pew Research Center. That is so after three eventful years of Modis rule at the Centre and his controversial economic experiments. To be precise, nearly nine-in-ten Indians hold a favorable opinion of Modi, said the Pew survey, adding that roughly seven-in-ten say they have a very favourable view of the prime minister similar to public views in 2015. The only problem with the survey is that its sample size is too small just 2,464 respondents in India from February 21 to March 10, 2017. Even for a basic statistical survey, that is an insignificant number for a nation of 130 crore people and, especially so, when you want to give a verdict about the national level popularity trend of the leader of the ruling political party. Secondly, though the survey was done at the peak time of the note ban impact, it doesnt capture the public mood (particularly among small traders) post the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 1 July, 2017. Hence, when the survey finds "the publics positive assessment of Modi is buoyed by growing contentment with the Indian economy", one can argue that that may not necessarily go well with the mood on the ground, particularly if one looks at other indicators or reports on business optimism, unemployment trends and perception among small traders. Having said that, coming from a globally reputed think-tank, the Pew survey (unlike the surveys done on the Narendra Modi app) will hold highly in favour of the Modi-governments campaign managers ahead of the crucial state Assembly election in Gujarat Modis home state and one of the biggest industrial hubs in India. And at a time when the Modi government is facing criticism from both within and outside his party on charges of economic mismanagement, this is good news for Modis poll campaign managers. Remember, Modi faced criticism on the economy despite initiating certain big moves to clean-up the parallel economy (through demonetisation), bring in a uniform tax regime (GST), change India into a global manufacturing hub (Make in India) and work towards ease of doing business. But, lack of planning and inadequate execution skills proved to be the villain in each of these initiatives denying the full credit to the government and giving an opportunity for the political opposition to launch counter-attacks. Demonetisation was one of the high-risk political moves executed by Modi with the intention to clean-up the economy but poor planning caused more damage, particularly in the cash-intensive informal sector, compared with the gains of the stated objectives. Modi pulled off GST the biggest indirect tax reform in Indias history after breaking a decade-long deadlock but, again, faced backlash when the rate structure and compliance process hurt small traders and caused confusion. The delay to act in clearing the banking sector mess and address the economic slowdown (mainly caused by drag in the manufacturing segment and a slump in demand) proved costly in the third year of Modis rule forcing his government to come with one of the biggest economic stimulus packages in Indias history worth Rs 9 lakh crore, of which Rs 2.11 lakh crore came as recapitalisation fund for banks and the rest to push investment in infrastructure. The Modi government, particularly Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, has been in a continuous state of denial about the sad state of the economy. But, by offering a massive fiscal stimulus, the government acknowledged the problem, finally. Indeed, the Pew survey is a shot in the arm for BJP and Modi. But, no political analyst would attach too much of importance to popularity surveys, because when people finally go to polling booths, the outcome may not be in sync with these surveys (remember Donald Trumps popularity polls ahead of the 2016 US Presidential Elections). Modi continues to be BJPs mascot and trump card even after three years of his ascension into the national scene. The pan-India BJP wave is still riding largely on Modi, and the Pew survey surely works towards the party's advantage, but Modis real popularity test will come when the votes are counted in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, where the prime minister continues to dominate the poll scene more than the local leaders. Yes, there arent too many political analysts who doubt BJPs win in the BJP dominated Gujarat. But, the victory margin and trends will be watched keenly as a metric of Modis popularity. The purchase of 36 Rafale jets from France is mired in such deep controversy that it's more confusing than enlightening. Perhaps what is needed is, to remove the element of overwhelming expertise and fiscal semantics and discuss this in layman's terms. Let's take the cost of the aircraft. It is complex and predicated to a confidentiality clause on both sides. We'll never know what was paid for it, however, there are a dozen figures out there. Depending on who is doing the calculations, the cost of Rafale jets, for the most part, is lower than what Egypt and Qatar paid for their aircraft. Then there is the mind numbing procedural nomenclature. Ajai Shukla wrote for Business Standard, "Both (Nirmala) Sitharaman and (Manohar) Parrikar point out the defence procurement procedure (DPP) permits regular procurement procedures to be bypassed on strategic grounds. Indeed, Paragraph 71 of the DPP caters for 'occasions when procurements would have to be done from friendly foreign countries which may be necessitated due to geo-strategic advantages that are likely to accrue to our country.'" However, Paragraph 71 also stipulates that this requires prior clearance. It says, "Such procurements will be done based on an Inter-Governmental Agreement after clearance from Competent Financial Authority (CFA)", in this case the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Further, Paragraph 73 of the DPP says, "Decisions on all such (strategic) acquisitions would be taken by the CCS on the recommendations of the Defence Procurement Board (DPB)". No ministry or Cabinet body was consulted before Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed India to the Rafale purchase on 10 April, 2015. The CCS sanction was processed and obtained only later. The prime minister didnt follow procedure. After which, there comes the questions. Why didn't the NDA do the deal? What was the UPA doing? Why did the prime minister make a unilateral announcement in Paris and stun his team? What's the deal with Reliance Defense? What took the IAF five years of trials to okay the choice when a posse of air marshals with wings on their chests should have worked it out by just reading Jane's All the World's Aircraft. It is a never ending gobbledygook. What we should be asking is, did we need these aircraft? The answer to that question is, yes. Why are we wasting time on these technicalities? We are 11 squadrons short, our MIG 21s (flying coffins) fell away years ago and the call to add muscle now is shrill and filled with anxiety. I bought a flight ticket for Rs 11,000 in early November. I booked the same route for Rs 28,000 now because it is the new year week. This is known as good business practice. We all understand that and perhaps this is exactly what Modi intended to do: get the aircraft because we need the aircraft. We have two hostile neighbours with planes in the sky and we cannot afford to sit on our hands. If there is any drawback, it is having to wait for these 36 fighters till 2019 rather than being able to get them now because that's how long it takes to get them manufactured. Now, if some aviation authority recommended that we get lease fighter aircraft in the interim I'd listen regardless of the cost. Look at the ground reality. Of the sanctioned 42 squadrons (years ago) we have only 32 at present, of which some are flying obsolete planes or are grounded for spares as with the MiG 23s and MiG 27s. Does this paint a fair of a sorry mess? So, with our reputation for hemming and hawing and even frequently asking for kickbacks (rather shamelessly), there is not much excitement on the global market for an Indian bid. Give Modi a pass on this one. If it actually turns out that we did paid less than other customers, all this becomes moot. Still, in layman terms, shouldn't we rather sleep well at night knowing our pilots are safe and so are we? Kolkata: Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das on said that the state would be free from the menace of naxalism by the beginning of 2018. He was speaking at the India Today Conclave East. For any state to prosper, peace is the most important thing and any government's priority is to provide security to its masses, the chief minister said. "In last three years we have taken steps in this regard. More than 70 percent of naxalism has ended in Jharkhand. The remaining 30 percent will come to an end by the end of December," Das said. "There are some naxal leaders who are hiding in Buda Pahar. Our police personnel have been countering them and I have full faith on the police that by December end, we will be able to complete the operation and put an end on naxalite terror. From the beginning of 2018 the state will be free from (naxal) insurgency and crime," he said. Das said that several Maoists have surrendered after the state introduced an attractive surrender policy. "We have also cracked on naxal sympathisers in our villages and our cities by attaching their properties," the Jharkhand chief minister said. Das said he is confident about the victory of the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat elections as the people of that state have made up their mind to give a befitting reply to the Congress. New Delhi: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday that it does not matter how many days the Parliament sat but what matters is how many days it functioned. His remarks come a day after the dates for Parliament's Winter Session were announced following opposition's criticism of the government for delaying the session. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh met in New Delhi on Friday to decide the dates of the Winter Session. The CCPA recommended that the session be held from 15 December to 5 January. Speaking at a literary festival, Naidu said that the debate on the freedom of speech and expression should go on. "How many days the Parliament sat doesn't matter, what matters is how many days it functioned," he said. Naidu said that the philosophy of life should revolve around "character, calibre, compassion and conduct and not caste, community and cash". Stressing that literature was the backbone of the society, Naidu said that it mirrors its inner workings, its triumphs and challenges, its anxieties and its possibilities. "From Kalidasa to Premchand, from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to present day, India has always been blessed with a strong literary lineage of writers, poets, intellectuals and thinkers, who have chronicled times, exemplified our open traditions," he said. The vice-president also said that India is the world's youngest country of its size, and new intellectual churning and questioning, new ideas about society, politics, citizens' activism and youth power are its exciting new features. He urged the "pseudo politicians" to leave the three Cs of caste, community and cash and go back to "character, calibre, capacity, conduct and compassion" as the only yardstick for measuring merit. Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his ministerial colleagues of misusing government machinery and offering allurements during campaigning for the ongoing polls. "There is misuse of official machinery in the ongoing poll process... BJP leadership is openly violating the model code of conduct and harming the chances of free and fair elections," Yadav said in a party statement released. Yadav alleged that the Election Commission turned a blind eye even after doubts were raised over the EVMs being used in the civic polls. "The chief minister and his ministerial colleagues are offering allurements like lakhs of jobs to the youth, roof over heads of all, free power connections and street lights during their election meetings... Will these efforts to woo voters not effect the impartiality of the polls," he asked. The former chief minister said that efforts were being made to divide the society on the lines of caste and religion. The SP chief said that the BJP government has not fulfilled any of its promises, law and order was in a dismal state and women were feeling insecure. New Delhi: The Congress on Friday held Prime Minister Narendra Modi "solely responsible" for creating a "mess" of the economy, after Standard & Poor's kept its sovereign rating for the country unchanged. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said the government was taking shelter under these "dubious" certificates from rating agencies. Rating agency Moody's had on last Friday raised India's sovereign rating from the lowest investment grade of Baa3 to Baa2 - the first upgrade in almost 14 years. Sharma accused Modi of being solely responsible for creating a "mess" of the economy and charged him with being in "arrogant denial". Mr Prime Minister, the ground is shaking, and people feel betrayed. People have downgraded the government on its economic performance, these dubious upgrades dont matter. Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) November 24, 2017 He said that a "sudden flurry" of certificates from credit rating agencies is the "only fall back" of a government which has derailed India's economy. A sudden flurry of certificates from credit rating agencies is the only fall back of a government which has derailed Indias economy. GDP has sharply fallen, jobs have been destroyed in millions, business have shut down. Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) November 24, 2017 Sharma alleged that GDP has sharply fallen, jobs have been "destroyed" in millions and business have shut down. The leader also further raised questions over the ratings agencies waking up when all the parameters of the Indian economy are "in the red". "About 3.72 crore jobs have been lost in the MSME/unorganised sector. Investment rate has plunged by 7%, credit offtake falling to a 65-year low. This calls into question the very credibility of these rating agencies," he said on the micro-blogging site. Declining to follow Moody's recent India rating upgrade, Standard & Poor's on Friday kept its sovereign rating for the country unchanged at the lowest investment grade of 'BBB- minus' citing high government debt and low income levels. Lauding it, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the rating is a reflection of the agency's appreciation of the steps taken by the government to keep the economy stable and ensure a high growth trajectory. "The S&P had inferred that over the next two years, growth in India will remain strong and the country will maintain its sound external accounts position," Sitharaman said. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi lauded it, saying "After Moody's, S&P gives Narendra Modi govt thumbs up, keeps India's outlook stable." New Delhi: The Congress condemned the BJP over its "shameful" barb that Rahul Gandhi was siding with terrorists after he alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "hugplomacy had failed" in keeping the 26/11 terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed under arrest in Pakistan. Speaking to reporters, Congress leader Anand Sharma said that the BJP leaders "in their arrogance" have lost their mental balance as they targeted Gandhi. He said the BJP needs to be reminded that Gandhi belongs to a family which made sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the country and accused the BJP of taking political discourse to a new low. "It is shameful. It deserves to be condemned. The BJP leaders have lost their mental balance in arrogance. Gandhi is the leader of Congress, which has made sacrifices in fighting terrorism and for the integrity of India...for them to say such a thing, I will say it has hit a new low," he said. The BJP said that its government had succeeded in isolating Pakistan over terrorism, while the UPA treated it as a victim state and let it off lightly. BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao accused the Congress and its vice-president of "repeatedly betraying the country by pandering to anti-India elements" and cited their alleged questioning of surgical strikes to make his point. Taking to Twitter earlier in the day, Gandhi said, "Narendrabhai, baat nahi bani (this has not worked). Terror mastermind is free," he said, adding that the prime minister's "hugplomacy" has failed. Gandhi was referring to Modi's bonhomie with US president Donald Trump during his last visit to the US when the two leaders were seen hugging each other several times. Chennai: The by-election scene in Tamil Nadu hotted up on Saturday with the DMK renominating its candidate Marudhu Ganesh in the RK Nagar Assembly constituency, and immediately getting support from the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruttai Katchi (VCK) and All India Forward Bloc. The party also asserted that it was not worried about the "Two Leaves" going to the ruling AIADMK faction. Ganesh, who was the party candidate in the April by-election that was later countermanded, will be fielded again in the 21 December bypoll, DMK Working President MK Stalin announced, quoting a statement of General Secretary K Anbazhagan. "We will face the elections in a democratic way and we will win it in a big way with the support of allies. We already have the support of our allies and would appeal to more parties to support our candidate," he told reporters. Asked about Chief Minister K Palaniswamy claiming big victory after the allotment of the "Two Leaves" symbol to his faction, Stalin said "We have faced two leaves in the past and have won elections and come to power in the past. There is no fear or worry about two leaves." Tamil Nadu Congress unit President S Thirunavukkarasar announced the party's support to DMK candidate while VCK leader Thirumavalavan extended his party's backing to DMK. He hoped the by-election would be held in a fair manner without money power being allowed to play a part in it. The bypoll in RK Nagar was necessitated by the death of then chief minister J Jayalalithaa in December last year. The AIADMK, which had fielded its Presidium Chairman E Madhusudanan, is yet to announce its candidate, while the BJP said it would decide whether to contest or not in the changed circumstances in consultation with the high command. BJP state unit President Tamilisai Soundararajan said the issue was discussed at a meeting of the state leaders and the views have been conveyed to the high command. The BJP had fielded well-known Tamil music composer Gangai Amaran in the countermanded election. Soundararajan, however, said the symbol of "Hat" which was given to the TTV Dhinakaran faction during the countermanded election should not be allotted to them this time because it is associated with the corrupt practices adopted by Dinakaran earlier. Dhinakaran, whose faction lost the symbol battle, has decided to contest again in RK Nagar. Thangathamizh Chelvan, leader of the Dhinakaran faction, said the party's governing council would meet on 29 November and make a formal announcement on the candidate. He, however, rejected the view that their faction should not be given "Hat" and asked were the rivals worried that they would be defeated. If the buzz from the trenches in Gujarat is to be believed, Congress is going to announce a waiver of farm loans ahead of the Gujarat polls. The signs were always there: Congress has time and again criticised the BJP led central government for being anti-farmer. Rahul Gandhi has been particularly evocative when he compared the plight of the farmers with that of the corporate defaulters. He has cleverly pivoted on the accounting write-off of loans to certain corporate houses by banks to create a stir amongst indebted farmers. Congress has in fact gone ahead and distributed pamphlets and flyers promising a farm loan waiver ahead of its manifesto release. The manifesto drafting exercise, with Sam Pitroda lending his name to it, seems more like an afterthought now, given that Congress has already decided on the course of action it is going to take. This is not the first election where Congress has pitched a waiver to farmers. In UP elections, realising that there were massive loan defaults by farmers, Congress evoked the farm loan waiver of 2008-2009 and promised a repeat of the same if elected. In fact, this promise received so much traction on the ground that BJP was forced to promise the same and implement it after coming to power with significant cost to the exchequer. However, the UP farm loan waiver was not only politically expedient but also a necessity, given that most of the farmers who received the benefit of the loan waiver would not have been able to repay their loans. Two previous governments (BSP first and SP then) had focused heavily on large-scale infrastructure projects to the detriment of the agriculture sector. The low penetration of agriculture insurance schemes, absence of formal credit systems and increase in number of farmer suicides due to indebtedness all contributed to the demand of loan waivers. A loan waiver would have given the farmers of the state a clean slate but wouldnt have been enough to revive the agricultural sector. Therefore, the BJP, in a masterstroke, combined the promise of farm loan waiver with a number of institutional changes like guaranteed payment cycles for wheat farmers, compulsory purchase of paddy harvests, free crop insurance for small and marginal farmers, free energy efficient water pumps for farmers, guaranteed electricity for agricultural purposes, increasing the number of cold storages, and reform of the APMC system. All these factors combined signalled to the voters that systemic changes will be initiated to revive the farm sector. The situation in Gujarat is quite different though. Unlike UP, Gujarats farm sector has been doing well. The outstanding loans are not desperate attempts by the farmers here to keep their heads above the water but have been taken for purchasing machinery, diversification into allied activities etc. The penetration of insurance schemes and irrigation projects is significantly better than in UP. The APMC infrastructure, rural electrification and rural road network all serve to give the Gujarati farmer an advantage over the farmer in UP. While it is true that farming-related income has been on the decline, a farm loan waiver is not the answer. A farm loan waiver in Gujarat will cost the exchequer close to Rs 30,000 crore and will largely benefit large farmers with average loan sizes upwards of Rs 1 lakh. The Rs 30,000 crore could instead be used for making inputs cheaper, launching farm cooperatives and giving incentives to effective food processing and marketing schemes. Besides that, a promise of farm loan waiver in Gujarat does not stem from an unequivocal demand from the farmers as there has been significant mobilisation on farm loan waiver in other states as absent in Gujarat. In this scenario, the Congress promise to waive off farm loans seems ill-conceived. If this desperate bid to win the support of farmers forces BJPs hand to follow suit, it would be putting the future of farmers of the state in jeopardy rather than securing their future. The writer is a public policy consultant. When Rahul Gandhi reached the coast of Porbandar on Friday to address the fishermen community, the Congress vice-president received a warm welcome. Shortly afterwards, the demands from the fishermen community were put forward. Rahul listened to the fishermen and promised that their demands will be met once the Congress government comes to power in Gujarat. But during his rally, the much talked about subject in Porbandar was that the leader from fishermen community who shared the stage with Rahul belonged to the BJP. Rahul himself mentioned this. Addressing the fishermen community, he said even a BJP worker speaks out about your demands from the Congress platform. "We will accept it because the Congress will come to power in Gujarat," he said. Why are the fishermen angry with the BJP? Bharat Bhai Modi, president of Porbandar Machhimar Boat Association, on behalf of fishermen community, explained his stance to Rahul. Bharat Bhai has been with the BJP for quite a long time. He was the party's Porbandar district president. On this backdrop, it could be gauged which way the political wind is blowing in the state. It is being asked whether the president of Porbandar Machhimar Boat Association is going to switch sides. After the rally, Bharat Bhai said, "We are with the BJP. But, when it comes to the community, we can even go to Pakistan for talks." But things are not as easy as they seem. Because this time, the fishermen from Porbandar are furious. Bharat Bhai sharing the stage with Rahul is just a representation of that fury. Govind Bhai Kharva, listening to Rahul's speech during the rally, said, "I have my mother, wife and four children to look after but our only source of livelihood is fishing. Whatever promises BJP had made to us, they didnt fulfil it." Mansukh Bhai Parmar said the only occupation they have is fishing but nobody is paying attention to them. Fishermen community in Porbandar is upset with the governments decision to cut down on the subsidy on diesel and kerosene. Earlier, subsidy for up to 250 litres of kerosene was decided for small fishermen. Now it has been reduced to 32 litres. So rest has to be purchased from the open market, which is expensive. Likewise, even big fishermen are unhappy with the BJP government due to reduction in subsidy on diesel. There are about 500 fishermen languishing in jails in Pakistan. Fishermen community feels that the government is not taking any concrete steps for their release. Bharat Bhai said, "Earlier this was not a problem. But, it started in the 90s when fish population started going down due to pollution and we had to go deeper into waters for fishing." He said fishermen usually wander off far and in this process, many of them are caught and put in jails in Pakistan. There is also a problem of parking small and big boats in the area. Fishermen have spent Rs 20 lakh from their own pockets to clean the water in the seaside area. Do fishermen trust Rahul? During Rahul's rallies, I spoke to many fishermen. Many of them talked of voting for Congress this time instead of the BJP. The resentment towards BJP started coming out as a boost for Rahul. Fishermen were trying to get a glimpse of Rahul. Youngsters, elders and women all were excited to see the Congress leader. Rahul did not break their trust. Rahul promised to fulfil all of their demands After the rally, we went to different parts of Porbandar and tried to talk to fishermen. We met a few young people from the community. Raju Bhai Kharwa, Kirit Bhai Kharwa and Rajesh Bhai Kharwa, were standing at a paan shop, as they did not participate in Rahuls rally. They said Congress will get more votes this time. Arjun Modhwadias credibility at stake There are more than thirty thousand voters from fishermen community in the Porbandar Assembly constituency. This time, Arjun Modhwadia, who has been the president of the Gujarat Congress, is trying to bring fishermen community into party's fold. Modhwadia, who comes from Mehar caste, was defeated by the BJPs Babu Bhai Bokhariya. From Porbandar constituency, Modhwadia won two elections from 2002 to 2012. Modhwadia has also been leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly. But, in 2012 the Congress leader was defeated by the BJP. There are about 67, 000 voters from Mehar community in Porbandar. While there are around 30,000 voters from Lohana community, the number of Muslim voters in the area is approximately 15,000. Modhwadia thinks that Congress will taste victory in the election if Mehar community along with fishermen cast their vote for his party. Fishermen community backed BJP last time. However, this time Rahul's magic seems to be working. It all depends on whether Rahul will be able to bring fishermen community back to Congress' fold. However, Bharat Bhai Bharat Bhai has already stirred controversy in BJP camp by sharing stage with Rahul. Ahmedabad: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Congress in Gujarat has "failed" to play the role of a responsible Opposition. The BJP leader also targeted Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over the alleged stalling of projects in Gujarat during the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, and said he needs to answer certain questions related to that. "Instead of replying to these questions, he keeps asking more questions. It is the responsibility of the opposition party to answer questions related to its government when it was in power at the Centre," she told reporters. Sitharaman was campaigning for the BJP for the next month's polls. Sitharaman said the Opposition party's strength in the Gujarat assembly has gone down to 43 as the party has "failed to project an image of a responsible Opposition". "From 57 MLAs in 2012, the Congress is down to 43 MLAs. The party was rejected four times by the people of Gujarat...What have you (the Congress) done as a responsible Opposition party?" she asked. Sitharaman rejected the Congress criticism of visits by Union ministers to poll-bound Gujarat to campaign for the BJP, saying no work of the government had been hampered due to their trips. "We are party workers even when we are in the Cabinet. If he (Gandhi) says the work of the central government is hampered (due to our visits), then let him say so. We will say that the work there is going on without any hindrance." She criticised the Congress for taking its MLAs to a Bengaluru resort to prevent alleged poaching by the ruling BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha election in July when parts of the state were reeling under floods. She claimed the UPA government prevented a 32 kilometre national highway project in Gujarat on environmental ground. Sitharaman asked Gandhi to question former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot as to why he wrote to the Centre opposing construction of a dam under the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's pet "Sujalam Sufalam" project for water harvesting. Gehlot, now the party's Gujarat election in-charge, "worked against the interest of Gujarat," she said. The Union minister said a Congress MP from Maharashtra had protested against the Narmada dam. "He (Gandhi) asks questions instead of giving replies. He will ask questions to the entire world but not to his own MLAs, his own UPA government which created hurdles in construction of dams roads in Gujarat," she said. She attacked Gandhi for allegedly diverting Rs 2,000-crore party fund to the National Herald Trust. On the Doka La issue, the Congress leader should have met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to get details about the stand-off instead of meeting the Chinese ambassador, Sitharaman maintained. It was an "irresponsible act" on the part of the Opposition party, the defence minister said. Sitharaman said the Congress, when in power, did little to curb black money despite a Supreme Court orders on the issue. The BJP leader said the Gujarat government has taken a slew of welfare measures for fishermen. Gandhi earlier had an interaction with fishermen. The measures include a Rs 11,000-crore 'Sagar Khedut' programme which is going on well, the minister said. She said the NDA government has also announced projects related to marine product processing and export which will benefits the fishermen of Gujarat. The intention of syncing the growth of each of the 4.33 crore voting individuals with that of the development of the state of Gujarat is evident in its ruling party's campaign slogan Ho Chu Vikas, Ho Chu Gujarat (I am Vikas, I am Gujarat). The individual doesn't become one with the grand collective as easily though, at least in the reality that lies beyond the spectre of rally and the sound of rhetoric. One such reality are Gujarat's tribals, nearly 15 percent of the total voters in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. The 2011 census recorded that Gujarat was home to 89,17,174 Scheduled Tribes. In a BJP-dominated state, 16 out of 27 tribal seats across the state are Congress seats. To read into the mind of the tribal voter, Firstpost drove into adivasi belt of South Gujarat and made stops at several villages in the districts of Tapi, Navsari, Surat and Valsad. First, we reached a village called Anaval. Interestingly, the Desai Brahmins trace their roots to this village where it's now nearly impossible to spot a Brahmin. Here, the president of Gujarats Samast Adivasi Samaj Dr Pradip Garasia runs a small clinic. Today, when he sees Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakor emerging as young faces of the Patidars, Dalits and OBCs respectively, he feels that the mainstream political discourse has completely ignored tribals. "Till the time we remain on the fringes of public debate, we will only be viewed as another 'category'. Reservation is not the end of our problems," he said while talking about how Chief Minister Vijay Rupani distributed fake ST certificates to those living in Gir forests on 14 May, 2017 in 14th Kutiyana, Junagarh. "In the recent recruitments for the post of deputy collectors by the Gujarat Public Service Commission, out of 68 Scheduled Tribe seats, 27 were given to those having the farzi (fake) certificates. We are filing RTIs and have complained to the government, the governor and the ST commission," Garasia revealed that the entire tribal belt is upset about this and he said that only the ST commission has responded to complaints, pacifying them into believing that an inquiry is on. These certificates were distributed on the basis of two government resolutions, one in 2007 and another in 2017. In the first government resolution, passed on 26 June, 2007, the use of the word 'parents' was misconstrued to mean 'ancestors'. "This means that if the people inhabiting the forests of Gir, Barda and Alech in Junagarh district are able to trace the roots of their ancestors to that region, they would be entitled to ST reservations. Similarly, the resolution passed in 2017 extended reservations to those currently living in those regions," Garasia said. He pointed out that in 1956, the locals of these regions were counted as STs and now, through these certificates, their descendants who live elsewhere are also being counted as STs. "It is not about BJP and Congress at this point. It is about repeated attempts to remodel our identity," he added. He has no big hopes from any party. In January, the Gujarat government announced the implementation of the Rule-2017 under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) in 4,503 gram sabhas, to empower them with powers like fixing the loan interest and eliminating money lenders. In a village called Vyaara, an erstwhile Gaikwadi town, tribal rights activist Viral Konkani dismissed promises pertaining to the PESA. The Act was passed in 1996 based on the recommendations made by the Bhuria committee. It was designed to give powers to the gram sabhas of regions that fall under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, where the governor has the power to adapt laws passed both by Parliament and the State legislature in a way that they suit the complicated needs of these areas. The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution mandates laws separate from the Panchayati Raj Act and the Nagarpalika Act to administer villages and towns in tribal-dominated regions. "To implement these, there is a need for a tribal advisory committee. In Gujarat, there have been only two meetings of this committee in six years. Also, the 2017 PESA has moved away from the original act of 1996. Take a good look at the list of powers and you see that gram sabhas have no real powers left, all they can really do his debate-discuss," Konkani said. Another issue that the tribal activists raise is the use of the words adivasi and vanvasi interchangeably. He went to say that by using the word vanvasi like in the government's Vanvasi Kalyan Yojana, anybody who simply lives in the forest belt is being defined as an adivasi. "Tribals are culturally and socially different from Hindus and the attempt to erase our identity is something we are opposed to," added Konkani, who is also a young member of the adivasi samaj. In village Jamki, a tiny dot along the highway, where men still roam around in Gandhi topis, pramukh Pravina bhen Gamit said that even educated boys and girls, some holding BA and MA degrees aren't able to clear the teacher training Tests (TAT). A village of Congress supporters will tell you that it doesnt have water supply although the Ukai dam is just a kilometre away. Ask these people if the Congress leaders have offered any alternative or have promised to address their issues and they say nothing. They stand around with flags and sashes, screaming 'panja aayega'. The reasons for their support arent clear. "To understand that, you have to enter the pages of history. When I was growing up, I remember that in remote places like Lakhali, Karanjkhed, Panchor, Asopalav and Besaniya, people had no clothes to wear, no food to eat. The Congress opened primary schools here. I joined the Congress in 1966 at the age of 25 and tenants became the owners of lands," said Amarsinh Zinabhai Chaudhary, who was a Member of the Parliament from 1971 to 1977. We met him at his home in Vyaara. "Earlier, the Congress wasn't commercialised. It used to work for the people with honesty. Now, leaders work for their own benefit, whether it's the BJP or the Congress," he said. We then travelled along the highway to Vedchi, home to a Gandhi ashram. This village was the centre for the freedom struggle in South Gujarat. Here, we met Ashok Chaudhary, the son of Dashri bhen and Kanji bhai, the couple famous across the tribal belt for having taught Kasturba Gandhi how to read and write in jail. Ashok Chaudhary is a Gandhian environmentalist who feels that political parties, be it the Congress or the BJP, are failing to understand, let alone learn, from the values of the adivasis towards the environment. The spirit of community, brotherhood and eco-friendly way of life is being damaged by politics at large, feels Ashok Chaudhary, who has delivered lectures at Oxford Universitys Ruskin College and at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. "Congress is forgetting its old values. Its economic policies like land and wealth distribution which were earlier pro-poor are more centralised," he added. Move some kilometres south and you reach Songadh, where the Gaikwads built a fort on a hill, a more developed taluka with three-storeyed houses, banks and shops. Here, we ran into Pramod Valvi, a former employee of Bank of India, who said that some people have found jobs after the construction of the Ukai dam and most people head to cities to find work. Dilip Bhai Bhatt, who laid the foundation of the BJP taluka in this village, explained that the Sangh is doing a lot of work to re-orient the people towards development. He talked about the growth in Ekal Vidyalayas (one-teacher schools) and Gareeb Kalyan Melas, where cycles and clothes are distributed to the poor. However, he holds one grudge against the evolution of the BJP: That it is rapidly forgetting the work done by old Jan Sangh members and becoming arrogant about its power. He also said that if a powerful leader leaves the Congress to join the BJP, he or she gets more importance than old loyalists. After a long drive along thinner roads, inwards from the highway, comes the home of Chhotubhai Vasava in Jhagadia. Chhotubhai gave his vote to Congress' senior leader Ahmad Patel and saved him from defeat in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. The Robinhood of the tribal belt, Chottubhai has created the Bharatiya Tribal Party after the split between Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar. Although in partnership with the Congress, which has given him four seats, Vasava told Firstpost that big parties only politicise the needs of the tribals. He believes that neither of the parties are interested in implementing Section 330 to 342 of the Constitution with honesty. The most immediate need is the right approach towards primary education. The government has made efforts in that direction, including opening ashram shalas and Samras hostels for Scheduled Tribes students in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Vidya Vidya Nagar and Jamnagar. Aside from supplying food in government hostels and appointing teachers with full pay in Eklavya Model Residential Schools, the government has decided to offer a 90 percent grant for construction of ashram shalas. Along with ashram shalas, the RSS also operates schools. We identified three of them in the tribal regions of Ahwa, Dharampur and Limdi. We visited one of these schools in Dharampur, which was established in 1979. The walls are painted with mythological figures, there is a resident pandit who conducts hawans every day and children are even taught how to make idols. Bhupendra Chaudhary of the Adivasi Ekta Parishad, a national movement for tribal welfare, has opened his own school 60 kilometers from Dharampur. He said that the emphasis on primary education is in remote tribal areas is skewed. There are no exams till Class 8 and in Class 9, many children are still learning how to spell. He feels that the tribal communities havent benefited one bit from the necessity of modern education. Tribals of South Gujarat have problems, but they don't expect political parties to solve them. Old loyalties seem to be fading away and a lack of young and substantial representation has only further alienated them this election season. Dahegam (Gujarat): Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poll-bound Gujarat on Saturday and alleged that the latter did not want the "truth" behind the multi-crore Rafale deal and Jay Shah issue to come out before the Assembly election in his home state. He also alleged that the NDA government was delaying the Winter Session of Parliament as Modi was not ready to discuss the Rafale and Jay Shah issues in the House before the Gujarat polls. "I would ask Modiji three questions (on the Rafale deal). First, is there a difference in the cost of planes in the first and the second contract (signed with a French firm) and did India pay more or less money as per the second contract?" "And, has the industrialist (whose company has formed a joint venture with the French firm), who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?," he asked while addressing a public gathering in Dahegam in Gandhinagar district. The Congress leader also sought to know if the due procedure was followed while inking the deal with France last year to procure the Rafale fighter jets. "And a more important question, did you follow the due government procedure? Why the (then) defence minister was seen catching fish in Goa? And, was an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security taken (for the mega deal)?" he asked. Gandhi alleged that the prime minister was avoiding answering these questions due to the fear that the "truth" would come out before the crucial polls in his home state. "Narendra Modiji is not replying to these questions because he wants that the truth of Rafale and Jay Shah should not come before the public ahead of the Gujarat elections," he said. "Rafale is a matter related to the Indian Air Force, national security, martyrs. Modiji will have to answer these questions before the people of the country and Gujarat," he said. The 47-year-old Amethi MP said while the mediapersons asked him a lot of questions, they did not do the same with the prime minister over the Rafale and Jay Shah issues. "Modiji will make many tours of Gujarat. Press reporters ask me various questions. Why don't you ask Modi about the Rafale deal and Jay Shah? The people should also ask Modiji about Rafale and Jay Shah when he comes to Gujarat," he said. The prime minister is scheduled to address a series of poll rallies in Gujarat in support of the BJP candidates next week. The 182-member Gujarat Assembly will go to the polls in two phases - on 9 and 14 December. Counting of votes will be taken up on 18 December. "Generally, Parliament's (Winter) session is held every year in November and discussions (on crucial issues) take place in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. But, due to two reasons, Parliament is opening after the Gujarat polls this time," he said. "First, (BJP chief) Amit Shah's son (Jay) converted Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in three months. Second, and a more important reason, is the Rafale deal. The entire procedure went on for the purchase of the planes and after all the discussions were over, Narendra Modi himself went to France to change the contract," he alleged. In September last year, India had inked an inter-governmental agreement with France for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The Congress had recently raised questions over the deal and accused the Modi-led BJP government of compromising on national interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer. However, the BJP had rubbished the allegations. In an article published on news portal The Wire, it was alleged that the turnover of a company owned by Jay Shah grew exponentially from Rs 50,000 to Rs 8 crore after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014. Both Amit Shah and his son have denied any wrongdoing by the company. Jay Shah has filed a criminal defamation case against the news portal. Kolkata: BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday accused West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee of practising a dangerous form of appeasement politics and harming the cause of national security by providing shelter to members of fundamentalist groups in the state. "The chief minister does not realise that she is harming the cause of national security, not just law and order in her state. As per a particular report, 720 criminals of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Bangladesh), an Islamic fundamentalist organisation, who do not find a place in Bangladesh, are crossing over to this state and they are given space here. Bangladesh government is saying this," Lekhi, the party's national spokesperson, said at the India Today conclave East in Kolkata. She also held Banerjee and her government responsible for a number of riot-like situations in the Bengal during the Trinamool Congress rule. "The riots need to be controlled by the state government as law and order situation is a state subject. On the contrary, there is Muslim vote bank appeasement in the state and the state government including the chief minister is responsible," she claimed. Supporting Lekhi, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who was also present at the discussion, said the state government is trying to resist central agency probes into the cases of communal violence or terrorism by forcefully handing the investigation to state CID. "The state government is trying to prevent the cases or riots from being probed by a central agency. Starting from communal clashes in Kaliachak and Basirhat to the Khagragarh blast, they are putting forward the state CID and resisting a CBI inquiry. If they want the truth to come out why are they making this attempt?" he asked. Lekhi, BJP's Lok Sabha MP from New Delhi, said the Bengal government has a tendency of baselessly blaming the BJP in case of any law and order situation in the state. "In the Ranaghat nun rape case, chief minister Mamata Banerjee started blaming the BJP from the beginning but when the perpetrators were arrested it was found they were all Bangladeshi residents. This is a dangerous brand of politics practised by the Bengal government," she alleged. Lekhi also took on Banerjee over her statement that the BJP-led Central government was scaring away industrialists from the state, saying that the extortion tax that industrialists have to pay in Bengal is public knowledge. About the issue of delay in the winter session of parliament due to the upcoming elections, Lekhi claimed the whole issue was being blown out of proportion by the opposition parties and said this has happened even during the reign of other parties at the centre. Ahmedabad: So, he is finally coming. It is he who keeps off the Congress in Gujarat from celebrating a wishful victory. And it is only he who is keeping the ruling BJP smiling ear-to-ear, giving evidence that it has little else but him. Narendra Modi aave chhey (Modi is coming) was the BJPs colourful Whatsapp media invite, giving details of his schedule, apparently as a rejoinder to Congress long continuing Congress aave chhey (Congress returning to power) slogan. In a scenario where the BJP does not have a chief ministerial candidate for sure and Vijay Rupani is the only representative, it is only Narendra Modi who is there. But well, for Modi, the challenge is that he is the prime minister who multi-tasks as a de facto leader in Gujarat, and anything here would have a direct bearing on his politics. More crucial than the fact that he has never seen a defeat in his political life is that he just cant afford to lose Gujarat in 2017. More crucial than the fact that this is his home state is that Gujarat is his model. A defeat here would mean all his politics that he claims to be implementing across the country being thrown to the winds in his very own laboratory, by the very people who sustained and nurtured it over 15 years since 2002. More crucial, still, is that two of the most self-touted big ticket decisions under his tutelage have come to hound him in his very own Gujarat just halfway through his prime ministership. The very two decisions of demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) have already become a millstone around his neck. It is a state and not a national election and he is the prime minister and no longer a chief minister. But when it comes to Gujarat, these differences collapse and everything is sure to revolve around him. If Modi is removed from the narrative, a stereotype analysis of present day Gujarat politics would tell you the Congress is looking good after a drought of 32 years. It has never formed a government in the state since 1985 after its best performance of 149 seats out of 182, a record Narendra Modi has not been able to break with all his might. It is for the first time that two loyal votebanks of the Bharatiya Janata Party, from where its entire rank and file was born and which have raised the party to its present height in Gujarat, have turned its worst enemies. The urban middle class made up of small and medium businessmen, traders and office-goers are visibly angry with the BJP over GST and demonetisation since they have suffered the most because of the twin blows. This is not an interpretation or analysis, but a pulse that is being heard loud and clear, even by the BJP. No amount of convincing by Narendra Modi himself at public meetings that the two decisions would work well in the future seems to have worked. There is no disagreement with the GST as a reform, but the anger it is not anger, not a grouse in the way it is being hastily driven down their throat refuses to die out. What is being called teething problems by Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have actually taken a heavy toll on the small and medium business segments as well as the traders, who have still not emerged from the pounding of demonetisation. The other key votebank of the BJP is the Patidars, who have been the partys numerical, social and economic backbone and its 12 percent population is spread across all demographies of Gujarat. The mammoth response to Patidar reservation fighter Hardik Patels rallies across the state had to be seen to be believed. Hardik Patels agitation for reservation to Patidars in government jobs and educational institutions under the OBC category grew in the middle of 2015 in the backdrop of agricultural stress, rising unemployment and a burgeoning private sector in education. His words appeal to younger Patidars between the twenties and thirties in the rural and semi-urban areas, who havent mostly seen any other partys rule in Gujarat, and have started believing in him that they had actually been used like a votebank by the BJP. While there are already 20 lakh registered unemployed youth in Gujarat besides at least half as many not on the employment bureau records, the impact of demonetisation and GST have only accentuated the crisis and made the Patidar agitation as much stronger. This holds equally true for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and the Dalits, who have also been hit by note ban and the new tax, while being already plagued by unemployment and the agrarian crisis they had been facing for long. Ahmedabad: Unhappy over the BJP nominating his daughter-in-law instead of his wife from the Kaalol Assembly seat in Gujarat, party MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan has warned that he would not guarantee a win for the party if the candidate is not replaced with someone of his choice. The BJP on Friday released its fifth list of 13 candidates for the second phase of Assembly polls in Gujarat. In the list, the ruling party dropped sitting MLA Arvindsinh Chauhan and instead fielded Prabhatsinh Chauhan's daughter-in-law Suman Chauhan from the Kaalol seat in Panchmahal district. Enraged over the announcement, Prabhatsinh Chauhan dashed off a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday, urging him to replace Suman Chauhan with a "local candidate". Although, in the letter he did not clearly demand that his wife Rangeshwari be given the party ticket, recently he had told reporters that she was the best candidate for the Kaalol seat. While Rangeshwari is the president of Ghoghamba taluka panchayat of Panchamahal district, Suman Chauhan is a member of Panchmahal district panchayat. In the letter, the parliamentarian also alleged that his son Pravinsinh is a "bootlegger" and that he and his wife had even gone to jail. "My son Pravin is a bootlegger and several cases are still pending against him. Both he and his wife Suman even went to jail in the past. This will dent the BJP's prospects of winning the seat. Further, Suman belongs to Godhra and people of Kaalol will not accept her," Chauhan said in the letter. "Though I am senior, having spent 45 years in public life, the party has not taken my opinion while selecting the candidates. I was also not taken into confidence while selecting the candidate for Kaalol. Thus, I urge you to consider changing the current candidate with a local one of my choice," he added. Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a prominent Rajput face in the region, who had joined the BJP in 1992, claimed that though he had single-handedly established the BJP's dominance in that district over the years, he has been ignored by the party and not given any post in the organisation. Chauhan stressed that the BJP would not get even a single vote from tribals. While his wife Rangeshwari is a tribal, Suman Chauhan is a Rajput. "The BJP will not get a single vote, out of the 1.10 lakh votes of tribals due to this ongoing controversy. There are huge chances that we will lose Kaalol. Thus, I want to inform you that I will not take any responsibility of ensuring the party's victory on any of the seven seats under my constituency including Kaalol," Chauhan said in the letter. Three days ago, Chauhan said that he had sought ticket for his wife on the ground that she had done "very good work" as Ghoghamba taluka panchayat president. "Just go to Ghoghamba to see what kind of work she has done. She has completely uprooted corruption. Rangeshwari is the best candidate and that is why I have appealed to the party leaders to select her for Kaalol seat," Chauhan told reporters. On Friday, when Rangeshwari came to know that she has been ignored in ticket allocation, she targeted her husband in a fiery Facebook post, in which she even dared him to enter Kaalol for poll campaign. However, she deleted the post on Saturday. "I had posted that comment out of anger and disappointment. That was not against the BJP, it was against the Member of Parliament. But now, I have entered into a compromise with him over the issue," Rangeshwari told reporters. New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit back at Rahul Gandhi for his "failed hugplomacy" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the release of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, saying the Congress vice-president should stand with the country and not with the mastermind of the Mumbai massacre. Rahul baba, For once,stand with the country & not with Terrorists as is your habit. You are a known sympathiser of LeT. WikiLeaks & Ishtar Jahan case cover-up exposed your links. BTW, have you congratulated your "Hafeez Saheb's" on his release yet? @officeofrg https://t.co/ynOianLLYa GVL Narasimha Rao (@GVLNRAO) November 25, 2017 Accusing the Congress of showing sympathy with Pakistan, the BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao said "Congress ka haath, Aatankivadiyon ke saath(Congress stands with the terrorists)" would be a more appropriate slogan for the Grand Old Party. "While Manmohan Singh's government treated Pakistan as a victim state and let it off lightly, Narendra Modi has succeeded in isolating and cornering Pakistan as 'terroristan' not just in the region but globally and in all international fora like the United Nations, G20 summit, BRICS, ASEAN, etc," Rao said. He said that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly betrayed the country by pandering to anti-India elements. "The manner in which they questioned the surgical strikes against the terror launch pads across the LoC and the utterly disgraceful attacks against the army chief as a 'sadak ka goonda(street thug)' and Rahul Gandhi's joining the groups shouting "Bharat ki barbaadi" slogans are symptomatic of Congress party's support for anti-India sentiments. "The statements of Congress leaders eulogising and praising Burhan Wani and their solidarity for separatists clearly show their sympathies for pro-Pakistan elements. It is a tragedy that a party which ruled India for six decades has compromised with the terrorist groups that have bled India for the sake of appeasing a minority vote bank. They have abused Hindu religion with terms like 'Hindu terror' and 'saffron terror' for appeasing minorities. In no other country, terror is politicised as the Congress sought to do in power," he said in a statement. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the prime minister and termed the latter's relationship with US president Donald Trump as failed "hugplomacy". Narendrabhai, . Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed.https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 25, 2017 On Friday, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai massacre in 2008, was freed after 10 months of house arrest in Pakistan. Earlier in November, the US Congress also passed a bill which dropped action against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a condition for Pakistan to receive hundreds of millions of dollars. The Congress' rallying cry in the run-up to the Gujarat election has been 'Congress aave chhe, navsarjan lave chhe (The Congress is coming, and it's bringing about a new beginning.' It is difficult to predict what the Congress' situation will be like when the election is over. But Rahul Gandhi, by attending a function organised by Navsarjan, an organisation working with Dalits, has made it clear that he will make every effort to woo the community. Interestingly, in the function, it was repeatedly stressed that the event was not aligned with any political party. However, when Rahul Gandhi began his speech, it was clear thatin the politically charged environment ahead of the election the event was no less than a political rally. There is a fascinating story as to why the Congress vice-president attended the event organised by Navsarjan. In August this year, Navsarjan got artisans from the Dalit community to make a National Flag and went to present it to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. But Rupani declined to accept the flag, saying that there was no place to keep it, and that he would accept it when there would be place. Martin Macwan, the co-founder of Navsarjan, claims that it is the country's biggest flag. The flag was made by 1,205 Dalit labourers from 120 tehsils, and weighs about 240 kilograms. After this incident, Rahul Gandhi made it a point to accept the flag. Subsequently, there was much politics over this flag. Apart from Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot and Ahmed Patel were also present at the event. Rahul, at the very beginning of his speech, made it clear that although the event was not organised by a political party, he would train his guns at Narendra Modi. He said that even if the flag had weighed 50,000 kilograms and he had even an inch of land to keep it, he would not have declined it. Hitting out at the BJP, he said that the party does not have a place in its heart for the National Flag. Thakor not given a platform on event for Dalits The event was meant to uplift and motivate the Dalit community. Here, important leaders of the Congress, including Alpesh Thakor, had marked their presence. But he was not given an opportunity to share the stage with Rahul Gandhi and Ahmed Patel. Dalits from far-flung regionseven Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Maharashtra had come to meet Rahul. It appeared that members of the Dalit community in Gujarat present at the event were confounded as regards the upcoming Assembly election. On being asked who they would vote for, they would initially say that they would choose the Congress. But their approach would become more vigilant once Hardik Patel would come into the discussion. Gautam, a resident of Limdi village in Surendranagar said that some Patels are in need of reservation, but this quota should be given not on the basis of caste but on their economic condition. Countering Modi wave in urban Gujarat an uphill task Rahul Gandhi may be trying to win the Gujarat election through the support of Dalits, OBCs and Muslims, but the Congress may find it difficult to gain votes in urban areas. On 24 November, Rahul Gandhi had two events planned in Ahmedabad, but no taxi drivers were aware of his presence or the events he was supposed to attend. On being asked if it was a similar situation when Narendra Modi visited the city, the answer was remarkable. Chetan Chunara, a 25-year-old taxi driver, said, "Mota bhai (elder brother) is from here, and he keeps coming here. Even after becoming the prime minister, he has not forgotten about Gujarat." While the BJP would be happy to hear such a statement, the Congress needs to take a lesson from this. At the ground level, Congress workers do not display the energy that BJP workers do. Rahul Gandhi toured Porbandar and Ahmedabad on the same day, in which he gave barely 30 to 45 minutes per event. In a state which is used to Modi's style of campaigning, Rahul Gandhi's short rallies will not be able to woo urban Gujarat. Kolkata: The JD(U) and the BJP are "natural" allies and the two parties will fight the 2019 polls together, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said. "When the time comes, we will sit together and divide the seats. We will fight together and Narendra Modi will be again the prime minister in 2019," he said at the India Today Conclave East on Friday. He was replying to a question on whether the BJP might not feel the need for JD(U)'s support in the elections in 2019. The BJP in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Hindustani Awam Party accounts for 32 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. "Alliance is a give and take. When both the partners feel they will benefit from it then only it will work. We will fight together with Nitish Kumar-led JD (U) in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," he said. His remarks assume significance as there were some discordant voices from leaders of both the parties on seat sharing for the next general elections earlier. After a meeting with MPs from Bihar, BJP chief Amit Shah had asked partymen to strengthen it down to the booth level in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The JD(U) also appealed to its workers to brace to contest on all the 40 seats. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and other Opposition parties leaders had used the occasion to attack Nitish Kumar, claiming that he was marginalised by the saffron party to avenge an incident in 2010 when he had canceled a dinner for BJP leaders over a tiff with Narendra Modi, the then chief minister of Gujarat. "The JD(U) and the BJP are made for each other," Sushil Modi said. "Nitish Kumar has been our partner for 17 years and again the JD(U) and the BJP have come together, it is a natural alliance," said the senior BJP leader, who also served as the deputy chief minister in the earlier NDA government. The JD(U) had severe ties with the BJP in June 2013 over the elevation of Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. After the collapse of an alliance comprising the JD(U), the RJD and the Congress in July this year, Nitish Kumar and the BJP once again joined hands after four years to form a coalition in the politically sensitive state. Sushil Modi's allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family of acquiring benami properties had played an important role in the disintegration of the alliance comprising the JD(U), the Congress and the RJD. When the JD(U) and the BJP coalition was sworn in again on 27 July this year, Sushil Modi was made the deputy chief minister. The senior BJP leader dismissed speculation that a seat-sharing adjustment, in which the JD(U) would also be accommodated, might upset the sitting BJP MPs if they were denied tickets. "What is the guarantee that every MP will get party ticket a second time? And what will they do by getting upset? If people make up their mind then it hardly matters who is getting ticket or not," Sushil Modi said. Sushil Modi accused Lalu Prasad of being "chaotic, disorganised and an irresponsible man". "No gentleman can work with a person like Lalu Prasad. An unnatural alliance (of the JD(U), RJD and Congress) died a natural death. The day Nitish Kumar left the NDA, I knew this alliance (with the RJD) would not work but, I never thought it would break so soon," he claimed. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday thanked the international community including Britain for their support in the re-election of India's Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Swaraj conveyed India's gratitude to the foreign governments during a reception for the diplomatic community which was also attended by Justice Bhandari. "A historic moment for India. EAM @SushmaSwaraj addressed the diplomatic corps in New Delhi, she conveyed gratitude to the international diplomatic community for their support for election of Justice Dalveer Bhandari to ICJ," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. A historic moment for India. EAM @SushmaSwaraj addressed the diplomatic corps in New Delhi, she conveyed gratitude to the international diplomatic community for their support for election of Justice Dalveer Bhandari to ICJ. pic.twitter.com/3jaZJnS9jb Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 25, 2017 In her address, Swaraj particularly mentioned Britain for withdrawing its candidate during the contest which paved the way for Bhandari's re-election, sources said. The External Affairs Ministry had invited all the foreign missions here for the meeting and a large number of diplomats, including British High Commissioner Sir Dominic Asquith, attended it, they said. The event was attended by the top brass of the external affairs ministry including Minister of State VK Singh and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar. Bhandari was on Tuesday re-elected to the ICJ as the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly threw its weight behind him, forcing Britain to withdraw its candidate from the hard-fought race to the world court. Bhandari and the UK's Christopher Greenwood were locked in a neck-and-neck fight for re-election as the UN could not decide between them after electing four out of five judges to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Bhandari, 70, received 183-193 votes in the General Assembly and secured all 15 votes in the Security Council to fill the final vacancy on the ICJ after separate but simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York. Reuters A Canadian accused by the United States of helping Russian intelligence agents break into email accounts as part of a massive 2014 breach of Yahoo accounts is expected to plead guilty next week, according to court records. Karim Baratov, who earlier this year waived his right to fight a U.S. request for his extradition from Canada, is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Francisco on Tuesday for the plea hearing, according to a court calendar seen on 24 November. Baratov, a 22-year-old Canadian citizen born in Kazakhstan, was arrested in Canada in March at the request of U.S. prosecutors. He later waived his right to fight a request for his extradition to the United States. Andrew Mancilla, Baratovs lawyer, declined to comment. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Francisco did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Justice Department announced charges in March against Baratov and three other men, including two officers in Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), for their roles in the 2014 theft of 500 million Yahoo accounts. Verizon Communications Inc, the largest U.S. wireless operator, acquired most of Yahoo Incs assets in June. Prosecutors said that the FSB officers, Dmitry Dokuchaev and Igor Sushchin, directed and paid hackers to obtain information and used Alexsey Belan, who is among the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations most-wanted cyber criminals, to breach Yahoo. When the FSB officers learned that a target had a non-Yahoo webmail account, including through information obtained from the Yahoo hack, they worked with Baratov, who was who paid to break into at least 80 email accounts, prosecutors said. The individuals associated with the accounts they sought to access included Russian officials, the chief executive of a metals company and a prominent banker, according to the indictment. At least 50 of the accounts Baratov targeted were hosted by Google, the indictment said. 21 Novembers proceedings before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria are scheduled as a change of plea hearing. Baratov, the only person arrested to date in the case, previously in August pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit computer fraud, conspiring to commit access device fraud, conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. IANS After Google reportedly confirmed the practice of gathering location data from Android devices even when the service was disabled by users, regulators in South Korea summoned representatives of the tech giant this week for questioning. Data protection officials in Britain are also looking into the matter, CNNMoney reported on 24 November. The probe in South Korea follows a report by Quartz which found that Android phones have been collecting the addresses of nearby mobile towers even when location services are disabled and sending that data back to Google. This makes search engine giant and the unit of Alphabet behind Android to have access to huge amount of data that invades their privacy. Users cannot opt out of this even when their devices are factory reset, the report said. Google reportedly confirmed the move which was undertaken "to improve the speed and performance of message delivery". The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) "is carrying out an inquiry into the claims that Google collected users' Cell ID data without consent even when their smartphone's location service was inactive," Chun Ji-hyun, head of KCC's privacy infringement division, told CNNMoney on 24 November. Google said Android phones are no longer requesting Cell ID codes, and collection should be phased out this month. IANS Pitching for the government's flagship Digital India campaign in front of a global audience, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on 25 November said that India is committed to an open, safe, secure, inclusive, democratic and dynamic cyber space. "The Digital India programme is focused on three key vision areas," Sushma Swaraj said while delivering the valedictory address at the closing ceremony of the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) 2017. "One, infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, two, governance and services on demand, and three, digital empowerment of citizens," she said. Sushma Swaraj said that the Digital India programme has the potential to truly transform India from a developing to a developed knowledge economy. She also pointed out that the very dynamic and evolving nature of cyberspace has brought cyber issues to the centre-stage of development polity, crime prevention and investigation, expansion of economy and trade, national and international security. "The fact that all forms of activities political , social, economic and development - which are now conducted and connected in cyber space has not only expedited the pace of growth, but also brought forth a new set of challenges for which no pre-set solutions exist," Sushma Swaraj said while dwelling on threats in the digital space. "The lack of borders in cyberspace and the anonymity of the actors has ensured that the traditional concepts of sovereignty, jurisdiction and privacy are challenged," she cautioned. She said that the global gathering of cyber experts in the GCCS was a testimony to the fact that the nations need to engage with each other to redefine concepts and align traditional processes to the new paradigms. "India is committed to the objective of having an open, safe, secure, inclusive, democratic and dynamic cyberspace that responds swiftly to challenges," the External Affairs Minister, who is known for her active use of Twitter and has over 10 million followers on the social media platform, said. Stating that the growing significance of cyber issues in the international arena could not be exaggerated, she said that this was reflected in the growing conversations across the world at all high level summits, interactions and conferences. "That there is hardly a meeting between heads of states which goes without a discussion on cyber issues points to the growing penetration, significance and criticality of Internet to the social, economic and cultural lives of the nations," Sushma Swaraj said. At the same time, she said that cyberspace has been infiltrated by malicious actors looking for opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities. "The anonymity, borderless spaces and speed have helped these elements to carry out nefarious activities ranging from cyber espionage, concerted attacks on networks, data theft, infringement of privacy and extremist propaganda to name a few," she stated. "Crime syndicates and terrorist organisations now leverage malicious tools in cyberspace to carry out complex crimes posing considerable challenges to the law enforcement agencies." Sushma Swaraj said that the disappearance of traditional concepts of borders and the speed of proliferation of crime has heightened the need to enter into agreements and arrangements among countries for cooperation at various levels. "Further as more and more developing countries take to digital space to carry out developmental activities, new mechanisms for international cooperation need to be evolved," she said. "It is imperative that the states engage with each other diplomatically in increasing instances of cyber attacks to defuse tensions arising in the wake of challenges of attribution," the External Affairs Minister said. Stating that India has taken steps to promote international security and stability in cyberspace through a framework that recognises the applicability of international law, in particular the UN Charter, she said: "We are committed to a multi-stakeholder approach of Internet governance that is transparent and accountable to its stakeholders, including governments, academia, civil society and industry." GCCS 2017 was attended by around 3,900 delegates, including 800 foreign delegates, with 139 countries being represented in the event. This was the first time that the event, which was first held in London in 2011, was organised outside the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day fifth edition of the GCCS on 23 November. tech2 News Staff A new Xiaomi phone render has surfaced online with a full-screen 18:9 aspect ratio display. One might expect it to be some kind of successor of the Mi Mix series but, the photo clearly shows bezels (however minute) on all four sides of the phone. So then what is this device? Speculations are leaning more towards the device being Xiaomi's yet-unannounced Redmi Note 5, which according to earlier reports, is coming with a bezel-less display. However, the apparent dual-front camera system on the front of the phone throws a twist in the tale. According to Gizmochina the phone could most likely be the Xiaomi Mi 6C. Now there is no way to verify this information so it is all guess-work at the moment. The back side of the phone's render does not show the top of the device where we the the dual-camera system and the fingerprint sensor may be residing. Also visible in the renders is what looks like metal body and speaker grills at the bottom, which according to the report, is quite reminiscent of a mid-range Redmi device. The report also claims that the phone could be priced around CNY 1,499. No further details are available at this point. Xiaomi tweeted out on its Indian Twitter handle that it will be launching a new phone in India on 30 November. The tagline for this new device is #Deshkasmartphone and it might be possible that the company will be launching a smartphone that is completely built in India as it gears up to boost its manufacturing presence in India. PTI Cybersecurity has taken centrestage of discussion at global forums as the borderless nature of internet and anonymity of threat actors has heightened the need for closer cooperation among nations, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Global Conference on Cyberspace 2017, the minister said internet has not only expedited the pace of political, social and economic growth, but also thrown up new set of challenges for which there are "no preset solutions". "The lack of borders in cyberspace and the anonymity of the actors has ensured that the traditional concepts of sovereignty, jurisdiction and privacy are challenged...The global community which has so far benefited from cyberspace is beginning to wake up to its threats," she said. Swaraj asserted that India is committed to an open, safe, inclusive and democratic internet that responds swiftly to challenges. Highlighting the growing concerns around cybersecurity globally, she said there is hardly a meeting between the heads of states where discussions on such issues do not figure. "It points to the growing penetration, significance of internet on the social, economic and cultural lives of the nations. The linking of devices and growing Internet of Things (IoT) has made cyber issues a critical aspect of cybersecurity and development politics," she added. While "peaceful" uses of technology have fuelled growth of economies and connected citizens globally, cyberspace is also infiltrated by malicious actors looking out for opportunities to exploit the vulnerabilities, Swaraj cautioned. "The anonymity, borderless spaces and speed has helped these elements to carry out nefarious activities ranging from cyber espionage, concerted attacks on networks, data theft, infringement of privacy, extremist propaganda to name a few," she pointed out. Crime syndicates and terrorist organisations are leveraging malicious tools in cyberspace to carry out complex crimes, posing considerable challenge to the law enforcement agencies, she said, urging nations to come together to counter this growing threat. Swaraj said there is a greater need for countries to enter into agreements and arrangements for cooperation at various levels. Speaking at a previous session, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval urged global security organisations to enhance cooperation and look at evolving cyber-related security structure to counter the threats in cyberspace. He warned that advent of new technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics could compound the complexities of cyber threats. "It may also be necessary that security organisations of the world will need much greater cooperation and specific cyber-related security structure for fast sharing of information, identifying defaulters, proceeding against them and supporting to law enforcing agencies," he added. Washington: Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has "blood on his hands", and wants to bring extremism into the mainstream politics of Pakistan, a former top American spymaster said on Saturday. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder, who has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan on Friday. "Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with the LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaida on attacks," Michael Morell, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deputy director, who has also served twice as its acting director, said in a tweet. "He has blood on his hands. Now wants to bring extremism into the political mainstream in Pakistan," he said after Saeed, a UN and US designated terrorist, was released from house arrest in Lahore. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. A deeply concerned US has asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. It also asked Pakistan to ensure that the LeT leader is behind bars. "NO! JuD is NOT tied to Islamic State. What a rookie...Seriously. Hafiz Saeed's Release Completes the Political Mainstreaming of Jihadists in Pakistan," tweeted Christine Fair, a well-known South Asian expert on terrorist groups. NBC News said Saeed's release could once again sour US relations with Pakistan. The New York Times said, for decades, Pakistan has cast a benign eye on groups like LeT which is perceived as an asset because its attacks target Indian soldiers in Kashmir even as the government battles jihadist groups like the Pakistan Taliban that directly threatens the country. "But despite its pressure on Pakistan to move against militants like Saeed, the United States has also sent mixed messages. Just a month ago, the United States Senate struck down a provision tying American government funding to Pakistan to the country's efforts to curb Lashkar-e-Taiba's operations." "The provision, part of a broader Pentagon-funding legislation that Congress introduced this past summer, would have forced the secretary of defence to certify that Islamabad was thwarting Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities inside Pakistan or risk USD 350 million in American assistance," the Times wrote. Meanwhile, in an op-ed, The Washington Examiner said the Trump administration "should work with India" to "capture or kill" Saeed. "Trump should call Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and offer to work with him to capture or kill Saeed," the daily said, adding that Saeed intends to lead a new Muslim theocratic political bloc in next year's parliamentary polls. "Although Pakistan's electoral commission has refused to certify the bloc, Saeed's populist power should not be understated. Charismatic and determined, if left unchecked in his political party or terrorist activities, Saeed could destabilise the region," the daily added. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the banned LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attack. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irelands minority government looked set to collapse on Friday after the party propping it up submitted a motion of no confidence in the deputy prime minister, weeks before a summit on Britains plans to leave the European Union. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Leo Varadkar speaks on stage during his opening address of the Fine Gael national party conference in Ballyconnell, Ireland November 10, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneThe crisis is likely to lead to an election next month or in January and may complicate the Dec. 14-15 Brexit summit. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is due to play a major role in the talks, telling EU leaders whether Ireland believes sufficient progress has been made on the future border between EU-member Ireland and Britains province of Northern Ireland. The border is one of three issues Brussels wants broadly resolved before it decides whether to move the talks on to a second phase about trade, as Britain wants. Varadkar is now likely to go into the summit as a lame duck prime minister or in the middle of an election campaign. The head of opposition party Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin, said his party had submitted a motion of no-confidence in Deputy Prime Minister Frances Fitzgerald, to be debated on Tuesday. The trigger is her handling of a legal case involving a police whistleblower. Martin told state broadcaster RTE that an election can be avoided if the government takes action by asking Fitzgerald to resign. But the government said this would not happen. Varadkar and Martin met briefly to discuss the standoff on Friday and are due to speak again on Saturday. At a time when issues and decisions will need to be made that will reverberate in our country for decades to come, the prospect of either an election taking place or a government not being in place afterwards is actually unconscionable, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told RTE. These are historic decisions ... The agenda that is at play here is one of political interest. We need to be aware of the consequences of the approach that Fianna Fail are taking here, the usually calm Donohoe fumed. Junior Finance Minister Michael DArcy told Reuters he believed there would be an election before Christmas and a source familiar with the partys planning said it had begun to make preparations on Friday for an election. BORDER DEBATE As well as the border, the other issues Brussels wants resolved before talks move on to trade arrangements are Britains financial settlement on leaving the bloc and the rights of EU citizens living in Britain. EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier assured Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney on Friday that the EU would defend Dublins position in talks with Britain over the coming weeks. Strong solidarity with Ireland, Barnier tweeted. Irish issues are EU issues. Coveney told parliament on Thursday the government was not yet ready to allow the talks to move on to trade issues, and needed more clarity from London. Fianna Fails Martin said Varadkar could still take part in the EU summit and that parliament would be united in supporting him. But the collapse could distract Varadkar and undermine his standing during the talks. University College Dublin politics professor David Farrell said Varadkar may be tempted to take a hard line against the United Kingdom in the talks in a bid to shore up support among Irish voters, who are overwhelmingly against Brexit. I suppose the only card he can try and play to distract from the crazy shenanigans around the causes of this election is leadership in Europe, he said. A snap election next month in the Irish Republic would also rule out a resumption of talks to restore a devolved government in Northern Ireland, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Arlene Foster, told BBC. The DUP has for months been in on-off talks with the Irish nationalists Sinn Fein to break a political stalemate north of the border. As Sinn Fein also fields candidates in the south, Foster said their focus would be entirely on that. NEW SINN FEIN LEADER An imminent election would be dominated by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, two centre-right parties that differ little on policy but have been bitter foes for decades, something that has always left the minority government one serious row away from collapse. But it would also present an opportunity for Sinn Fein to see if leader Gerry Adams decision last week to step down will boost its support. The party said deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald would lead them into the election, if one is called. While Sinn Fein, the third largest party in the Republic, has said it wants to enter government, the two largest parties have ruled out doing a deal with the left-wing party, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Since Varadkars appointment as Fine Gael leader six months ago, his party has narrowly led Fianna Fail in opinion polls, which suggest both parties would increase their support but struggle to form anything but another minority government. The Fianna Fail move comes after Fitzgerald admitted she was made aware of an attempt to discredit a police whistleblower in a 2015 email, but failed to act. Fine Gael say she adhered to due process. The case relates to a whistleblower who alleged widespread misconduct in the force. His treatment by the authorities led in 2014 to the resignations of the then police commissioner and justice minister. This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. CAIRO (Reuters) - Militants killed more than 230 people at a mosque in North Sinai on Friday, detonating a bomb and gunning down worshippers in the deadliest such attack in Egypts modern history, state media and witnesses said. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but since 2013 Egyptian security forces have battled an Islamic State affiliate in the mainly desert region, and militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers. State media showed images of bloodied victims and bodies covered in blankets inside the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed, west of El Arish, the main city in North Sinai. Worshippers were finishing Friday prayers at the mosque when a bomb exploded, witnesses said. Around 40 gunmen set up positions outside the mosque with jeeps and opened fire from different directions as people tried to escape. Four groups of armed men attacked the worshippers inside the mosque after Friday noon prayers. Two groups were firing at ambulances to deter them, said Mohamed, a witness. The public prosecutors office said in a statement 235 people had been killed and 109 more wounded. Hours after the attack, Egypts military launched air strikes on targets in mountainous areas around Bir al-Abed, security sources and witnesses said. The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force, Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a televised address. What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism, to destroy our efforts to stop the terrible criminal plan that aims to destroy what is left of our region. Egypt later said it would delay the opening of the Rafah border crossing to Gaza after the attack due to security concerns. The crossing had been due to open for three days beginning on Saturday. Striking at a mosque would be a change in tactics for the Sinai militants, who have usually attacked troops and police and Christian churches. SUFI MUSLIMS Arabiya news channel and some local sources said some of the worshippers were Sufis, whom groups such as Islamic State consider targets because they revere saints and shrines, which for Islamists is tantamount to idolatry. The jihadists have also attacked local tribes and their militias for working with the army and police, branding them traitors. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is seen during a meeting with government members on the attack in North Sinai, in Cairo, Egypt, November 24, 2017 in this handout picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS The Sinai branch is one of Islamic States surviving branches following the collapse of its self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq after military defeats by U.S.-backed forces. Sisi, a former armed forces commander who presents himself as a bulwark against Islamist militancy, convened an emergency meeting with his defence and interior ministers and intelligence chief soon after the attack. Security has long been one of the key sources of public support for the former general, who is expected to run for re-election early next year for another four-year term. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Twitter on Friday, called the assault a horrible and cowardly terrorist attack. The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence, he added. Trump later called Sisi to express his condolences and said the United States stands by Egypts side in its fight against terrorism and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Egypt in this field, according to a statement from Sisis office. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Egypt. SINAI STRUGGLE North Sinai, which stretches from the Suez Canal eastwards to the Gaza Strip and Israel, has long been a security headache for Egyptian security forces because of smuggling. Sisi has support from some Bedouin tribal leaders, who have helped the army locate weapon-smuggling routes used by jihadi groups, security officials said. Local militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, once allied to al Qaeda, split from it and declared allegiance to Islamic State in 2014. Bloodshed in the Sinai worsened after 2013 when Sisi led the overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Islamic State earlier this year posted a video of the beheading of two Sufis in northern Sinai, accusing them of practicing sorcery. In July this year, at least 23 soldiers were killed when suicide car bombs hit two military checkpoints in the Sinai, in an attack claimed by Islamic State. Militants have tried to expand their operations into Egypts heavily populated mainland, hitting Coptic Christian churches and pilgrims. In May, gunmen attacked a Coptic group travelling to a monastery in southern Egypt, killing 29. This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Dhaka: Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to take assistance from the UN refugee agency for the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said on Saturday. The two governments signed a pact on Thursday settling the terms of the repatriation process, and the return of the Rohingya to Myanmar is expected to start in two months. Uncertainty over whether the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would have a role had prompted rights groups to insist that outside monitors were needed to safeguard the Rohingyas return. More than 6,00,000 Rohingya sought sanctuary in Bangladesh after Myanmars military launched a brutal counter-insurgency in their villages across the northern parts of Rakhine State following attacks by Rohingya militants on an army base and police posts on 25 August. The signing of the deal is a first step. The two countries will now have to work on more steps, Ali told a news conference. Both countries agreed to take assistance from the UNHCR in the Rohingya repatriation process, he said. Myanmar will take its assistance as per their requirement. A joint working group of the three parties will be formed within three weeks and the group will fix the final terms to start the repatriation process, said Ali. Our priority is to ensure their safe return to their homeland with honour, the minister said. After repatriation, Rohingya Muslims will be kept at makeshift camps near to their abandoned homes, he said. Homes have been burnt to the ground in Rakhine, that need to be rebuilt. We have proposed Myanmar to take help from India and China for building camps for them, the minister said. The UN and United States have described the militarys actions as ethnic cleansing, and rights groups have accused Myanmars security forces of atrocities, including mass rape, arson and killings. Under the deal, Myanmar will take measures to see that the returnees will not be settled in temporary places for a long time and Myanmar will issue them an identity card for national verification immediately on their return. ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistans government on Saturday called on the army to help clear a sit-in by Islamist hard-liners blockading the capital after police clashed with activists and religious protests spread to other cities. A supporter of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, an Islamist political party, gestures after blocking the main road leading to the airport in Karachi, Pakistan November 25, 2017. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro Dozens of people were injured in Saturdays clashes, including many police, according to reports from hospitals. Protesters said four of their activists had been killed, but police said there had been no deaths. By nightfall, protests spread to other main cities with activists brandishing sticks and attacking cars in some areas. New demonstrators had joined the camp in Faizabad, just outside Islamabad, in a stand-off with police, Private TV stations were ordered off the air, with only state-run television broadcasting. Activists from Tehreek-e-Labaik, a new hard-line Islamist political party, have blockaded the main road into the capital for two weeks, accusing the law minister of blasphemy against Islam and demanding his dismissal and arrest. We are in our thousands. We will not leave. We will fight until end, Tehreek-e-Labaik party spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters by telephone from the scene. Tehreek-e-Labaik is one of two new ultra-religious political movements that have risen up in recent months and seem set to play a major role in elections that must be held by summer next year, though they are unlikely to win a majority. CHAOS AND CONSPIRACY Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal told Reuters in a message on Saturday night that the government had requisitioned the military assistance for law and order duty according to the constitution. The ruling party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif - who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in July and is facing a corruption trial - has a fraught history with the military, which in 1999 launched a coup to oust Sharif from an earlier term. Earlier in the day, Iqbal said the protests were part of a conspiracy to weaken the government, which is now run by Sharifs allies under a new prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. There are attempts to create a chaos in (the) country, Iqbal said on state-run Pakistan TV. I have to say with regret that a political party that is giving its message to people based on a very sacred belief is being used in the conspiracy that is aimed at spreading anarchy in the country, Iqbal added, without saying who he considered responsible. Pakistans army chief on Saturday called on the civilian government to end the protest while avoiding violence from both sides. Opposition leader Imran Khan called for early elections, saying the incompetent and dithering administration had allowed a breakdown of governance. Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, an Islamist political party, chant slogans as they walk to join the sit-in protest in Karachi, Pakistan November 25, 2017. REUTERS/Akhtar SoomroThe clashes began on Saturday when police launched an operation involving some 4,000 officers to disperse around 1,000 activists and break up their camp, police official Saood Tirmizi told Reuters. Television footage showed a police vehicle on fire, heavy curtains of smoke and fires burning in the streets as officers in heavy riot gear advanced. Protesters, some wearing gas masks, fought back in scattered battles across empty highways and surrounding neighbourhoods. The protesters have paralysed daily life in the capital, and have defied court orders to disband. Tehreek-e-Labaik blames the law minister, Zahid Hamid, for changes to an electoral law that changed a religious oath proclaiming Mohammad the last prophet of Islam to the words I believe, a change the party says amounts to blasphemy. The government put the issue down to a clerical error and swiftly changed the language back. People walk after crossing the blockades put up by the supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, an Islamist political party, along the main road leading to the airport in Karachi, Pakistan November 25, 2017. REUTERS/Akhtar SoomroTehreek-e-Laibak was born out of a protest movement lionizing Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab province who gunned down his boss in 2011 over his call to reform strict blasphemy laws. The party won a surprisingly strong 7.6 percent of the vote in a by-election in Peshawar last month. MORE JOIN PROTESTS The government had tried to negotiate an end to the sit-in, fearing violence during a crackdown similar to 2007, when clashes between authorities and supporters of a radical Islamabad mosque led to the deaths of more than 100 people. Despite the police crackdown, the protesters were largely still in place by nightfall and Tehreek-e-Labaik leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a prominent cleric, remained at the site, party activist Mohammad Shafiq Ameeni said. Four protesters had died in the police crackdown, he added. By late afternoon, Tehreek-e-Labaik supporters were coming out on the streets in other Pakistani cities in support. Police fired tear gas in Karachi, the southern port that is Pakistans largest city, to try to disperse about 500 demonstrators near the airport. Outside the northwestern city of Peshawar, about 300 protesters blocked the motorway to Islamabad and started attacking vehicles with stones and sticks. In the eastern city of Lahore, party supporters blocked three roads into the city. This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Islamabad: Pakistani authorities ordered private television channels to go off air on Saturday during a police and paramilitary crackdown on Islamist protesters in the capital. The suspension was ordered by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority for violating media regulations showing live coverage of a security operation, a statement from the regulator said. State-run Pakistan Television continued to broadcast but aired a talk show discussing politics. Pakistani police used tear gas and water cannon and fought running battles with stone-throwing Islamist activists, as they moved to clear a protest by the religious hard-liners who have blocked main routes into Islamabad for more than two weeks. The clashes began on Saturday when police launched an operation, involving some 4,000 officers, to disperse around 1,000 activists from Tehreek-e-Labaik, a new hard-line Islamist political party, and break up their camp, police official Saood Tirmizi told Reuters. Dozens of protesters were arrested, Tirmizi said, and a hospital reported at least 27 people were being treated for injuries. The mass protest, plus the recent gains of two new Islamist parties in Pakistan, demonstrated the religious rights gathering strength ahead of what are expected to be tumultuous elections next year. Television footage showed smoke billowing and fires burning in the streets as officers in heavy riot gear advanced. Protesters, some wearing gas masks, fought back in scattered battles across empty highways and surrounding neighbourhoods. We are in our thousands. We will not leave. We will fight until the end, Tehreek-e-Labaik party spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters by telephone from the scene. The protesters have paralysed daily life in the capital, and have defied court orders to disband, demanding that the minister of law fired. Tehreek-e-Labaik blames the minister, Zahid Hamid, for changes to an electoral oath that it says amounts to blasphemy. The government puts the issue down to a clerical error. Death to blasphemers is a central rallying cry for Tehreek-e-Laibak, which was born out of a protest movement lionizing Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab province who gunned down his boss in 2011 over his call to reform strict blasphemy laws. The party, which advocates strict rule by Islamic Sharia law, won a surprisingly strong 7.6 percent of the vote in a by-election in Peshawar last month. Since Tehreek-e-Labaik began its sit-in, the government has blocked several roads with shipping containers to corral the protesters, but that has caused hours-long traffic jams in and around the capital. The government had tried to negotiate an end to the sit-in, fearing violence during a crackdown similar to 2007, when clashes between authorities and supporters of radical Islamabad mosque led to the deaths of more than 100 people. By late morning, Tehreek-e-Labaik supporters were coming out on the streets in other Pakistani cities in support of the Islamabad protesters. About 500 demonstrators blocked one of the main roads in Karachi, the southern port that is Pakistans largest city, a Reuters witness said, though the gathering was peaceful. In the eastern city of Lahore, party supporters blocked three roads into the city, provincial government spokesman Malik Ahmad Khan said. We want them to disperse peacefully. Otherwise, we have other options open, he said. We dont want to use force, but we will if there is no other option left. Islamabad: Pakistani forces fired rubber bullets and lobbed tear gas at protesters in Islamabad on Saturday as they moved to disperse an Islamist sit-in that has virtually paralysed the country's capital for weeks. The roughly 8,500 elite police and paramilitary troops in riot gear began clearing the 2,000 or so demonstrators soon after dawn, with nearby roads and markets closed. The sit-in by the little-known hardline group called Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan has blocked a main highway used by thousands of commuters since 6 November, causing hours-long traffic snarls and enraging commuters. The protesters are demanding that Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid resign over a hastily-abandoned amendment to the oath that election candidates must swear. Demonstrators have linked it to blasphemy a highly contentious issue in Muslim Pakistan and claim the oath was softened to enable the participation of Ahmadis, a long-persecuted Islamic minority sect. AFP reporters at the scene said small scuffles had broken out as protesters hurled rocks at police. Others were detained as security forces began to clear the site. Some ambulances could be seen in the area but it was not clear if there had been any injuries. Television images showed people standing on top of freight containers that had blocked the roads around the sit-in, and plumes of smoke filling the air. An Islamabad police official said that the operation sought to avoid any loss of life on either side. The sit-in has already cost the life of at least one eight-year-old child whose ambulance could not reach a hospital in time due to the blocked roads, a statement from Pakistan's Supreme Court confirmed this week. Despite the protest's relatively small size, authorities have hesitated to act against it, citing fears of violence as the demonstrators have vowed to die for their cause. But government inaction has drawn the fury of the courts as well as millions of residents in Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi. The Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court have issued blistering criticism and threatened to hold officials in contempt for their inaction. Analysts and critics have accused the government of bungling its response to the protest, and allowing a minor issue to grow into a headline-grabbing and potentially dangerous situation. It set an alarming precedent, that "anytime anyone is upset with the government, the capital may be choked and the government will bend its knees," warned Zeeshan Salahuddin of the Center for Research and Security Studies, a think tank in Islamabad. New Delhi: In a bid to defuse the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state where violence has triggered an outflow of Rohingya refugees, India has sent relief material consisting of 3,000 family relief packs. "With best wishes from the people of India. Indian Air Force aircraft lands today in Yangon, Myanmar, with 3000 family relief packs consisting of daily essentials including rice, oil, salt, sugar, soap, etc. for distribution among the displaced persons in Rakhine state," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted on Friday evening. With best wishes from the people of India. Indian Air Force aircraft lands today in Yangon, Myanmar with 3000 family relief packs consisting of daily essentials including rice, oil, salt, sugar, soap, etc. for distribution amongst the displaced persons in Rakhine State pic.twitter.com/wV7sobbTS0 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 24, 2017 More than 6,00,000 Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh since violence erupted in Rakhine late in August. The minority Rohingya community does not enjoy citizenship in Myanmar and is sparingly given refugee status in Bangladesh. Human rights monitors accused Myanmar's military of atrocities against the minority population during its clearance operations following Rohingya militants' 25 August attacks on multiple government posts. On Thursday, however, Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar Kyaw Tint Swe signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Nay Pyi Taw for the return of these refugees. India has maintained that the issue should be handled in a humane manner, development activities should be initiated in Rakhine and conditions should be created for the safe and secure return of the refugees to their homes. During his visit to Myanmar in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared India's concerns over the issue in a meeting with that country's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. India has also sent relief material to Bangladesh to handle the Rohingya refugee crisis. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Support for Irelands governing Fine Gael party fell in a poll on Saturday as a political crisis that has left the country three days away from the calling of a snap election showed no sign of being resolved. Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar greets Director of the National Women's Council of Ireland Orla O'Connor as he arrives at the launch of the FemFest conference in Dublin, Ireland, November 25, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoynePrime Minister Leo Varadkars minority government was on the brink on Friday after the party propping it up submitted a motion of no confidence in the deputy prime minister, weeks before a summit on Britains plans to leave the European Union where Ireland will play a key role. [nL8N1NU2FB] Varadkar has said that if the motion put down by Fianna Fail, the main opposition party, is not withdrawn by Tuesday, he would be forced to hold an election before Christmas. Support for his party dropped two points to 27 percent in the Sunday Business Post/Red C poll, only marginally ahead of the 25.5 percent it achieved at last years election and its worst performance in recent opinion polls. Fellow centre-right party Fianna Fail rose to 26 percent from 25 percent a month ago and leftwing opposition Sinn Fein were up two points to 16 percent, both also marginally higher than the last election. The survey was taken between November 20 and 24, the day the crisis escalated rapidly and suggested the parties would struggle to form anything but another minority administration. Again (the poll) suggests no one wins at a Christmas election if these numbers hold, Richard Colwell, the chief executive of Red C, wrote on Twitter. Varadkar has said that there is still time to avoid the snap poll but neither side were stepping down on Saturday ahead of the motion of no-confidence, to be debated on Tuesday. Although the leaders will do their best, it is unlikely that the positions are going to shift between now and Tuesday, and if that is the case the only way we can prevent an election is for the Tanaiste to resign, senior Fianna Fail MP Jim OCallaghan told national broadcaster RTE. The Tanaiste is the name given to the position of deputy head of government in Ireland, currently held by Frances Fitzgerald. Health Minister Simon Harris said the price of any talks over the next three days will not be the head of the deputy prime minister and that the agreement with Fianna Fail that allows the minority government to function was extremely badly damaged. Varadkar is due to play a major role in the Dec. 14-15 EU summit on Brexit, telling fellow leaders whether Dublin believes sufficient progress has been made on the future border between EU-member Ireland and Britains province of Northern Ireland. The government has said enough progress has not been made to date. The border is one of three issues Brussels wants broadly resolved before it decides whether to move the talks on to a second phase about trade and EU officials have said a snap election in Ireland would complicate that task. [nL8N1NU2UT] This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Yangon: Chinese president Xi Jinping met with Myanmars top military general in Beijing on Friday and discussed Chinas support amid international criticism over its treatment of the Rohingya minority, according a statement from the general. China has offered diplomatic backing to its southern neighbour throughout the crisis, despite growing pressure from Western countries for the Myanmar military to be accountable for alleged atrocities. More than 6,00,000 members of the Rohingya Muslim group have fled from Buddhist-majority Myanmars Rakhine to Bangladesh in three months since insurgent attacks on security posts sparked a brutal counter-insurgency campaign. China helped to block a resolution on the crisis at the UN Security Council, while the United States this week called the response by the military and local vigilantes "ethnic cleansing", echoing earlier statements by senior United Nations officials. According to a statement on the Facebook page of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, he and the Chinese leader on Friday discussed the "promotion of cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries, the situation of China standing on Myanmars side at the forefront of the international community regarding the Rakhine issue," and other issues. Min Aung Hlaing arrived in China on Tuesday and has largely met Chinese military officers during his visit. The statement also said they discussed ongoing talks between Myanmars government and myriad ethnic insurgent groups, some of whom are based along Myanmars shared border with China. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi said China was closely watching the peace process and was "willing to play a constructive role... for security and stability in their border areas." The Xinhua account did not mention Rakhine, but cited Xi saying that China "always respects Myanmars sovereignty and territorial integrity". China is ramping up its strategic release of pork reserves, as prices for the meat appear to have hit a peak after a momentous price run that has led the commodity to... Read More Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) recently held its first investor day since 2009. That's a long time compared with many other companies, which usually have an annual or biannual investor day. However, the company now has a new CEO in James Quincey, who assumed the role on May 1. In addition, the company just completed a years-long refranchising program for its worldwide bottling operations. Therefore, the company thought it was the right time to give a higher-level view of its goals and strategy going forward. Here are the main takeaways. Financial goals Coke first laid out its financial goals. First, the company is targeting revenue growth of 4%-6% over the long term. While that doesn't exactly blow the doors off, Coca-Cola is already the largest beverage company in a number of categories, so it will be difficult to grow beyond the overall ready-to-drink industry, which is expected to grow 4% worldwide through 2020. That's an extra $150 billion Coke wants to go after. In addition, Coke believes it can grow its operating income at a 6%-8% rate over the long term by expanding operating margin to 35% by 2020. That contrasts with the adjusted operating margin of 27.4% in the most recent quarter. Strategy To grow faster than the overall market, the company unveiled a multipronged strategy to take market share. Management said Coca-Cola wants to "be participating in each of the eight beverages people drink during the day." That, of course, means diversifying away from its core Coca-Cola brand. The company has already been making progress on that front, buying the Topo Chico sparkling water brand this summer, as well as Honest Tea and Innocent juices over the past few years, both of which have been tremendously successful. The company has actually doubled the number of billion-dollar brands under its umbrella since 2007, and plans to do more of the same going forward via more rapid experimentation, innovation, and outside partnerships. Quincey put it succinctly on during the presentation: This more agile, open-source approach is much more in line with a 21st- century business, where speed and agility are paramount, rather than a few huge, over-tested, global launches. The company is now much more equipped to do this, as Coca Cola only employs about 40,000 people, as opposed to the 150,000 it employed before the divestiture of its bottling operations. New marketing Coca-Cola is also known as one of the best marketing machines of all time, and the company is tweaking its marketing strategy along with its brand innovation. Coke will now expand marketing beyond the traditional 30- and 60-second television spots for more social media. In addition to digital marketing, the company will also emphasize e-commerce and advanced data analytics as key marketing and growth tools. Revenue over volume In addition to all these tools, the company continues on a path it was already on -- namely, prioritizing revenue over volume growth. The company started on this road when it began producing Coca-Cola in smaller cans (though keeping the same price) early in 2017. That not only mitigated concerns about sugar intake, but also expanded margins. Going forward, the company will also tweak its incentive structure so that executives will be compensated on revenue targets, not volume targets, as in the past. In addition, Quincey also pointed out that big companies like Coke had ceded some profitable niches to smaller craft players, which Coke hopes to correct in the future. In fact, Chief Growth Officer Francisco Xavier Crespo Benitez believes the company may have been "leaving money on the table" by focusing on volumes and mass appeal rather than high-priced niches. As for premium Coca-Cola products, he mentioned Royal Bliss in Spain, Blue Sky with organic ingredients in the U.S. and Appletiser with 100% apple juice out of South Africa. The big picture Overall, Coca Cola is taking steps to become a leaner and more agile company with differentiated brands. Its smaller brands such as Topo Chico, Honest Tea, and Innocent juices have started on that path, but expect more rapid innovation in the future. The main takeaway I got from investor day is that Coke's management realizes it cannot rest on its laurels, and must aggressively innovate to win the future. That's a good thing. 10 stocks we like better than Coca-ColaWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Coca-Cola wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of November 6, 2017 Billy Duberstein has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Twitter's (NYSE: TWTR) recent announcement that it was doubling the character limit on tweets to 280 characters for almost everyone may have temporarily distracted investors from another round of poor earnings. But is the move really worth cheering? Why fix the one thing that wasn't broken? While Twitter receives a lot of criticism, people generally seem to agree that it's easy to skim through a series of 140-character tweets. That limit forced people to work a little harder to condense their ideas and opinions into a few short sentences that followers could breeze through while on the subway or taking a break at work. Twitter argues that it hasn't lost this unique factor since it began testing the 280-character limit in September and released it on a wider scale this month. It's now available in all languages except Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, where users weren't having an issue with the 140-character limit thanks to being able to say more with fewer symbols. In a blog post, Twitter product manager Aliza Rosen said that once the novelty of the 280 characters wore off during the test phase, users still tweeted below 140 characters most of the time, so "the brevity of Twitter remained." In fact, only 5% of tweets sent were over 140 characters and only 2% were over 190 characters, she wrote. In addition, when people needed to use more than 140 characters, they tweeted "more easily and more often" because they didn't have to work out how to make their point in fewer words, Rosen wrote. What's working in the short term? Before expanding the character limit, 9% of tweets in English were hitting the character limit. Lots of time was spent editing, the company said, and many people abandoned tweets before they were sent. After the 280-character limit was enacted, the number of tweets hitting the character limit dropped to 1%. Twitter also claims that users who had a higher character limit received more engagement from followers through likes, retweets, and mentions. Even more exciting, people who got the increased character limit started to spend more time on the platform. Will it work long term? However, considering the data was collected during September and October, when only certain Twitter users had access to the increased character limit, the jury is still out as to whether it will really improve the user experience. When Twitter first started allowing certain users to test out 280-character tweets in September, users had a field day. Many who received the special character limit celebrated their newfound freedom by penning creative, humorous tweets, such as by adding in useless words or by tweeting one letter per line. Now that the novelty has worn off, things in the Twitterverse seem to have gone back to normal. The journalists, celebrities, and comedians of the world -- as well as one American president -- continue to tweet up a storm, but it's Facebook and Instagram that are seeing eye-popping jumps in number of users. In order to predict what an increased character limit could mean for user growth at Twitter, one might remember that Twitter already went through a big redesign this summer. Twitter gave its app a more streamlined look with a side tab that directs users to their profile, Moments, or settings. Yet despite the company's biggest redesign in years, revenue for the third quarter still fell 4% to $590 million. To Twitter's credit, the platform added 4 million monthly active users (MAUs) during the quarter to hit a new high of 330 million MAUs worldwide. You could argue that the redesign and character-limit update still need time to marinate before there's a noticeable result on the top line. However, when you look at the numerous redesigns and updates that Twitter has undergone just in the past few years, you have to wonder if the company will ever happen upon that magical redesign that suddenly makes it the must-have news and social media platform it always wanted to be. You can be an optimist and choose to see the small uptick in MAUs this quarter, as well as the small uptick in its stock recently, as a sign of a sudden long-term upturn at the company. Or you can be a realist and see it as another small uptick at a company that is still on an overall descending path. 10 stocks we like better than Wal-MartWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of November 6, 2017The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned. Natalie Walters has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook and Twitter. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Italy's premier has met with Tunisian leaders during a two-day working visit to discuss terrorism, migration and the impact of the chaotic situation in Libya, subjects that deeply touch both countries. Paolo Gentiloni met on Saturday with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi and Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. He told reporters that the North African country bordering Libya and battling Islamic militants who have launched attacks in recent years needs increased aid from European partners. He said that "it is crucial to reduce regional disparities and social inequalities in Tunisia" that feed migration to Italy and impact the terrorism fight. He said an accord signed six years ago to contain illegal migration is working again and an uptick slowed. Under the accord, Italy can send Tunisians back home. I think Quentin Tarantino is a fine filmmaker. From Reservoir Dogs to Jackie Brown to Inglourious Basterds, he delivers. Pulp Fiction may just be the greatest movie of its era. But, as a resident of California, Ive got a problem. Not with him personally, but with the financing of his latest film. He recently had to drop his longstanding business relationship with Harvey Weinstein (for obvious reasons) and shop his ninth feature, a story related to the Charles Manson murders, to the major studios. Sony got the project. But, in addition, his film will receive an $18 million production tax credit from the California Film Commission, for which it will be shot in-state. Tarantinos project is only one of several films getting a big break. Theyre all part of a tax credit program created by the California Legislature that, over the years, will offer hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits. The Film Commission justifies its actions by claiming California needs the program to compete for projects. Really? Then how does the state justify hitting up its taxpayers for so much? We residents do even more business in the state than film companies, but were not getting any breaks. Quite the opposite. California has the highest income tax rate in the nation. The states top rate is 13.3 percent. Some dismiss it, saying thats just for millionaires, but if you make just $43,000 the rate is 8 percent, and if you make $54,000 its 9.3 percent. California also has a huge gasoline tax and the highest state-level sales tax in the nation. Overall, Californians shoulder one of the largest tax burdens in our country. And while were at it, the state also ranks high in the burden it places on businesses. So I have to ask: If Golden State leaders believe giving a tax break to filmmakers is good for the local economy, why dont they want to give a break in general to all residents? Sauce for the goose and all that. My guess is that Tarantino was going to film in-state anyway. The Manson murders took place here, and when hes got a story set in California, he shoots here. But even if he might have gone elsewhere for a better deal, guess what? Its not that hard for an individual citizen to pack up and leave a state if another one offers a better deal. That goes double for businesses. On top of which, high taxes can discourage people from moving here, and from locating their business here. (The numbers seem to bear this out. In recent years, the rate of population growth has been cut to less than half of what it was.) So if the state wants to make it easier on Tarantino, cant they also try to take it easier on me, and tens of millions of my fellow Californians? In effect, my tax money is going to subsidize Tarantinos film. Ill be the first in line to buy a ticket when it opens, but dont make me an unwilling investor. Not unless I get to own a piece of it. At 83 years old, I am one of the few remaining Holocaust survivors thanks to the American troops who rescued me in what seems like a lifetime ago. Since World War II, Ive felt a deep connection to American troops for saving my life a feeling that resurfaces every year on Veterans Day and throughout the holiday giving season. And so this year Im saying thank you to the American soldiers of the 1940s by donating $1 million to organizations serving wounded American veterans today. My donation to the Wounded Warrior Project and the Services for Armed Forces program of the American Red Cross is my way of giving back, thanking previous generations of warriors for helping me. I hope this inspires others to give back as well. Even though more than 70 years have passed since my rescue, its not too late to give back. Thats a lesson I hope the next generation recognizes, because its all too easy to let procrastination give way to inaction. But action is what brings hope to those who need it. I have met many American people who I am lucky enough to call my friends. First, Americans saved us. Then decades later, they welcomed us. As a child, I spent most of World War II hiding from Nazi invaders in my native France, where my parents moved after fleeing the pogroms in Poland. Unfortunately, with the German invasion in 1940, we were again at risk. On July 16, 1942, the French police led a big roundup of Jews in Paris. More than 13,000 Jews were detained before being deported to Nazi death camps. The police came to our apartment at 6 a.m. My parents managed to take me to my aunts home. She was married to a French soldier and was protected. A few hours later, my mother was arrested as she and my brother were trying to get information about my father, who was hiding in a nearby grocery store. A concierge had pointed them out to the police. They ran, but my mother was not fast enough. She was detained and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. She perished there probably within three weeks. I was 7, and for the next two years I lived on borrowed time, shielded by other families on the outskirts of Paris. The same was true for my future wife, who was also a child in hiding. If the war had continued much longer, we would not have survived. I vividly remember the arrival of the hundreds of thousands of American troops who landed in Normandy to liberate us in June 1944. They were our saviors, doling out packets of sweets to half-starved, war-weary children who had almost given up hope for freedom. The gratitude I feel to these men is beyond words. They freed our country and they saved our lives. Without American troops, my family and I simply would not have existed. I think of that every time I look at our family photos. Since the end of the war, life has been good to me. Ive had a successful career as co-owner of one of Europes largest home appliance retailers, working alongside my brothers. Ive also enjoyed raising my family, celebrating extended family gatherings of 20 people. My wife and I have a deep sense of gratitude for America. So in the early 1990s, freshly retired, we bought a home in South Florida. I travel with my wife each winter from our home in Paris to the warmth of Miami Beach. We still appreciate our second home there, where we now spend almost a third of our time. I have met many American people who I am lucky enough to call my friends. First, Americans saved us. Then decades later, they welcomed us. But as I watched news stories this fall of hurricanes, flooding and wildfires striking America, inflicting suffering among civilians and veterans alike, I realized that I still had an important task left to complete in my life. I had not yet given back to the American soldiers who saved my life nearly three-quarters of a century ago. That is why I want to help modern American veterans today. They pursue the tradition of the young men who landed on the shores of Normandy in June 1944 and who I will never forget. In giving this donation, I want to thank Americans with all my heart for coming to rescue us in our hour of need. But I also want to make a public stand in support of America. I hope that my donation can trigger a movement and lead others to take action. My story shows its never too late to give back, especially for a cause thats close to your heart. If it wasnt too late for this octogenarian, its not too late for you. Former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for his involvement in an unfinished documentary film financed by Turkish interests, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday evening. The investigation is part of a larger inquiry to determine if Flynn improperly hid financial ties to both Turkey and Russia, the Journal said. The FBI is gearing up to interview people Flynn hired to make the documentary, the paper said. That film would have revolved around exiled Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara has accused of trying to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Edorgan last year, people familiar with the investigation told the Journal. Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied being involved in the attempt to remove Erdogan. While campaigning for Trump, Flynns company reportedly signed a $530,000 deal with a Turkish businessman who was close with Erdogan. But, according to the Journal, the Flynn Intel Group, Flynns consulting firm, tried to mask its role in the documentary. Thats according to David Enders, a journalist employed to film interviews. Enders said that Bijan Kian, Flynns business partner, wanted the people behind the films production to remain unknown. A spokesman for Mueller declined the Journals request for comment. Kian didnt reply and Flynns lawyer, Robert Kelner, wasn't immediately available to discuss the report, the Journal said. Flynn didnt file federal documents showing that he was paid to work for Turkish interests until March 2017. He resigned his position as national security adviser in February following revelations that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with Russias ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak. In addition to the probe into whether Flynn improperly concealed his financial ties to Turkey and Russia, Mueller is also reportedly investigating a meeting where Flynn allegedly discussed a plan that would pay him and his son up to $15 million to kidnap Gulen for the Turkish government. The news follows recent reports that Flynns lawyers cut ties with President Donald Trumps legal team, saying that they could no longer discuss Muellers probe into Russian interference during the 2016 election season. The move could indicate that Flynn's legal team either is cooperating with Mueller's investigators or is negotiating to do so. As the nuclear threat from North Korea continues, Cuban President Raul Castro met Friday with the rogue nation's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in a bid to diffuse tensions between Pyongyang and Washington. Although Cuba has been an ally of North Korea since the 1960s, the communist nation opposes nuclear weapons, Reuters reported. The longtime partnership was evident after a meeting earlier this week, when Ri and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez jointly denounced the U.S. for unilateral and arbitrary lists and designations that led to coercive measures contrary to international law, Reuters reported, citing Cubas foreign ministry. By engaging in talks, the ministers sought respect for peoples sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes, a ministry statement said. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said that earlier this year he discussed the possibility of working with Cuba to help solve the ongoing conflict in North Korea. Reacting to provocative rhetoric and actions from North Korea -- including tests of ballsitic missiles and what Pyongyang called a hydrogen bomb -- President Trump has taken a hard-line stance against the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump's actions have included a record number of sanctions by the U.S. and its allies against the Kim regime, in hopes of changing its behavior. The president also has clamped down on Cuba, enacting stricter policies than President Barack Obama, who sought to ease a half-century of strained relations with Havana. A showdown could loom in December. Not over tax reform, but over funding the government. The federal government is funded through December 8. Republicans control the House and Senate. But historically, the GOP has failed on its own to provide the necessary votes to avert a government shutdown. The party required a bailout from Democrats as recently as Sept. 2015 to help make up the vote deficit and pass those spending bills. Republicans sometimes balk for a variety of reasons. They dont like stopgap appropriations packages. Theyre disgusted by the process. They demand more for defense. What about entitlement spending? Wheres the plan to reduce the national debt? As an aside, the answer to the final question wasnt really addressed in the recent budget framework approved by the House and Senate to muscle through tax reform. And deficits are forecast to balloon by at least $1.5 trillion in the Republican tax bill. But back to government funding When Republicans find themselves short in these government funding crises, they turn to Democrats. But Democratic votes could prove even more valuable in this Decembers scenario. It all has to do with DACA and DREAMers. DACA is the abbreviation for an Obama administration-era program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Democrats and some Republicans often refer to undocumented persons who arrived in the U.S. as minors as DREAMers. Thats derived from the bipartisan DREAM Act, short for The Development, Relief, Education for Minors bill. A coalition of liberal Democrats is now flexing its muscles on the upcoming government spending bill. Many Democrats insist that congressional leaders attach the DREAM Act to the spending package, or else. If theres no clean DREAM Act in the budget, were not voting for it, threatened Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y. Rep. Pramila Jayapal recently challenged House Republicans to pass the spending bill on their own. But if you need our votes, include a clean DREAM Act, the Washington Democrat said. Republicans are the majority until it comes to governance, argued Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. Oh. You dont have 218 votes? Were happy to help keep the government open. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., head to the White House Tuesday afternoon to discuss end-of-year legislative issues, said White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters. Pelosi favors attaching a DACA fix to the spending package. Schumer also believes thats a possible legislative path for DACA. We believe well get it in the omnibus (spending) bill because both Republicans and Democrats want it, Schumer said. If DACA is in the bill, (President Trump) wont veto it. Is there a risk of a government shutdown if Democrats insist on shoving DACA into the spending measure despite possible presidential objections? It wont come to that, Schumer replied. Tell that to those on the right -- and maybe even those in the White House. DACA will not be in the government funding bill, said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Including DACA in the spending plan could be the only way for Republicans to obtain necessary Democratic votes to avoid a government shutdown. And Schumer appears correct: There are Republicans who want to advance a DACA solution. A group of moderate House Republicans held a press conference last week calling for just that. But immigration politics are dicey for the right. Latching the DACA plan to the spending bill poses tremendous risk for Republicans. Ryan and McConnell are sure to draw the ire of the hard right and lawmakers who fret about border security, a border wall or amnesty. He wont be speaker for long if he does that, a conservative House Republican predicted about Ryan if he allows a DACA provision in the spending legislation. Ryans wants to cleave DACA from the spending bill. When asked if he would consider a DACA attachment in the spending legislation, he replied, I dont. The speaker also said the DACA fix should be considered on its own merits. And he questioned whether Congress had to address the issue by the end of the year. We have until, I believe, March, Ryan said. So I dont think we need to have artificial deadlines within the one we already have. It could be time to horse trade. Democrats hold many of the cards in this poker game. But the administration has cards to play, too. Trump may not like the idea of an immediate DACA fix. But how about a DACA deal in exchange for extra money for a border wall. As the president explained in his letter to the House and Senate leadership, the administrations reform priorities must be included as a part of any legislation addressing the status of DACA recipients, said a White House official to Fox. These reforms have been identified by our nations law enforcement professionals as a vital safeguard for the American people to both prevent new illegal immigration (border wall, legal loopholes) and to end chain migration. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., has said since summer he wants a DACA fix soon. But Hoyer demurred when asked whether Democrats would demand a DACA link to the spending bill in exchange for Democratic votes. I dont want to get there, he said. Why should Democrats cede their demands on DACA just to help keep the government open in a bill without an arrangement for DREAMers? Hoyer has said for years that when it comes to funding the government, Democrats will always do the right thing. But Hoyer also believes its incumbent for Democrats and the rest of Congress to do the right thing for DREAMers. We do the right thing, he said. It is unacceptable, because we do the right thing, to be held hostage to bad policies because you Democrats will do the right thing and while we do, we Republicans, will do the wrong thing. We will shut down the government as they have. We are not going to be held hostage by doing the right thing, either. The latest wrinkle is that Trump and congressional leaders may try to load up the spending package with hurricane relief for Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Congress has already forked over $52 billion in disaster relief. The administration submitted its third disaster spending request to Congress late last week: $44 billion. But the plan includes offsets to counteract the new spending. Just a few weeks ago, some lawmakers thought the key to courting Democratic votes for the government spending legislation was to add on disaster relief. You mean to tell me they (Democrats) wont vote for the spending? All of the disaster aid and Puerto Rico? Meadows asked rhetorically. But members of both parties excoriated the hurricane plan. The OMB request "is very disappointing. Not only is it completely inadequate, it shows OMBs complete lack of understanding of the fundamental needs of Texans, groused Texas GOP Rep. John Culberson, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and potentially a vulnerable GOPer next election cycle. Our community is still trying to recover, and this request is a nightmare for those who are trying to rebuild their lives. Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, said, The administrations third disaster supplemental request is an insult. This requests stinginess is both contemptable and ineffectual. So all eyes are trained on the big White House meeting Tuesday afternoon with the president and top Congressional leaders. Congressional Republicans are racing to complete tax reform. But one thing is for certain: The GOP faces disaster if they fail to fund the government. Democrats again hold many of the cards. And Trump and congressional Republicans may have to cede a lot of ground on DACA and disaster relief if they dont want a government shutdown tussle to sideline their tax reform efforts in December. A reference to a mysterious condominium purchase and sale in the 1990s is the earliest mention of Donald Trump in the notorious Panama Papers, according to a report published Friday. A Panamanian company called Process Consultants Inc., which was owned through bearer shares, purchased a residential unit in the Trump Palace skyscraper in New York City in 1991, investigative journalist Jake Bernstein reported, citing the documents. Bernstein is the author of "Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation of Illicit Money Networks and the Global Elite." Bearer shares, which provide a convenient means to transfer property anonymously, have been tightly regulated in recent years because they are frequently used in money-laundering and other illicit ventures. The directors of Process Consultants (which is sometimes spelled Process Consultans in the documents) were employed by Mossack Fonseca, the once-obscure law firm whose clients were exposed by the massive Panama Papers leak. But these directors were in reality nominee directors, Bernstein wrote, meaning that they were not the real decision-makers. Companies sometimes name nominee directors to obfuscate who is really running operations. Jurgen Mossack, founder of the firm, was one of the nominee directors of Process Consultants, Bernstein reported. In 1994, Process Consultants sold the apartment for $355,000 to a woman from Hong Kong, using the Trump Corporation as its broker. While there is no indication that the sale was illegal, the quick turnaround on the condo and the secretive nature of Process Consultants spurred some concern that money laundering may have been involved, the New York Daily News reported. Trump's name pops up elsewhere in the Panama Papers, but Bernsteins find marks the president's earliest known appearance. The 2016 leak of the Panama Papers, a trove of nearly 12 million financial documents tracing Mossack Fonseca's efforts to help politicians and celebrities shield their money from taxes, led to the removal of Pakistan and Icelands prime ministers and numerous high-level investigations around the world. Early in November, Trump's Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, was revealed in the so-called Paradise Papers to have conducted large business deals with Russian President Vladimir Putin's son-in-law. The Trump administration has quietly reversed its decision to close the PLO office in Washington over a courts issue, amid concerns the move would jeopardize President Trumps larger, ambitious effort to achieve Middle East peace. Last week, U.S. officials said the Palestine Liberation Organization mission in the nations capital must close, in accordance with a U.S. law related to the Palestinians having tried to get the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis. Then officials abruptly reversed course late Friday, as many Americans were enjoying a long Thanksgiving Day weekend. State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said the U.S. had instead "advised the PLO Office to limit its activities to those related to achieving a lasting, comprehensive peace between the Israelis and Palestinians." He also said the restrictions will be lifted after 90 days if the U.S. determines the Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in serious peace talks. After U.S. officials announced plans last week to close the mission, the Palestinians said the Trump administration was using extortion tactics, in an apparent attempt to force peace talks with Israel. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki told Palestine Radio that his people won't cave to "extortion" and that they await further communication from the administration. The ball is now in the American court," he said. And Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the administration's decision "very unfortunate and unacceptable." Erekat also accused the administration of bowing to pressure from the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And he said the Palestinians are "trying to cooperate to achieve the ultimate deal." A State Department official said at the time that the administration is not severing relations with the PLO or the Palestinian Authority and that the closing of the mission should not be interpreted as the administration backing away from trying to reach a peace agreement. Netanyahu's office said at the time that the closure was a "matter of U.S. law." Trump has made brokering a long-sought Middle East peace a top priority, with senior White House adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner taking the lead. The president has also sought to strengthen relations with Netanyahu, with whom former President Barack Obama had a weak relationship. Still, Trump has also apparently tried to improve ties with Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the PLO and the Palestinian National Authority. The president talked to Abbas in September at a United Nations meeting in New York. Abbas reportedly in September called for ICC to investigate and prosecute Israelis. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The United States will cut off its supply of arms to Kurdish fighters in Syria, President Donald Trump told the Turkish president on Friday, in a move sure to please Turkey but further alienate Syrian Kurds who bore much of the fight against the Islamic State group. In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump said hed given clear instructions that the Kurds will receive no more weapons and that this nonsense should have ended a long time ago, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The White House confirmed the move in a cryptic statement about the phone call that said Trump had informed the Turk of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria. The White House called the move consistent with our previous policy and noted the recent fall of Raqqa, once the Islamic State groups self-declared capital but recently liberated by a largely Kurdish force. The Trump administration announced in May it would start arming the Kurds in anticipation of the fight to retake Raqqa. We are progressing into a stabilization phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return, the White House said, using an acronym for the extremist group. The move could help ease strained tensions between the U.S. and Turkey, two NATO allies that have been sharply at odds about how best to wage the fight against IS. Turkey considers the Kurdish Syrian fighters, known by the initials YPG, to be terrorists because of their affiliation to outlawed Kurdish rebels that have waged a three decade-long insurgency in Turkey. Yet the U.S. chose to partner with the YPG in Syria anyway, arguing that the battle-hardened Kurds were the most effective fighting force available. Cavusoglu, who said he was in the room with Erdogan during Trumps call, quoted the U.S. president as saying he had given instructions to U.S. generals and to national security adviser H.R. McMaster that no weapons would be issued. Of course, we were very happy with this, Cavusoglu said. Yet for the Kurds, it was the latest demoralizing blow to their hopes for greater recognition in the region. Last month, the Kurds in neighboring Iraq saw their recent territorial gains erased by the Iraqi military, which seized the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and other disputed areas from the Kurdish regional government in retaliation for a Kurdish independence referendum that the U.S. ardently opposed. Trumps decision appeared to catch both the Pentagon and the U.S. State Department off guard. Officials at both agencies, who would normally be informed of changes in U.S. policy toward arming the Syrian Kurds, said they were unaware of any changes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity. It was unclear whether the Trump administration notified the Kurds of the move before telling the Turks. Nor was it how much significance the change would have on the ground, considering the fight against IS is almost over. The United States has been arming the Kurds in their fight against IS through an umbrella group known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, which is comprised of Kurdish as well as Arab fighters. But the retreat of IS, which has lost nearly all its territory in Syria, has altered the dynamics in the region and a U.S. defense official said he was unaware of any additional arms scheduled to be transferred to the Kurds, even before the Turkish announcement. Last week, Col. Ryan Dillon, the chief spokesman for the U.S. coalition that is fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, said there has yet to be any reduction in the number of U.S. advisers working with the SDF. His comments appeared to suggest the possibility that changes in the level and type of U.S. military support for the Syrian Kurds could be coming. As the fight against IS has waned in recent months, the U.S. has pledged to carefully monitor the weapons it provides the Kurds, notably ensuring that they dont wind up in the hands of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey known as the PKK. Both Turkey and the U.S. consider the PKK a terrorist group. But the United States has tried to draw a distinction between the PKK and the Syrian Kurds across the border, while Turkey insists theyre essentially the same. In both Syria and Iraq, the U.S. relied on Kurdish fighters to do much of the fighting against IS, but those efforts have yet to lead to a realization of the Kurds broader aspirations, most notably an independent state. Washingtons support for the Syrian Kurds, in particular, has been a major thorn in U.S.-Turkish relations for several years, given Turkeys concerns about the Kurds territorial aspirations. In particular, Turkey has feared the establishment of a contiguous, Kurdish-held canton in northern Syria that runs along the Turkish border. Relations between NATO allies Turkey and the United States have also soured recently over a number of other issues, including Turkeys crackdown on dissent following a failed coup attempt last year. Ankara has also demanded that the U.S. extradite a Pennsylvania-based cleric that it blames for fomenting the coup, but the U.S. says Turkey lacks sufficient proof. Lederman reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Robert Burns and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report. President Trump is meeting next week with Republican senators in a push to get a congressional tax reform bill on his desk by Christmas, with a final vote purportedly coming as early as Thursday. Trump will join the Senate Republican Policy Committee on Tuesday for the groups weekly luncheon, upon Congress returning from a week-long Thanksgiving break. This is the second time in the past few weeks that the president has gone to Capitol Hill to persuade fellow Republicans in the GOP-controlled Senate to back the tax reform bill, with yes votes from several holdouts still needed to pass the measure with a simple, 51-vote majority. Trump and GOP Senate leaders can afford to lose only one or two votes, considering they have just a 52-48 majority over Senate Democrats, who do not support the legislation. We look forward to welcoming President Trump to the Senate again, Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso, chairman of the policy committee, said Friday. This is a historic opportunity for our conference and the president to build on our momentum to give Americans the tax relief theyve been waiting for. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Maine; Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; and Ron Johnson, Wisconsin, are among those who have yet to back the bill. "We've got a very small window, about a dozen days," former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Saturday told Fox News' "Fox & Friends," while suggesting those who vote no jeopardize Republicans' control of Congress after next year's midterm elections. The House, which is controlled by Republicans with a much larger majority than they have in the Senate, passed its version of tax reform several weeks ago with no Democratic support. Trump is eager to pass major tax reform -- the first in nearly three decades -- to get his first major legislative victory. "We're going to give the American people a huge tax cut for Christmas, Trump said last week. Hopefully, that will be a great, big, beautiful Christmas present." This past summer, the House passed an ObamaCare replacement plan. But the Senate ultimately failed after several attempts, maddening Trump to the point of publically chastising Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. If the Senate passes the tax legislation, GOP lawmakers from the separate chambers would negotiate a compromise bill for Trump to sign into law. The separate versions each cut individual and corporate tax rates but with different strategies. Last week, the Tax Policy Center, a joint operation of the liberal-leaning Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, concluded that low-earners would generally get smaller tax breaks than higher-income people under the Senate plan. The top Democrat on the Senate Finance panel, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, said the study showed that "middle-class Americans will ultimately see a tax hike under Republicans' plan while corporate sponsors line their own pockets with multi-trillion-dollar giveaways." A McConnell spokeswoman cited a study by the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation that concluded the bill would produce higher wages, nearly 1 million new jobs and enough economic growth to generate nearly $1.3 trillion in federal revenue. The Senate bill would also repeal an ObamaCare requirement that Americans have health insurance or pay a fine, which is a project to save the federal government billions. Fox News Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. In what is likely to be a unique vacation experience, travelers can now rent a Cold War-era missile silo to crash at during their visit to Kansas, a report said. The Subterra Castle was previously the home of a nuclear warhead during the early-to-mid 1960s, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported. After it was left abandoned for decades, Ed and Dianna Peden reportedly bought the property in 1994 and reconstructed it into an underground mansion. But the idea to list the bunker on Airbnb, the online rental marketplace, was devised by their neighbor Matthew Fulkerson, the outlet said. He is the sites host and has reportedly known its owners for years. Subterra, located in rural Wabaunsee County, opened for business six months ago, according to The Journal. Its the first and only Airbnb available that is a converted missile silo, Fulkerson said. COLD WAR DRAMA CAUGHT ON VIDEO AS N. KOREAN SOLDIER ESCAPES According to the Airbnb listing page, the bunkers decor has a bohemian eclectic vibe to its redesign and guests can see the story of its transformation from a bunker into a home. The underground space is more than 18,000 square feet and sits on 33 acres of property that includes a pond, a stone circle and a grass airstrip, the site said. The structure, built in 1959, was originally part of a ring of nine Air Force silos built around Topeka, The Journal said. The underground bases were reportedly constructed during the height of the Cold War and ran for four years before being shut down and abandoned. The building stored an intercontinental ballistic missile that had a nuclear warhead 32 times more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima, Fulkerson said. The guys who lived here thought they would have to launch this missile at any moment. COMMISSION ALERTED TO REVIEW ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TRIPADVISOR The silo reportedly sat vacant for a number of years before the owners bought and transformed it into something habitable. But Fulkerson told The Journal that he had a larger plan for the location and wanted it to become more than an overnight stay on peoples way through the state. I see it as becoming a destination, he said. In addition to a main-floor bedroom, Airbnb guests at Subterra will have a full kitchen, private bathroom, laundry services and a fireplace which gives a "nice, cozy feeling in the fall and winter months," Fulkerson said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Even before the Navy cargo plane crash Wednesday, the number of U.S. troops killed in plane crashes had skyrocketed this year along with the total number of crashes overall compared to this point a year ago, a Fox News investigation has uncovered. So far this year, there have been 22 U.S. military non-combat plane crashes flying routine operations. Thats up 38 percent from this time last year. The number of American troops killed in these plane crashes has more than doubled. Following the announcement by the 7th Fleet Thursday night that it has ended its search for three missing American sailors hundreds of miles off the coast of Japan, the number of U.S. service members lost to plane crashes in 2017 stands at 37. That is more than 130 percent higher than the number killed in non-combat plane crashes at this point in 2016. Many on Capitol Hill say years of budget cuts are taking a toll. NAVY SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR 3 SAILORS MISSING AFTER PLANE CRASH Perhaps the greatest harm to our national security and our military is self-inflicted. I repeat self-inflicted, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former naval aviator, said on the senate floor. We are killing more of our own people in training than our enemies are in combat. The Navy cargo plane crash this week was the deadliest crash for the U.S. military since an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed off the coast of Hawaii killing five soldiers in August. The crash of the C-2 Greyhound occurred 575 miles out to sea while flying from Japan to the USS Ronald Reagan. A former C-2 pilot says it's a miracle eight sailors survived and compared the pilots actions in the crash to Capt. Chesley Sully Sullenberger landing a US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009. The Navy C-2 cargo plane is used to bring passengers and supplies to aircraft carriers at sea. It first entered service in the late 60s and is scheduled to be replaced by the V-22 Osprey in a few years. But only nine of the 33 C-2 planes in the fleet can currently fly, according to Navy officials. "We are killing more of our own people in training than our enemies are in combat." U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Right now the investigation is focusing on the possibility of an extremely rare duel engine failure, officials told Fox News. Fuel and oil sources are also being examined. The Navy is expected to release the names of the remaining missing sailors late Friday. Just two days before the Navy plane crash, an Air Force T-38 training jet -- with parts also dating from the 1960s -- crashed in Texas killing one pilot and injuring another. A mechanical failure is also suspected. A similar Navy training jet, a T-45, crashed last month killing both pilots. In July, a Marine Corps KC-130 transport plane crashed in the Mississippi Delta killing all 16 on board after reaching cruising altitude during a routine cross-country flight to California originating from North Carolina. Less than a month later, a Marine Corps V-22 Osprey crashed off the east coast of Australia killing three Marines. Rescue workers saved 23 others. In April, following a Fox News report about instructor pilots refusing to fly the Navys T-45 training jet, citing poison in the planes oxygen system, the Navy grounded its fleet of some 200 jets for weeks. Only recently has the Navy resumed full training flights for student jet pilots, seven months after grounding the jets. The Navys crisis in aviation extends into its premier strike aircraft as well. 3 MISSING AFTER NAVY AIRCRAFT CRASHES EN ROUTE TO USS RONALD REAGAN, 8 RECOVERED The head of naval aviation says only half the Navys 542 F-18 Super Hornet jets can fly right now and only 31 percent are fully mission capable and ready to fight tonight. Its even worse for the Marine Corps where roughly 70 percent of its fleet of older model F-18 Hornets cant fly. In the Air Force, only half of the bomber fleet of B-1 and B-2 bombers can fly, forcing airmen to scrounge for spare parts in places in a remote desert scrapheap known as The Boneyard. The secretary of the Air Force told reporters earlier this month she was almost 2,000 pilots short, forcing the service to ask retired pilots to come back. In order to get three aircraft carriers ready to deploy for ISIS strikes in the Gulf or other hotspots around the world beginning in January, nearly 100 F-18 fighter jets had to be shuffled around, robbing training squadrons of valuable flight time to train the young pilots, according to Vice Adm. Troy M. Shoemaker before a House Armed Services sub-committee hearing earlier this month. [The] shell game leaves non-deployed squadrons well below the number of jets required to keep aviators proficient, Shoemaker warned. "Additionally, to get those air wings ready, several hundred parts had to be cannibalized from other [F-18] Super Hornets across the force, further decimating the readiness of squadrons and adding significantly and unnecessarily to the workload of our maintainers, he added. Shoemaker said the lack of jets caused hundreds of sailors to have to move unnecessarily or remain on board ships for longer than planned. The U.S. Navy is down 41 ships and 90,000 sailors since Sept. 11, 2001. For years the defense budget prioritized the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Training, spare parts and maintenance suffered as well as the ability to buy newer planes. The Navys problem has been evident at sea as well as in the air. Since June, the Navy has lost two guided-missile destroyers in the Pacific in separate collisions killing 17 sailors. The repairs to both USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain are expected to reach more than half a billion dollars. A Navy investigation called both collisions preventable, and cited poor training as a factor in the deadly collisions with merchant vessels. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has testified before Congress, arguing that no enemy in the field has done more to harm the combat readiness of our military than [budget cuts]. According to Sen. McCain, only five of 58 Army brigades and four of 64 Air Force squadrons are combat-ready. Congress has called for a $26 billion increase in defense spending to rebuild the military and to try to get more airplanes flying again. Leonard Balducci contributed to this report Two people have claimed deceased cult leader Charles Manson left his entire estate to them - separately. TMZ reported a man who started writing to the hippie cult leader in the 1990s was given a will by Manson. The man, who asked not to be identified, showed TMZ the handwritten and typed will. The will, dated from Feb. 14, 2002, gave the pen pal all of Mansons possessions, including money, clothing and image rights. Manson also left his exclusive music catalog to the pen pal. HIPPIE CULT LEADER CHARLES MANSON DEAD AT 83 The will also stated the dead inmates body was to be given to the pen pal. The man told TMZ he would claim Mansons body but he has only 10 days to do so until the prison cremates the cult leader. The tabloid website reported Manson disinherited his children, friends, cops, guard, the State of California, and his ex-wives. The pen pal stated he began writing to Manson out of curiosity but did not receive a reply until 1997. They talked on the phone and the pen pal occasionally visited Manson at Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, Calif., he added. The man said he last heard from Manson on Oct. 21, a few weeks before his death. Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reported Matthew Roberts was also given a will by Ben Gurecki, a friend of Manson, giving him the rights to Manson's estate. Gurecki said he was given the will by Manson in January 2017. CHARLES MANSON AMERICAS POSTER CHILD FOR OUR FASCINATION WITH EVIL AND FEAR Roberts, 49, of Los Angeles, was told by his mother in 1998 that Manson was his father. Gurecki told the Daily News they planned on sorting this out. "I can assure you Matthew will be handling this," Gurecki said, adding that he and Roberts will be going to the prison to bury Manson. Matthew and I will be there next week in person, he said. Charlie will be given a headstone, a proper burial where people will be able to grieve, or deface it as they see fit. Manson died last Sunday at age 83 due to natural causes. The notorious cult leader was sentenced to life in prison after he ordered his followers, the Manson Family, to kill some of L.A.s rich and famous in what prosecutors said was a bid to trigger a race war. Pregnant actress Sharon Tate and coffee heiress Abigail Folger were among those killed in 1969. Three months later, Manson was arrested and became the countrys personification of evil. After a trial that lasted nearly a year, Manson and three followers Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Another defendant, Charles "Tex" Watson was convicted later. All were spared execution and given life sentences after the California Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in 1972. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Colorado pastor was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly impregnated a 14-year-old girl who had his child. Romello Leach, 22, of Colorado Springs, Colo., who is a pastor for several churches that meet at a Colorado Springs hotel, faces multiple counts of sexual assault on a child, The Gazette reported. The unidentified girl said she and the pastor had sex twice, once in Nov. 2016 in Leachs car and at her home earlier this year, the Denver Channel reported. COLORADO CHILD SEX TRAFFICKER SENTENCED 472 YEARS IN PRISON The teenager gave birth to the child on Sept. 15 when she was 15 years old. The girl reportedly did not inform anyone she was pregnant until her mother noticed her larger belly in May, arrest records stated. The teenagers mother took her to the Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center where they notified an employee that Leach was the father, the affidavit stated. The employee informed the El Paso County Sheriffs Office of the pregnancy and an investigation was launched. Leach told his ex-wife in a recorded telephone discussion that he had sexual relations with the teenager and admitted to being the father of her baby, arrest records stated. Leach told his ex-wife he knows he had made the worst mistake and its not like he will go around and sleep with everybodys 13 or 14-year-daughter, the affidavit stated. UBER FINED MILLIONS IN COLORADO FOR USING PROBLEM DRIVERS FOLLOWING RIDER ASSAULT In a different recorded phone call, Leach admitted to an unidentified person of having sexual relations with the girl at least four times and being the babys father. Leach admitted the behavior was wrong and said he was full of lust at the time, The Gazette reported. Leach was being held at El Paso County jail without bond. Deputies were investigating if there were any other victims of Leachs. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Illinois woman was busted this week after cops say she torched her Infiniti SUV with a flamethrower she purchased online. Julie Gagne, 47, of Barrington, was charged with arson, disorderly conduct, and filing a false police report, the Arlington Cardinal reported. She reported her 2016 Infiniti QX70 stolen Nov. 10 after the fire. She was at a restaurant, and she called to say her car was missing when she came out of the restaurant, Schaumburg Deputy Police Chief Dan Roach told the paper. Firefighters found the vehicle ablaze at the end of a dead end street in Barrington near a precious metal refinery. Gagne later retracted the report that her 2016 Infiniti QX70 was stolen. The paper reported that Gagne turned herself in to police Tuesday. She was released on a personal recognizance bond after a court appearance Wednesday. Police haven't determined a motive, the paper reported. Barrington Police Chief David Dorn told the Arlington Heights Daily Herald an X15 Flamethrower was found near the SUV after the fire was extinguished. XMatter in Ohio manufactures the flamethrower, which is legal in Illinois, the paper reported. An investigation determined Gagne bought the flamethrower online, Dorn told the paper. The flamethrower in question uses a mix of about three gallons of fuel and napalm to throw flames as far as 50 feet, the paper reported. The device goes for about about $1,600. XMatter says controlled burns for agricultural purposes, weed incineration and pyrotechnic events are among the typical uses for the companys flamethrowers, the paper reported. An XMatter executive did not return a message seeking comment, the paper reported. A judge has ordered a Cincinnati drug dealer, who authorities say was the source behind a teenagers lethal overdose of fentanyl, to pay for the funeral costs. U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett sentenced Michael Chandler to nearly 17 years in prison and ordered the 29-year-old to pay $9,000 in restitution to the teens family. Chandler pleaded guilty to drug distribution on Monday. Authorities say they were able to trace the fentanyl that killed the 17-year-old, identified in court documents as J.H., back to Chandler. The teen died of an overdose at his Kentucky home in April 2016. Investigators from the Kentucky Drug Task Force sent a friend of the deceased teen to make a drug purchase from Chandler, WCPO reported. The friend wore a wire and gave the purchased substance, which turned out to be fentanyl, to the Hamilton County coroner's crime lab, the station reported. While conducting a search of Chandlers home, investigators said they found a large amount of fentanyl, along with cocaine, drug paraphernalia, a handgun and ammunition. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Virginia youth pastor has been arrested in the shooting deaths of his wife, stepdaughter and the stepdaughters boyfriend in their home on Thanksgiving Day, police said. Christopher Gattis, 58, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Police arriving at the family's Chester, Va., home around 11:30 p.m. found the womens bodies inside and the mans body in the front yard, officials said. Authorities identified the victims as Jeanett Gattis, 58; her daughter Candice "Candy" Kunze, 30; and Kunzes boyfriend, Andrew Buthorn, 36. All of them lived together in the home, police said. Neighbors said Kunze recently moved back home from Oregon, with Buthorn joining her. Neighbors also said the family runs a furniture store in nearby Petersburg, the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported. Gattis was a youth pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, where he was a ministries coordinator for middle school and high school students. Members of Grace Lutheran Church are deeply saddened by the loss of life last night as a result of three individuals being shot in Chester, and this tragedy included members of Grace Lutheran Church, the church said in a statement. Gattis was being held at Chesterfield County Jail without bond. He was scheduled to appear in General District Court on Monday and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on Tuesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The White House on Saturday condemned Pakistan for releasing designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed -- saying the move is a setback in recent diplomatic efforts and urging Pakistani officials to re-arrest him. The United States seeks a constructive relationship with Pakistan but expects decisive action against militant and terrorist groups on Pakistani soil that are a threat to the region, said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. The release of Saeed is a step in the wrong direction. Saeed is connected to Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, the terror group linked to the November 2008 Mumbai, India, attacks that killed at least 166 people, including six U.S. citizens. The terror group -- known as LeT is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. In addition, the Justice Department declared Saeed a designated terrorist, with a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. The United States and its allies have long been critical of Pakistan's connection with terrorism, since the country in past times has supported the Taliban and Al Qaeda. U.S. Special Forces in 2011 killed 9/11 mastermind Usama bin Laden while he was hiding in Pakistan. And Trump this summer, while discussing his strategy for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, said the South Asia country harbors terrorists. Saeed was released from house arrest Friday, after a three-judge panel ended his detention in the eastern city of Lahore. In a statement Saturday, Sanders said the United States "strongly condemns" Saeeds release and urged his "immediate re-arrest and prosecution." "Saeed's release, after Pakistan's failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan's commitment to combatting international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil," she said. "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistan's global reputation. " Saeeds release also outraged Indian authorities, while Saeed spokesman Yahya Mujahid called it a "victory of truth." "Hafiz Saeed was under house arrest on baseless allegations, and jail officials came to his home last night and told him that he is now free," he said. Saeed ran the Jamaat-ud-Dawa organization, widely believed to be a front for the LeT. Pakistan has been detaining and freeing Saeed off and on. The Trump administration has been intensifying pressure on Pakistan to fight extremists and drive them from hideouts in Pakistani territory. The campaign appeared to produce some success this year when Pakistani security forces assisted with the release of a Taliban-held U.S.-Canadian family after five years in captivity. However, U.S. officials cautioned that move needed to be followed by additional measures to prove the country's commitment. Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said during a visit to Washington in October that Pakistan was willing to cooperate fully with the administration. He said Pakistan had wiped out militant hideouts with little help from the U.S., which has restricted hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance to Pakistan in recent years. The U.S. in August said it would hold up $255 million in military assistance for Pakistan until it cracks down on extremist groups that threaten neighboring Afghanistan. President Trump's tough words about Pakistan, a troubled U.S. security partner, infuriated Islamabad and triggered anti-U.S. protests that Pakistani police have had to use tear gas to disperse. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The search for the missing Argentine submarine lost in the South Atlantic will continue on, the countrys president said on Friday, nine days after it first disappeared on Nov. 15. The disappearance and current search of the ARA San Juan submarine has touched all Argentines, President Mauricio Macri said while at the navys headquarters in Buenos Aires. Its a difficult moment for all, but obviously, especially for the families of the 44 crew members. 2 SAILORS DIDNT BOARD MISSING ARGENTINA SUBMARINE AT THE LAST MINUTE Im here to guarantee you that we will carry on with the search, especially now that we have the support of all the international community, Macri said. He also added that a review of the recently renovated subs disappearance will be conducted. This demands a serious, deep investigation, Macri said. We need to understand how a submarine that had undergone a midlife refit, and that was in perfect conditions to sail, suffered this explosion. The Argentine navy said Thursday that an explosion occurred near the time and place where the submarine went missing. Navy spokesman Enrique Balbi said at a news conference that the relatives of the crew had been informed and the search would continue until there was full certainty about the fate of the vessel. ARGENTINA SAYS SOUND DETECTED IN SEARCH FOR MISSING SUBMARINE IS CONSISTENT WITH NON-NUCLEAR EXPLOSION More than a dozen airplanes and ships have been participating in the multinational search across an area of some 185,000 square miles, roughly the size of Spain. The Argentine navy said Friday that Russia is sending an Antonov transport aircraft, and a ship in the southern Patagonian port of Comodoro Rivadavia is being adapted to carry a U.S. Navy submarine rescue chamber. They will focus the search efforts on a smaller area where the explosion was recorded. The submarine was sailing from the extreme southern port of Ushuaia to the coastal city of Mar del Plata. It was originally scheduled to arrive Monday at a navy base there. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that unauthorized weapons in the hands of Hezbollah, and threatening rhetoric from the Lebanese militant group and Israeli officials, "heightens the risk of miscalculation and escalation into conflict." The U.N. chief called on Hezbollah and Israel, who fought a war in 2006, "to exercise restraint at all times." Guterres said in a report to the U.N. Security Council circulated Friday that allegations of arms transfers to Hezbollah continue "on a regular basis," which the U.N. takes seriously but "is not in a position to substantiate them independently. He noted, however, that Hezbollah has acknowledged "use and display of that weaponry." The U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 war calls for Hezbollah and all other militias operating in Lebanon to be disarmed and demobilized. Argentinas navy insisted a missing submarine appeared to be in good condition before it set off on a training mission, despite fears it later exploded under the sea with 44 crew members aboard. Enrique Balbi, an Argentine navy spokesman, said the ARA San Juan submarine passed a routine check two days before setting sail. The hope that any crew members survived was dimming as the search hit 10 days. SEARCH FOR MISSING ARGENTINE SUBMARINE WILL CONTINUE, COUNTRYS PRESIDENT SAYS The Argentine navy said Thursday an explosion occurred near the time and place where the submarine went missing. However, a multinational search and rescue effort continued Saturday. A Norwegian ship carrying a U.S. undersea rescue module was preparing to weigh anchor for the search zone, despite worsening weather. The BBC reported Russia also joined to help search for the submarine, sending its Antonov aircraft on Friday night to help assist in the search. More than a dozen airplanes and ships have been participating in the search across an area of some 185,000 square miles. 2 SAILORS DIDNT BOARD MISSING ARGENTINA SUBMARINE AT THE LAST MINUTE The submarine was sailing from the extreme southern port of Ushuaia to the coastal city of Mar del Plata. It was originally scheduled to arrive Monday at a navy base there. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Separatist lawmakers in eastern Ukraine have appointed an interim chief to replace their beleaguered leader in an apparent palace coup. The resignation of the leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic Igor Plotnitsky was announced Friday by Leonid Pasechnik, his long-time foe and minister of state security. The separatist mouthpiece Luhansk Information Center reported on Saturday that the local legislature voted unanimously to accept Plotnitsky's resignation and make Pasechnik interim chief. Plotnitsky's resignation ends a nearly week-long showdown between the separatist leader and the ousted interior minister, who had summoning troops in defiance of his sacking. More than 10,000 people have been killed in a long-simmering conflict between government troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014. The region has been plagued with infighting between various warlords. Two men wanted for questioning over an incident that sparked a mass evacuation of a London subway station turned themselves in on Saturday morning. British Transport Police said the two men, ages 21 and 40, voluntarily went to a local police station after images of them were released Friday night. Their names were not released. We appealed for information following an incident at Oxford Circus yesterday. Since the appeal two men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily and were interviewed, the agency tweeted on Saturday. Thank you to everyone who helped share the appeal. The investigation continues. Panic spread quickly near the Oxford Circus subway station Friday afternoon after apparently erroneous reports of gunshots. After evacuating two subway stations, police said there were no indications that any shots had been fired. Police initially treated the reported gunfire as a terrorist incident and social media was filled with alarming false reports about shooting at several locations. Some people were injured in a stampede away from the subway station locations. Major stores planned to open as usual on Saturday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This weekend, Cuba not only marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Fidel Castro, but it embarks on the beginning of a new era -- as Fidel's brother, President Raul Castro, begins to step away from power. Starting Saturday, Cuba will commemorate the life of the leader of the Cuban Revolution, ending the ceremonies Dec. 4, one year after Castro was laid to rest, VOA News reported. That day it will also elect Raul Castro's successor as president, meaning Cuba will soon be led by someone other than a Castro for the first time in six decades. In 2013, Raul Castro told Cubas National Assembly of Peoples Power that he planned to retire Feb. 24, 2018, the Miami Herald reported. But the 86-year-old intends to remain head of the Communist Party, resulting in a slow transition of power. But while Cuba commemorates the life of Fidel Castro, the reaction among Cuban-Americans in Florida will be much different, the Herald reported. 'History hasn't absolved him' Using his own words that history will absolve me, history hasnt absolved him of anything and maybe never will, Andy Gomez, interim director of the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, told the newspaper. The last chapter is yet to be written, but I believe the ideals of the Cuban Revolution went to the grave with him. Castro, who battled poor health for the last decade of his life, died last year on Nov. 25. He death was followed by a nine-day mourning period. Different approaches As Fidel Castro faded from power, President Barack Obama attempted to revive relations between the two countries, including sparking economic activity. But in part because of Fidel Castro's history of human rights abuses and other oppression, President Donald Trump has taken a more hardline stance -- especially in reaction to alleged sonic attacks againt U.S. Embassy personnel. In September, the U.S.announced it would pull its embassy staff from Havana, warn Americans against travel to the island, among other measures, Fox News reported. Jewish groups denounce Israel's plans to deport nearly 40,000 African refugees Jewish human rights groups are denouncing Israel's plans to deport almost 40,000 African asylum seekers, defending refugees that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu calls " infiltrators." On Sunday, Netanyahu's 28-member executive cabinet voted unanimously to give African asylum seekers three months to leave the country or face deportation to an undisclosed country. http://www.newsweek.com/israel-deport-africa-refugees-asylum-seekers-720495 In a short time, my friend will either be deported or forced to buy a plane ticket back to a country she has not set foot in for 36 years. Although a legal resident alien from Germany, she has raised two children in the United States, overcome homelessness, battled mental illness and forged the forces that even many lower-income Americans cannot surpass. Now, it is a plea deal on a 2013 charge that pushes for her removal. No matter that she was not advised of the immigration consequences of this bargain. No consideration for the lack of resources that left her without proper legal counsel to fight the charges and the immigration proceedings. With little thought for the impact deportation will have on her life and the country to which she will return, the cards have been set into motion. Options have run out. Time is running short. And, so far, the courts, the immigration system, state senators and even the governor has been unwilling to intervene in a situation that will set back every ounce of stability she had achieved in the last three decades. Sadly, my friend is not alone in this era of walls, travel bans, sanctuary cities and rollbacks of immigration protections. From January to June of 2017, there have been more than 75,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants, up 20,000 compared with the previous year. According to data from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, 26 percent have committed no crime versus 15 percent in the same period in 2016. It is people like Pastor Noe Carias, a Guatemalan-born evangelical leader in San Diego, husband to a U.S. citizen and father of two, who are being detained during routine immigration visits aimed at rectifying decades-old deportation orders. It is Rosa Sabido, a Mexican whose 30 years of visitor visas and stays of deportation have now left her in sanctuary of a Colorado church for nearly six months. It is local people I know, who came to the U.S. for a new start but now live every day in fear that the dream they sought, and many times achieved, for their families will be diverted to many things unknown. Just this week, headlines reminded us that the 60,000 Haitians who have rebuilt their lives in the United States after the devastating 2010 earthquake will be asked to leave or face deportation. For the second time in a decade, all these people will have to start over again, this time in their home countrythe poorest in the western hemispherewhich is still navigating precarious conditions. One couple I know will abandon property they have acquired and businesses they have started. While Haiti is their homeland, they will soon navigate a new complexity of raising their American-born children in a very foreign place. Do we need a reminder, in this week we commemorate the first Thanksgiving, of what it means to be the stranger on someone elses land? Nearly 50 percent of the original pilgrims died in their first winter on American soil. If it were not for support from the Native Americans, no one would have survived and the following year would not have yielded the bountiful harvest that we still celebrate today. Even before the pilgrims, celebrating the harvest was a centuries-old tradition to honor Gods love for the immigrant, foreigner and the stranger, who were delivered from many years of struggle in the wilderness. While this seven-day Feast of Tabernacles, also known as sukkot, is not discussed until Leviticus 23, a few chapters prior begins the dialogue about who God intends to be invited to this table. When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God, reads Leviticus 19:33-34. Most of us, including myself, can look back in our history and trace it to one or more groups that suffered in their entrance to the United States. Someone in our immediate family may even remember what it was like to lack an invitation to the great table of the American dream. Yet, these same people are the first to claim the borders should be shut down, the refugees cut off and immigrants deported. We remain afraid of the other, even though the other is not too far from ourselves. Ronald Takaki, author and professor at University of California, says the dynamic is like looking into a mirror and seeing nothing. Together, we the diverse people of the United States transformed America into a mighty economy and an amazingly unique society of varied races, ethnicities and religions, he says. Yet, history scarcely records the contributions of these strangersAfricanAmericans, Asians, Irish, Jews, Mexicans, Muslims and Native Americansto the American story. Second only to loving God, the greatest commandment is loving others as ourselves (Mark 12:31). For we too were strangers in the land of America, and therefore, it is our holy responsibility and privilege to welcome the stranger. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a triumphant visit to the newly liberated city of Kherson. He hailed the Russian withdrawal from the southern city as the beginning of the end of the war but also acknowledged the heavy price Ukrainian soldiers are paying in their grinding effort to push back the invaders. Retaking Kherson was one of Ukraines biggest successes in the nearly 9-month-old war and delivered another stinging blow to the Kremlin. But large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine are still under Russian control, and the city of Kherson itself is without water, power and heat, and remains within reach of Moscows shells and missiles. Heavy fighting continued elsewhere in Ukraine. Juan Marte helped bring internet service to a developing nation a decade ago, then came to King George Countyand discovered the situation was worse than in his homeland. He was working this summer with Steve and Michele Wido, missionaries he met years ago when they visited his native Dominican Republic. He was shocked by their lack of access to high-speed internet service and the fiber-optic cables that supply it. "This is crazy. How can you live?" Marte told Michele Wido. "We have to have fiber here; the future is fiber." The 33-year-old Dominican decided to bring it to the rural county, where he's invested in the couple's business, CRC Contracting Inc. He's also spent more than $200,000 on equipment, licenses and hiring employees for the new company, KGI Communications Inc. Marte and his wife live in Spotsylvania County so their three children can learn English in a private school. After that, the family plans to move to King George, where he's chief executive officer of the new company, as well as its primary investor. Michele Wido is the president. Steve Wido, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the King George Board of Supervisors earlier this month, told the supervisors Nov. 14 that the new business is poised to provide much-needed service in the most rural areas of the county. The company plans to install equipment on three towers in King George. The cost for each is about $36,000, Marte said. The rectangular boxes, which Marte described as stations, will broadcast a signal, via a radio frequency, to homes within a 360-degree radius, Marte said. No line of sight is needed. This "air fiber" will provide the fastest form of broadband technology, according to the company's website, kgicomm.com. And the company doesn't want anything from the county except a contract to put equipment on one of its water towers. "We're not looking for grants or money, nothing from the county," Steve Wido said. "It's our money that we're investing, and we want to make sure it succeeds." The announcement was one of four presentations the King George board heard on the same night about possible solutions to internet access problems. The lack of reliable, affordable and fast broadband service has been a regular complaint of county residents and a campaign platform for local candidates. It's brought up almost as often as criticisms about the quality and cost of county water. The problem isn't limited to King George, but occurs in any area that doesn't have a dense enough population to make it financially feasible for companies to extend underground fiber optic cables. Marte said the solution is easier since the government made it possible for small businesses to tap into this radio frequency that provides access to the LTE network. Some of the big technology companies bought licenses just so others wouldn't have access to them, Marte said, but KGI Communications was able to acquire one. The company already has gotten permission to put its equipment on a private tower at State Route 218 and U.S. 301. The second tower, still under negotiation, is past the CVS Pharmacy on U.S. 301. After the company finalizes its second lease, it will work with King George about placing equipment on the water tower at Arnold's Corner, at State Route 3 and Dahlgren Road. "We're going to concentrate on the area where they don't have anything, in The Meadows and for the Shiloh people," Marte said. Installation and monthly fees would vary, based on the proximity to the towers and the desired speed. Those who want to check their email occasionally might want slower speeds, at a monthly cost of about $49, Marte said, while those requiring faster speeds might pay up to $200 a month. Steve Wido told the supervisors that after negotiations are completed, the company could be up and running within two weeks. "We're excited about it, we can't wait," he said. Marte seems calm about the money he's already spent, saying he'll need about 1,000 customers to get a return on his investment. "He's a risk-taker," Michele Wido said about Marte, a former race car driver. "In business," Marte added, "if you don't assume risk, you're never gonna make money." A state lawmaker from Spotsylvania County wants to stop the insurance-industry practice of charging more for certain types of coverage just because of a persons bad credit. Republican Del. Mark Cole recently prefiled a bill for the 2018 General Assembly session that would prohibit companies from using credit histories and scores as factors in determining a consumers auto and fire insurance premiums. Credit scores can dramatically impact insurance rates. A Virginian with a clean driving record but poor credit pays an average of $2,566 annually for car insurance, or about $1,500 more than a driver with excellent credit, according to Consumer Reports. In fact, the average rate for someone with bad credit is about $500 more than the cost for a person with excellent credit and a drunken-driving conviction. Cole said he proposed the bill at the request of a constituent, who he said thinks its unfair for credit scores to influence certain premiums. If approved, the legislation will take effect January 2019. I dont see the nexus between your credit rating and what you pay for your car insurance, Cole said. A persons age, gender, marital status and driving record also impact car insurance premiums. The average yearly rate in Virginia stood at $743 in 2014, making it the 19th least expensive state for car insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A 2007 Federal Trade Commission report found that credit-based rates cause AfricanAmericans and Hispanics to pay more because they tend to have lower credit scores than whites and Asians. But the study also determined that credit scores do effectively predict the number and cost of claims consumers submit. Just three statesCalifornia, Hawaii and Massachusettsprohibit credit-based premiums for car insurance. Jim Whittle, associate general counsel for the American Insurance Association, defended the practice in an interview, calling credit scores a useful and proven way to assess a persons risk. He added that some insurance companies place more weight on a persons credit than others. Its a competitive marketplace, Whittle said, and people can find companies that use other methods of analyzing risk. Cole is not the only lawmaker to propose legislation ahead of the session that kicks off Jan. 10. State Sen. Scott Surovell, a Democrat whose 36th District includes parts of Stafford County, recently submitted a bill that would increase the threshold for felony grand larceny from $200 to $500. Under the bill, someone accused of stealing less than $500 would be charged with misdemeanor petit larceny rather than a felony. Similar legislation has failed in previous sessions after facing opposition from retailers and public safety groups. BACK IN the '70s I was attending an annual editors' meeting when I was asked in a confidential session what I was working on. At the time, I was a managing editor for investigations for Scripps-Howard Newspapers. I replied that I didn't feel comfortable with providing many details at that point but could only report that it was an important piece that dealt with a startling affair John F. Kennedy had. There was immediate concern expressed about relevance, considering the length of time that had expired - more than 10 years. But more importantly, there was an unwritten rule by editors nationwide that the private dalliances of public officials (and for that matter their drinking habits) were off limits unless there was hard evidence that they were interfering with the office holder's ability to do his or her job. "We don't publish those kinds of stories about anyone, including presidents," the inquisitor said. "Besides, Kennedy's escapades have been known for years and little or nothing has been reported" "You're correct" I responded. "But get ready; that's about to change and probably sooner rather than later, few politicians or celebrities are going to get a pass on their sexual shenanigans." Then I felt compelled to provide one more fact to back up my contention. "Besides," I said, "the lady in this case also was a Mafia party girl, connected to Sam Giancana, the Chicago crime boss, and furthermore [FBI director] J. Edgar Hoover knew about it." Finally, there was stunned silence. I couldn't resist twisting the knife. "My guess is you will find this serious enough to consider, and my guess also is most of you will want to reconsider the policy of silence." Well, it's taken awhile, but we now have a perfect storm created by the internet and the determination of women victimized over the years to right the wrongs. The Kennedy expose took place not long after a special team known simply as the Church Committee - named after its chairman, Idaho Democratic Senator Frank Church - was created to investigate the intelligence and other activities of the CIA and FBI. The problems with the committee were numerous, but the worst was that Church's efforts were aimed mainly at Republican administrations, not Democratic ones. Church worked overtime to put the lid on our story, but failed. Now nearly every news flash unveils the antics of serial fondlers, fanny pinchers, feel coppers, mashers and worse from Hollywood West to Hollywood East (Congress). Word came last week that Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota was at least a one-time groper before his political career, when he was a Saturday Night Live player. He has apologized. And as we all know, the Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore's alleged penchant for teenage girls years ago while he was in his 30s has let off such an intensifying stench as to set his party's leadership into spasms as they desperately seek his resignation. Or find a way to deny him the oath of office if he wins, which is apparently utterly possible given the nature of Alabama voters who are rallying to his side. First it was Bill Cosby, who seemed to have pushed his idea of consensual to the limit with the alleged use of drugs. Now it's Harvey Weinstein, the bigtime movie producer who has been accused by plenty of stars in La La Land and elsewhere of inappropriate behavior. The days when the mainline press conspired to keep public attention away from the fact that Franklin Roosevelt was a cripple by not publishing his picture in a wheelchair - or more pertinent in this case, his affairs with Marguerite "Missy" LeHand and Lucy Mercer - are long gone, as they should be. That decision, however, helped FDR win at least one election and perhaps two more than he should have as his health deteriorated. The editors who were negligent in reporting on the private lives of elected officials were wrong. A longtime friend who worked for one of the Southwest's leading newspapers while the silence ban was still being observed asked if I thought he should report that a Speaker of the U.S. House from his state was an alcoholic and carouser. "Absolutely," I said, he clearly isn't doing his job while at the Zebra Room (a favorite watering hole) every afternoon." His report was the beginning of the end for the speaker just as the John Kennedy story broke some serious ice. By the way, every editor ran it. FREDERICKSBURG has growing pains, which will require city officials to make some big decisions about future economic development over the next few years. Like most things, economic development comes with costs as well as benefits. Balancing the two is never easy, particularly for an area that wants and needs to keep attracting more jobs, but is equally concerned about maintaining its small-town appeal and historic charm. The Fredericksburg Economic Development Strategic Plan developed last year focuses on turning the city into an employment epicenter and tourist destination while at the same time ensuring that the proper infrastructure is in place to sustain growth. Of course, this is far easier said than done. Economic growth is a dynamic process that affects every member of the community. Bringing in new employers and creating a business-friendly environment so that existing businesses want to stay and expand is a good thing. Businesses create jobs that generally raise residents standard of living. Look at any economically depressed area in Virginia, and you will see high levels of unemployment, accompanied by equally high levels of depression, drug use and other assorted social ills. Although economic growth is much better than stagnation, it can also be a mixed blessing. For example, more people moving into an area increases the cost of existing housing by increasing the demand. More demand means that housing units that were previously affordable for long-time residents suddenly arent any more, which can lead to resentment at all the outsiders who are taking over the place. This is already happening in Fredericksburg. The number of new businesses and jobs outpaced the rest of Virginia this year, pushing the median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment up to $1,630. But 55 percent of all households in the city are having trouble making ends meet, according to the Rappahannock United Way, and the high cost of housing is one of the major factors. To keep growing, the city will need to add housing for an expanding workforce. But some proposed high-end projects will be too pricey for many current and future residents. City officials can offer developers tax credits or other financial incentives to include more affordable housing units, but that would also reduce the amount of new tax revenue they can collect. And that extra revenue is needed to deal with the increased traffic congestion and parking shortages exacerbated by a growing population. Traffic is already a daily problem for local residents, 95 percent of whom commute by car. And its a problem that will only get worse as more people move into the city and surrounding areas. Even a proposal to establish a regional transportation authority to raise $34 million annually to fund badly needed local transportation projects has its costs, as well as its obvious benefits. Raising taxes increases the cost of living, which in turn makes it that much harder for residents living on the financial edge to afford the basics of life, including affordable housing and transportation. Growing pains are a sign of vitality, and thats a good thing. But city officials also have the unenviable task of finding the right balance between competing interests. To do so, they have to answer some very difficult questions: How will an increased influx of newcomers affect the cost of living, especially housing? How much more commercial and residential development can the existing transportation infrastructure handle? Can infrastructure be sufficiently upgraded without raising taxes so high that current residents are priced out of their own city? Get it right, and Fredericksburg will enjoy a period of sustained growth and prosperity. Get it wrong, and the aftereffects will be felt for decades. 185 stalls and stands : Bonn Christmas market opened Bonn District Mayor Brigitta Poppe-Reiners officially opened the Christmas Market in Bonn. 185 stalls and stands invite visitors to stroll past them and enjoy the atmosphere. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Next Sunday however brings an interruption in the operation of the market, because Christmas Markets in Germany remain closed on Totensonntag, which is the Sunday before the first of Advent when the deceased are commemorated. After Totensonntag the Market runs without a break until December 23. As a consequence of the terror attack on the Christmas Market in Berlin, heavy concrete blocks, each weighing several tons, are put in place at the access roads to the Christmas Markets - like in many other cities in Germany. Because Advent has not yet begun, the Big Band of the Music School Bonn played some rather jazzy tunes, under the direction of Shawn Spicer. Brigitta Poppe-Reiners showed her delight that besides colleagues from the district administration and the city council, also her predecessor Helmut Kollig, Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan and Mayor Angelica Kappel attended the opening. This adds a certain grandeur to the event. Also among the guests were Eva Buhler, Head of Marketing at the General-Anzeiger, and Marco Westphal of the Stadtwerke. Both businesses support the festive lights at the town gate. The interest group Friedrichstrae also installed lights, very special ones this year - there, a red starlit sky made out of traditional Herrnhuter stars glows above the street. 185 stalls and stands are part of the Christmas Market. They offer everything imaginable from food and drink to gifts and decorations as well as arts and crafts. Also, the childrens interests are not being neglected: At Munsterplatz, there is an event house for kids. Children from the age of six years up are being looked after by childminders between 4pm and 7pm (Monday-Friday) and between 1pm and 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays - they can play, draw pictures and make little crafts. Theres also a puppet theatre at the Sterntor each Sunday between noon and 12.45pm. The catholic and the protestant church are not taking part this year, for the first time. Their traditional church mile cannot open this year - due to reconstruction work at the Basilica which is more than 1000 years old. The city council and the police cooperate in regards to security again - beside the concrete road blocks they have the well-established security standards in place, including a mobile police station. There is also an office of the security staff in the Vivatsgasse. For the night hours a private security firm has been hired, which also keeps an eye on fire safety. As usual, the police are warning of pickpockets who are targeting the city centre more than usually during the run-up to Christmas. Our patrols will remind visitors if they dont close their bags properly, said spokesperson Simon Rott. The police are handing out little alarm bells which get attached to purses and ring if somebody tries to reach into the handbags. Shrinking glacier cover could lead to increased volcanic activity in Iceland, warn scientists. A new study, led by the University of Leeds, has found that there was less volcanic activity in Iceland when glacier cover was more extensive and as the glaciers melted volcanic eruptions increased due to subsequent changes in surface pressure. Dr Graeme Swindles, from the School of Geography at Leeds, said: Climate change caused by humans is creating rapid ice melt in volcanically active regions. In Iceland, this has put us on a path to more frequent volcanic eruptions. The study examined Icelandic volcanic ash preserved in peat deposits and lake sediments and identified a period of significantly reduced volcanic activity between 5,500 and 4,500 years ago. This period came after a major decrease in global temperature, which caused glacier growth in Iceland. The findings, published in the journal Geology, found there was a time lag of roughly 600 years between the climate event and a noticeable decrease in the number of volcanic eruptions. The study suggests that perhaps a similar time lag can be expected following the more recent shift to warmer temperatures. Icelands volcanic system is in process of recovering from the Little Ice Age a recorded period of colder climate roughly between the years 1500 to 1850. Since the end of the Little Ice Age, a combination of natural and human caused climate warming is causing Icelandic glaciers to melt again. Dr Swindles said: The human effect on global warming makes it difficult to predict how long the time lag will be but the trends of the past show us more eruptions in Iceland can be expected in the future. These long term consequences of human effect on the climate is why summits like COP are so important. It is vital to understand how actions today can impact future generations in ways that have not been fully realised, such as more ash clouds over Europe, more particles in the atmosphere and problems for aviation. Icelandic volcanism is controlled by complex interactions between rifts in continental plate boundaries, underground gas and magma build-up and pressure on the volcanos surface from glaciers and ice. Changes in surface pressure can alter the stress on shallow chambers where magma builds up. Study co-author, Dr Ivan Savov, from the School of Earth & Environment at Leeds, explains: When glaciers retreat there is less pressure on Earths surface. This can increase the amount of mantle melt as well as affect magma flow and how much magma the crust can hold. Even small changes in surface pressure can alter the likelihood of eruptions at ice-covered volcanos. Reference: Graeme T. Swindles, Elizabeth J. Watson, Ivan P. Savov, Ian T. Lawson, Anja Schmidt, Andrew Hooper, Claire L. Cooper, Charles B. Connor, Manuel Gloor, Jonathan L. Carrivick. Climatic control on Icelandic volcanic activity during the mid-Holocene. Geology, 2017; DOI: 10.1130/G39633.1 Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Leeds. kacylee at 25-11-2017 10:20 AM (4 years ago) (f) A beautiful Medical graduate from the University of Benin did her parents proud when she walked away with 11 awards at the convocation ceremony of the University. A beautiful Medical graduate from the University of Benin did her parents proud when she walked away with 11 awards at the convocation ceremony of the University. Identified as Daisy Okonofua, she took to Social Media to celebrate her awards. She wrote; Today was indeed humbling and surreal. Distinction in biochemistry! Distinction in pharmacology! Distinction in mental health! Best graduating student in pharmacology!! Best graduating student in Obstetrics&Gynaecology!! Best graduating student in Child Health!! Best graduating student in Mental Health!! Overall best graduating student 2009/2010!!! Look at God!!! Every good thing comes from the Lord. This God is too good!!! Too good!!! Thank you, thank you Lord!!! Onise iyanu TRULY, Ive tasted of your power! #lookatGod #wonthedoit #myGodofawesomewonders #toograteful #Godisgood #issagraduate #issadoctor #smallgirlbigGod Her Sister also celebrated her, by writing; I call her my Award Winning Sister!! She never fails to make us proud. For the lack of better words to describe how i feel, someone once said you talk about your sister like an investment that has yielded returns way beyond your expectations. She is my star girl. She won 11 prizes!! ELEVEN!! Distinction in biochemistry! Distinction in pharmacology! Distinction in mental health! Best graduating student in pharmacology!! Best graduating student in Obstetrics&Gynaecology!! Best graduating student in Child Health!! Best graduating student in Mental Health!! Overall best graduating student 2009/2010!! UNIBEN!! You have once again done us proud chuchu! I love you. See Her Pictures Below; Identified as Daisy Okonofua, she took to Social Media to celebrate her awards.She wrote;Her Sister also celebrated her, by writing;She is my star girl.She won 11 prizes!! ELEVEN!! Distinction in biochemistry! Distinction in pharmacology! Distinction in mental health! Best graduating student in pharmacology!! Best graduating student in Obstetrics&Gynaecology!!Best graduating student in Child Health!! Best graduating student in Mental Health!! Overall best graduating student 2009/2010!! UNIBEN!! You have once again done us proud chuchu! I love you.See Her Pictures Below; Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 25-11-2017 10:20 AM (4 years ago) | Addicted Hero Church Of Sweden Ban Priests From Calling God "He" or "The Lord" Because God Might Be a Woman! bohlah at 25-11-2017 09:30 PM (4 years ago) (m) Church clergy have been told to refer to God using gender-neutral language, dropping masculine words such as He and Lord. Church clergy have been told to refer to God using gender-neutral language, dropping masculine words such as He and Lord. The order came after more than 250 members of The Church of Sweden, which is a Evangelical Lutheran church, met to discuss ways of updating a 31-year-old handbook that sets out how services should be conducted. The church is headed by a woman, Archbishop Antje Jackelen, who told Swedens TT news agency the church had been discussing using more inclusive language since its 1986 conference. She said: Theologically, for instance, we know that God is beyond our gender determinations, God is not human. But not everyone is happy with the decision. Christer Pahlmblad, an associate theology professor with Swedens Lund University, told Danish newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad the move was undermining the doctrine of the Trinity and the community with the other Christian churches. He added: It really isnt smart if the Church of Sweden becomes known as a church that does not respect the common theology heritage. The meeting lasted eight days and the decision was one of many made by the churchs 251-member decision-making body. The new rules will come into effect on May 20 next year, which is the Christian holiday of Pentecost. The order came after more than 250 members of The Church of Sweden, which is a Evangelical Lutheran church, met to discuss ways of updating a 31-year-old handbook that sets out how services should be conducted.The church is headed by a woman, Archbishop Antje Jackelen, who told Swedens TT news agency the church had been discussing using more inclusive language since its 1986 conference.She said: Theologically, for instance, we know that God is beyond our gender determinations, God is not human.But not everyone is happy with the decision.Christer Pahlmblad, an associate theology professor with Swedens Lund University, told Danish newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad the move was undermining the doctrine of the Trinity and the community with the other Christian churches.He added: It really isnt smart if the Church of Sweden becomes known as a church that does not respect the common theology heritage.The meeting lasted eight days and the decision was one of many made by the churchs 251-member decision-making body.The new rules will come into effect on May 20 next year, which is the Christian holiday of Pentecost. Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 25-11-2017 09:30 PM (4 years ago) | Addicted Hero gogoman at 25-11-2017 11:55 PM (4 years ago) (m) NICE ONE OYINBO!! Posted: at 25-11-2017 11:55 PM (4 years ago) | Grande Master NICE ONE OYINBO!! Reply Bebold at 26-11-2017 08:57 AM (4 years ago) (m) I agree totally and daddy freezy needs to contact me Posted: at 26-11-2017 08:57 AM (4 years ago) | Gistmaniac I agree totally and daddy freezy needs to contact me Reply Mobbysmartins at 26-11-2017 09:09 AM (4 years ago) (m) We believe that God made us in his own IMAGE,he made us MEN and WOMEN,he also made every other living things MALE and FEMALE,including the FLOWERING PLANTS,SHRUBS AND HERBS,FISHES AND ANIMALS,GOD made all living things MALE AND FEMALE,and all were made in the IMAGE of GOD.Then simple common sense will mean that GOD have a MALE part,plus FEMALE part.GOD have many names,and one of GOD'S name is "SHEKINA".SHEKINA is the female aspect of GOD.So the Church of Sweden is not wrong.But the Pastors will not teach you this,they will instead teach you TITHE. Posted: at 26-11-2017 09:09 AM (4 years ago) | Gistmaniac We believe that God made us in his own IMAGE,he made us MEN and WOMEN,he also made every other living things MALE and FEMALE,including the FLOWERING PLANTS,SHRUBS AND HERBS,FISHES AND ANIMALS,GOD made all living things MALE AND FEMALE,and all were made in the IMAGE of GOD.Then simple common sense will mean that GOD have a MALE part,plus FEMALE part.GOD have many names,and one of GOD'S name is "SHEKINA".SHEKINA is the female aspect of GOD.So the Church of Sweden is not wrong.But the Pastors will not teach you this,they will instead teach you TITHE. Reply zino2017 at 26-11-2017 11:33 AM (4 years ago) (m) that is a big lie,i live in sweden and i have not read or heard of this news in the papers or in media,so please stop saying fake news Posted: at 26-11-2017 11:33 AM (4 years ago) | Newbie that is a big lie,i live in sweden and i have not read or heard of this news in the papers or in media,so please stop saying fake news Reply ehudomalt at 26-11-2017 12:38 PM (4 years ago) (m) chai d world is coming to an end Bible yarn am say all dis tins go shelle Posted: at 26-11-2017 12:38 PM (4 years ago) | Upcoming chai d world is coming to an end Bible yarn am say all dis tins go shelle Reply osarobo62 at 26-11-2017 03:50 PM (4 years ago) (m) Quote from: zino2017 on 26-11-2017 11:33 AM that is a big lie,i live in sweden and i have not read or heard of this news in the papers or in media,so please stop saying fake news just because you didn't hear it does not mean it is false. you might have to start listening to the news often Posted: at 26-11-2017 03:50 PM (4 years ago) | Hero just because you didn't hear it does not mean it is false. you might have to start listening to the news often Reply zino2017 at 26-11-2017 04:46 PM (4 years ago) (m) Quote from: osarobo62 on 26-11-2017 03:50 PM just because you didn't hear it does not mean it is false. you might have to start listening to the news often What do you mean that I should be listening to the news often,who told you I don't listen to news in the country that I live in,I listen and deliver newspapers to homes of people that paid for it,so don't be spreading false news Posted: at 26-11-2017 04:46 PM (4 years ago) | Newbie What do you mean that I should be listening to the news often,who told you I don't listen to news in the country that I live in,I listen and deliver newspapers to homes of people that paid for it,so don't be spreading false news Reply Lovethlucia at 26-11-2017 06:03 PM (4 years ago) (f) Nice one Posted: at 26-11-2017 06:03 PM (4 years ago) | Newbie Nice one Reply TORONTO, Nov 24, 2017 - CKR Carbon Corp. ("CKR" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:CKR) (FRANKFURT:CB81) (WKN:A143MR) an integrated graphite to hybrid graphenes advanced nano material development company is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement announced on November 23, 2017 and raised $2,793,640 (the "Offering"). The Company placed 39,909,143 working capital units (the "WC Units"). Each WC Unit is priced at $0.07 and consists of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant ("WC Warrant"). Each WC Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.10 per WC Warrant Share until the earlier of: (i) three (3) years following the closing of the Offering; and (ii) in the event that the closing price of the common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange is at least $0.30 for twenty (20) consecutive trading days, and the 20th trading day (the "Final Trading Day") is at least four (4) months from the closing of the Offering, the date which is thirty (30) days from the Final Trading Day. The Company paid eligible finders cash compensation of $151,209.80 and issued 2,160,140 Broker Warrants. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one (1) common share of CKR at $0.07 for a period of three (3) years from the closing of the Offering. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four month hold period expiring on March 25, 2018. Arno Brand, Co-CEO of the Company, said "we are grateful to our shareholders for their continued support in developing the Aukam graphite project". Proceeds from the Offering will be used to complete the pilot plant at Aukam, for the acquisition of mining equipment, for further exploration at Aukam, for product development and for general working capital. Insiders of the Company subscribed for 2,400,000 WC Units for $168,000. The insider private placements are exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1) (a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company issued to the insiders does not exceed 25% of its market capitalization. About CKR Carbon Corporation CKR Carbon Corp. is an advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products most notably high value graphene based components for a range of mass market products. We are collaborating with a leading European manufacturer of graphenes to use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for commercialization on an industrial scale. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CKR. For more information: visit the website at www.ckr-carbon.com. "Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). Contact Arno Brand, Co-CEO +1 416-561-4095 abrand@ckr-carbon.com F1's new owners are preparing to reveal a new official logo for the sport in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, we reported that three potential new logos - to replace the familiar 'Flying 1' logo introduced under Bernie Ecclestone - were being considered. New F1 supremo Chase Carey confirmed that Liberty Media is now ready to unveil the new logo. "We want to provide a fresh energy to the sport and thought the new logo was a great way to emphasise that," he told British television Sky in Abu Dhabi. However, with fans denouncing the proposed new logos, Cary admitted that replacing Ecclestone's well-liked trademark will be controversial. "For sure, any time you change you are always going to get a mixed set of views," said Carey. "We are not looking to change the sport, we are looking to provide a fresh innovation and energy to a sport that is a great sport. We think we can enhance and better it." (GMM) GREENSBORO Bang! The gunshot wakes an 8-year-old girl from a sound sleep inside her house on the east side of Greensboro. Bang! Bang! Sandra Isley hears her daughter Dyva scream. "Mommy, what is that?" Dyva shrieks. Bang! Isley tells her daughter to go back to sleep and assures her that the loud noises are only firecrackers. But Isley knows better. She knows that by the time her daughter's friends gather for school, police likely will be at the site of yet another killing in their part of the city. "These babies have the weight of the world on their shoulders, and it's not fair to them," Isley said. "I leave the house walking in the morning sometimes, and you have a crime scene playing out behind these babies at the bus stop." Similar scenarios have played out all over Greensboro this year 39 times so far and many in the city's east side where Isley and Dyva live. Only in 2007 has the city's homicide total ever reached 39. And in a city of more than 287,000 that has averaged 25 slayings a year since 2000, this year's total might be surprising to some. The violence has cost Greensboro the lives of 35 men and four women 34 African Americans, four Caucasians and an Asian. The victims range in age from 18 to 54. One woman was strangled and a young man was struck by a vehicle. Gunfire killed the rest. Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, Greensboro police responded to 439 shootings. By comparison, there were 465 shootings for all of last year. "Somehow we're raising kids in our community here who are willing to shoot and kill somebody," said Howard Neumann, the county's chief assistant district attorney. "Most of us think: How can someone be raised and educated in a public school system and not only not know that that's wrong but not have the willpower to not do it?" These shootings have occurred before dawn, in broad daylight and late at night. Twice shoppers at Four Seasons Town Centre had to take cover to avoid bullets fired at men in the mall's parking lot. Residents have stood outside their homes trying to understand how their neighbor was killed. One person had to face the reality that a fire in the woods behind his house was an attempt to hide a man's death. And construction crews have found gruesome scenes on job sites. The latest killing didn't involve a gun or knife or other typical weapon. Instead, police believe 20-year-old Jacob Montgomery Stowe used a truck to back over Jamison Logan Horvath during an argument. Horvath's death Monday marked the city's 39th killing this year, tying the record. And with 35 days left in 2017, the city will most likely surpass that total. "Obviously one homicide is too many," Greensboro Police Chief Wayne Scott said. "We're in the midst of a couple of crises in this country. Violent crime is spiking in all cities, and we're not immune to it. Some of our neighboring cities are up more than we are." Scott spoke of recent mass shootings such as the ones in Nevada, Texas and California. He cited the country's opioid epidemic. He also spoke of a rise in violent crimes across the nation. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office, whose rural community lends to a lower crime rate, has had only two homicides this year. High Point saw an increase with 18. Winston-Salem has remained steady from last year's numbers with 22 in 2017. Charlotte has seen a rise, hitting 80 killings this year. "It's very concerning," Scott said. "It's extremely concerning." Some community leaders want more involvement from Greensboro City Council to stop this trend. Neumann went so far as to lay some of the blame for the increase in violence on the council. "I think an increased police presence in the community where the violence is happening is essential," Neumann said. "It doesn't take much to divide Greensboro into zones and sectors and put pushpins in the areas where homicides are happening." But Neumann said there's a potential problem with doing just that. "Those tend to be African-American neighborhoods, and then there is blowback that police are harassing people or police misconduct or that they just aren't being nice," Neumann said. "I think the city has police have been pressured to move away from that type of patrol so there are not as many police in those areas." The police department has faced years of accusations that officers have targeted black residents. Two officers Travis Cole and Charlotte Jackson resigned after body-worn camera footage showed Cole as he punched resident Dejuan Yourse and threw him to the ground during a 2016 robbery investigation at the home of Yourse's mother. It was the second time Cole brought race-based scrutiny to the department. Video surfaced in 2014 on social media showing Cole throwing Rufus Scales to the ground while a second officer grabs a camera from Scales' brother Devin, who was filming the arrest. Both cases ended with monetary settlements. Those cases, and several others, have led to protests, sit-ins, rallies and arrests. At one point, City Council members walked out of a meeting and allowed residents to take over their chambers. "My opinion is that we have a local government who is trying to micromanage the police department and has no training in law enforcement whatsoever," Neumann said. "You hire a chief of police because he knew how to police, but then you tell him what he can and can't do." Greensboro City Councilwoman Sharon Hightower, who represents District 1, disagreed with Neumann but not completely. "I think the DA's office is, in my opinion, too far removed from what's happening in the community and why the decisions are made in our community," she said. "While we certainly don't ask them (police) to stay out of our communities in terms of what the DA has said but the concern has been said to us that the only time police come to our neighborhood is when it is negative." Officers say they are in areas of the city known as violent crime "hot spots" and trying to build relationships with residents. "We have increased patrol in our hot-spot areas, and that's had some effect in those particular hot spots," Scott said. At the beginning of the year, Scott identified six areas where violence is higher: Overland Heights, Smith Homes, Beck Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Booker Street and Claremont Homes. Scott said after identifying those areas officers have spent 1,460 hours and $43,959 in overtime funds to have officers in those areas to reassure residents that they care about safety, to try to make connections that can help prevent or solve crimes and to detect and deter criminal activity. Between Dec. 15, 2016, and June 15, 2017, Greensboro officers served 121 orders for arrest and arrest warrants, made 64 criminal arrests, issued 66 citations, wrote 48 field interview cards, wrote 88 ABC reports, conducted three drivers' license checkpoints and made 666 community contacts in those areas, data show. Those community contacts have played an important role in helping the police department solve their cases, said Capt. Nathaniel Davis, who oversees the department's homicide investigations. Officers said that they had poor witness cooperation earlier this year, but that, as the killings increased people began to talk and provide information. Stowe's arrest in Horvath's death is one of 17 arrests Greensboro police made in the 39 homicide cases. And officers said they believe the killer of two other victims is now dead. They said Trevorn Daqwain Pinckney, 23, killed both Tony Stevens Martin Jr., 27, and LaTony McCants, 26, in a July 29 shooting outside the Laurence Manor Apartments on Juliet Place. Police took out arrest warrants for Pinckney, but he committed suicide in a hotel room in South Carolina before he could be arrested. The district attorney's office also declared the Feb. 11 death of 25-year-old Carlos Keith Blackman as a justifiable homicide. Officers had tried to pull over Blackman's vehicle during a drug patrol but he led them on both vehicle and foot chases before confronting them. Body-worn camera footage captured the sound of several gunshots and then Officer J.R. LaBarre on the ground with a single gunshot wound to the shoulder. Moments later officers found Blackman, who had been shot multiple times. He died at Moses Cone Hospital later that day. Davis said some argue that Blackman's death should not be counted in the total number of homicides. "There is some back and forth on how we count homicides," he said. The News & Record used totals the Greensboro Police Department provided to the FBI from 1975-2016 in this report. Those numbers do not include justifiable homicides, which would include some officer-involved shootings and those ruled to be in self-defense. That means, when the final 2017 total is sent to the FBI and if the year concludes without another homicide the number likely would be calculated at 38, instead of 39, putting 2007 back on top for the most killings. That discrepancy is key to why different officers use different totals when explaining the number of homicides each year. Davis totals in justifiable homicides when he discusses the city's killings. "I would err on the side of caution and use the total number of instances and explain it," Davis said. "That way your critics can't say you're hiding anything." Had the city reported three justifiable homicides to the FBI in 2016, that total also would be 39. Two of last year's shootings were cleared as self-defense and the third was an officer-involved shooting. Davis said a year's total isn't always at the forefront of his mind. "I'm conscious of the high number but still very aware that each has a family that is still grieving and wants resolved for their loved ones," Davis said. He said he tends to stop and think about the total more as a private citizen. "As a citizen of the city, it is concerning," he said. "The homicide rate is going up and it should be going down. I want to play my part in helping curb this trend." That's something all three men Davis, Scott and Neumann are trying to figure out how to do. "I believe that we're at a place where we have to come to the realization that we can't arrest out of this trend of violence," Davis said. "We have to look for innovative ways to address the crime trend." With the help of a $150,000, two-year grant from Project Safe Neighborhoods, Greensboro's police department launched the Safer City Summit in January. The summit brings together law enforcement, prosecutors, faith organizations, service providers and community members to find a way to curb violent crimes. Both Neumann and Davis said partnering with community stakeholders is vital. There's also a large concern for the youth living near the areas in the city where violent crimes are more prevalent. Neumann has noticed more and more youth seem to have access to guns. "I know when I was growing up and thought about what I wanted to do when I grew up, I was led to believe that within certain limits anything was possible," Neumann said. "Now kids have it so bad that from such an early age they don't have an opportunity to dream. But that's not an excuse to commit crime." For years now, Sandra Isley has tried to help children in low socioeconomic areas of Greensboro find safe places to spend time and ways for them to take classes that would grow their interests. She joined the Safer City Summit as a youth leader and has appealed to the Greensboro City Council to build community centers or libraries in the east side of Greensboro near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. She said her requests have gone ignored. Hightower and fellow Councilwoman Yvonne Johnson have said they don't remember having that conversation, but they said they share Isley's concerns. "There are some places where there is a lack of resources, and a lot of times we want to address those needs, but unfortunately the funding hasn't always been there," Hightower said. She added that she wants all communities to have safe zones. "I agree that young people need safe places to be," Johnson said. "I will raise that with the planning department." Both Johnson and Hightower said they plan to meet with Scott before the end of the year to address the violent crimes. And Scott said the Safer City Summit plans to look at making proactive changes for 2018 and adjusting hot spots and patrols based on this year's statistics. "I'm very pleased that our city is looking at it proactively," Scott said. "The Safer City Summit will soon talk about what to do in 2018." All of the stakeholders said they want to put an end to the community violence. And for Isley, living with her daughter near the violence makes that goal personal. "These babies are going to need all the counseling they can get," Isley said. "What will they grow up to be when they grow up in an environment like this? Crime breeds more criminals, and if we don't stop it, we'll have a city that's out of control." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Contributed Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Contributed Photo / ST Show More Show Less 5 of 5 GREENWICH About 400 people have contacted Marler and Clark, the Seattle-based law first specializing in food safety lawsuits, regarding a class action lawsuit against bartaco the Port Chester, N.Y. restaurant that was temporarily closed last month after a food handler there was diagnosed with hepatitis A. Two of those people were of the total five who contracted the illness and claim to have eaten at the restaurant, according to attorney Bill Marler. Others who signed on to or expressed interest in the suit were among the more than 3,000 people vaccinated after potential exposure to hepatitis A at bartaco between Oct. 12 and 23. The Greenwich Alliance for Educations annual Turkey Trot 5k & 1-Mile Walk/Run was held at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich on a sunny 47-degree Saturday morning. Jane Hentemann, an advisory council member with the Alliance said that 1,100 people participated in the event that is the organizations biggest fund-raiser for the year. Hentemann said that all proceeds raised go toward funding innovative education programs in the Greenwich Public Schools, the stated goal of the organization that came into existence in 2006. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Otto Lauersdorf isnt sure exactly who sold his daughter Rachael the fatal dose of heroin that ended her life at the age of 45, but he has a pretty good idea. Whatever his identity, Lauersdorf believes the dealer should be locked up for a long stretch in a state prison. The hard-core dealers or if a person dies they should go away for a long, long time, he said, adding five to 10 years seemed reasonable to him. The laws, and some of the judges are too lenient. Id like to see stiffer penalties. Lauersdorf, a former municipal employee, said he thinks of his daughter, who died in January, all the time and feels a powerful sense anger at the people who got her into drugs. As drug overdoses continue to devastate families and communities, and put a strain on local law enforcement, state lawmakers are debating whether to add greater jail time to drug dealers convicted of selling drugs that lead to a fatality. The numbers of drug overdoses continues to rise, in Greenwich, across the region and the nation. In 2016, 17 drug-related overdoses were recorded by Greenwich police, including five fatalities. This year, police have reported 11 overdoses, and one fatality. The debate was highlighted last month when a New Canaan man, Mark Lynch, 58, pleaded guilty to providing the heroin that led to his sons fatal overdose. Lynch, like others accused in Connecticut of providing drugs that lead to fatalities, was charged with second-degree manslaughter. The charge is defined as recklessly causing the death of another person and carries no mandatory minimum penalty with sentences typically ranging from 18 months to about four years. In the state capital in Hartford, lawmakers are struggling to keep pace with the rising tide of drug deaths. There were 917 fatal overdoses in 2016, and state legislators like Rep. Kurt Vail, R-Stafford, are calling for defendants like Lynch to be charged with murder. People should all know how bad this epidemic is, and if you as a drug dealer take advantage of it and someone dies, you should be held accountable for taking the persons life, Vail said. But faced with the state budget crisis and an ongoing effort to reduce the number of inmates in Connecticut prisons, Vails proposed stricter law and a similar one put forth by state Rep. Devin Carney, R-Old Lyme have never made it out of the Judiciary Committee. State Sen. John Kissell, R-Enfield, and state Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, co-chairmen of the Judiciary Committee, supported Vails efforts. The push toward greater penalties for drug dealers has also received support from Greenwich lawmakers. I fully support Rep. Vail and Rep. Carneys initiatives and am very disappointed in those in the Legislature that didnt support the bill in the Judiciary Committee, said state Rep. Fred Camillo, R- 151st. I believe that anyone who willingly gives harmful and sometimes fatal drugs to their fellow citizens should be prosecuted the same way we prosecute a criminal who willingly commits murder. Lt. John Slusarz of the Greenwich Police Department said law enforcement can only go so far in the combatting the opioid plague, and the medical community, educators and treatment specialists are crucial allies. But measures at the state level to put dealers out of the business of trafficking lethal doses of hard drugs would be welcomed by law enforcement, the department spokesman said. Deterrence is very important for the dealers, he said. There has been heightened urgency to address the opioid epidemic since cheaper and more powerful drugs like fentanyl have been mixed with heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine to form an even deadlier combination. According to the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 479 people who died of overdoses in 2016 had fentanyl in their system. That is six times more than in 2014, when 75 people died with the drug in their system. In 2016, there were 276 people who died of overdoses with heroin and fentanyl in their bodies compared to just one person who digested the mixture and died in 2012. There were 142 overdose deaths in 2016 with cocaine and fentanyl in their bodies compared to two people who died with the mixture in their system in 2012. In one July day this summer, there were seven overdoses two fatal in Norwalk, where police say the incidents were caused by crack cocaine cut with fentanyl. Like Lynch, 29-year-old Norwalk resident Eric Frank has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of one of the men. In Massachusetts, which also uses a second-degree manslaughter charge with no mandatory minimum in these cases, the governor has proposed increasing the penalty to first-degree manslaughter carrying a sentence of at least five years. New York also uses a second-degree manslaughter charge, but a conviction there results in a three-year minimum sentence. In New Jersey, there is a specific law: strict liability for drug-induced deaths, which carries a 10-year minimum sentence. There also is a similar federal law: distribution of drugs causing death has a 20-year minimum sentence. Some feel stiffer penalties will not deter dealers from supplying lethal drugs. The overwhelming number of people who provide illegal drugs to others on the street are themselves users, and ascribing to those people the ability to rationally evaluate the risk of their own behavior is misguided, said Lynchs attorney, Matthew Maddox. Maddox spent months negotiating a deal for his client until reaching the agreement with Stamford States Attorney Richard Colangelo on the lesser charges of criminally negligent homicide and sale of narcotics. Colangelo said establishing a law carrying, for example, a five-year mandatory minimum sentence would take its toll on the states justice system with more cases going to trial. Id love to take every one of these cases to trial. But it is not what we do in the system, realistically, he said. Colangelo said the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District has lost five prosecutors in the past two years, in addition to other courthouse staff. Colangelo said he understands the magnitude of the opioid crisis, but believes families of victims are more interested in drug dealers taking responsibility for their actions. Mark Lynchs ex-wife, Pam Bacco, disagrees. She had hoped for a harsher sentence for him in the death of their son. Drug dealers think they are untouchable, that they wont get caught, said Bacco, who left Lynch 13 years ago and is now remarried and living in Colorado. They may go to jail for 15 or 18 months and get out. Then they get out on the streets and are doing it again and more people die. John Nickerson contributed to this report. Haiti - RD : 229,885 Haitian volunteers or deportees, back in Haiti since 2015 Thursday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) opened, in coordination with the Mayor of Belladere, its second Border Resource Center (BRC). A third BRC will be inaugurated next week in Malpasse. A fourth and final CRF is currently under construction in Ouanaminthe while the BRC in Anse-a-Pitres has been operational since June 2017. These structures allow a better identification, guidance and assistance to vulnerable migrants, while providing an equipped coordination space to foster the reinforcement of synergies between local protection actors. Through collaboration with the Institute of Welfare and Research (IBESR), each BRC relies on the support of trained registration officers in the management of vulnerable migrants, including unaccompanied or separated children. BRCs also provide psycho-social counseling. "Since the expiration of the registration period for the National Regularization Plan of Foreigners (NRPF) in June 2015, IOM has recorded that more than 229,885 Haitian migrants [as of September 28, 2017] who voluntarily returned or were deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti. This figure highlights the extensive assistance needs that exist throughout the border region in order to help vulnerable migrants, particularly women and children. The majority of which arrive in precarious conditions (i.e. no access to resources, separated from their families, undernourished, and exhausted from spending several days in Dominican detention centers)," explained Bernard Lami, Deputy Chief of IOM Mission in Haiti. It is in this context that IOM, with the financial support of the Canadian government, has implemented an assistance project for migrants entitled, Assisting Vulnerable Children and Women in the Border areas between Haiti and Dominican Republic." The Border Resource Center constitutes the cornerstone of the project as it allows for the registration and onward referral of vulnerable migrants to specialized institutions (such as medical centers, hosting centers, among other resource networks supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs). The BRC is also at the heart of protection mechanisms for returning migrants and deportees from the Dominican Republic. It represents the first state institution tasked with ensuring the safe and respectable return of Haitian migrants to their country of origin. Carlos Rojas-Arbulu, Head of the Haiti-Canada Cooperation declared "Canada is committed to putting these BRCs in place to identify the most vulnerable, women, girls and unaccompanied children, who need to be assisted and supported and need to receive appropriate protection services, while aligning with Canada's feminist international assistance policy." To date, thanks to the project "Assisting Vulnerable Children and Women in the Border areas between Haiti and Dominican Republic" : 1,927 beneficiaries living in border areas have attained their birth certificates /archives records thanks to the support of our partner ICDH Initiative Citoyenne pour les Droits de lHomme. 439 beneficiaries have received Income-Generating Activities to support their sustainable reintegration and 203 children have received school reinsertion packages and are back in school thanks to the activities of CAPAC- Centre d'Animation Paysanne et d'Action Communautaire. 295 local governmental and non-governmental actors have been trained on fundamental human rights, SGBV prevention, Child Protection, Family Planning, Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Irregular Migration. IOM reiterates its unconditional support to the Ministries, authorities, and migration-focused Haitian institutions working to address and confront Haitis internal and external migratory problems.. IOM hopes to continue supporting the Haitian government with all of their efforts to insure and promote regular migration and protect the most vulnerable migrants. SL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2017/11/25 | Source "Paper Planes" is about young women who dream bigger than themselves and want to sing. Advertisement "Paper Planes" (2017) Directed by Jung Dong-hoon, No Hong-sik With Joo Ga-eul, Ye Seul-bi, Song Bo-bae, Yoon Eun-ji, Min Jun-ho, Wi Myung-woo,... Synopsis A sorrowful cry from teenagers who fight a horrible war. Let them sing! Release date in Korea : 2018/01/31 Published on 2017/11/25 | Source Added episode 2 captures for the Korean drama "Prison Playbook" (2017) Advertisement Directed by Sin Won-ho Written by Jeong Bo-hoon-I, Lee Woo-jeong-I Network : tvN With Park Hae-soo, Jung Kyung-ho, Sung Dong-il, Kim Sung-cheol, Jung Jae-sung, Lee Ho-cheol,... 16 episodes - Wed, Thu 21:30 Also known as "Wise Prison Life" Synopsis Set in a prison, this is a drama about the lives of the prisoners and prison staff. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Last year, Chris Kimmenez and his wife asked their doctors a simple question. Could Chris, who has been HIV-positive since 1989 but keeps the virus in check through medication, transmit it sexually to Paula? They were pretty sure they knew the answer. Married for more than 30 years, they had not always practiced safe sex, but Paula showed no signs of having the virus. Their physicians were less certain. They had a conversation and they did some research on it, Kimmenez said. They came back to us and said there may still be a risk, but were comfortable enough that unprotected sex is safe. We knew that all along, said Kimmenez, 56, who works with ex-offenders in Philadelphia. Simple acknowledgments like that one, spoken quietly in the privacy of doctors offices, mark the arrival of a historic moment in the history of HIV: Medical authorities are publicly agreeing that people with undetectable viral loads cannot transmit HIV. The policy change has profound implications for the way people view the virus. It promises not just unprotected sex for couples like Kimmenez and his wife, but also reduced stigma for the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV. The change also offers the hope that more people will be tested and begin treatment if they are found to have the virus rather than live in denial. There was something in me that said Im damaged and I made a mistake and people see it and Im a danger, said Mark King, 56, a writer and activist who tested positive for HIV in 1985. But now treatment has fully suppressed the virus. When I finally internalized this message ... something suddenly lifted off of me that is hard to describe. It was almost as if someone wiped me clean. I no longer feel like this diseased pariah. Once considered a death sentence, HIV infection can now be managed via medication, much like chronic diseases such as diabetes, and people with the virus live full lives. In July, Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the worlds leading authorities on HIV, publicly agreed at an international conference that people with undetectable viral loads in their blood cannot transmit the virus. On Sept. 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed, releasing a letter that said people who take medication daily and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner. The influential British medical journal the Lancet HIV endorsed the idea in an editorial this month. All told, more than 500 organizations in 67 countries now agree, according to Bruce Richman, who is leading the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) campaign credited with beginning to change public perception of HIV transmissibility. Like many developments in the four-decade history of HIV, this one has been slow to gain acceptance among mainstream health-care providers. Many are not aware of it or must unlearn the habit of drilling safe-sex lessons into patients, as they have been doing almost since the AIDS epidemic began. HIV-positive people also must alter deeply-ingrained beliefs that nothing good can come of revealing their status. The change in philosophy also has sparked concerns, for which there is some evidence, that more condomless sex will lead to an increase in other sexually transmitted infections. And experts acknowledge that a few people whose viral load is not truly suppressed will eventually transmit HIV to others. Laws in many states also are out of date. Many still criminalize the failure to reveal HIV status to a sex partner, even when there is no danger of transmissibility. But on balance, authorities said, the agreement that people with HIV can prevent sexual transmission by taking a single pill each day is nothing less than revolutionary. Nothing is completely risk free, Fauci said in an interview. What the community feels is that all of the good that will come from the lack of social stigmatization is worth the risk. This means a lot to them. This has a lot to do with their self-worth, their identity. An undetectable viral load is defined as fewer than 200 copies of the virus in a milliliter of blood. Generally, people with HIV should maintain that level or a lower level for six months before beginning to consider themselves incapable of transmitting the virus sexually. Many who faithfully take antiretroviral medication and lead healthful lifestyles can bring their viral loads considerably lower, to 50 or even 25 copies. But progress raises other questions, said Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDCs National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. What if a person forgets to take medication for one day? What about two, or more? How long after resuming therapy should someone wait before once again considering himself or herself incapable of transmitting the virus? And what about people who go above and below the 200-copy threshold over time? Studies show that to be the case for about 10 percent of the people with HIV, Mermin said. As yet, there are no evidence-based answers to these questions, he said. The public-health challenge now is moving from theory to implementation, he said. Many questions arise following the information that when a person with HIV has an undetectable viral load, he has effectively no risk of transmitting the virus. In 2008, Swiss experts announced that people with undetectable levels of HIV could not transmit HIV through sex. But the world was not ready to hear the message then. Starting in 2011, three large studies confirmed the idea, tracking more than 75,000 vaginal and anal condomless sex acts without finding a single HIV transmission to an HIV-negative partnerfrom someone whose viral load was undetectable. The initial 2011 study was named breakthrough of the year by Science magazine. Now the challenge is to get the message out to HIV-positive people, caregivers and the public. And that process has been slow. I would tell everyone about this, friends and family and people I wanted to date and I was coming across so much resistance, because major institutions were saying this is wrong, Richman said. He launched U=U last year, initially a lonely and sometimes controversial campaign to let the world know something that many people with HIV had concluded for themselves. His breakthrough moment came in August 2016 when New York Citys health department signed on. Soon, other cities and organizations were joining. Still, the message is moving mainly from people with HIV to health authorities and policymakers, rather than in the other direction, Richman said. This is a radical challenge to the status quo and to 35 years of HIV and fear of people living with HIV, Richman said. Brigitte Charbonneau, 71, of Ottawa, found out this year that she could not transmit the virus after 23 years of being HIV positive. I thought, My God, Ive been living with my man for 20 years and weve been using condoms, the retired hairdresser recalled. And I phoned him right that afternoon. Jennifer Vaughan of Watsonville, California, vividly remembers the moment she learned she could not transmit the virus to her boyfriend. The mother of three tested positive in February 2016 after she became critically ill with what was finally determined to be AIDS. HIV was not among the possibilities she or her doctors considered, until a blood test revealed the virus. She thinks she was infected by a previous boyfriend with a history of intravenous drug use. She attended a speech Richman gave and was speaking with him in a parking lot outside a Starbucks. Ill never forget him saying those words, You cant transmit the virus if youre undetectable, the 47-year-old substitute teacher recalled. And I said, Wait, what? It was like the sky opened. Are you kidding? Theres, like, zero risk? I dont feel like Im a threat anymore. I dont feel like Im dirty. I dont feel like Im a dangerous person. LENOIR The City of Lenoir, in partnership with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (HPO), will host a presentation on the communitys history and historic architecture at the historic Lenoir High School auditorium. The presentation will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 1114 College Ave. in downtown Lenoir. The presentation is part of an architectural survey commissioned by the HPO in March. The mission of the HPOs statewide architectural survey program is to identify, record and encourage the preservation of the states rich and varied collection of historic buildings, landscapes, and districts. Although Caldwell County was the subject of a reconnaissance level architectural survey in 1986-87, the state had never completed a systematic, comprehensive survey of Lenoir. Given this need, HPO commissioned an architectural survey of the city to locate, document, and evaluate Lenoirs historic resources. City of Lenoir Planning Director Jenny Wheelock said the survey will be a great resource for Lenoir to have and will help with promoting individual historic properties as well as neighborhood planning. The survey will help us understand where our most significant structures are, and it also will provide a snapshot in time of local historic properties, Wheelock said. Well probably use a lot of this history to do more with neighborhood planning, especially historic neighborhoods. The presentation Wednesday will include an overview of Lenoirs history and a discussion of its historic residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial architecture. Representatives from the HPO will be present to introduce the project and answer any questions from the public and stakeholder groups. Alices Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll continues to attract new readers ever since it was told to three sisters on a summer afternoon during a boat ride on the Thames. The apparently whimsical fairy tale charmed its listeners on its first telling but the story was expanded by Carroll into the Alice of today. On the 152nd anniversary of the classics publication on November 26, 1865, as a Christmas release in England, lets consider the book as a mathematical puzzle. Lewis Carroll in the preface to the work All in the Golden Afternoon, claimed to have invented the story on demand from Alice Liddell, and her two sisters, daughters of an Oxford don Carroll himself taught mathematics at Oxford during the boat ride. However, the profusion of mathematical puzzles, logical paradoxes and innuendoes throughout the body of the text tell a different story. While there is no doubt about the fact that it was created for, and to be told to children and young adults, what 21st century readers read today is a cleverly crafted tale to poke fun at the mathematics in Carrolls time and its practitioners. Carroll, a nom de plume of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a mathematics tutor at the Christ Church College in Oxford, was actually not a front-ranking mathematician. He swore by Elements, the famous geometry text by Euclid. Carroll waged a long battle with his peers who were revolutionising Victorian mathematics. Projective geometry, imaginary numbers, quaternion were turning the old-world of algebra and geometry upside down. Mathematics was no longer tied to the ground insofar as it was becoming more abstract, and logic that appealed to Carroll and his ilk could not be used to demystify the new avatar. Carroll was a Euclidean geometry orthodox who did throw the gauntlet at the new kids on the mathematics block but lost out. These were the times when Alice Liddell asked the young mathematics tutor to tell a story. THE MISS LIDDELLS Close to a decade and a half later, in 1879, Carroll, under his real name, published Euclid and his Modern Rivals. Written in the form of a play, it was Carrolls way of telling the world that Euclids Elements is the best textbook for teaching geometry. Carrolls introduction lays out his purpose and why he went about it the way he did. His words on writing for a non-scientific audience still sound particularly relevant. It is presented in a dramatic form, writes Charles Dodgson in the introduction, partly because it seemed a better way of exhibiting in alteration the arguments on the two sides of the question; partly that I feel myself at liberty to treat it in a rather lighter style than would have suited an essay, and thus to make it a little less tedious and little more acceptable to unscientific readers. Not many now are even aware of this curious publication but this can be seen as an extension of Carrolls thought process that started with Alices Adventures in Wonderland. There is, however, no direct evidence that Carroll actually planned such a tale. Martin Gardner notes is his book, The Annotated Alice, the definitive edition, that Reverend Robinson Duckworth, who accompanied Carroll and the Liddell sisters on the boat ride, says in his account of the trip: when three Miss Liddells were our passengers, and the story was actually composed and spoken over my shoulder for the benefit of Alice LiddellI remember turning round and saying, Dodgson, is this an extempore romance of yours? And he replied, Yes, Im inventing as we go along. That story, on the insistence of Alice, was turned into a manuscript and presented to her by the Oxford mathematician. By now, the content of the story is presented in disguised form with the use of riddles, apparently meaningless poems, puzzles, puns, and a lot more that is ostensibly nonsense. Carroll was surely not the first to use such devices. Several examples of puns and riddles are found in nursery rhymes, and folk tales for children. The mastery of Carroll over this kind of recreational mathematics and logic takes Alices Adventures in Wonderland to a different league it is not without reason that the story continues to inspire mathematical puzzles and word-game designers even today. THE COMMUNITY OF ALICE Raymond S Smullyan wrote a delightful little book titled Alice in Puzzle-Land: a Carrollian Tale for Children Under Eighty in which Alice and her friends return for another trip through Wonderland and the Looking-Glass. The book has 88 engaging puzzles, paradoxes, and logic problems. Smullyans characters speak and behave like the Carroll creations, and their puzzles abound in typical Carrollian word-play, logic problems, and dark philosophical paradoxes. The rich tapestry of puzzles and paradoxes in Alices Adventures in Wonderland was a lifelong fascination for Carroll that in some way brought his fairy tales closer to Austrian-British philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. In his 1965 essay Wittgenstein, Nonsense, and Lewis Carroll, philosopher George Pitchers talks about striking similarities between the philosophical writings of Wittgenstein and the childrens stories of Carroll. According to Pitcher, both were concerned with nonsense and language puzzles. While Wittgenstein was tortured by these things, Carroll appeared to be delighted by them. Reverend Dodgson had a playful approach to mathematics that he imported into the Alice stories. He was known to use little puzzles in his lessons to make mathematics class more engaging. For instance, here is one of his classics (many versions of this puzzle now can be found all over the web): A cup contains 50 spoonfuls of brandy, and another contains 50 spoonfuls of water. A spoonful of brandy is taken from the first cup and mixed into the second cup. Then a spoonful of the mixture is taken from the second cup and mixed into the first. Is there more or less brandy in the second cup than there is water in the first cup? (If you are scratching your head for an answer, it is equal.) FIGURE IT OUT In that famous conversation with the Cheshire Cat, who wants to convince Alice that they both are mad, the feline tells her that she must be, or you wouldnt have come here, but Alice refuses to believe him and in turn asks how the cat knows that he is mad. The next set of conversations that appears in Chapter IV of the book shows how deep is the logic play in this work. Here Carroll has employed the so-called modus ponens, or affirming the antecedent logic. To begin with, said the Cat, a dogs not mad. You grant that? I suppose so, said Alice. Well, then, the Cat went on, you see a dog growls when its angry, and wags its tail when its pleased. Now I growl when Im pleased, and wag my tail when Im angry. Therefore Im mad. One can read the above dialogue without even realising that one is trapped in a logic web spun by Carroll. Here, the Cheshire Cats argument may appear sound but it is invalid. Here is how Carroll constructed the trap. Suppose P and Q are two sentences; here, P is an animal growls when angry and wags its tail when pleased and Q is it is not mad. Let us see what the cat says: If an animal growls when angry and wags its tail when pleased, it is not mad. This means, if sentence P is true, then Q is also true. I growl when pleased, and wag my tail when angry. Here the cat is not saying what P says. Therefore, I am mad. So if the cats statement does not agree with P then how can it say Q is true? One interesting aspect of Carrolls work is that in the world of literature, especially literary criticism, a lot of emphasis has been on the psychoanalytic aspects of characters. There have been critiques highlighting Carrolls own personal psychological and sexuality issues but almost nothing on reading the tale as a mathematical text. In 2009, Melanie Bayley, of the University of Oxford, published an article in the popular science magazine New Scientist titled Alices Adventures in Algebra: Wonderland Solved. In the article Bayley says that Carroll added a lot of material to the illustrated manuscript he personally made for Alice before it was sent for publication. It is in these parts that Carroll took on the proponents of new mathematics, ridiculing their methods and questioning their rigour. The Cheshire Cat becoming a grin, according to the Oxford researcher, was Carrolls way of portraying increasing and damaging abstraction in mathematics. In the Mad Hatters tea party, Bayley discovered the writers satire on Irish mathematician William Rowan Hamiltons discovery the quaternion. There are other similar discoveries made by the Oxford researcher. In the scene where Alice is troubled by growing taller or shorter and meets the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, the creature tells Alice keep your temper. This Alice interprets as keeping cool but here Carroll is using an older meaning of the word temper which was used for the proportion in which qualities are mingled. Bayley interprets this as the Caterpillar telling Alice irrespective of her body size she should maintain her body in proportion. If that is true, this reflects Carrolls love of Euclidean geometry. In this geometry, absolute magnitude does not matter, its important to know the ratio of one length to another. For a little more than 155 years after the story was first told to Alice, Lewis Carrolls bestseller continues to throw new conundrums. No one can be absolutely sure whether Carroll actually plays those devious games with his readers. The reverend who stammered a lot and enjoyed the company of young girls did love his logic and Euclid like a fanatic. He is not remembered for his mathematics but for puzzles, logic games and biting satire. It is therefore not surprising that some of it made its way into his boat-ride story. Debkumar Mitra is a Kolkata-based science writer and the author of Mindstretch, a book on mathematics, puzzles and stories. Unhappy over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominating his daughter-in-law instead of his wife from the Kaalol Assembly seat in Gujarat, party MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan has warned that he would not guarantee a win for the party, if the candidate is not replaced with someone of his choice. The BJP on Friday released its fifth list of 13 candidates for the second phase of Assembly polls in Gujarat. In the list, the ruling party dropped sitting MLA Arvindsinh Chauhan and instead fielded his wife Suman Chauhan, the daughter-in-law of Prabhatsinh Chauhan, from the Kaalol seat in Panchmahal district. Enraged over the announcement, Prabhatsinh Chauhan dashed off a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah, urging him to replace Suman Chauhan with a local candidate. Although, in the letter he did not clearly demand that his wife Rangeshwari be given the party ticket, recently he had told reporters that she was the best candidate for the Kaalol seat. While Rangeshwari is the president of Ghoghamba taluka panchayat of Panchamahal district, Suman Chauhan is a member of Panchmahal district panchayat. In the letter, the parliamentarian also alleged that his son Pravinsinh is a bootlegger and that he and his wife had even gone to jail. My son Pravin is a bootlegger and several cases are still pending against him. Both he and his wife Suman even went to jail in the past. This will dent the BJPs prospects of winning the seat. Further, Suman belongs to Godhra and people of Kaalol will not accept her, Chauhan said in the letter. Though I am senior, having spent 45 years in public life, the party has not taken my opinion while selecting the candidates. I was also not taken into confidence while selecting the candidate for Kaalol. Thus, I urge you to consider changing the current candidate with a local one of my choice, he added. Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a prominent Rajput face in the region, who had joined the BJP in 1992, claimed that though he had single-handedly established the BJPs dominance in that district over the years, he has been ignored by the party and not given any post in the organisation. Chauhan stressed that the BJP would not get even a single vote from tribals. While his wife Rangeshwari is a tribal, Suman Chauhan is a Rajput. The BJP will not get a single vote, out of the 1.10 lakh votes of tribals due to this ongoing controversy. There are huge chances that we will lose Kaalol. Thus, I want to inform you that I will not take any responsibility of ensuring the partys victory on any of the seven seats under my constituency including Kaalol, Chauhan said in the letter. Three days ago, Chauhan said that he had sought ticket for his wife on the ground that she had done very good work as Ghoghamba taluka panchayat president. Just go to Ghoghamba to see what kind of work she has done. She has completely uprooted corruption. Rangeshwari is the best candidate and that is why I have appealed to the party leaders to select her for Kaalol seat, Chauhan told reporters. On Friday, when Rangeshwari came to know that she has been ignored in ticket allocation, she targeted her husband in a fiery Facebook post, in which she even dared him to enter Kaalol for poll campaign. However, she deleted the post on Saturday. I had posted that comment out of anger and disappointment. That was not against the BJP, it was against the Member of Parliament. But now, I have entered into a compromise with him over the issue, Rangeshwari told reporters. It will take another three months for Bharat Gadhiya, a farmer in Gujarats Saurashtra region, to sell his 10 quintals of groundnut at the governments procurement centre for the promised minimum support price (MSP) of Rs4,500 per quintal. Every day, the centre collects groundnuts from only 25 to 30 farmers, forcing hundreds such as Gadhiya to either hold on to the produce or sell it in the open market. In the open market, groundnuts fetch Rs3,250 a quintal, barely enough to cover input and livelihood costs. Its not just development that has gone mad, agriculture arithmetic has also stopped making sense. Input costs from fertilisers and labour are increasing, while market prices for produce have come down. Our net income is just enough for us to survive and often not enough to invest in next years tilling, said Gadhiya, a Patidar farmer from Pithadiya village in Rajkot, referring to a viral social media campaign against the BJP, Vikas Gando Thayo Che (Development has gone mad). The government talks a lot and does little. BJP toh idhar nahi ayegi iss saal (BJP will not come to power from here) 100%, he added. He is not alone. Falling market prices of cash crops such as cotton and groundnut, the mainstay of Saurashtras farmers, on the back of two consecutive years of failed rains has left farmers angry and desperate. Favourable global conditions saw a jump in cotton prices from Rs2,200 a quintal to Rs5,000 between 2002-03 and 2013-14. Since then, the MSP has averaged around Rs4,000 a quintal with the market prices even lower. In an election year, the government has announced a bonus over the MSP with cotton now fetching Rs4,500 a quintal. In the same period, input prices of fertilisers, pesticides and labour have at least doubled. For instance, daily labour costs have increased from Rs150 a person to Rs300 now. When Narendrabhai (Prime Minister Modi) was in Gujarat, he would say cotton is white gold and the Centre should guarantee a price of Rs1,500 for every 20 kgs of cotton and Rs1,200 for every 20 kgs of groundnut. We have been waiting for such promises to be delivered for three years now . But no development has come our way, said 80-year-old Bhiku bhai Gathiya, Gadhiyas neighbour who is another backward class (OBC) farmer. Ahead of the assembly polls next month, farmers discontent is widespread and may threaten the BJP, which is aiming to stretch its 22-year-long rule over the western state. Besides falling market prices, there are complaints about inconsistent power supply, non delivery of crop insurance for cotton, insufficient irrigation facilities, water polluted by industries and an overall apathy from the government. Across Saurashtra, it is evident that Gujarats stellar agriculture growth story clocking over 10% from 2002 to 2012 is declining. In the last two years, agricultural gross state domestic product has shrunk, according to state government data. This year, 50% of my BT cotton sown on seven bigha (2.5 acres) of land is lost due to pink bollworm attack. What remains on field is threatened by attacks by wild boars but I dont quality for the fencing subsidy offered by the government. And I am not expecting any crop insurance because I havent got a penny from last year, said Kishore Patel, a Patidar farmer from Pithadia. His brother Janak is clear his vote will not go to BJP. We will vote for any party but not BJP . Pithadia falls in Jetpur assembly constituency that has been with the BJP since 2002 (except for one year between 2012 and 2013). It is in BJPs bastions like these that the party now faces a tough contest. Saurashtra sends 48 legislators to the 182-member Gujarat assembly. Since I started voting, I have voted for BJP. But I have to accept that not enough work has been done for the farmers, said Ashok Gadhaliya, a farmer from Derdi village and a BJP worker. In Mahendranagar village in neighbouring Morbi district, also a BJP bastion, there are similar complaints of government apathy. Ramji Mohanji, a big farmer owning 50 acres of land points to a trajectory of lower yield with initial BT cotton boom flattening out and increased likelihood of pest attacks. We have been getting less yield per acre progressively over the years even as our input costs have soared. Unless there is an independent agriculture commission to work out pricing of crops and to give inputs on exports and imports to the centre, farming cannot be viable, he said. He said earlier one acre of BT cotton could fetch a yield of 700kg, which had come down to 400kg. The agriculture growth story of Gujarat is embellishment. Our farmers are facing problems like not getting viable market rates or MSP for crops and adequate irrigation facilitiesour land acquisition policies are stacked against farmers, said Sagar Rabari, secretary of the Khedut Samaj (Farmers Organisation) that took out a rally across the state this week to raise farm demands. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Attacking the Centre for convening the winter session of Parliament after polling is held in Gujarat, the Congress on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of running away from scrutiny by lawmakers on several issues. We charge the Parliament and the government from running away from Parliamentary scrutiny before the elections in Gujarat, Congress leader Anand Sharma said. Sharma said the opposition would take up issues such as the imposition of a wrong GST on people and the Rafale deal among others in the Parliament. The prime minister did not want Gujarat voters to see the reality. Gujarat voters would realise that the prime minister who talks big, turned out to be so weak and coward that he chose not to face the Parliament, he said. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) headed by home minister Rajnath Singh met in New Delhi on Friday to decide the dates of the Winter Session. The CCPA recommended that the session be held from December 15 to January 5. Gujarat will vote in two phases: December 9 and December 14. The result of the election will be out on December 18. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi alleged during his campaign in poll-bound Gujarats north and central regions on Saturday that the BJP government was favouring big industrialists but doing little for distressed farmers, small-time traders and the jobless. He promised a Congress government, if his party is voted to power after two decades in the state, will be for labourers, farmers and small-time businessmen. Narendra Modiji gave away Rs 33,000 crore (soft loan) to Tata for Nano plant. But he would not waive your farm loans, he told farmers at Bayad in Aravali district. Also, he accused the government of caring little for the unemployed. While five-10 industrialists have seen all the growth under the Modi government, Gujarat has today 30 lakh unemployed youth, he said. The BJP was quick to respond to Gandhis unemployment jibe. The partys media cell circulated a video on social media with a caption, Rahul Gandhi is caught faking unemployment figure. Gujarat is leading in the sector of employment generation. Rahul Gandhi should apologise for misleading and maligning people of Gujarat. The video shows Gandhi saying in Porbandar on November 24 that Gujarat has 5 million unemployed youth. Later in the day in Ahmedabad, he is heard putting the jobless figure at 3 million. Gandhi, however, quoted 3 million during his Bayad speech on Saturday. He began his second day of a two-day tour by visiting the family of the late Congress leader, Mirza Irshad Baig, and called on former chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki too. In Lunawada that has a sizeable tribal and Muslim population, Gandhi hit out at the governments Rafale jet fighter deal with France. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has manufacturing experience. But this industrialist who got the deal has not made a single aircraft, Gandhi said and demanded an answer from Prime Minister Modi. But winter session of Parliament is delayed. Parliament wont open before the Gujarat elections so that answering such questions can be avoided, he said. Industrialist Anil Ambanis company is involved in procuring 26 Rafale jets from France in accordance with the 2015 deal. The two-phase Gujarat elections are due on December 9 and 14 and results will be declared on December 18 along with Himachal Pradesh, where polls were held on November 9. Gandhi also hit out at the BJPs development model. Gujarat is developed because you have worked hard for it. But what Modiji has done is take away your money, water and land, and gave it to a few industrialists. He would make you listen to his Mann ki Baat. But the Congress will listen to your mann ki baat, he said. He was referring to the Prime Ministers radio address Mann ki Baat, roughly meaning voice of the mind. The Prime Minister will campaign in his home state on November 27. Since Gandhi has targeted his radio show, the BJP workers plan to listen to his next programme on Sunday at gatherings across Gujarat. A Ranchi-based lawyer has moved a court seeking action against poet and film lyricist Javed Akhtar for his alleged remarks that Rajput rulers never fought against British. Akhtar reportedly made the remarks in the context of the communitys ongoing protest against the Deepika Padukone-starrer Padmavati. Citing a report published in a vernacular daily on November 20, Jharkhand high court advocate Naveen Kumar Singh in his petition filed before a first class judicial magistrate claimed Akhtar made objectionable comments against the community. The case would be heard on November 27 in the court of judicial magistrate Tarkeshwar Das, Singhs lawyer Manoj Kumar Sinha said. Singh sought action against Akhtar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion...), 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class...) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breech of peace). Annexing the news report with his petition, Singh submitted that Akhtars prevocational remarks against Rajput kings, deeply hurt the community at large. The report quoted Akhtar as saying, Rajput kings, who never fought with Britishers, have now taken to streets protesting the film Padmavati. These Ranas and Maharajas, wearing their turbans, had served Britishers for 200 years undermining their grace. They remained kings only because they had accepted the British supremacy. Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Padmavati, based on the life of the legendary Rajput queen, is stuck in a raging controversy even before its release as the community has been protesting against the film, accusing the film makers of distorting facts. While the film is still to be cleared by the censor board, its release has been deferred with some states banning the screening of the movie. It was originally scheduled to be released on December 1. The petitioner, who is also a Rajput, alleged that Akhtars remark was a deliberate attempt to provoke the sentiments of a particular community in order to disturb the countrys peace and harmony. He argued Akhtars accusations and assertions were prejudicial to national integration. He committed serious offenses and therefore cognisance should be taken against him to punish him appropriately, Singh submitted in his petition. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Richa Chadha has never minced her words when it comes to addressing socially relevant issues. This time, she spills the beans on why Bollywood actors are afraid to complain about cases of sexual harassment, unlike Hollywoods film fraternity (case in point: Harvey Weinstein scandal). You have to understand why people in Bollywood dont speak up. They will lose their livelihood. How many powerful women has it taken for people to conclusively decide that Harvey Wienstine was a predator. That is how the case has become huge. If anyone, who didnt have a career, had said it, people wouldve trashed her. In India, when there is a rape, what we hear first is, what was she wearing? The culture of victim shaming is so strong here, says Richa, who also wrote a blog to share her thought on the same case. Talking about the campaign of #me too, where women spoke about their experience of harassment on social media, Richa says, We live in a culture of victim shaming. Its like they will lose work. Who will take the responsibility of protecting them? Slowly we have to shift to a culture where it is from Me too to Him too, where people will have the strength to complain about others. The actor also feels that issues such as these take time to get resolved. It wont get over because it is not a temporary problem. It is an ecosystem which favours men who are in position as power. This is a very difficult situation to deal with and the ripple effect touches all other aspects of your career. This is also really difficult thing to deal with because it effects your current relationship, your relation with your sexuality and how people look at you, says the actor. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Writer of the book Mr and Mrs Jinnah: The Marriage that Shook India, Sheela Reddy, said she had come across several biographies on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was a lawyer, politician and the founder of Pakistan, and all biographies were different from each other. According to the author, though Jinnah have been written about extensively, but the Qaid-e-Azams personal life remained largely under wraps. Reddy, who works as a book editor at Outlook, was here at Chandigarh Literati International Litfest 2017 at Lake Club, Chandigarh, on Saturday. "We have known Jinnah when it comes to geography and the history of the subcontinent. However, we don't know who he actually was as a person. I wanted to find it out, " said Reddy answering a question on why she wrote on Jinnah. The work draws from several letters written by Ruttie Petit, Jinnah's wife, that Reddy discovered during her research in New Delhi, Islamabad and Karachi. In a conversation with HT Correspondent, Reddy discussed her experience of writing about Jinnah and how she got hold of the letters of Ruttie and her close friends who told the story of Jinnah how he was as a husband which otherwise was unknown. She says , "Jinnah eluded his biographer. He was one of those men in the history who were most successful in hiding their personal life behind their political persona. I thought that it had been 70 years since Partition and we should at least examine his life." She added, "Jinnah is generally reduced to a cardboard cutout picture. He is solely thought to be responsible for Partition. However, it matters what the circumstances were during that time." Answering a question on how she found the material for her book, Reddy says, "I started looking for books on Ruttie. I was surprised that there was no or a little mention of her in all of the books. Then I found the letters in The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, which bring out the possibilities to understand Jinnah as a person." She also talked about how Jinnahs life was not documented by anyone on the basis of those letters that are available to everyone. Reddy also visited Pakistan in hopes of getting some exclusive material on Jinnah and met biographers and historians. However, he had lived most of his life in Bombay and spent only two years in Pakistan. She said how she was helped by her friends in Pakistan to get hold of the required material in Islamabad which helped her a lot. PERSONAL BOOKS IN KARACHI The author said that she was thrilled on finding personal books of Jinnah and Ruttie that were kept under lock and key in the basement of the library in Karachi "I was fortunate enough to get the permission to see the books which to my surprise were heavily annotated by Ruttie and some by Jinnah too. The markings and the notes tell a lot about what went in their life," recalled Reddy. "He was after all a human who was shattered after his marriage broke down and it had an impact on his politics too," she added. 'Mr and Mrs Jinnah: The Marriage that Shook India' was published this year in Urdu too by OUP, Karachi. 1. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs (1959) Naked Lunch. Banned because of: Sexual content Narrated by drug junkie William Lee, this experimental novel was told in routines that could be read in any order. It was banned in many parts of the US but continues to be one of the most inventive books. 2. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (1991) American Psycho Banned because of: Depiction of violence Several countries restricted its sale and the author even received death threats. It was a massively controversial novel, so much so that its original publishers dropped it and The New York Times urged people not to buy it. Today its a cult novel. 3. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955) Lolita Banned because of: Obscenity Lolita, a tale of obsession and lust, is part of syllabuses today. Narrated by Humbert Humbert on his sexual relations with the 12-year-old daughter of his landlady it was banned in the UK, France, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa. 4. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (1962) A Clockwork Orange. Banned because of: Depiction of extreme violence It was withdrawn from several schools the US and this dystopian novel was set in a near future English society. The book was an experiment in language with a new kind of teenage slang. 5. Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945) Animal Farm. Banned because of: Being critical of the USSR Since it reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union, in the 1940s, allied forces found it too controversial to print during wartime. From HT Brunch, November 26, 2017 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch It has been a month of eating Indian food outside of home. But not the kind of Indian food you would expect to find on normal menus. I will start with the meal I enjoyed the most though perhaps that has something to do with nostalgia. I went to boarding school in Rajasthan, to a place called Mayo College in Ajmer. The school was set up by a now forgotten Viceroy called Lord Mayo to offer an Eton-style education to the sons of Indian princes, over a century ago. The parallels with Eton probably existed only in Lord Mayos mind because the school, when it opened, had a distinctively Maharaja touch about it. The first student arrived on an elephant with a huge entourage and proceeded to live with his servants in a large palace built specially for him not quite the sort of thing they ever did in Eton! As more and more maharajas sent their kids to Mayo, new mansions/palaces were constructed over the huge campus (over 200 acres). I am not sure how much quality education was imparted but nearly all of the great North Indian princely states were represented. The late Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur (who married Gayatri Devi) was a student there. So was Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir, father of Dr. Karan Singh. The Udaipur royal family has historical links dating back many generations. Institutional food is rarely very good, but the dishes made on special occasions at Mayo College in Ajmer are quite memorable And eventually, the Rajput aristocracy (rajas, thakurs, etc. who were not quite maharajas) began sending its sons to the school. Almost every distinguished Rajput of (the former Foreign Minister) Jaswat Singhs generation went to Mayo, though by then the school had democratised somewhat and there were no elephants and each student did not get a palace to himself. By the time I went to Mayo, it had become a normal public school and the mansions and palaces had been turned into boarding houses. But if you were part of say, Bikaner House, you knew that at some stage, the sons of the royal family of Bikaner had occupied the whole building. So it was with the other houses, all of which had such names as Jodhpur, Kashmir, Jaipur or Bharatpur. Though a legendary English principal (Jack Gibson) had transformed the school into a more egalitarian operation in the 1950s and 1960s, Mayo was very proud of its Rajput legacy. We wore Rajasthani safas on Sunday. Except for the teachers, the staff were all proudly Rajasthani, wore traditional Rajput outfits and sometimes acted as though the good old days had never faded! Which brings us to the food. Institutional food is rarely very good but I have many happy memories of the dishes that were made on special occasions. I remember the Rajasthani soola, cooked over an open fire (which bears no relation to the tandoori version they offer at hotels nowadays). Mostly, I recall the Rajasthani style of cooking, so different to the Punjabi-ised food that has now taken over institutional and commercial kitchens in India. Institutional cooking only hints at the greatness of a cuisine. But once you get used to the flavours, these tastes stay with you. Some of those memories came back to me when I attended the Dine With Royalty event held at the Belgian embassy in Delhi. The event went on for several days and the food of the old princely states of India was served in elegant surroundings. But I went only for Sunday lunch because I was invited by Divija Singh who was involved with the food. Divija is the daughter of VP Singh, who is currently the Governor of Punjab. But for me, there was a Mayo connection. Divijas family is from the thikana of Badnore, a Rajasthan house with a strong Mayo connection. Divijas uncle (and the Raja of Badnore, though he never uses the title) is Raghu Raj Singh, a Mayo old boy who came back to teach at the school purely out of love. (He was well-off enough not to need a Mayo salary.) Mr. RRS, as we used to call him, is a much-loved figure for several generations of Mayo boys and I was delighted to see that he had come to Delhi specially for the event. Raghu Raj Singh, Raja of Badnore, is a Mayo old boy I sat in the Badnore tent and ate one of the best and most unusual meals I have had in a long time: classic Rajput cuisine with the specialities of the house. I sat with Governor VP Singh and Akali MP Naresh Gujral and we talked politics but as interesting as the conversation was, nothing could match the excellence of Badnore food. Afterwards Mr. RRS explained to me why I had enjoyed the food so much. Over half the cooks at Mayo, he told me, had come from Badnore. So, in a sense, I had grown up on these flavours without ever realising it. And yes, institutional cooking only hints at the greatness of a cuisine. But once you get used to the flavours, these tastes stay with you. The Badnore tent offered classic Rajput cuisine with the specialities of the house From the traditions of medieval India to something entirely modern. Shortly after I ate at the Badnore table, I went back to Diya after a long gap. Diya is the Indian restaurant at the Gurgaon Leela and was best known for many years as the home of celebrity chef Kunal Kapoor. I had eaten there when Kunal was cooking and the food was terrific. But now that he has moved on I wondered what the Leela would do with the restaurant. The Amritsari-style fried fish with a chhola roti at Diya is highly recommended I neednt have worried. Though the Leela groups core competence is traditional Indian food (it has two outstanding chefs: Surender Mohan for North Indian and Purshottam for South Indian) it has a pulled off an impressive makeover of Diya as a modern Indian restaurant that does not deviate from authentic flavours. I had an excellent prawn ghee roast with tamarind rice, an intense tomato and drumstick soup, Amritsari-style fried fish with a chhola roti, and a memorable nalli gosht on barley khichda with meat so tender that you could eat it with a spoon. Diya, at The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences, is a modern Indian restaurant that does not deviate from authentic flavours If you exclude the trendy places like Farzi Cafe, this is the best modern Indian food in Gurgaon. It is served without fuss or any pretension and there are no gimmicks. This is food cooked by talented chefs who are doing their best to try something new while staying true to their roots. I have been writing a lot about London Indian food for some weeks now. In my other column, The Taste on hindustantimes.com, I took the slightly controversial line that the poncy Frenchified Indian food of celebrated upmarket London Indian restaurants now seemed boring. And last week, I wrote on these pages that despite the abusive reviews, I thought that the Indian-inspired food at Flavour Bastard, a new and determinedly unfancy restaurant in London was good. Kricket, another Indian-inspired restaurant in Londons Soho has, unlike Flavour Bastard, received rave reviews from nearly every British critic. I decided to go after both Manish Mehrotra and Manu Chandra, two chefs I admire, praised it. I will probably do a longer piece at some stage on the new style non-fancy Indian food in London but for now, let me just say that the food at Kricket was as good as the reviews suggested. Kricket, an Indian-inspired restaurant in Londons Soho has received rave reviews from nearly every British critic (Hugh Johnson) It is a small place run by two Brits and I didnt see a single Indian in the kitchen which, I think, is great. You know that a cuisine has really taken off when people of various ethnicities feel comfortable cooking it: do you expect to see Italians in the kitchen every time you go for a pizza? The food consists of small plates at reasonable prices and I ordered most of the menu. A dahi bhel was good but not particularly special, samphire pakoras were perfectly fried, a smoked baingan dish was more Middle Eastern than bharta-like. Lasooni scallops were brilliant if not overly Lasooni, and the Keralan Fried Chicken was excellent. The one dud dish was the grilled lamb neck. There was nothing wrong with the idea but the lamb was too tough. The Kerala Fried Chicken at Kricket is excellent And there was one other unusual Indian meal. Of all the airlines that operate out of the madhouse that is Heathrow, Virgin offers its Upper Class passengers the best check-in experience. You avoid the departure hall, drive to a separate area and a guy comes to your car, collects your bags and checks you in before fast-tracking you through security. Virgin also has the one decent lounge at the airport where you can order, restaurant style, from a menu. I asked for the vegetable curry out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised to receive a thali with rice, papad, pickles, pyaaz and an acceptable gravy-sabzi on a banana leaf. It was the sort of meal that Indian railways should be serving. But of course they dont. Nor, sadly enough, do our own airlines. Its a long way from Badnore to London (via Gurgaon)! But thats what my month has been like. I guess the lesson is that Indian food, if made well, always tastes good, no matter whether it comes from palace cooks or from Brits behind a counter in Soho! From HT Brunch, November 26, 2017 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON I, too, dislike it: there are things that are important beyond all this fiddle. So begins Marianne Moores iconic and ironic defence of verse in the helpfully titled poem: Poetry. Years ago in lit class, our poet-professor got to the heart of the matter -- this deep-seated resistance to poetry shared by many. The inspirational Eunice de Souza introduced us to a multiplicity of poetic forms and content, disabusing silly notions and planting useful ones. She said, in words more or less like these: Not all poetry is Romantic poetry. Not every poet wanders lonely as a cloud, composing soulful odes to birds while pining away for damsels locked away in castles. When poetry is mocked or parodied (Roses are red/Violets are blue etc.) -- or even first attempted, it is in the Romantic style, that of the capital R. Of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Shelley and Byron. Wordsworth famously described poetry as [] the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility. (From the Preface to the Lyrical Ballads). But for all its considerable influence and merit, Romanticism is just one literary movement of thousands. Move on from the Romantics and you discover endless flavours of poetry for every taste, from the macabre to the merry. Along the way youre sure to encounter TS Eliot, owner of some of the finest lines in English poetry. Whether it is the pathos of Prufrock or the erudition of The Wasteland, the playfulness of Macavity or the succinctness of the Preludes, Eliot is one of those masters whose poetic influence on western literary culture is immense. But like all theorists, his criticism must be questioned. Mr. Eliot is what postcolonial, postmodern readers would call a literary snob. As I grow older, I find his Impersonality Theory (Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality.) particularly damaging to poets who come from a different ethos. The Confessional poets, for example, stand in stark contrast to this so-called objectivity, whether it is Sylvia Plaths gut-wrenching introspection or Robert Lowells deeply personal excavations. Beat guru Allen Ginsbergs bardic chant Howl is another counterpoint to both Romantic and Modernist traditions. Its interesting to see how Eliot himself collapses his own distinction between the man who suffers and the mind that creates in some of his most cherished works. Far from the western literary canon (that many Indian poets in English also belong to) lies a world of eastern poets, steeped in their own traditions, imagery and philosophies. The Chinese poets give us a glimpse of distant landscapes and unfamiliar customs, with the most heartbreakingly recognizable characters. Whether it is Ghalib or Gulzar, the Urdu tradition combines depth with charm, reflecting a syncretic Hindustani identity. Mirabai and Kabir give us Bhakti poetry that is spirituality without the self-help. While reading Prakrit love poetry, you encounter gems such as the one below. (From the excellent The Absent Traveller, translated by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra). After much training, The hussys mongrel Licks her lovers hand And flies at her husband. Poetry is so much more than dead white men proselytising from across the centuries. It speaks in whichever tongue the reader is familiar with, of every experience that counts, mainstream or marginalised. Whenever someone tells me they dont get poetry, I find myself taking up the deeply irritating position of defendant-in-chief. I swamp mailboxes with accessible poets of irresistible wit (Dorothy Parker), ironic contemporary poets (Wendy Cope), everyday poets with disarming styles (Billy Collins). Vikram Seth is a much-used argument, as are one-off poems from Theodore Roethke (My Papas Waltz) and Eunice de Souza (Women in Dutch Painting). If my victim shows a fraction of interest, theres Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Agha Shahid Ali, Pablo Neruda and others waiting down the line. And for kids theres the eye-opening anthology by Gerard Benson This Poem Does Not Rhyme that even cites Shakespeare and Milton for its purpose. The strategy is effective, if not sophisticated. Reel them in with humour and sink them deep, poet by poet. Goethe famously said: He who cannot draw from three thousand years is living hand to mouth. The German polymath would have had to add several more thousands to his estimate to the age of culture if he were to factor in non-western civilisations. But I agree with the sentiment and link it with poetry. Poetry, like all art, tells us more about ourselves than our official narratives ever will or can. It is conscious of the unconscious. Like Freud said: Everywhere I go, I find a poet has been there before me. So its tragic if an unimaginative teacher banging on about the Romantics ends a students love for poetry even before it has a chance to begin. From HT Brunch, November 26, 2017 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Brick jallis, standardised facades, row housing with common walls between adjoining houses and exposed concrete and brick facades are among common architectural elements that are not only aesthetically admirable, but also tell a story of how low cost mass housing was achieved using the design and choice of construction material here. Though aesthetic beauty of the citys architecture is much appreciated but its contribution to low cost housing is generally overlooked. In fact, its architectural history and style is a major contribution in the realm of low cost housing. With three renowned architects taking charge of designing Chandigarh, which included Pierre Jeanneret, Jane B Drew and Maxwell Fry, high degree of economy in the housing cost was achieved, says Jit Kumar Gupta, former director, College of Architecture, Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Bhaddal. Housing for all challenge A 2011 study by the ministry of housing and urban affairs pegged the housing shortage in the country at 18.76 million in urban areas, of which the EWS (economically weaker section) segment and in LIG (low income group) housing comprised 96%. Recently, speaking at a conference in New Delhi, the Union minister of housing and urban affairs Hardeep S Puri said subsequent assessments led to a revision of this figure and in the final analysis and the shortage is likely to be around or in excess of 10 million units, a sizable number and remains a tough target. Using pre-cost battens and tiles for the roof. (Sikander Singh/HT) In Punjab as well, the challenge for housing for all poses its own challenges. The task force on Urban Housing Shortage in Punjab in 2012 estimated the shortage at 0.39 million dwelling units. Even though the percentage of poverty rate reduced from 15-20% in 2001 to 10-11% in 2011, the share of poor families is high in big cities of Punjab. As per the National Building Organisation, 2015, the state has 1.46 million people in slum (2% of Indias total slum population). In Chanidgarh, nearly 30% population is living in slums and it is estimated that there is shortfall of 2 lakh houses for urban poor, says Saakaar Foundation architect Surinder Bahga. Paucity of funds and city housing needs The city was conceived and conceptualised in 1950 as the new capital city for Punjab. The state government accorded higher priority to the construction of houses for its employees. In the initial programme, it was envisioned for more 20,000 people within three years of start of construction. Initially, 3,208 dwelling units were to be constructed to which 4,000 units were added in 1956 when PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab State Union) was merged into Punjab. Out of 23,000 residential sites carved out in the first phase of the citys development, 30% residential sites were marked for government housing, which formed the majority of the accommodation in the first two decades of citys development. Small windows to save on the cost of wood. (Sikander Singh/HT) Major determinants of Chandigarh architecture, urban form and low cost housing designs, were stringent budget and strict adherence to it, which made the city a low density and low rise city with government housing forming bulk of construction. Since the city was built on a new site, the greatest challenge was to provide large housing stock for government employees who were to be shifted to the new city, says Gupta. Availability of funds for the Chandigarh project shaped architectural decisions. The funds available for the new city at the time were scarce and there was more emphasis on making everything economical, but at the same time not sacrificing harmony, utility and aesthetics of the architecture. To achieve this, focus was on laid on low cost options both in terms of materials used and the design elements. Jeanneret, Drew and Fry did most of the housing and social infrastructure. Jeanneret was an innovative mind and helped use innovative methods to economise construction, says SD Sharma, architect, Chandigarh Project, 1963-73. Low cost housing For achieving low cost housing, stress was laid on using, locally made inexpensive brick as the vital material for construction, minimising wood work and glazing, which were seven times more expensive than brick wall, by keeping window sizes minimum, standardisation of doors, windows and sanitary fittings besides using pre-cost roof battens and tiles for economising on time, shuttering, labour and using minimum machinery during construction, says Gupta. Using pre-cast gargoyles for draining rain water instead of rain water pipes. (Sikander Singh/HT) Bricks were used extensively. Cost-effective bricks were the main building material for construction. It was left in its natural form without plaster or paint, saving on current and future maintenance costs. Large area was brought under exposed brick work in natural form on the facades, says Sharma. Different design elements were incorporated to minimise the size and number of openings to save cost on wood. They made housing openings like windows smaller in size. Windows were properly shaded through an innovative system of sub-breakers to cut off the harsh sun, adds Gupta. Majority of air, light and ventilation in the houses was achieved through perforations made in the brick wall and extensive use of brick jallis. But, this didnt come at the cost of aesthetic elements. For instance, variety in design was achieved through recessed entrances, small-square windows, projecting structural walls, exposed roof battens, says Gupta. Battened door with cross braces (Sikander Singh/HT) Similarly, innovative technologies involving pre-cast building components were used, eliminating use of costly machinery and promoting improved local technologies, using vernacular architecture and promoting standardization, which brought about low cost housing, says Gupta. Use of cement was minimised and simple structures were used to keep cost low. Similarly, cost-saving design elements like protruding bricks were used in type 13 houses to shade the walls without incurring any additional costs, says Bahga. The design and materials pioneered during the early development years of the city continue to prove resilient even today. Take example of jute doors used in the first building constructed in the city, now turned into the Le Corbusier Centre, which are still in good shape after all these years. If we see older buildings, we can notice how low maintenance these required in last 60 years, but still continue to appear beautiful and functional, says Sangeet Sharma, a Chandigarh-based architect. Brick jallis installed in houses at Sector 22, one of the oldest sectors in Chandigarh. (Sikander Singh/HT) Lessons not learnt Lessons from Chandigarh architecture in low-cost housing have largely been overlooked by planners. Most new cities are planned focusing on the middle and upper middle class. Housing for poor is either ignored in the planning stage or is done shoddily. The Chandigarh architecture teaches valuable lessons in low-cost housing and should be emulated, says Bahga. Even satellite towns of Chandigarh, particularly Mohali, have failed to emulate the lessons. Where is the second Chandigarh in the country? Chandigarh architecture is a reference, but never served as a reference for low-cost housing development in the country. This must change if we are serious about meeting the challenge of low-cost housing, says Sangeet. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Is there a disconnect between what the government and the BJP say about Kashmir and how they act? The honest answer is I dont know although I have my suspicions. So lets explore this issue more closely. The truth is for a while the government has sounded rather emollient. You may recall one or two instances but I bet youll be surprised by how many there have been and what they amount to. First, on Independence Day the prime minister said the solution was to embrace Kashmiris, not shoot or abuse them. Shortly thereafter the home minister, speaking in Srinagar, said he was willing to talk to anyone and promised not to act against the sentiments of Kashmiris. He also said he would make 50 visits a year if necessary. This month Rajnath Singh went further. He said he had asked the state government to move juveniles arrested for pelting stones from jail to remand homes and review their cases sympathetically. On November 22, the state government launched a scheme for amnesty to stone-pelters and withdrawal of cases against first- time offenders. Of course, many of these are just statements but they are, nonetheless, significant and, taken together, suggest determination if not also sincerity. However, the most striking promise is one thats got the least attention. When asked by this paper on November 17 if the Special Representative would speak to Hurriyat, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav not only confirmed he would but pointedly added: The dialogue has to happen in a very open manner, without any precondition. In fact, this echoed what Madhav had told this paper in August last year. At that time he said the government was ready to engage all sections of the Valleys society and Kashmiris could ask for the moon within the Indian Constitution. No one can dismiss all these comments as one-offs or made casually. Theyve been spoken by men of responsibility and repeated so often they clearly form a consistent chain. So the natural expectation is these comments must have led to major changes. But if they havent then, surely, the question I began with is valid? Now lets look at whats happened. For a whole year Ram Madhavs promises of August 2016 were forgotten before the Prime Minister revived them but only verbally. A Special Representative of cabinet rank has, no doubt, been appointed but so far he hasnt made a credible effort to speak to Hurriyat. And as for the claim there will be no preconditions and Kashmiris can ask for the moon the way the Prime Minister pounced on Chidambarams stand, that India should consider reforms that may restore the autonomy Kashmir had at accession, suggests many of these things were said more for effect than implementation. So do you get the feeling the BJP knows how to say the right things but doesnt act on them or is inexplicably slow to do so? And then, side by side, theres all this talk of scrapping Articles 35 (A) and 370 or building Sainik Colonies which, admittedly, may be intended to taunt but certainly dont reassure Kashmiris. As I admitted, Im not sure theres a disconnect but it certainly seems like one. However, what Im more certain of is theres confusion in the BJPs and the governments thinking. They either dont realise what theyve said or dont want to act on their statements. If this leads you to the conclusion they say one thing and do another I wouldnt necessarily disagree. The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Why is Delhi a state? That isnt a facile question. It is also a question that merits repeating. Why is Delhi a state? Indias capital was a beautiful city (before it became a beautiful-but-unlivable city-state) in the 1970s and part of the 1980s. The traffic was still manageable (the tricked-out-Maruti-800 revolution was a few years away), as was the population. It was still safe, although city-historians would later point to the horrific Sanjay and Geeta Chopra murders in 1978 as a tipping point. It had wide tree-lined avenues, beautiful parks, and a certain old-world feel. Gurugram and Ghaziabad were yet to become the heaving satellite-towns they would become, and NOIDA was a small and immaculately planned suburb. Truth is, you can get nostalgic about almost any Indian city. Bengaluru in the 1970s, 1980s, even part of the 1990s, was one of the best places to live in India. Mumbai, almost till the late 1990s, was still a perfectly functioning metropolis. Kolkata was an important cultural and business centre in the 1980s. Of the lot, only Chennai (Madras in the old days), which received and still gets a bad rap for weather, has managed to keep some bit of its old self alive, although, like Kolkata, it has become a city of parents. Still, Delhis case is particularly unique and not the least because it is a city-state that is home to the central government. Part of this has to perhaps do with its success. Even in the 1980s and 1990s, Mumbai was the countrys commercial capital and Delhi, its political capital. That has changed. Today, the centre of gravity of business in India hovers somewhere between Mumbai and Delhi and Bengaluru (although it is still slightly polarised towards the first). Today, Delhi and its environs, called the National Capital Region, and including bits of Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, are home to as many, if not more, multinational corporations, than Mumbai or Bengaluru. Gurugram is the largest automobile manufacturing hub in the country. This has also changed the profile of the regions population. That success has translated into a greater demand on the citys and the regions hard and soft infrastructure. For instance, Delhi is woefully short of power and dependant on power from other regions. It also has its water piped in from elsewhere. Its roads are unable to cope with its huge volume of traffic, the result of it having more vehicles than Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata combined. It has become unsafe for women. Every year, it has at least one major outbreak of dengue, or chikungunya, or some other disease. It has a perennial garbage problem. And, over the past few years, every winter, it has the worst air quality in the country. These are the kind of issues that would tax even the most efficient administrations. Only, in Delhi, it isnt clear who is in charge. The city itself is divided into three local bodies, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation that comes under the central government; the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (which is divided into three corporations, each elected); and the Delhi Cantonment Board which falls under the union defence ministry. On top of these are Delhis elected government or the Lieutenant Governor, an appointee of the union government. Then there are satellites such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad. The first two fall under the Haryana government and the last two under Uttar Pradesh. The number of bodies and individuals and governments responsible for Delhi puts the city-state in a uniquely piquant position. One, people do not know who is accountable for what. Indeed, ahead of this years election to the three corporations that make up the MCD, the Bharatiya Janata Party fought at least part of its campaign on the platform of change despite having been in charge of all three corporations for the past 10 years. Two, it is easy for the people in charge to pass the buck. Indeed, this is the standard response of Delhis Aam Aadmi Party government. This was evident during the recent air pollution crisis that the city-state experienced. Despite this being an annual affair, the state government seemed entirely unprepared for it. It had not implemented many of the measures it promised to last year. Worse, it had not bought more buses despite sitting on a green fund that had more than enough money. When this was pointed out, it pointed a finger at the Delhi Development Authority, which reports to the Lieutenant Governor, saying the agency had not given it enough land to park the buses it wanted to buy. To be fair to the Delhi state government, there are areas such as law and order, for instance, where it can do little because the Delhi Police doesnt report to it. But there are several areas where it can do a lot. In some, such as education (schools), it has achieved a lot. In others, it hasnt, and the reason for this underachievement and underperformance isnt always its limited powers, although it is a good excuse for the same. There is an ideal solution. As Indias capital, the location of the central government, the most important vertex in the Delhi-Agra-Jaipur golden triangle in tourism, and an important cultural and commercial hub, the city-state deserves better. If this means carving out a larger region (the satellite towns and suburbs, for instance), and putting an administrative authority reporting to the union government in charge, then so be it. For one, this would immediately clarify who is in charge. For another, it would remove centre-state relations from the equation. And it would create an authority responsible for a geographical area that is already contiguous in all aspects except governance. Sure, it would help to have such a body. Just as it would help if Delhis state government had more powers, or had better relations with the union government. But there is also a more pragmatic and simple solution: there is much the AAP government in Delhi could have done and can still do to make the city more livable. The average Delhiite puts up with a lot: unsafe roads; harassment and rape; traffic jams; disease outbreaks; bad air; and, also helplessness arising sometimes from not knowing who to hold responsible for all this. It is time to put an end to this. It is time for the state government to step up (however limited it may feel its powers are). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An apex trade association has suggested that the Uttarakhand government form a high-power committee so that Rs 2 lakh crore of investments the state has received in the past five years could be used in setting up industries. Half of this investment is lying unusedAlmost the same is the case with the remaining amount, said DS Rawat, secretary general of Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India). Investors find it difficult to invest those funds in units they are setting up in the state owing to various hurdles, Rawat told reporters here on Saturday. We have urged the chief minister to set up a high-power committee so that investments could be used in setting up industries. Rawat said a study by Assocham revealed that bureaucratic red tape was one of the hurdles coming in the way of a smooth utilisation of investments. The study, titled Uttarakhand: Economic Growth and Investment Performance, had been submitted to the chief minister, he said, adding that the report presented an overview of the states performance since the fiscal 2012-13. Apart from bureaucratic hurdles, the bottlenecks pertaining to land acquisition and environment clearances are also coming in the way of a smooth utilisation of investments, Rawat said. Even if half of the investments are properly utilized, it would result in some 30,000 people getting jobs in the industrial sector. Rawat said agrarian sector also required the governments focused attention. The agriculture growth rate in the mountain state had registered a sharp decline from 12.3% in 2012 to 8.9% in the current fiscal, he said, quoting the Assocham study. The growth in the service sector though had registered a marginal increase from 33.9% in 2012 to 36.9%, Rawat said, suggesting that the state government re-strategise its policy initiatives to boost to the farm and service sectors. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Uttarakhand Congress demand for holding urban local body (ULB) polls in the state via ballot papers over fears of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) being allegedly tampered has invited jibes from the ruling BJP. Amid allegations of EVMs being tampered in the assembly polls earlier this year and then during the ongoing ULB polls in neighboring Uttar Pradesh, Congress corporators have approached the state election commission, demanding that EVMs be completely kept away from the upcoming local body polls in Uttarakhand. Given how it has been shrouded in controversies, it is better to keep away from using EVMs for local body polls. They should instead be held through ballot papers for ensuring total transparency, said Rajkumar, former Rajpur Road lawmaker who led the delegation of Congress leaders. ULB polls are scheduled to be held in Uttarakhand by April next year. The previous civic polls were held in 2013 through the EVMs at some ULBs and ballot papers at most others. The BJP, however, lashed out at the Congress, saying that it was scared of the ruling partys popularity and hence the demand. Theyre so scared of us that perhaps in their minds they already know theyre going to lose. Tampering of EVMs has not been proved yet and their demand only goes on to show their defeatist outlook, BJPs state media in-charge Devendra Bhasin said. It may be recalled that soon after the assembly elections earlier this year, various parties including the BSP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party had alleged large-scale tampering of the EVMs in favor of the BJP. After the controversy, the Election Commission of India had clarified that it was not possible to tamper with EVMs, and even held a hackathon challenging parties to prove their claims. There are 92 ULBs in Uttarakhand at present, including six municipal corporations, 43 municipal boards and an equal number of town panchayats. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In 17 years of its existence, Uttarakhand has seen an exponential rise in the number of vehicles being bought from 42,000 registered vehicles in 2000 when the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh to 24 lakh in 2017, a top official said Saturday. The state accounts for 0.03% of the total deaths in the road accidents in the country. Theres an urgent need to educate the youngsters to refrain from rash driving and for instilling awareness towards traffic rules, Director General of Police Anil Raturi said. He was addressing a seminar on road safety at St Josephs Academy. Addressing the seminar, SSP, Dehradun, Nivedita Kukreti said the population of Dehradun is 7.5 lakhs and the district has more than 10 lakh registered vehicles. He said, there were 386 traffic personnel in Dehradun translating into one traffic personnel for every 2,676 vehicles. This ratio goes up to 1:5,200 at tourist spots. The SSP stressed on the need for increasing the number of traffic personnel and initiating measures for traffic management. She pointed out that already the police department was trying to ensure that the left turn at all major intersections was kept free. She pointed out that school timing and parking on their campuses was another important issue and they were in talks with the schools on this. Vikas Garg, the regional chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry, said that the police must be well equipped to deal with the surge of tourists in Dehradun and Musoorie on weekends. He also requested the traffic department to dedicate certain routes for trucks so that they are not parked by the side of the roads leading to traffic jams. He also urged the government to designate the canal route for the Kanwad Yatra so that the industries did not suffer due to closure of Meerut-Haridwar highway for 12 days during the annual event. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and transport minister Yashpal Arya were also present at the event that was convened by assistant inspector general, traffic, Kewal Khurana, Additional DGP Ashok Kumar, principal of St Josephs Academy Babu Verghese, regional transport officer, Dehradun, Sudhanshu Garg and road engineering expert from IIT Roorkee Rajat Rastogi. The prime accused in the 300 crore NH 74 scam and former special land acquisition officer DP Singh was on Saturday admitted to a local hospital as a special investigation team reached to take him on police remand. A special anti-corruption court on Friday sent Singh to the Nainital jail and permitted the state polices special investigation team (SIT) to take him on 3-day remand. When the SIT team reached the jail in the morning, they were informed by the jail doctor that Singh was unwell and will have to be admitted to the hospital. The jail administration requested the local police to take Singh to the hospital even as the SIT approached the civil court for his custody. The court directed the government counsel to hand over Singh to the SIT team. The government counsel spoke to the state inspector general of police (prisons) PVK Prasad, who directed the jail superintendent Manoj Kumar to hand Singh over to the SIT. The SIT team led by investigation officer Swatantra Singh after taking Singh into custody accompanied him to the hospital where doctors carried out a detailed medical check-up. Singh is suffering from high blood pressure as he was diabetic and his electrocardiogram show that his heart was not functioning properly, said Dr MS Dugtal at the hospital. He has been referred to the Susheela Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani, he said. Singh surrendered before the SIT in Rudrapur on November 23. In March, the then Kumaon commissioner D Senthil Pandiyan unearthed the scam in procurement of land for construction of the NH-74 in Udham Singh Nagar district. The nature of the land was allegedly changed from agricultural to commercial under Section 143 of Zamidari Abolishment and Land Reforms Act, 1950. Farmers were allegedly given inflated compensation in collusion with revenue officials. An FIR was lodged on March 11 against nearly 100 people, including revenue and National Highway Authority of India officials. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat suspended six state civil service officials, including Singh, in April. Villagers of Vyans Valley have demanded 15 more days from the Pithoragarh district administration to come down to their residences in lower valleys as part of their annual winter migration, citing delay in the onset of the cold season. The administration wants residents of more than 10 Vyans Valley villages in Dharchula sub-division to move to lower reaches by November 30, so that construction work will begin on a rocky portion of the road from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh Pass, the last Indian post at the border with China. In the absence of an alternative route, the villagers will find it difficult to move to their houses in the lower reaches after the road construction begins. Unlike earlier years, winter has been delayed this time giving villagers a reason to hold up their movement to lower parts, said Mahendra Singh Budiyal, a BJP leader in Dharchula. The district administration is firm on resuming road construction on December 1. We have told the villagers to migrate till November 30 and thereafter no permission will be given to them for movement on the route, RK Pandey, Dharchula sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), told Hindustan Times. The villagers want the administration to start work on a 6-km rocky patch between Nazang and Bundi after December 15. Work on the 6-km portion of the 75-km double-lane motor road from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh Pass is one of the most challenging projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) owing to the rocky terrain. After construction of the double-lane motor road to the last security point at India-China border in Vyans Valley, the last border post will be linked to the mainstream of the country, said Pandey. The construction of the road started in 2002 and was scheduled to be completed by 2007, but due to tough and rocky portions on the site, the work got delayed. The administration now aims at completing the construction by 2019. Officials said an alternative route will be constructed for the movement of people. We are also developing an alternative route to ensure human transportation during the construction of the road, the SDM said. A 19-year-old has alleged that he was doused in petrol and set on fire by three bikers in Outer Delhis Bawana on Thursday after he objected to their behaviour towards a girl accompanying him. The man, an aspiring chartered accountant, received over 50% burns and has been admitted to the burns ward of Lok Nayak Hospital. The 17-year-old girl accompanying him managed to escape unhurt. Dependra Pathak, Delhi Polices chief spokesperson, said investigators are scanning CCTV footage for any clues of the attackers and are also probing if the burns were self-inflicted. He said more than 50 love letters were received from the duos bags. Many of these letters addressed to each were written in blood. The content of some of these letters were bizarre. In one of the letters, the man had mentioned about sacrificing his life on a Thursday if the girl deserted him. Incidentally, the day the victim was set on fire is also a Thursday, Pathak said. He said that the duos relationship appeared to be passing through a difficult phase. The letters also suggested that the duos friendship was inspired by Beyhadh, a psychological thriller with a strong romantic angle. They had given each other the names of the lead male and female characters of the TV serial Beyhadh, said an investigator. The girl is a Class 12 student and lives in west Delhis Nangloi. The man too lived nearby and their families have known each other for nearly five years. The parents knew about their friendship, said Rishi Pal, DCP (Rohini). On Thursday morning, the duo had gone to Kanjhawala Road in Bawana. The man claimed that as they walked past a cow shelter in the neighbourhood, three youths on a motorcycle began passing lewd comments at the girl and one of them even pulled her dupatta. When I protested, they caught hold of her (the girl) and began beating me up. A few minutes later, one of them brought a bottle of petrol and doused me using it. They then lit a match, threw it at me and rode away, alleged the man. I immediately got rid of my T-shirt to save myself, but I still suffered some burns. We then looked for help, but people just looked and us and went their way. We walked for almost a kilometre before we received help from a traffic policeman, said the man. The victim was rushed to a nearby healthcare centre from where he was referred to GB Pant Hospital and subsequently to Lok Nayak Hospital. The DCP said a PCR call about the incident was made by the hospital authorities. No eyewitness to the burning incident has emerged so far, police said. One eyewitness, who refused to identify himself, said he only saw the duo walk towards him from a forested area in the neighbourhood. The DCP said CCTV footage showed Kumar and the girl walking together, but none of the alleged bikers have been captured. He said a case of attempt to murder has been registered. The officer said that there were certain discrepancies in the statements of the victim and the girl. A top pollution prevention panel has urged the meteorological department to give out at least a weeks forecast for weather. The pollution-prevention body said the current two-day prediction was not sufficient to implement the emergency response plan that is required to kick-in everytime the pollution in the National Capital turns severe. Beijing and other cities across the world have 15 days pollution forecasts, which helps them strategise better. We need at least seven days forecasts, cant have a two-day alert Give us a chance to be prepared and take action, EPCA member Sunita Narain told MeT department officials on Friday. The EPCA Environment Pollution Control and Prevention Authority (EPCA) is a Supreme Court-appointed committee and holds the power to implement the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a protocol that will put restrictions on factories and vehicles to pre-empt pollution. The National Capital Region went through an unprecedented pollution crisis earlier this month when the air became unfit to breathe for a week, staying in severe category between November 7 and 14. The worst was on November 9, when the Air Quality Index hit 486. According to EPCA, the most advanced prediction it had before November 7 was of November 6. It said winds will come from Punjab. But it did not provide any warning of the kind of anti-cyclonic weather disturbance that was happening in the upper circulatory system and the impending problems that it would bring In the future, we have to ensure that there is no episode like this, Narain said. Dust from the Gulf region was later identified as the main reason for the smog crisis, contributing slightly more than the crop burning in agrarian states surrounding the NCR zone. According to the report, EPCA is provided no advance warning for sudden change in weather patterns, but only has information about current state of pollution through real-time monitoring of the AQI. But across the world, where such smog alert systems are in place, a robust and reliable weather forecasting system is essential for action, it said. REGULAR ALERTS In Fridays meeting, the EPCA decided that alerts will be sent out in newspapers when the air quality is in very poor, severe and severe plus levels. In Delhi, according to Delhi Pollution Control Committee officials, the health department was already doing it. The EPCA urged representatives of several states to make sure the alerts are frequent. Some state officials said they will do it once in a fortnight, to which Narain suggested it be done daily. CONSTRUCTION BAN BANE The ban on construction activities during the emergency levels of pollution had left migrant labourers in the lurch as contractors refused to pay them, the Delhi government told EPCA. The pollution panel has now decided to review the issue, which forced many labourers to leave, and hammer out a solution. EPCA chairman Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain have stressed that contractors would have to pay the labourers during the period of the ban. But officials from Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) states, in the meeting, pointed out that in the absence of any legislation that provides the workers the safety of paid leave, it becomes next to impossible to enforce it. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In July, speaking at the release of a report on child marriage in India, Sunita Reddy, professor at JNUs Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health had pointed out, that while educating girls can lower the risk of child marriages, often parents are reluctant to educate their daughters and prefer to have them married off at an early age because they fear that some oonch-neech would happen to the girl. This oonch-neech can be the girl getting molested, or raped or even falling in love and wanting to marry someone of her choice. A recent study by development economist Girija Borker, published on November 3, would suggest that the hurdle of unsafe public spaces and the fear of harassment in the path of womens education exist not just in rural areas, as commonly perceived, but even in the national capital. Borker conducted a study in and gathered data from 40 Delhi University colleges to measure the extent to which perceived risk of street harassment can help explain womens college choices in Delhi. Delhi has the unsavoury moniker of being the rape capital of the country. According to the Crime in India 2015 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Delhi showed the highest crime rate in rapes (reported cases of crime against 1,00,000 women) at 23.7, as compared to the national average of 5.7. In Borkers sample, 89% of college-going female students said they had faced some form of harassment while travelling in Delhi. The report goes on to record the kind of precaution women students take to avoid this harassment. While 72% of female students report avoiding an unsafe area, 67% avoid going out after dark. The fear of harassment, Borker found, also played a role in the female students choice of institution. She combined data collected from the University of Delhi, with route mapping from Google Maps, and mobile app safety data, to study the trade-offs women face between college quality and travel safety, relative to men. Borker found that women are willing to attend a college that is 25 percentage points lower in the quality distribution for a route that is perceived to be one standard division (SD) safer. Borker used selectivity in admissions as an indicator of college quality, measured by a colleges cutoff score. Men, in her sample size, were only willing to attend a college that is five percentage points lower in the quality distribution for a route that is one SD safer. Borker analysed district-wise rape data available with the NCRB to estimate that one additional SD of route safety while walking is equivalent to a 3.1% decrease in the rapes reported annually. She refers to various previous studies to suggest that choosing a worse-ranked college may have long-term consequences since college quality affects a students academic training, network of peers, access to labour opportunities, and lifetime earnings. From entry decisions to actual working on the job, the threat of sexual harassment is a debilitating barrier, says Dr Kaustav Banerjee, Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Early job market studies in mainstream economics, from the 60s, have drawn attention to various dimensions of gender-based discrimination and Borkers paper is in that lineage, said Banerjee. Nalini Gulati, economist at the International Growth Centre, agrees. Safety is definitely an issue in Delhi. Given the competition, the quality of college will have a direct impact on job prospects, she says. Even when a woman is in a job, security concerns may prevent her from travelling long distances or working late, which results in her losing out on growth opportunities, she adds. Referring to the World Employment Social Outlook 2017, Borker writes, the global labour force participation rate for women is 26.7 percentage points lower than the rate for men in 2017, and the largest gender gap in participation rates is faced by women in emerging countries. The results of this paper suggest that street harassment could help explain part of this gender gap. Not everyone though, is in agreement of the premise or findings of Borkers study. While safety and safe access are definitely considerations when one is looking for an educational institution, I dont think anyone will forego a possible admission in any DU college for that reason, simply because there is such a scarcity of seats, says Dr Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research. The choice, adds Kavita Krishnan, secretary of the All-India Progressive Womens Association, is often not the womens. The concern for safety is often used as an excuse by families to restrict a womans choice and mobility. We often find that even good students are stopped by their families from attending extra-curricular activities or research projects if it involves staying out late. Meanwhile, the concern for safety is a double burden, writes Borker. While on the one hand, it may impact or restrict womens career advancement, it results in their spending more than men on the commute. Women are also willing to travel by a route that costs 20,000 more per year as long as it is one SD safer. This is 16 times more than men are willing to spend in terms of travel costs for an additional unit of safety. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A total of 2,31,067 candidates are expected to appear in Indias biggest MBA entrance test, the Common Admission Test conducted by the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM-L) on November 26. By and large all preparations have been made for the test. We wish all the candidates best of luck for the test, said Prof Neeraj Dwivedi of IIM(L), the convener of the examination. The test, which will be held in two sessions of 180 minutes each, will have three sections. Section I will have verbal ability and reading comprehension; section II will be data interpretation and logical reasoning and section III will deal with quantitative ability, Prof Dwivedi said. Some questions in each section may not be of multiple choice type and candidates will have to type direct answers online. We will also allow the use of the basic onscreen calculator for computation. Candidates will be allotted exactly 60 minutes for answering questions in each section and they cannot switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section, the convener said. CAT 2017 will be conducted in centres spread across approximately 140 cities. This year the number of women candidates registered for CAT-2017 has increased this year by 1.16% over last years figure. Against total applicants of 231,067, this year 78,009 women candidates will take the examination. Last year 76,000 women had appeared in the exam. The number of male candidates this year is 153,027. This year the number of transgender candidates also increased to 31 from 22 last year, said Prof Dwivedi. The number of physically challenged applicants is 910 against last years 921. Registration for the Common Admission Test (CAT), gateway to IIMs and other leading B-schools, declined a bit this year. It had shot up to a seven-year high in 2016, with 232,434 candidates applying for the entrance test. Information related to CAT 2017 results will be tentatively available starting second week of January 2018 on this website. The list of candidates shortlisted for the next level of selection will be made available on the website of the respective IIMs. Each IIM will send interview letters to the shortlisted candidates directly. The criteria for shortlisting vary among IIMs. Candidates will have to visit the admission hotlinks of the respective websites of IIMs for further information. This year IIM-L had extended the last date of registration for the entrance test from September 20 to 25 to accommodate more candidates. During the five days extension period some 20,000 candidates had applied, Prof Dwivedi said. The candidates will be permitted to download their admit card till the test date. Dwivedi said a tutorial to understand the format of the test was made available on the CAT website from October 18. CAT scores are accepted by the 20 IIMs and more than 100 business schools across the country. Around 4000 seats are offered through IIMs. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the admit card of all the regions for examination to recruit temporary constables (executive) - male and female in Delhi police. The admit card has been released for candidates of Northern region, Karnataka Kerala region, Western region (Mumbai), Southern region, Madhya Pradesh region, North Western region, Eastern region, North Eastern region and Central region. Candidates can download the released admit card for the examination from SSCs official website. Click on the link for admit card on the top navigation bar of the home page. Click on the link for the region from which you have applied. This will take you to the regional websites of SSC from where you can download your admit card. Key in the required details and your admit card will be displayed on the screen. Take a printout and keep the admit card safely. Or Click on the links given below to go to the login page of the regional websites for downloading the admit card: Northern region: Admit Card Karnataka Kerala region: Admit card Western region (Mumbai): Admit card Eastern region: Admit card North Eastern region: Admit card Central region: Admit card Southern region: Admit card Madhya Pradesh region: Admit card North Western region: Admit card The examination will be held from December 5 to December 8, 2017. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The father of a teen accused of murdering an eight-year-old schoolmate at Gurgaons Ryan International School has hired the lawyer who successfully defended dentist-couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in the murder trial of their daughter, Aarushi. Lawyer Tanveer Ahmed Mir confirmed on Friday that he will defend the Ryan murder suspect, a Class 11 student of the school. Preliminary discussions have taken place with the father of the juvenile accused. Once the terms and conditions are formally finalised, I will be defending the boy, he said. The Ryan murder this September has drawn parallels with the 2008 killing of 14-year-old Aarushi because of the twists and turns in both cases. Gurgaon police arrested a school bus conductor on September 8 after Pradhyumn Thakur, a Class 2 student, was found dead with his throat slit outside a washroom on the campus. But the boys father was not convinced with the police investigation and demanded a CBI probe, which was ordered later. The CBI arrested a Class 11 student on November 7, accusing him of murdering his junior to delay a scheduled school examination and a parent-teacher meeting. In the Aarushi case, Uttar Pradesh police accused Rajesh Talwar of killing his daughter in a fit of rage and arrested him. But the CBI, which took over the investigation, implicated three domestic helps of the Noida-based Talwars and their friends initially. When doubts were raised about their role, the agency took the police line and accused the parents. Though a trial judge in Ghaziabad convicted Talwar, the Allahabad high court this October overturned the verdict and acquitted him. Lawyer Mir underscored the investigators about-turn and lack of prosecutable evidence. The father of the Ryan suspect said Gurgaon police were treating his son as a witness, but the CBI accused him of murder. My son has been framed by CBI officers I will try to save my son as he is innocent and will fight to get justice. I will take help of best lawyers in this case, he said. He said his son narrated the sequence of the events to the probation officer appointed by the juvenile justice board on November 13. If my son had killed a boy would he be able to behave normally. After all he is also a child. On the day of the murder, he attended his tuition classes that evening and was absolutely normal, the father added. According to another lawyer hired by the father, a team was being formed to defend the child. The Allahabad high court on Friday directed to put up as fresh a petition challenging an order of additional district judge (ADJ), Gorakhpur that was in favour of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and six others in the dargah burning case of Gorakhpur of 2007. The ADJ had set aside the order of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM), who had taken cognizance of the charge sheet filed against Adityanath and the six others in the case. Hearing an application by Rasheed Khan, manager of the dargah and another person, Justice Rahul Chaturvedi directed to put up the matter on December 13, 2017 in the list of freshly filed cases. The petitioner had lodged an FIR on January 28, 2007 at Gorakhpurs Kotwali police station, alleging that the then MP Yogi Adityanath and six others had burnt the dargah and looted its cash box. Thereafter, the state government had granted sanction to prosecute Adityanath and others. Read more: UP govt committed to establishing rule of law: CM Yogi Adityanath The police submitted a charge sheet against the accused before the CJM, Gorakhpur who, on December 22, 2009, took cognizance of the matter and directed the authorities concerned to proceed with the criminal trial. Later, one of the accused Mahesh Khemka filed a revision before the ADJ challenging the order of the CJM. The ADJ, on January 28, 2017, set aside the CJMs order. Now, the manager of the dargah has challenged the ADJs order. Media Barred In another case relating to the 2008 Gorakhpur riots case, wherein then MP Yogi Adityanath is accused of inciting communal violence and riots in the city, the court has barred the media from publishing court proceedings of the case till delivery of judgment. The order was passed on a state government plea that alleged wrong reporting of the proceedings of the case and said it (wrong reporting) was causing lot of embarrassment to the state government. What would a 122-year-old book of Bengali poetry be doing in an old desert mosque in Australia? That question led postdoctoral fellow Samia Khatun on a journey into the outback, where she encountered Aboriginals who still spoke a smattering of Bengali. It all started with a mistake when the book was first found, it was assumed to be a Quran. I saw a photograph in this book called Tin Mosques and Ghantowns: History of Afghan Cameldrivers in Australia by Christine Stevens and I realised it wasnt a Quran, says Khatun, 35. I recognised the script it was Bengali and it wasnt religious verse, it was poetry. Khatun, a Bangladeshi, was then doing her PhD at the University of Sydney. Her dissertation was titled, Camels, Ships, Trains: Translation Across the Indian Archipelago 1860-1930 and set out to examine cross-cultural interactions arising from the little-known but historically significant South Asian presence in Australia in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. So when she heard about the Quran at Broken Hill, an isolated mining city in New South Wales, she travelled almost 500 miles to the towns historical society and confirmed that they had been mistaken for over a century. Khatun is now writing a book of her own, on her discovery and its cultural connotations, called Australianama: The South Asian Odyssey in Australia. I immediately sent some photographs of the book to my mother, who identified it as a Puthi, a kind of songbook, says Khatun. This rare 500-page volume was printed in Calcutta in 1895, and its presence suggested that there was once a sizeable community of Bengali speakers in this middle-of-nowhere place, because these poems are meant to be sung and performed for an audience. The songs are based on stories of Islamic and Hindu prophets and were meant for village audiences, since most people in rural Bengal would then have been illiterate. The fact that it was here revealed that the performative cultures of South Asians had reached the absolute interiors of Australia, Khatun says. As she began to try and trace the books journey from Calcutta to Broken Hill, it became clear that if one wanted to know about the history of South Asians who travelled to the interiors of Australia at this time, the best people to talk to were those from the Aboriginal communities, because they had an uninterrupted history in the region and also, because many of the South Asians had married into Aboriginal families too. The book is now being preserved by the Broken Hill Historical Society as an even rarer treasure than they thought. And Khatun is writing a book of her own, on her journey of discovery and its cultural connotations, called Australianama: The South Asian Odyssey in Australia. It traces the roots and influence of the subcontinental community that settled in the outback here Bengalis migrated to be part of the camel industry, the mosque itself was built by Afghans who were trading in the camels. The subject of Dr Khatuns book is fascinating as its not only the story of one book but also of an entire community, says Abhijit Gupta, book historian and professor of English at Jadavpur University. It tells the story of book production in Calcutta. Its a printed puthi, mass produced at Battala more than a hundred years ago. Some migrant worker may have carried it to Australia as a talisman, so its also a story of the ways in which knowledge travels across continents, what is preserved, what is lost this is a story of all of that, Gupta adds. Australianama, published by Hurst in London and Oxford University Press in New York, is due out in 2018. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indias homegrown Arjun Mk-2 tanks may finally get missile firing capability next year. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be ready with a new indigenous missile that can be fired from the tank, a top government official told Hindustan Times on Saturday. The upgrade of Arjun Mk-2 tank suffered a major setback in 2013 after the Israeli missile to be fitted on it failed to meet the armys requirements, delaying the programme by several years. The indigenous missile is under trials and would be able to meet the armys requirement of engaging targets at ranges less than 1,200 metres. The army rejected the Israeli LAHAT (laser homing anti tank) missile, manufactured by the Israeli Aerospace Industries, because it could engage targets only at ranges beyond 1,500 metres. The LAHAT missiles tested by the army and the DRDO cost nearly Rs 20 crore, an expenditure dubbed unfruitful by the national auditor in a recent report. The army initially wanted a missile that could engage targets between 500 metres and 5km, but later revised the requirement to 1,200 metres and 5 km. Missile firing capability is one of the most significant upgrades proposed in the tank. The defence ministry cleared the purchase of 118 Arjun Mk-2 tanks at a cost of more than Rs 6,600 crore in 2014. The DRDO-developed tank is an upgraded version of the Mk-1 variant, 119 of which have been inducted in the army. The Mk-2 variant is supposed to have nearly 80 improved features over the previous version, including more than 15 major technology upgrades. The major improvements on the new tank include better firepower, integrated explosive reactive armour, advanced laser warning and countermeasure system, a mine plough, a remotely-operable anti-aircraft weapon, advanced land navigation system and enhanced night vision capabilities. The army raised its maiden armoured regiment equipped with Arjun Mk-1 tanks in May 2009, more than 35 years after the project was conceived. India and China have heightened surveillance and security along the 3,488km boundary the two countries share, with border guards stocking up supplies for the dreary Himalayan winter. The preparations stem from the 72-day standoff between the two armies on the Doklam plateau off east Bhutan this summer. The armies disengaged on August 28, but a move to establish a hotline between the director general military operations (DGMO) in India and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China hasnt received any encouraging response from Beijing. Given the uncertainty, Indian border troops are keeping a watchful eye. For its part, the PLA is said to be bringing reinforcements to its territory close to the disputed Doklam area. But top South Block sources said the situation in Doklam is stable and both sides are stocked up to sit out the winter. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) guards the Chinese frontier from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, backed by the army. ITBP chief Ranjit Pachnanda will fly to the Northeast this week to review the winter supplies for his frontline troops. Diplomatically, the two Asian giants are engaged in a special representative dialogue to resolve their long border dispute. Talks between Chinese state councillor Yang Jiechi and Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval is due this December-end in New Delhi. The dates for state councillor Yangs special representative talks are still to be proposed from the Indian side, a Chinese diplomatic source said. The two countries reiterated a resolve to maintain peace and tranquillity along the boundary at the November 17 meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India China Border Affairs. But the Indian proposal for a DGMO-level hotline was resisted by the PLA representative. South Block officials said the Chinese are more comfortable with communication at the local commander level, rather than between Indian Army and PLA headquarters. The PLA is apparently worried that misunderstanding could crop up in times of crisis as the communication process between PLA headquarters and its Western Theatre Command, based in Chengdu, was slow. The Indians sought a DGMO-level hotline to ensure no PLA commander unilaterally played Rambo, as suspicions persist that the Doklam standoff was triggered by an area officer and may not have the sanction of the top brass. The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has recommended an enquiry against the vice-chancellor of Allahabad University, Rattan Lal Hangloo, to President Ram Nath Kovind, the Visitor of the institution, sources said. For an enquiry to be conducted, the Visitors approval is required. The recommendation follows a report from a fact-finding committee, formed by Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, on the violence that erupted inside the campus in April. The committee had gone there to probe the violence that took place and apart from being unable to contain the violence, they have noted other financial and administrative lapses too. To ensure the enquiry is held in an impartial and transparent manner, the vice-chancellor will be asked to go on leave once the ministry gets the Presidents approval, said an official source. Hungloo could not be contacted for comment. Violent protests rocked the campus after a group of students, led by office-bearers of their union surrounded the universitys guest house, where an executive council meeting was underway, and shouted slogans demanding action against alleged financial irregularities in the institute. Four students were arrested for disrupting the meeting and violating prohibitory orders. A number of vehicles parked nearby were damaged and windowpanes smashed in the violence that ensued. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had also sought a detailed report regarding the violence. He had asked the chief secretary of the state and the director general of police to prepare the report and directed that all problems of the students should be speedily addressed. It is also learnt that the HRD ministry has sent a proposal to the President seeking the dismissal of the vice-chancellor (V-C) of the Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University for alleged administrative irregularities. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday submitted the chargesheet against eight police officials arrested after the custodial death of one of the accused of the Kotkhai gangrape and murder in July. The chargesheet was presented against inspector general of police (IG) Zahur H Zaidi and seven other police officials arrested on July 29 following the death of accused Suraj Kumar, a Nepalese. Then Shimla senior superintendent of police DW Negi was arrested on November 16 but the challan against him has not been presented yet. The investigating agency produced all nine cops in the court and extended their judicial custody. No one appeared on behalf of the accused arrested. The district bar association had passed a resolution that none of its members would plead the case of the accused of the gangrape and murder in Kotkhai that sent shockwaves across the hill state and triggered arson in the town. The association will review its decision on Monday. Suraj died in custody at the Kotkhai police station on July 18. On the Himachal Pradesh high courts July 19 order, the CBI registered two cases and took charge of the investigation into the rape and murder case registered on July 6. The body of a school girl was found in a forest of Halaila village and the medical examination confirmed she was raped before being murdered. A case was registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After visiting displaced Kashmiri Pandits at Jagti township near Nagrota on Friday, the Centres special representative on Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma reached out to another group of victims of militancy at Talwara migrant camp in Reasi district on Saturday. Talwara camp has over 2200 families, who had fled their homes in Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts following selective killings during the height of militancy in Jammu region in the 1990s. They continue to live in pathetic conditions at Talwara camp in absence of basic amenities with successive state governments not providing them relief on a par with Kashmiri Pandits despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2004. The apex court had directed the state government that it cannot have two different yardsticks for the same set of people and must treat Jammu migrants on a par with Kashmiri migrants in terms of ration, relief and cash assistance. Sources privy to the Sharmas closed door talks with Balwan Singh, president of Talwara migrant camp divulged that the latter flagged inhuman treatment to the Jammu migrants in the camp. He divulged that in absence of adequate help from the government, the victims of militancy are forced to live inhuman lives. He sought a proper township and other facilities akin to Kashmiri Pandits, they added. Sharma also sought to know status of basic amenities being given to the families. Panthers Party leader Prof Bhim Singh has demanded that the Jammu migrants should be provided all their arrears from 2004 to 2017 amounting to Rs 21 crores. All the Jammu migrants should be provided relief both in cash, kind and for the resettlement in their native villages at par with the Kashmiri migrants without delay, he said. Read more: Meeting Kashmiri students top of Dineshwar Sharmas agenda, unions wary Cash and kind relief was being provided to the Jammu migrants from 2001 but for the past nine months it has been erratic. Jammu migrants get Rs 1600 per family a month, 9 kg atta (flour), 2 kg rice, 10 liters of kerosene oil and Rs 300 for cattle a month. In contrast, Kashmiri Pandit migrants get Rs 2500 per individual a month up to a maximum ceiling of Rs 10,000 a family. For children up to 4 years of age, there is a payment of Rs 400 a month. They also get 9 kg rice per individual a month, 2 kg atta per individual a month, 1 kg sugar a month per family. The cash and kind relief to Pandits was applicable to only employees in private sector. There are 17000 families out of which 3000 are Muslim and Sikh families, who had also migrated in 1990. Later, Sharma returned to Jammu here where he met various delegations. Prominent among them All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC)an umbrella organization of Panches and Sarpanches, led by its president Anil Sharma stated before Sharma that only solution to establish long lasting peace in the state was empowered Panchayati Raj institutes in the state. They also demanded that union government must ensure that scheduled Panchayat and municipal elections are held without any interruption irrespective of political dispensation. Their demand also includes implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation also regretted that families of over 20 Panchayat members, who were killed by militants, have not been given any monetary help or permanent government jobs. Before leaving for the Kashmir Valley on Sunday, Sharma will visit villages along the Line of Control and International Border to take stock of their issues. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police have charged Kafeel Khan, a former doctor at Gorakhpurs BRD Medical College, with attempt to murder over the death of 30 children at the health facility in August, an incident that triggered nationwide outrage and exposed the grim healthcare scenario in India. Khan, hailed as a hero immediately after the incident on August 10-11, has also been charged with criminal conspiracy and breach of trust,investigating officer Abhishek Singh told HT on Saturday. Khan, then a nodal office of the National Rural Health Mission, was also the in-charge of the paediatric wing at the hospital when the children died, allegedly due to shortage of oxygen after a private company cut supply over a payment dispute. The government, however, blamed the deaths on Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome which ravage several states during the monsoons. Khan, and former BRD medical college principal Rajiv Mishra, were named in a second charge sheet filed by police on Friday at the sessions court in Gorakhpur, the constituency of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Besides the three IPC sections similar to Khans, Mishra has also been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, an investigating officer told HT on Saturday. However, police have dropped charges under the Corruption Prevention Act, IT Act and Indian Medical Council Act against Khan for lack of evidence, the official added. All the nine accused, including Khan, are in jail. The role of five others including the then principal KP Kushwaha, medical officer AK Srivastav and chief medical officer AR Singh -- all members of tender committee for oxygen supply -- has also been mentioned as dubious by investigating officer Abhishek Singh who filed the chargesheet. The role of Kushwaha and four other members of the tender committee is under scanner as the contract was not directly given to the oxygen manufacturing company but to an intermediary company, Singh said. In the first charge sheet field in October, police had named seven persons, including hospital staff and the owner of the oxygen supplier Pushpa Sales. Immediately after the deaths were reported, Khan was hailed as a saviour of children, Khan said he saved many lives by arranging over 250 oxygen cylinders in 24 hours. But he was under a cloud over an alleged rape case against him. A senior Hindu seer said on Saturday Hindus must bear at least four children till the Uniform Civil Code is implemented to check demographic imbalance. Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj of Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar said the two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone, noting that India had lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. He was speaking to reporters on the second day of the three-day Dharma Sansad organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in the temple town of Udupi of coastal Karnataka. The Swami said the government was insisting on a maximum of two children, but till the time the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, Hindus should have at least four children. India lost many of its territories wherever Hindu population reduces, he said. We have seen that India lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. The two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone. On cow vigilantism, the seer said some criminals were settling personal scores under the guise of Gau Rakshaks. Gau Rakshaks are peace loving people. They have been defamed by some vested interests. Some criminals are settling scores under the guise of Gau Rakshaks, said Giriji Maharaj. The mega religious event is being attended by over 2,000 Hindu seers, matt heads and VHP leaders from all over the country. In a bid to defuse the situation in Myanmars Rakhine state where violence has triggered an outflow of Rohingya refugees, India has sent relief material consisting of 3,000 family relief packs. With best wishes from the people of India. Indian Air Force aircraft lands today in Yangon, Myanmar, with 3000 family relief packs consisting of daily essentials including rice, oil, salt, sugar, soap, etc. for distribution amongst the displaced persons in Rakhine state, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted on Friday evening. More than 600,000 Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh since violence erupted in Rakhine late in August. The minority Rohingya community does not enjoy citizenship in Myanmar and is sparingly given refugee status in Bangladesh. Human rights monitors accused Myanmars military of atrocities against the minority population during its clearance operations following Rohingya militants August 25 attacks on multiple government posts. On Thursday, however, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar Kyaw Tint Swe signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Nay Pyi Taw for the return of these refugees. India has maintained that the issue should be handled in a humane manner, development activities should be initiated in Rakhine and conditions should be created for the safe and secure return of the refugees to their homes. During his visit to Myanmar in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared Indias concerns over the issue in a meeting with that countrys State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. India has also sent relief material to Bangladesh to handle the Rohingya refugee crisis. The Haryana government has suspended mobile internet services in 13 districts for three days, apprehending law and order problem in view of two public rallies by a Jat body and ruling BJPs Kurukshetra MP on November 26. MP Raj Kumar Saini, who was opposing quota for Jats, had announced a Samanta Maha Sammelan in Jind while All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti national president Yashpal Malik had also announced a rally in Rohtak districts Jassia on the same day. Internet services on mobile networks, except voice calls, in the districts of Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri shall remain suspended for three days until the midnight of November 26, an official order said on Friday. The order, which came into force Friday, was issued by additional chief secretary (home department) SS Prasad. The order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of state of districts as mentioned..., it said. It said there was a likelihood of tension, danger to human life and property, disturbance of public peace and tranquility in Haryana by protestors and anti-social elements during the two public rallies on Sunday. On Friday, a group of Jats who were opposing Sainis rally at Jind clashed with the police and blocked the Jind- Chandigarh National Highway in Jind. The police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the protesters and the highway was cleared for normal movement of vehicular traffic after a while. Jat leader Sandeep Bharti, who led the protesters, was demanding cancellation of Sainis rally. Bharti alleged that Saini was known for his anti-Jat rants and accused him of spreading communal hatred by making inflammatory and derogatory statements against the community. Officials said the situation remained tense in Rohtak and Jind. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are natural allies and the two parties will fight the 2019 elections together, Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said. When the time comes, we will sit together and divide the seats. We will fight together and Narendra Modi will again be the prime minister in 2019, he said at the India Today Conclave East here last night. He was replying to a question on whether the BJP might not feel the need for JD-Us support in the elections in 2019. The BJP in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Hindustani Awam Party accounts for 32 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Alliance is a give and take. When both the partners feel they will benefit from it then only it will work. We will fight together with Nitish Kumar-led JD (U) in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said. His remarks assume significance as there were some discordant voices from leaders of both the parties on seat sharing for the next general elections earlier. After a meeting with MPs from Bihar, BJP chief Amit Shah had asked partymen to strengthen it down to the booth level in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The JD-U also appealed to its workers to brace for contest on all the 40 seats. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and other opposition parties leaders had used the occasion to attack Nitish Kumar, claiming that he was marginalised by the saffron party to avenge an incident in 2010 when he had cancelled a dinner for BJP leaders over a tiff with Narendra Modi, the then chief minister of Gujarat. The JD-U and the BJP are made for each other, Sushil Modi said. Nitish Kumar has been our partner for 17 years and again the JD-U and the BJP have come together, it is a natural alliance, said the senior BJP leader, who also served as the deputy chief minister in the earlier NDA government. The JD-U had severe ties with the BJP in June 2013 over elevation of Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate. After collapse of an alliance comprising the JD-U, the RJD and the Congress in July this year, Nitish Kumar and the BJP once again joined hands after four years to form a coalition in the politically sensitive state. Sushil Modis allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family of acquiring benami properties had played an important role in the disintegration of the alliance comprising the JD-U, the Congress and the RJD. When the JD(U) and the BJP coalition was sworn in again on July 27 this year, Sushil Modi was made the deputy chief minister. The senior BJP leader dismissed speculation that a seat- sharing adjustment, in which the JD-U would also be accommodated, might upset the sitting BJP MPs if they were denied tickets. What is the guarantee that every MP will get party ticket a second time? And what will they do by getting upset. If people make up their mind then it hardly matters who is getting ticket or not, Sushil Modi said. Sushil Modi accused Lalu Prasad of being chaotic, disorganised and an irresponsible man. No gentleman can work with a person like Lalu Prasad. An unnatural alliance (of the JD-U, RJD and Congress) died a natural death. The day Nitish Kumar left the NDA, I knew this alliance (with the RJD) would not work but, I never thought it would break so soon, he claimed. Hadiya, a 24-year-old Hindu woman from Kerala who converted to Islam, on Saturday at Kochi airport said she wanted to live with her Muslim husband. Hadiya left for Delhi to appear before the Supreme Court on Monday in a case of alleged forced conversion. As she was brought to Kochi airport amid tight security, Hadiya loudly told the waiting mediapersons that she wants to go with her husband, Shafin Jahan. Hadiya was accompanied by three women police officials and two male policemen besides her parents. On Saturday afternoon, she was moved from her home near Kottayam at Vaikom in a convoy of police vehicles to Kochi International Airport to take the evening flight to Delhi. In Delhi, she will be put up at the Kerala House where four rooms have been booked for the party from Kerala. The apex court on October 30 had directed Hadiyas father, Asokan to present her in the court on November 27 to ascertain her views on her marriage to Shafin Jahan. On Wednesday, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud said the application for in-camera hearing of the proceedings when Hadiya appears before the court on November 27 would be taken up on that day itself after a lawyer mentioned Asokans application for an early hearing. The court in the last hearing said that before examining the latter issue, it would like to ascertain if Hadiya had voluntarily converted to Islam and her views on her marriage. The court is hearing a plea by Shafin Jahan challenging the Kerala High Court order of May nullifying his marriage with Hadiya and seeking recall of its order asking the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the conversion of Hadiya to Islam and her marriage. The NIA in its earlier report has pointed to a pattern involving conversion to Islam and marriages in Kerala. On November 18, an NIA team arrived at her home for the second time and took statements from her and her parents to present their case before the court. Suspected Maoists attacked the site of a natural gas pipeline project and set on fire four heavy vehicles in southcentral Bihars Gaya district late on Friday night. Police said about 12 armed men attacked the site of state-owned Gail (India) Ltds Phulpur-Haldia natural gas pipeline project at Mahuawan village in Aamas police station area, 70 kms southwest of Gaya and 148 kms south of Patna, and torched four heavy vehicles, including an earth-mover and a dumper. The Maoists, who are observing weeklong martyrdom of former CPI (Maoist) politburo member Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji in Bihar and Jharkhand, also beat up guards deployed at the site and threatened the contractor of the construction firm with dire consequences if he did not stop the work , the police said. Before leaving, the attackers raised slogans and dropped pamphlets calling upon villagers to support them in their struggle to revive Maoism. Suspected Maoists had two days ago attacked another project site of the same construction company at Gurua in the district and set on fire two vehicles. Gaya city superintendent of police J Jalla Reddy confirmed the incident and said raids were underway in forests near the project site to arrest the Maoists involved in the attack. Reddy, who is also officiating as senior superintendent of police (SSP), said; I am on way to the spot. I have directed the local police to step up search operations in villages adjacent to the project site. Patna zonal inspector general Nayyar Hasnain Khan has suspended Aamas police station SHO Ram Vilas Yadav for laxity. The station house officer (SHO) was very lax and failed to gather intelligence regarding the movement of Maoists in his area. I had earlier also asked the SSP to initiate action against the SHO, Khan told HT. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Situation remained volatile in Rohtaks Jassia village as protesters upping the ante to cancel the upcoming Sunday rally of the All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) chief Yashpal Malik. On Friday, heavy security forces, including the rapid action force (RAF) of the Haryana Police, had to be deployed to avoid clash in Jassia after the Sarpanch Association and jailed Jat youths (who are out on bail) sat on a dharna at the rally spot insisting they will not let the rally take place. This would be the fourth time in last two years that the internet services have been shut due to Jat rally. The protesters said the AIJASS defied the mahapanchayats call to resolve the issue by boycotting it. Thursdays mahapanchayat had decided to meet again on Friday to resolve the issue. But the AIJASS volunteers refused to attend it saying they did not want a decision against them. So we came to sit on dharna at their rally spot, said Sumit Arya, the president of Sarpanch Association that is opposing the rally. The youths who were jailed in connection with the Jat agitation of 2016 also sat on dharna to oppose the rally. Yashpal Malik has collected crores of rupees in our name but has done nothing for us. Our prime demand of withdrawal of cases against us has not been met by government, so why these rallies for education institutes? said Rahul Dadu, who is out on bail. The protesters lifted their dharna late Friday night, giving warning that they would assemble again on Saturday morning to oppose the rally. On the dharna, Yashpal Malik said it was a government-sponsored protest that will fade in front of his supporters. These people have vested interests. This will not affect our rally, Malik said. Meanwhile, the Haryana Jat Mahasabha asked the state government to take legal action against Malik and BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini for vitiating atmosphere in the state. Tension, disturbance of peace likely The government has ordered a ban on mobile internet services (2G, 3G, 4G, GPRS, CDMA), SMS services and dongle services available on mobile networks till the midnight of November 26 in 11 districts of the state to control false rumours and inflammatory messages ahead of two parallel rallies in Jind and Rohtak. In a notice issued on Friday, additional chief secretary (home) SS Prasad said that it appeared there was likelihood of causing tension, annoyance and disturbance of peace by protesters and anti-social elements during the two rallies. The ban will be imposed in Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonepat, Jhajjar and Charkhi Dadri districts, the government said. This would be the fourth time in last two years that the internet services have been shut due to Jat rally. Haryana had witnessed unprecedented violence during Jat agitation in February, 2016, in which 30 people were killed and property worth hundreds of crores of rupees was vandalised and gutted in fire. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and termed the latters relationship with US President Donald Trump as failed hugplomacy. Narendrabhai, baat nahi bani (It did not work). Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed, Gandhi tweeted on Saturday morning. On Friday, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai massacre in 2008, was freed after 10 months of house-arrest in Pakistan. The US asked the Pakistan government on Friday to make sure that Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed is arrested and charged for his crimes. Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday stressed the need for greater cooperation between central and the state governments so that any differences can be swiftly resolved. Addressing the 12th meeting of the standing committee of Inter-State Council (ISC) in New Delhi, he said a number of steps have been taken in recent years by the central government to promote cooperative federalism. Singh said it is important for everyone to promote the spirit of cooperation with greater zeal and expressed satisfaction over the deliberations held on Saturday in a harmonious and congenial atmosphere for arriving at consensus on complex issues. The home minister said the standing committee of the Inter-State Council is being periodically convened to lend speed and purpose to the process of harmonising Centre-state relations. Singh said Volumes-I & II of the Punchhi Commissions report on Centre-state relations were discussed during the eleventh meeting of the standing committee in April this year and Volumes-VI and VII will be discussed during the next meeting. The Punchhi Commission was set up by the government under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd) Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India, in 2005 to look into issues of Centre-state relations keeping in view the changes in the polity and economy of India since the Sarkaria Commission. It submitted its report in 2010 containing 273 recommendations in 7 volumes. Singh said the recommendations of the standing committee on Punchhi Commissions report will then be placed before the Inter-State Council, headed by the Prime Minister. The subjects discussed at the meeting included matters related to financial transfers from the Centre to the states, Goods and Services Tax, structure and devolution of functions to local bodies and district planning. Special provisions for Fifth and Sixth Scheduled Areas, maintenance of communal harmony, deployment of central forces, migration issues, police reforms, criminal justice system and other internal security issues were also deliberated. The Standing Committee at its meeting considered 118 recommendations contained in Volumes-III, IV and V and finalised its recommendations. Those who attended the meeting include Union ministers of finance Arun Jaitley, social justice and empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot; chief ministers Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), Naveen Patnaik (Odisha), Vasundhara Raje Scindia (Rajasthan) and Manik Sarkar (Tripura). Representatives of 30 Union ministries and departments and seven state governments were also present to assist the committee in its deliberations. Nitai Chandra Ghosh is perhaps best described as a reluctant confectioner. He prides himself for having scaled down the business volume of his ancestral sweetmeat shop in north Kolkata, Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar, after taking its reins in 1990. Ghosh always wanted to become a cinematographer. A conspiracy at home kept him from going to Punes Film and Television Institute of India, he says. The death of his father in 1990 put him at the helm of the business. The same year, a new world dawned on him when he went to the US to shoot a film. Back then, quality and consistency were not the strong suits for most Indian businesses. Though celebrated, Ghoshs own enterprise was no different. Soon after he became the boss, he noticed that the milk that his company bought from generations of the same supplier wasnt consistent in quality. Stepping out of Indias command economy, Ghosh says, he was awestruck by the scale of US and European businesses. Despite staggering sales, McDonalds burgers tasted the same across all stores. The key to it, Ghosh figured back in 1990, was its complete control over the supply chain of ingredients. Lessons learnt, Ghosh, a fifth generation confectioner, returned to his humble store in north Kolkata and launched a mission to transform his enterprise. By 1994, against the advice of his family, he started to build from scratch his own dairy farm, 200 km from Kolkata, while knocking on the doors of scientists and several dairy research institutes. Eventually, he managed to build a small team for his own laboratory. The aim was scientifically validate and perfect the intuitive art of producing sweetmeat. Today, Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar is one of the most celebrated makers of rasogolla in Kolkata, and one of the few who make the sweet entirely out of milk produced, procured and despatched in keeping with its own stringent standards. The key to expanding the market for the sweet is creating long-life variants. Only a handful of confectioners have successfully managed to put it cans, starting with KC Das, the company named after Nobin Chandra Das son. What materialised from Ghoshs attempt to take control of the supply chain of milk was a 100-acre farm which supports nearby dairy farmers with fodder and other inputs, including knowhow in animal husbandry. From a controlled ecosystem, he now sources 2,000-2,500 litres of milk a day, and transports it to Kolkata in his own refrigerated trucks. When it comes to milk for rasogolla, the fodder is one of the key determinants of quality, claims Ghosh. Back in his fathers time, Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar consumed much more milk than it does now. But in the bargain, Ghosh has achieved consistency. And he still runs his business out of one store tucked in a lane in north Kolkata and refuses to expand because he isnt sure he can maintain consistency. Small Is Beautiful For many Bengali family-owned enterprises, punching below their weight is a badge of honour. The excuse is the same: they would happily pass up opportunities to expand if quality and consistency are thought to be at stake. But with the Indian patent authorities now recognising the uniqueness of Banglar Rasogolla (literally Bengals Rasogolla) and granting it protection with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, will the outlook change? The state government of West Bengal is encouraging confectioners to expand. It is even willing to help seek out new markets, leveraging the GI recognition of Banglar Rasogolla. The idea is to build an identifiable mark of a premium product, which will add heft to businesses, says Nandini Chakravorty, secretary in the department of food processing. The GI Battle West Bengal upped the ante in the battle for GI protection only in 2015 after Odisha announced it was going to apply for protection from the patent authorities for its own variant of rasogolla. Odishas application never made it to the patent office in ChennaiWest Bengals trophy has left lawmakers and officers in Bhubaneswar red-faced. In the past two years, the two states have fought a farcical battle over the origins of rasogolla. There is incontrovertible historical evidence that a variant of the sweet was offered to Lord Jagannath at the Puri temple from 800 years ago, Odisha claimed. But Bengalis do not recognise it as rasogolla at all. The variant that it claims to be the real stuff is the rasogolla invented in 1868 by storied confectioner Nobin Chandra Das. To be sure, the GI protection secured by West Bengal for Banglar Rasogolla is not a verdict on its ancestrythe inflamed sentiments notwithstanding, it is only recognition of the uniqueness of the variant which Das developed through four years of experiments. Much like the most copied Bengal master Jamini Roy, Nobin Chandra Das never kept his rasogolla formula a secret. (Malay Karmakar) Even within West Bengal, confectioners produce different varieties of rasogolla, but the variant for which the GI protection was granted is the one Das is said to have invented. Through generations, his descendants have expanded the market for the sweet, and even recently, a scion of the family, Dhiman Das, played a key role in West Bengal stealing the thunder from first mover Odisha. Smooth and delicate feel in the mouth are the key differentiators for Banglar Rasogolla, the state had said in its GI application, borrowing from the Das familys formula. It is made out of pure cottage cheese derived from curdling of milk. The cottage cheese is delicately kneaded into balls and dipped into syrup with sugar concentration of 30-40%. In Ghoshs eyes, the osmosis that followsor the chemical process in which the tender balls get soaked in syrup and rise to float when readyis not a shade less mystical than sculptor Ramkinkar Baijs charcoal sketches in his office. But for Dhiman Das, a collector of Jamini Roys paintings, its all about adhering to an evolved process. Much like the most copied Bengal master Roy, Nobin Chandra Das never kept his formula a secret. After he had perfected the rasogolla in 1868 and built an enterprise on its strength, he would invite other confectioners into his workshop to learn the art of making it. He had tutored many, perhaps at the cost of expanding his own business, says Dhiman Das. Roy, too, took the same approach: in the end, he taught so many followers that a new school of art emerged named after him. But excessive copying and faking undermined the commercial value of Roys own works in the art market. But the same is not true for Nobin Chandra Das rasogolla. For West Bengals confectioners, adopting the inventors formula is not going to be difficult, but will it earn them a premium, asks Roopen Roy, former managing director of Deloitte Consulting. GI for Darjeeling tea acts like air cover in a battlefront: it makes sure that tea produced in only 87 tea estates of Darjeeling can stake claim to the goodwill. And within that playing field, each estate seeks value for itself on the strength of its own crop, says Roy, who now runs his own consultancy, Sumantrana (literally Good Advice). But rasogolla and tea are different. Whereas tea has an international market, the sweet is consumed only by the Indian diaspora. The addressable market is small, and may contract further because of this charged battle of pride between the states over GI, says the veteran consultant, referring to Odishas resolution to seek GI protection for Jagannath Rasgulla. The Way Ahead But the key to expanding the market for the sweet is creating long-life variants. Only a handful of confectioners have successfully managed to put it cans, starting with KC Das, the company named after Nobin Chandra Das son. From 1930, KC Das has been selling the canned variant and business has expanded so much outside the state that the firm now has 16 stores in Bengaluru compared with only five in Kolkata, says Dhiman Das. But Ghosh wouldnt walk that path: in his view, rasogolla can be preserved in pristine condition only within cold chains. So, for his Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar, there is no question of looking beyond the current market, at least in the foreseeable future. He deplores mechanisation, and says he will never share his secret milk-curdling formula. KC Das, on the other hand, has grown on the strength of mechanisation. The firm has standardised the process of making long-life rasogolla, and gets them produced under its supervision at the milk processing unit of Red Cow Dairy, a firm privately owned by a veteran dairy technologist. Under the arrangement, cottage cheese is derived within two hours of milkingthat is the key to producing long-life rasogolla, according to Dhiman Das. In the billing of government officers in Kolkata, Banglar Rasogolla has enough meat to milk, but confectioners, even growth hungry ones, want proof. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday stressed on the need for raising the standard of living of people to eradicate corruption from the society and said this can only be possible with teaching of the Bhagavad Gita. At an international seminar organised on the occasion of International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra on Saturday, he emphasised on the need of the Bhagavad Gita in politics, which can give the right direction to the politicians. President Ram Nath Kovind was the chief guest at the event. Khattar said, Though we could keep a tab on corruption with the help of law and justice, but to eradicate it from all levels, the living standard of people would have to be raised. This could only be possible when people imbibe in them the teaching of the sacred Gita. He said the topic of the seminar has rightly been selected, as digitisation has become the need of the hour for the whole world today. The chief minister said, With digitisation, we could get any information with a click of button. The state government has taken various e-initiatives to ensure good governance and keep a check on corruption in the administration, Khattar said, adding as many 183 e-services were being provided in about 1,150 villages of the state. Asserting that the Bhagavad Gita is the gist of life and it was Lord Krishna who delivered the message on the sacred land of Kurukhsetra, the chief minister said, The teachings of Lord Krishna is relevant not only for the country but for the whole world. He said representatives of 11 countries are participating in this event. Addressing the event, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki said with a view to fully implement the concept of live and let live and to ensure peace and prosperity in the world, there was a need to spread the message of the Bhagavad Gita. Gita Manishi Swami Gyanand ji Maharaj described the Bhagavad Gita as the pride and honour of the Haryana and said the teachings of this sacred book are source of inspiration for the whole mankind. David Frawley from American Institute of Vedic Studies said the Bhagavad Gita characterises the civilisation and culture of India. Amid the Padmavati row, vice president Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday that giving violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm was not acceptable in a democracy. Not directly referring to the controversy, but films and art in general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country. Naidu, at a literary festival here, said there is now a new problem over some films where people feel that they have hurt the sentiments of some religions or communities and that has led to protests. He said while protesting, some people go overboard and announce rewards. Whether these fellows have that much money or not, I doubt. Everyone is announcing Rs one crore reward. Is it so easy to have Rs one crore? This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and cant give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law, he said. Stressing that he was not talking about a particular film but in general, Naidu read out names of previously banned films like Haram Hawa, Kissa Kursi Ka and Aandhi. His remarks, however, assume significance as they come amid protests by many groups against Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Padmavati, alleging that the movie distorts history. Historians are divided on whether Rani Padmavati even existed. Some leaders and groups have also reportedly announced a bounty for beheading Bhansali and the female lead Deepika Padukone. You have no right to take laws into your own hands. At the same time, you dont have the right to hurt the sentiments of others, Naidu said. The vice president also warned against selective condemnation and said it was wrong to link it to religion. He said there was a difference between religion and culture. While religion was a way of worship, culture was a way of life, he said. Driving from Agra to Gwalior, the beehad or ravines of Chambal become visible even before one approaches Morena, a district town in Madhya Pradesh. The undulating landscape, dotted with mud hillocks and thorny shrubs, spreads on both sides of the highway, the jungle cover thickening in the distance. From the highway, few signs of human settlement can be spotted in the ravines a scattering of huts here and there and some temples along the road. At one time the ravines of Chambal were home to many dacoit gangs. We were told stories about them as children. Today there are no dacoits in Chambal, says the priest of one such temple along the Agra-Gwalior highway. The last big police encounter with a dreaded dacoit someone who could instil fear in the public was 10 years ago, that of Rambabu Gadariya in 2007, says Umesh Joga, IG Chambal Zone, Madhya Pradesh. Smaller encounters have happened since. Last year we killed another dacoit Bharosi Malla who had been absconding for many years. But he no longer had a full-time organised gang, he explains. Over the years, many dacoits have surrendered to the police. In 1960, for example, 20 dacoits are said to have surrendered after being persuaded by Vinoba Bhave. Then in 1972, Mohar Singh, another big dacoit of the time, surrendered with 100 men from his gang and many others from smaller gangs. When Jayaprakash Narayan had told Indira Gandhi that he could arrange for the Chambal dacoits to surrender, she had said that she would negotiate terms of surrender only if I surrendered, remembers Mohar Singh, with some pride.Other surrenders followed Malkhan Singh and his gang in 1982, Balwant Singh Tomar, nephew of retired soldier and athlete-turned-dacoit Paan Singh Tomar, also in 1982, Phoolan Devi in 1983, Seema Parihar in 2000 and Renu Yadav in 2005, to name a few. Malkhan Singh, 74. When Malkhan Singh protested against some people usurping land belonging to a temple in the village, he was harassed and implicated in false cases. This led to his becoming a baaghi, he says. He surrendered in 1982. Malkhan Singh objects to the tag of a dacoit and says when he was a baaghi, no one dared harass a woman (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO) Having served prison time, these reformed bandits either live a life of retirement today, or are farmers, something that most of them were anyway engaged in before they took up arms. Like Phoolan Devi before her death, a few have also dabbled in politics, taken up a social cause or made television appearances, like Seema Parihar in the reality show Big Boss. In an undated paper on Chambal dacoits available online, MZ Khan, at that time professor of criminology at the Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, and DR Singh, then with the Bureau of Police Research and Development, write, The offence of dacoity is by no means peculiar to any part of the country; yet in the (Chambal) valley it has certain features that set it apart from those perpetrated elsewhere. First, the permanent or semi-permanent structure of gangs made up of members firmly committed to dacoity in a professional way, is rather unique. As a section in the Indian Penal Code, robery committed by more than five people is dacoity, says Joga. But in popular perception, dacoit gangs are mostly those living in jungles, riding horses and armed with rifles. A map of the Chambal area. (Sanjay Kapoor/HT) Becoming Baaghis The bandits of Chambal the river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and the ravines are spread across the three states were as feared as they were well known. Tales of their exploits circulated not just in the region in which they operated, but spread as far as Mumbai, where they inspired many Bollywood daku films, mainly in the 1960s and 70s remember Sholay and Ramgarhs Gabbar Singh? But the real-life inspirations for these reel characters scoff at Bollywoods portrayal of the bandits. For one, we never came charging on horses like they showed in Bollywood films. We used to travel on foot, says Mohar Singh. Over eighty now, dressed in a dhoti-kurta and Nehru jacket, Mohar Singh is the picture of a respected village elder. But he confides that he had 400 cases of murder registered against him when he surrendered. Mohar Singh, over 80 years old. At one time, Mohar Singh commanded a dacoit gang with 100 members. He says, with obvious pride, that when Jayaprakash Narayan had told Indira Gandhi that he could arrange for the Chambal dacoits to surrender, Gandhi had said she would negotiate a surrender only if Mohar Singh also agreed to put down his arms. He surrendered in 1972. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo) The tag of a dacoit, even a former one, sits uneasily on Malkhan Singh, even 35 years after his surrender. We werent dacoits. We were baaghis (rebels), says the 74-year-old. Embittered by what he calls frequent misrepresentation of facts in the media, he is reluctant to share his story. There were 100 bighas of land that was the property of a temple in the village. Some people in the village wanted to take over the land. When I protested, they started implicating me in all sorts of false cases, he says. I was harassed and became a baaghi. Balwant Tomar also blames society and the system for creating outlaws. There are three mains reasons for someone becoming a baaghi one, the village pradhan, two, the area thanedar and three, the patwari of the area. If these people deliver justice, no one need become a baaghi, he says. The uncle-nephew duo turned bandits after a property dispute with a section of the extended family turned violent and resulted in their killing two members of the other faction in retaliation and self defence. While Paan Singh was killed in a police encounter in 1981, Balwant surrendered in 1982. Thirteen people of our gang had died in the encounter that killed my uncle. 10,000 police officers had us surrounded. The encounter continued for over 13 hours. I was the only one who escaped alive from there, recalls Balwant. Balwant Singh Tomar, 66. The nephew of retired soldier and athlete-turned-dacoit Paan Singh Tomar, Balwant says they became outlaws because of a land dispute with the extended family. If the village pradhan, the area thanedar and the patwari deliver justice, no one need become a baaghi, he says. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO) Other former dacoits HT spoke to Hari Singh Parmar, Munna Singh, Bahadur Singh all spoke of similar disputes (often within the family) or harassment (by influential or rich people in the village or the panchayat and the authorities), as the reason for becoming dacoits. It was a rural economy. The only occupation was agriculture. There would be a lot of land-related disputes. When the dispute would get stuck in a revenue court or a civil court for a long time, people lost patience. In case of a fight, if a grievous crime took place, they would run away to the ravines, agrees Joga. Life In The Jungles It wasnt easy being a baaghi. While crossing the river, we had to be careful of ghariyals. There was also a kind of thorny shrub, the sting of which was more dangerous than a bullet injury, says Malkhan Singh. There were snakes, scorpions and wild animals to contend with. The bandits mostly lived in the open. In the monsoons, we used to put up tarpaulin tents and take shelter under them, says Munna Singh, also a former dacoit. Munna Singh, 70. The former dacoit was once a part of Malkhan Singhs gang and surrendered with him in 1982. After serving his time in prison, he now enjoys hte company of friends and family in his village home in Bhind, and also be seen teaching children at the village school at times. Munna Singh never married. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO) They would constantly be on the move to avoid detection. But the jungle also becomes home, says Tomar. We hated the light. If we had to smoke, we would hide in our blankets and smoke. The cooking was done in the day. If we lit lights we would be identified. The people we kidnapped were made to work. Also, dacoit groups didnt just have dacoits - there would be those who cooked, carried etc There was no shortage of milk and ghee, we would get it from the villages, he adds. In the paper on the Chambal dacoits, MZ Khan and DR Singh observe, Although for all practical purposes the bandits, while at large, forsake settled community life, they receive active popular support and supplies... This support came not just in the form of provisions, but also help in evading arrest. It would also often extend to information about who could be a likely target for the dacoits to abduct. The Principled Bandit One reason for the villagers helping the bandits could be that the latter say that they never bothered the poor. We would help the poor, says Mohar Singh emphatically. Things were, in fact, better then, feels Malkhan Singh. No one dared harass a woman in my time. Even now when I hear of crimes committed against women, my blood boils. Dacoits have gone from Chambal, but has crime been checked? he questions. There is also a strong sense of regional superiority among the dacoits of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. They look down upon those who operated in that part of Chambal which lies in Uttar Pradesh. The gangs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan never had women. The one exception is Putli Bai, who was Sultana dakus partner. That was ages back. All the recent women dacoits such as Phoolan Devi and Seema Parihar have been in Uttar Pradesh. Dacoits there, such as Nirbhay Gujjar, have been known to abduct women and keep them in their gangs, says fity-five year old Hari Singh Parmar, another former dacoit who surrendered in 1996. Another example of a former UP-based woman dacoit is Renu Yadav, who was kidnapped by the late UP-based bandit Chandan Yadav and later forced to marry him and join his gang. After Chandan was killed by another bandit in 2005, Renu killed his murderer, and then surrendered in 2005. Renu Yadav, 28. In 2003, Renu then about 13-14 years old, was kidnapped by UP-based dacoit Chandan Yadav and forced to marry him. She learnt to use arms and joined his gang. In 2005, soon after the birth of their daughter, Chandan was killed by another dacoit. Renu killed Chandans murderer and then surrendered to the police. She was released from prison in 2012. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO) Parmar, and indeed most former dacoits HT spoke to, remembers giving money to get girls in the village married off if their families didnt have the funds for their marriage. I must have gotten about 30 girls married, says Parmar. Also, the dacoits never operated in their own village or ilaka. But if they were indeed such do-gooders, what of the hundreds of murder cases that were registered against them? Joga scoffs at the idea of the dacoit as some Robin Hood like character. But Tomar explains, If anyone gave the police information about us worked as mukhbirs or informers we had to teach them a lesson. One of the biggest crimes that Tomar says he and his uncle committed was killing nine people of the Gujjar community in a village and setting the village ablaze, after one of them turned police informer and led to the death of Balwants father, Matadin Tomar, in a police encounter. Parmar admits that he was a terror. In addition to killing people, he says he would cut off peoples ears and noses if they didnt pay ransom or became police informers. Old scores, the reason why they had become baghis in the first place, also needed to be settled. For the most part though, the dacoits say they would concentrate on abductions for funds. Contrary to popular perception, there wasnt much money in dacoity. Munna Singh says they usually got Rs 50,000 as ransom. Once we got Rs 2 lakh, he says. But dacoits who came a few years after him, such as Parmar, says they got as much as Rs 6 lakh at times. Sometimes people would be kidnapped in Delhi and Ghaziabad and brought to us. We would be given a certain amount and they would keep the rest of the ransom money, says Renu Yadav. Hari Singh Parmar, 55. The former dacoit says that while still a bandit, he gave money to get 30 girls married, because their families didnt have the funds for it. He surrendered in 1996, but says without a licensed rifle for self protection, he worries for his own and his familys safety. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO) The modus operandi was simple. The dacoits dressed in police uniforms right down to the caps and shoulder straps to avoid detection. We would go to the targets house, ask for him and say he had to accompany us to the nearest thana for questioning. We had a warrant for him. As soon as we were out of the village, we would fire in the air and loudly raise a cheer for the gang leader. Someone from the village would hear this and inform the victims family about the abduction, says Munna Singh. Often they carried better arms than the police, says Mohar Singh. Interestingly, the dacoits not only dressed or armed themselves like the police, but even used official jargon with respect to their work. Most refer to the abduction process as going on a vardat or encounter. Perhaps in their minds they were a parallel system. But where did they get the police uniforms? Nothing is difficult to obtain when you have the money to pay for it. We had our suppliers. The political leaders themselves would often help us, even with arms, says Parmar, who says he used a Carbon in those days. Others say they had AK 47s. Before elections the leaders would contact us. Dacoits would also do the propaganda for the leaders, he says. Bahadur Singh, 77. After spending about 10 years as a bandit, he surrendered in 1972. He now lives at Gandhi Ashram, an ashram run by former bandits in Morena, where they weave yarn, keep bees for honey and also grow various trees. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo) Of course that doesnt mean the dacoits did not live in fear every minute. The day you became a baaghi you knew that you were living in the shadow of death every hour of the day, says Balwant Singh. The cops would also keep a watch over the families of the dacoits and harass them for information of the outlaws. Once someone became a bandit, most of their families would leave their own villages and live elsewhere in hiding. Balawnt Singhs wife was at her parents place when he became a dacoit. The family was later shifted to the quarters of a cousin who was in the army, to protect them. The day Paan Singh was killed in encounter, we were watching the news on television. I remember breaking down. I didnt know whether my husband had survived. Even now when I think of those days I cant hold back my tears, she says. At that time, says Tomar, I had never thought that I would someday return to live with my family like this. Theres a tinge of wonder in his voice as he says this. Life Post Surrender Munna Singh seems to be making up for lost time as he sits surrounded by his neighbours and family in his village in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh. Sometimes I go to the local school and spend time with the children there, he says. Most of the bandits who surrendered have spent eight years or more in prison before being released. But their time as dacoits and jailbirds doesnt seem to have impacted their integration in society. On the way to meet Munna Singh, a local points out his house to us. When asked whether people are still afraid of the former dacoit, he laughs. Whats there to be scared of? He is old, like a grandfather, says the man. Malkhan Singh is fondly referred to as Daddaji by associates. In the online paper on Chambal dacoits, MZ Khan and DR Singh write, The offenders are proclaimed outlaws, but they are not socially regarded as fallen or depraved. Belonging to different caste-groups, they are seldom looked down upon for their grisly deeds. On the contrary, they may be bestowed honorifics like the Baghi, Raja, Master or Thakur. Still, there are complaints. The surrender package had included a job for one person from the family. But no one from my family was given a job. Even if one person gets a job it helps improve the living conditions of the entire family, frets Munna Singh. Most of his brothers and nephews are farmers or work as contract workers. Parmar on the other hand has been given the land promised to him to settle down, but says it is yet to be registered in his name. A bigger grouse for him is that the license for one rifle, which he says was promised to every surrendered dacoit for self-protection, is yet to be given to him. A dacoit makes enemies. I live in fear for my and my familys safety all the time. I worry that my sons might get embittered with this constant threat and take up arms and become a dacoit like I did, he says. Most of the former bandits say they dont talk much about those days with their families for fear that they might feel inspired to follow in their footsteps. That life has its charms you have money, power, connections says Tomar. What then inspired the surrender? The replies are vague. The offer of a good surrender package, says one, while another dacoit says, We had had our revenge. Perhaps, it was just exhaustion with life on the run, though none of them admit it. Whatever the reason, the era of the infamous Chambal dacoits seems to have passed. Two things have made it difficult for that kind of dacoit gangs to flourish here now , says Joga. Roads have been constructed into the villages. This has made even remote areas accessible for the police, and hiding a challenge for the bandits. Plus, everyone has mobile phones now, so it is easier for us to get information. We have also initiated many grievance redressal mechanisms to settle disputes quickly, he adds. A little outside Morena, as one crosses the bridge over the Chambal, groups of youngsters men and women can be seen taking the path down to the river, or sitting on its bank. A child plays on the edge of the beehad. The area looks like any other picnic spot. The brooding shadow of the jungle in the distance appears less threatening than the dark alleys of a city often do. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Sri Lanka pace bowler Dasun Shanaka has been fined 75 per cent of his match fee for ball tampering during the second days play in the Nagpur Test against India, an ICC statement said. (India vs Sri Lanka - DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS) Shanaka was penalised for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to changing the condition of the ball in breach of clause 41.3. (India vs Sri Lanka - SCORECARD) In addition to the fine, three demerit points have been added to Shanakas disciplinary record. If he reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, he will face a ban. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Richard Kettleborough, third umpire Nigel Llong and fourth umpire C Shamshuddin after play. READ | Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara grind Sri Lanka with tons in Nagpur Test The incident took place in the 50th over of Indias innings when the 26-year-old was seen on TV picking an area on the ball next to the seam several times. The pacer admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by ICC Match Referee David Boon, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing. These are early days in Dasuns career and I am sure this sanction will ensure he is more careful when maintaining the condition of the ball in the future, Boon said in the statement. The family of a 40-year-old man whose body was found hanging from the ramparts of the Nahargarh Fort has alleged that he was murdered, even though the police on Saturday termed it as a case of suicide. The body of Chetan Kumar Saini was found hanging at the fort on Friday with charcoal scribblings on stones linking the death to the country-wide protests over Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati. Preliminary investigation suggests that Saini committed suicide by hanging. It has also been revealed that he had loaned a large amount of money which was to be repaid. Two of the debts were owed to people in Delhi, said Prafulla Kumar, additional commissioner of police, crime. Police said the forensic analysis would determine whether there were charcoal stains on Sainis hand, which could throw light on whether he wrote the messages. The marks on his neck resemble the ones which result when a person commits suicide. We are questioning people associated with him to know more details about the case, said Satyendra Singh, deputy commissioner of police, north. Police in a press conference reiterated that no evidence was found in the case that would suggest murder. They also claimed to have found footage from a CCTV in Meena Colony, that falls on the way to Nahargarh fort from Chetans house. In the footage, Chetan is seen walking alone at about 4 pm on Friday but does not have any rope in his hand. The family, however, said Chetan was murdered. The way my brothers body was found and the injuries that he sustained suggest murder. We are sure that he didnt commit suicide. We feel that some people are trying to suppress the matter, said Ram Ratan Saini, Chetans brother. Relatives and local residents of Nahari Ka Naka, where Saini lived, said it was unlikely that he wrote the messages. Saini used to make artificial jewellery and used to do most of the work from his house. He was a very amiable person who never had enmity with anybody. Mostly, he would keep to himself and had no interest in reading books or watching films. Theres no way that he could have known all that history and wrote the messages, said Yogesh Saini, his brother-in-law. Mahaveer Prasad Saini, the father of Chetan said that his son had stepped out of his house at around 3pm on Thursday and had also made a phone call a little after 5pm. In the phone call, Chetan told his wife that he will be back home by 9pm and asked her to prepare the dinner by thenThereafter he lost contact with us. Theres no chance that he would commit suicide, said Saini. Members of the Saini community on Saturday submitted a memorandum to the police, demanding a fair probe. We feel that Saini has been murdered and demand that the perpetrators be arrested immediately. If the police dont conduct a fair probe we will stage protest, said Om Rajoria, district president, Mali Samaj. One of the messages scribbled on stones read: Those of you protesting against Padmavati, we dont just hang effigies at forts. We have guts. What has surprised many is that the name of the deceased is the same as that of a character from Malik Mohammad Jayasis fictional work Padmavat written in 1540. Chetan Tantrik is dead, reads another message. Raghav Chetan is a character from Padmavat, who is a sorcerer banished from the court of King Ratan Sen, the husband of Padmavati. Chetan visits Alauddin Khilji and tells him about the queens incredible beauty, resulting in the siege of Chittor by Khilji. The bandh called by different groups and trade associations in Bhilwara town on Saturday against the film Padmavati remained peaceful, barring a stray incidents of violence, in which some youths clashed with the traders and police had to use mild lathi-charge to control them. Youths wearing saffron headgear and muffler had started gathering in the main markets at about 9 am to ensure that the shops remained closed. While imposing the bandh near Krishi Upaj Mandi market, some youths clashed with employees at a liquor shop and police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse them. However, Bhilwara Sadar police circle officer Parbat Singh denied any lathi-charge and said that the situation was entirely peaceful. People belonging to different groups took out a march from Chitrakoot Dham to the station square. The groups that took part in the rally include Mewar Khastriya Mahasabha Sansthan, Karni Sena, ABVP, Swarnkar Samaj, Netaji Subash Market Association and cloth merchant association among others. There was heavy police deployment on the entire stretch to ensure that no untoward incident took place. People belonging to Sarv Brahman Mahasabha also held a signature drive in Jaipur and sent a memorandum that it claimed was signed with the blood of 10,000 people to the Censor Board urging it not to release the film in controversy. Earlier this month, another body Jauhar Smriti Sansthan had called a bandh in Chittorgarh and other groups such as Karni Sena had also shut down the Chittorgarh Fort for the public. On November 20, Rajasthan government stated that it will not allow release of Padmavati unless suggestions sent by chief minister Vasundhara Raje to information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani are incorporated. On November 18, Raje had written to Irani suggesting that a committee comprising historians, experts and members of Rajput community be formed to identify any historical distortions in the movie to ensure that sentiments of any community are not hurt. Kanwarani Archana Singh, who belongs to an erstwhile royal Rajput family and is married to another royal, Kanwar Ranjay Singh of Badnore in Rajasthan, says the protests over Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmavati are overhyped, and one has to stop the nonsense. Singh says she would like to see the film first before reacting and everyone should do the same instead of being intolerant. I think Padmavati has been convoluted completely. I know a boy who worked very close with Bhansali in the production of the film and he said that there is not a (single) shot that you can fault with, and he is a Rajput himself. He also said that after seeing the film, the Rajputs would hug him (Bhansali), Archana Singh told IANS on the sidelines of winter edition of Royal Fables Palace Karkhana, here. The Karni Sena and other Rajput communities are demanding a ban on the film, claiming it has distorted history. Certain scenes and sequences, including a dance number by queen Padmavati, played by actress Deepika Padukone, and some other aspects of the movie have angered the Rajput community who term it as erroneous and an insulting depiction. Bhansali screened the film for a few media persons even before the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had cleared it, adding to the entire controversy. The protest escalated on Friday when a dead body with anti-Padmavati slogans was found hanging at a fort in Rajasthan. Talking about the agitation, Archana Singh told IANS: Its ridiculous. I am a Rajput, but so many Rajputs have come out in favour of the violence that is happening. Its not correct. See the film and then decide. People dont even want to see the film. We have to stop this nonsense. Be tolerant, see it, believe it and then act but dont react. You tend to react all the time. We have become intolerant completely, she added. She also says the entire incidence is overhyped. I think its overhyped. Perhaps there was a bit of PR stint here where initially we heard that there is a dream sequence of Rani Padmavati sharing screen space with Alauddin Khilji and that got everyone boiled up. Thats not true and it doesnt even exist in the movie. Yes, Padmavati existed. I belong from Mewar and she was of course the Chittor princess from Mewar, so she did exist and Jauhar (Hindu custom of mass self-immolation by women in parts of India to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by any foreign invader) did happen but this bit (romance of Khilji with Padmavati) is completely fictionalised. Having said that, it is overhyped and there is over reaction. People are not even waiting to see the film to give an opinion, she said. In the film, Shahid Kapoor features as Padmavatis husband and a warrior king, and Ranveer Singh essays Alauddin Khilji. However, Archana Singh has a piece of advice for Bhansali. I do feel that Bhansali is a brilliant filmmaker and I have seen every film of his. The way he details his frames is brilliant. The only thing I would like to tell him is that if he wants to take cinematic liberties, dont use historical names, just go completely fictional, she said. The industrial township of Durgapur went dry after Durgapur barrage on the Damodar river became dry following a leaking lock gate of the barrage. The irrigation department started repair work on an urgent basis and hoped that they will be able to restore normalcy by Sunday, even as the residents said they have never seen the barrage running completely dry. Read: HT Exclusive: 7 Marathwada dams run dry; experts point to flawed plan The lock gate is being repaired on a war footing. We will fill the barrage within seven-eight hours with water from the nearby Maithon dam after repair work is completed, claimed irrigation minister Rajib Banerjee. Water from the barrage is used for domestic and industrial purposes. On Friday, the Durgapur civic body announced that there will be no water on Saturday. We saved some water, but I am not sure how long it will take for the supply to become normal, said Dipak Barik, a resident of Durgapur. The Durgapur barrage was built in 1955. It is 692 m long and has 34 gates including 2 under-sluice gates. It is a 12 metre high barrage. Located about 170 km from Kolkata, Durgapur is a planned township with a population of 5.22 lakh (2011 census). Read: Google doodle for Rukhmabai Raut, but Indias first woman doctor Kadambini Ganguly remains forgotten If the gate is not repaired immediately, industry will suffer too. All the units in this industrial area dependent on the water from the Damodar river, said Rajendra Prasad Khaitan, the working president of Federation of South Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Durgapur Steel Plant is the biggest industrial unit in the region. Nibedita Datta, a homemaker from Durgapur said she has never faced such a problem even during the height of summer. Repair work is going on. We are in constant touch with the engineers of the Irrigation department, said Sankha Santra, sub divisional officer of Durgapur. Water may be scarce in Durgapur town and adjoining areas in the next few days. Even power generation may be affected as the power units are dependent on this water. We are in talks with Asansol Municipal Corporation and district administration to provide water tankers in the area to supply drinking water, said Dilip Agasthi, the mayor of Durgapur. After the repair work is done, water from Damodar Valley Corporations Maithan and Panchet dam may be used to sill up the Durgapur barrage again. The lock gate broke on Friday morning. Locals alleged the accident was due to poor maintenance work. Maa Mati Manush, the catchline Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee effectively used to unseat the 34-year-old Left Front government in Bengal in 2011 is registered in the name of her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, BJP leader Mukul Roy alleged on Saturday. The former TMC leader, who switched over to the BJP earlier this month, however, did not claim there was any illegality involved in the move. Roys allegation was in continuation of his previous attack on the 31-year-old Lok Sabha MP. On November 10, Roy in his first public meeting as a BJP leader in Kolkata alleged that Banerjee was the owner of Biswa Bangla, the umbrella brand being promoted by the state government and Jago Bangla, the mouthpiece of the ruling party in Bengal. Abhishek Banerjee owns the Maa Mati Manush slogan. This is not an application, but a document that shows it is registered in his name, said Roy waving a sheet of paper at a press conference. He was flanked by BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, party central observer for Bengal Kailash Vijayvargiya and MoS heavy industries and public enterprises Babul Supriyo. We will present everything to the court and also in front of the public, said Vijayvargiya. Incidentally, a court in Alipurduar in north Bengal, in an interim injunction barred Roy from making any statement linking Banerjee to Biswa Bangla Marketing Corporation Ltd and Jago Bangla Media Pvt Ltd. According to the Trade Mark Journal (No 1726 dated 04/01/2016), the trademark was granted on January 18, 2013 to Banerjee. The address mentioned in the journal is 30B Harish Chatterjee Street, Kolkata 26, the residence of the chief minister. The ownership is valid up to January 18, 2023. The slogan is derived from a Bengali rural play titled Maa Mati Manush staged in the 1970s. It was written by Bhairab Gangopadhyay. There is no illegality in getting a political slogan registered in an individuals name. However, anyone owning the logo can claim royalty on anybody, or any party, organisation or even the government for using the slogan. If Abhishek Banerjee wants, he can charge the party and the government huge royalty for using his trademark, prominent lawyer and CPI (M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya told HT. After Roys allegation on November 10, Bengal home secretary Atri Bhattacharya and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) secretary Rajiva Sinha claimed the marketing corporation is owned by the state government. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee also claimed chief ministers nephew has nothing to do with the media company. I shall keep exposing more misdeeds, Roy said at the press conference. Reacting to the allegations, Chatterjee at a public meeting in Canning in South 24 Parganas district said: We dont want to respond to BJPs allegations. But let me ask what sacrifices did their leaders make for the rights of the common man? Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Youth Congress president, had on November 13 sent a legal notice to Roy, claiming that the veteran politician had made false statements against him and demanded an apology from him within 48 hours. Banerjee later filed a defamation suit seeking the injunction before the court of civil judge (senior division) in Alipurduar. People with tainted background and those involved in notorious activities in the past would have to mark their attendance at the police stations concerned, after casting their votes in local bodies poll to be held in the state capital of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. SECURITY BANDOBAST Nearly 4,500 police constables, 100 sub-inspectors, 18 companies of PAC and RAF and 5,000 homeguards will be deployed at different polling stations. Nearly 2,208 police personnel including two ASPs, six DySPs, 250 sub-inspectors, 50 head constables and 1,900 constables from other districts will also be deployed on polling day. Local intelligence sleuths would be deployed to keep close vigil on every activity during poll hours. This is aimed at ensuring that these people do not get involved in any type of activity that causes law and order problem during polls. Over 13,000 civil police, armed police personnel and home guards would be deployed across the state capital to ensure free and fair polling. At least 30 drone cameras will also be used to keep vigil on sensitive and vulnerable polling stations in the district. Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Lucknow, Deepak Kumar said directions had been issued to people with tainted background to mark their attendance at their respective police stations. He said police station in-charges had been directed to make suspicious and tainted persons cast their votes as early as possible in the morning and ensure they go to police stations to register their attendance. He said those suspected to be causing nuisance or any law and order problem would also be detained at the police stations during polling hours. Read more| UP civic body polls: BJP wants EC to verify identities of women in burqas Sharing details about police force deployment, the SSP said nearly 4,500 police constables, 100 sub-inspectors, 18 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Action Force and 5,000 homeguards will be deployed at different polling stations. In addition to it, nearly 2,208 police personnel including two ASPs, six DySPs, 250 sub-inspectors, 50 head constables and 1,900 constables from other districts will also be deployed on polling day. In addition, local intelligence sleuths would be deployed to keep close vigil on every activity during poll hours, he said. A stray dog dragged away body of a newborn girl from a maternity ward of a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday night, exposing the appalling condition of the health care even as the authorities tried to cover up the incident. Attendants of other patients noticed the mongrel carrying away the baby near the main gate of the women hospital. They shooed away the canine and recovered the body, eyewitnesses said. Sheela Yadav (35), wife of Mahatam Yadav of Azamgarhs Deoria Village, gave birth to a baby girl in the evening. But the child died after sometime. The body was kept on the floor of the ward, rolled in a rug. When Sheela became little unmindful and other women admitted in the ward were fast asleep, the dog carried away the body. After the hospital authorities came to know about the incident, they allegedly made Mahatam write on a paper that the body was in their possession. After the delivery, the body of infant was handed over to the kin. There is no fault of the hospital administration, if they cant protect the body. Hospital administration cannot provide security to each woman in the hospital. Three watchmen and two home guards are deployed in the hospital for security. Senior officials have been apprised of the problems of stray dogs roaming on hospital the premises, said chief medical superintendent Dr Amita Agrawal. She said that kin signed a receipt while taking the body. Such incident is not uncommon in the state. Last year body of a newborn baby girl was found being dragged by a pack of dogs at Ghaziabads MMG district hospital. A day after the BJP demanded deployment of women police personnel at polling booths, the state election commission (SEC) on Friday said there was already a provision for the deployment of at least one lady cop at each polling booth. EVMs ALWAYS KEPT IN SURPLUS On the complaints about some EVMs developing snags at certain places in the first phase, Agrawal said there was nothing new about it. Some EVMs develop snag in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls too. And this is the reason why EVMs are always kept in surplus to immediately replace the faulty ones, if any, he pointed out. He dismissed complaints about EVM tampering as baseless. At least one lady cop is always posted at each of the polling booths during elections to check any suspected female voter and it is being done during the ongoing civic polls as well, said SK Agrawal, state election commissioner (SEC). He, however, made no comment on whether the lady cops would verify identities of burqa-clad voters. I cannot say what they should do. All I can say is that lady cops are already there at booths, he added. A BJP delegation that met the SEC on Thursday demanded deployment of women cops at polling booths to verify identities of burqa-clad women to keep a check on possible forged and fake voting by some voters in the garb of veil. Read more| UP civic body polls: BJP wants EC to verify identities of women in burqas Meanwhile, the SEC held a meeting with senior officials of the home and other departments to take stock of preparations of the second phase of polling scheduled in 25 districts on Sunday. We reiterated the same general directions to them to ensure free and fair polls, said Agrawal. A few days back chief minister Yogi Adityanath had laughed off a query, will the results of the elections to the 653 urban local bodies be a referendum of sorts on the 8-month-old BJP government in the state? The opponents have already fled, Adityanath had said in response indicating he was confident of a one-sided win. But surely there is more to the BJPs assembly-poll like campaigning for these civic polls in which it has also fielded largest number of Muslim candidates besides releasing its civic manifesto a first. A campaign blitzkrieg featuring 33 to 35 political rallies by Adityanath highest for any UP chief minister --showcases the partys intent for these polls for which it is also using two to three helicopters for campaign. Union home minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh, who will be in Lucknow on November 26 to cast his vote, has twice visited the state capital to encourage the cadre and a UP minister has been tasked with the responsibility of key districts and mayoral seats Ayodhya, Mathura, Kashi and Gorakhpur in particular. At stake are 653 urban local bodies and the nearly 8000 wards where the party has put up candidates on its lotus symbol, which UP BJP general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal says is the biggest BJP contingent ever for these urban local body polls. Ayodhya and Mathra, the two key Hindu pilgrimage cities high on BJPs agenda, are also first-time mayoral corporations where the party cant afford not to have its mayor. These are the kind of high-impact seats where if BJP does badly, as we are hoping it does, the symbolic takeaways from that will be huge. We are aware of that and working to a plan, an OBC leader from the Samajwadi Party told HT. But then in the past 15 years even when it wasnt doing well in assembly and national elections, the BJP had consistently won these polls earning the sobriquet of a shahari (urban) party unlike Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party with greater rural penetration. Read More: In a first, Uttar Pradesh local polls get national-level campaigns For instance the BJP had won 10 of the 12 mayoral seats in urban local body polls in 2012 despite getting a shocking 15% vote share in the assembly elections the same year. In two years time, the BJP riding on an unprecedented Modi wave saw its vote share zoom to 42.6% in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls as it won 71 out of 80 seats from UP. In the assembly polls three years later, BJP maintained its connect with its new-found rural constituency and its new OBC and Dalit voters to post a stunning 312 seat win, garnering nearly 40% of the vote share. In the 2017 UP polls, the first BJP win was reported from the Muslim dominated Deoband in west UP home to a prominent Islamic seminary. Now, for the first time the BJP often criticised for not fielding Muslims in big ticket elections has fielded its biggest ever batch of minority candidates. There are as many as 17 minority candidates for Nagar Palika Parishad and Nagar Palika Panchayat chiefs post alone leave. That is besides scores of others we have fielded for corporators on our ticket, says BJPs civic-election in-charge JPS Rathore. So is there a method to BJPs aggressive civic election campaign? Yes, these elections would help us check our preparedness for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, re-connect with our audience but more important than that is we also get to look at whether our political opponents mauled in 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 UP polls have managed to gain some lost ground, a BJP leader part of the partys think tank told HT. The quote has a context. These elections are also going to be a reflection of 8 month old Adityanath government and the party also wants to ensure that its cadres dont get rusty and complacent after two spectacular wins. But it is also the first time that the Samajwadi Party has decided to check its urban presence under Akhilesh Yadav and the first time Bahujan Samaj Partys chief Mayawati has decided to check her partys acceptability among urban voters in the elections that had been largely fought till now on bijli, sadak, paani (power, road and water) issues. It is also a good time to check the voting pattern of Dalits and OBCs, the two groups associated with BSP and Samajwadi Party in the past who voted for the BJP. More than BSP that used to control Dalit votes, its the Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Partys OBC presence that we want tested. OBCs are numerically greater and far significant, reason enough that partys OBC leader and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has nearly 50 plus rallies lined up for him, said a BJP strategist. The civic poll results would be out on December 1 just before Gujarat goes to vote. Given the scale at which the party is contesting the UP polls, a good show will of course ensure good publicity that would do BJP no harm ahead of Gujarat polls. A good showing could also brighten up the prospect of national polls being advanced, says Athar Siddiqui from the Centre of Objective Research and Development. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After days of strong opposition by the Shiv Sena against former chief minister Narayan Rane, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has requested him to not contest in the December 7 legislative council by-poll, sources said. The BJP has promised to back him for the June-July by-polls next year instead. In its bid to not upset the BJPs ally, Shiv Sena, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has postponed his cabinet expansion plan. With this, Ranes wait to get a cabinet berth has just got longer. Rane told Hindustan Times that he would meet Fadnavnis on Sunday and discuss both the issues. I have spoken to the chief minister today (Saturday) and we have decided to meet tomorrow once he returns to Mumbai. I am convinced that the delay in cabinet expansion is inevitable in the given political situation. I am not upset as even the BJP is compelled to take such steps to continue in power. I will discuss with the chief minister about the induction and council candidature, Rane said. According to sources, the BJP has already shortlisted six names for the legislative council seat vacated by Rane. The last date of filing nomination is November 27. Rane quit the Congress in September and also resigned from his legislative council seat. On October 1, he formed a new political party called Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha, which he later said would support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. At the time, Fadnavis hinted that Rane would get a cabinet berth. He also asked him to get elected from either of the two houses. Ranes arch-rival Sena has launched a scathing attack against him and threatened to withdraw its support from the state government if he is inducted as a cabinet minister. To win the by-poll, the BJP, which has 122 MLAs, needs Shiv Senas support. It is short of at least seven MLAs even after garnering support from smaller parties and independents The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have 42 and 41 MLAs, while Sena has 63 MLAs. The three parties were planning to join hand if Ranes candidature was supported by the BJP. With the Shiv Sena attacking NCP and its chief Sharad Pawar in the last two days, the patch-up for the by-poll remains elusive. In such a scenario, there is no point in hurting Shiv Sena by fielding him in the council election. We have shortlisted six names on Thursday night. The CM and the state unit chief will finalise the name on Sunday, said a BJP leader. During his meeting with CM on Sunday, Rane is expected to demand firm assurance about his induction in the cabinet. Rane, who is reportedly upset over the delay in induction, is also expected to push for it. BJP may ask Rane to wait till January for the induction as it will also help the party to get him elected within six months in council elections to be held in June next year. Any minister is needed to be elected to any of the houses within six months of his swearing in. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a reprieve for women seeking to terminate late-term pregnancies for medical reasons, the Maharashtra government proposes to establish eight divisional medical boards to scrutinise cases and determine whether such a course of action can be recommended. Additional government pleader Asif Patel told the Bombay high court on Friday that the family welfare department had forwarded a proposal to the principal secretary, public health department. He told a division bench of justices Shantanu Kemkar and Girish Kulkarni that the boards, comprising senior medical officers specialising in different streams, are expected to be set up in two weeks. According to the proposal, couples who wish to terminate pregnancies beyond 20 weeks the limit set under the Medical Termination of Pregnancies (MTP) Act, 1971 can directly approach the board, which will get the foetus medically examined and determine if medical termination of pregnancy is recommended. The high court can then pass a formal order on the basis of the boards opinion. Patel was responding to petition filed by a Pune couple, who sought permission to abort 28-week-old foetus on the ground that both of its kidneys were abnormal and doctors said the child would not be able to lead a normal life. The 23-year-old woman said the pregnancy posed a risk to her life too. Their lawyer, advocate Priyal Sarda, said the foetus was examined by experts, who recommended that the pregnancy be terminated. The couple approached a gynaecologist, who refused to abort the child in view of provisions of the MTP Act. Under section 3 of the MTP Act, a pregnancy not exceeding 12 weeks can be terminated only if a medical practitioner is of the opinion that continuing the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman, grave injury to her physical or mental health or there is a substantial risk of the child being born with physical or mental abnormalities that render it seriously handicapped. A pregnancy ranging between 12 and 20 weeks can be terminated if two or more medical practitioners are of that opinion. The court referred the woman to BJ Medical College Hospital at Pune for a detailed examination and asked the hospital to submit a report by November 28, when the petition is slated to come up for further hearing. It expressed the need for a permanent mechanism to deal with similar cases, in view of the increasing number of couples approaching high courts seeking permission to terminate pregnancies beyond 20 weeks. The Sahar police on Wednesday arrested a 23-year-old man working at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport for allegedly molesting a 24-year-old British national twice while she was waiting for her flight. The complainant, a resident of London, was on her way to Sri Lanka after her flight from London landed at Mumbai airport early on Wednesday. Past incidents at airport, on flights Nov 2017: The Airport police on Monday arrested a 27-year-old man who was allegedly drunk and groped an air hostess on a Mumbai-bound flight. She filed an FIR after the flight from Delhi reached Mumbai. Jun 2017: A passenger on a Delhi-Mumbai flight was arrested for groping a woman seated next to him. He allegedly continued touching the woman even after she complained to the air hostess. When she got her seat changed, he allegedly asked her: You do not like to be touched? Mar 2017: A 32-year-old man was held for allegedly passing lewd comments at a 28-year-old woman, an immigration staffer, while standing in a queue for a security check at Mumbai airport. Feb 2017: A 43-year-old businessman travelling on from Kolkata to Mumbai was arrested by the Airport police for allegedly watching porn in front of the air hostess twice. The air hostess and her supervisor spotted him and field a complaint. The incident took place around 6.30am when she was waiting near a food court in the transit area. She said the accused, Mohsin Shaikh, came up to her and asked how long she would be waiting at the airport. The complainant responded saying she had a 11-hour wait. Shaikh, who works at the food court, told her that she could sit in the lounge and took her to a room nearby. He then told her that the space had free WiFi service, touched the mobile phone in her hand and put his other hand around her waist. When she pushed his hand away, he did it again. In her complaint, the woman said she pushed him away and got out of the room by which time Shaikh ran away. The woman then approached a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer who was in the vicinity and told him about the incident. She obliged when officials asked her to submit a handwritten complaint with her signature. The CISF caught Shaikh and handed him over to the Sahar police, along with the womans statement. The police registered an FIR against him under section 354 (criminal force on a woman outraging her modesty) of the Indian penal Code and arrested him. A magistrate court has remanded him in judicial custody. The Bombay high court directed the Maharashtra government to pay Rs50,000 to a 35-year-old businessman from Chembur as compensation for being illegally detained by the Ahmednagar police for 33 hours. On Wednesday, a division bench of justices SS Shinde and Mangesh Patil also directed the state to pay Sachin Sonawane interest at the rate of 8% per annum on the compensation amount from February 2015. The state must also refund the Rs10,000 Sonawane spent as litigation fees. Sonawane said he married a Kopargaon resident in December 2010, following which they moved to Chembur. He said he lent his brother-in-law Rs5.80 lakh to buy a car. However,when he sought repayment two years later, his wife asked the local police to file a complaint. Sonawane and his family were booked under sections 498-A, 406, 323, 504, 50, 34 of the Indian Penal Code. On September 11, 2014, Kopargaon police came to Chembur and took Sonawane into custody. He was taken to Kopargaon, but was presented before a magistrate there only at 3 pm on September 12. He thus approached the high court, saying he was illegally detained in police custody for about 33 hours. The court accepted his claim. This case is another example of how the states police machinery s either oblivious or emboldened to breach the fundamental rights of the citizens, said the bench. It added that despite passing repeated orders regarding compensation for illegal detention, there was hardly any improvement in behaviour of police personnel. This court has come across similar violations of the rights of citizens guaranteed under Article 21 and 22 of the Constitution, said the bench. It said neither the state nor the police department had taken steps to set their house in order. Even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on October 18 that 80% of eligible farmers would get the loan waiver amount in a month, the state has disbursed the loans to only 73,000 or less than 1% of the 77 lakh applicants. The total amount credited into farmers bank accounts stand at Rs 481 crore. To speed up the disbursal process, the state government has replaced a private firm with its own agency, Mahaonline, to weed out duplication in the list of beneficiaries. After announcing the loan waiver of Rs 34,020 crore to benefit about 89 lakh farmers in various categories, the Fadnavis government began the process of crediting the amount into the bank accounts of farmers five weeks ago. In a programme at the Sahyadri guest house on October 18, while handing over certificates to about 100 farmers, Fadnavis had said 80% of the eligible farmers will be declared debt free in a month. He also announced that the state had prepared a list of 8.40 lakh farmers with a debt of Rs 4,000 crore. The state government has received 73 lakh applications for the loan waiver. It believes that of these 65 lakh farmer will qualify for the waiver. The cooperation department has prepared the list of 1 lakh beneficiaries and expects it to be cleared until the second list is cleared in next few days. The department of information and technology (DIT) and Mahaonline are working on the list of applicants and verifying them. We expect the new list will be provided to us early next week. It will be followed by our releasing the money to banks, said an official of the cooperation department. The state government has also replaced the private firm for digitisation and verification. Mahaonline Limited, a joint venture between government and Tata Consultancy Services, has been verifying the data for the last few days. After we found duplication in bank account and Aadhaar numbers, the first list of 2.39 lakh applicants was put on hold. The agency is reviewing the list and also preparing a new one , said the official. Cooperation ministers Subhash Deshmukh said the preparation of the list of 70% beneficiaries will be completed by November 25 and the actual disbursement will begin by end of this month. After days of protests by farmers in June, the government announced a loan waiver of Rs34,022 crore and later widened its scope, doing away with some criteria. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An unidentified person stole gold jewellery and cash gifts at a wedding in Dadar, while the bride, the groom and their families were busy posing for a group photograph after the ceremony. The thief escaped with cash gifts given to the groom in envelopes and gold jewellery worth Rs4.86 lakh, the Shivaji Park police, who are investigating the case, said. The theft took place at Suryavanshiya Kshatriya Hall on Veer Savarkar Marg, Dadar. The police said the theft was discovered by Bhakti Miraj Sane, 46, a resident of Borivli, who was attending the haldi ceremony of her husbands nephew Himanshu Vaidya. The police said that during the function, the family was scattered around the hall meeting and greeting guests. The gifts and cash given to the groom were collected by a family member and kept near the grooms chair. After a while, Bhakti and her family went up to the couple and the photographer called the entire family for a group photo. Bhakti kept her purse, in which she was carrying some of her own and some relatives gold jewellery, along with the other gifts on the chair. The photo session went on for around 10 minutes, at the end of which she turned to pick up her purse and found it was missing along with the cash envelopes. Bhakti filed a complaint with the Shivaji Park police. We are checking CCTV footage of the marriage hall as well as taking down statements of guests to trace the robber. It could be one of the invitees, said Sunil Deshmukh, assistant commissioner of police, Dadar division. A Congressman was gunned down at Motihari, headquarters of north Bihars East Champaran district, on Saturday morning. Eyewitnesses said two masked men, riding a motorcycle, fired indiscriminately at Chotu Jaiswal, vice president of the East Champaran unit of Congress and former ward councillor of Motihari Nagar Parishad, when he was taking tea at a roadside stall. The assailants fled from the scene brandishing their gun. The incident took place at Ganpool Chowk in Motihari town, 154 km north of Patna. Jaiswal, who received injuries on chest and head, was taken to a local hospital where he died during treatment. Protesting against the incident, an angry mob blocked the Mina Bazar Chowk in the town, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. A group of people also took out a procession and vandalised public vehicles. Deputy superintendent of police (sadar) Pankaj Rawat said the footage of the CCTV camera, installed near the site of the crime, would help the police identify the assailants. East Champaran superintendent of police (SP) Upendra Sharma said the body of the victim had been sent for postmortem examination. Jaiswal was into real estate business and had criminal antecedents, the SP said. BLURB Protesting against the incident, an angry mob blocked the Mina Bazar Chowk in Motihari town, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. A group of people also took out a procession and vandalised public vehicles Minister of petroleum and natural gas, skill development and entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan, on Friday, said that his ministry was at the last stage of finalising the new national policy on biofuels. Pradhan was addressing a conference of industry experts and policy makers on Ethanol as a Transport Fuel organised by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), jointly with the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE), New Delhi , supported by the ministry of road transport and highways. Pradhan said, Our ministry is in the process of finalising the new national policy on biofuels. We had a consultative meeting of all the stakeholders at New Delhi recently and are evaluating all the feedback and suggestions given so far. The new policy will provide complete off-take guarantee to the producers. He explained that ethanol supply for blending in petrol had increased to 111 crore litres in 2015-2016 from 15.4 crore litres in 2011. Similarly, the rate of return has been upwardly revised by more than 40 % to benefit farmers. We can emphatically state that ethanol has the potential to substantially cut down the crude import bill of the country, he said. The minister was all praise for Pune city and its intellectual prowess and described it as the land of creativity, innovation and intellectuals. He noted that Pune has been the epicentre of all the research and development activities in different domains and also in the area of alternative green fuel. Most of the technologies to convert agri waste to green fuel have been developed in Pune, he added. Pradhan stressed that the government was committed to double the income of farmers beyond the stipulated Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism and help promote the farmers to monetise their farm and agri-waste as feedstock to Ethanol Bio-refineries. He complimented the conference organisers and suggested greater co-operation and collaboration between civil society, researchers, farmers, industry and all other stakeholders to promote ethanol economy. Pune can go Delhi way if pollution level remains unchecked, says Nitin Gadkari Union minister for road transport and shipping Nitin Gadkari warned that Pune can go the Delhi way in the coming days if the pollution level went unchecked henceforth. Gadkari said that tier 2 cities like Pune and Chennai are likely to go Delhi way if pollution control is not stringently imposed by the respective authorities. Gadkari was addressing a gathering of industry experts and other stakeholders during a conference under the theme Ethanol as a Transport Fuel on Friday at the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) organised by CIRT, jointly in association with the Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE), New Delhi supported by the ministry of road transport and highways. Gadkari pointed out that there was need to curb vehicular pollution and replacing traditional fuels with alternate green fuels to conserve the environment. One can see what is happening in Delhi and the policy of odd and even arrangements being undertaken by the Delhi government to combat smog. Taking into account the rising pollution levels in cities like Pune and Chennai, the day is not far when these cities will go the Delhi way and it is an alarming situation, he added. The minister also said that the agriculture sector in the country was going through severe crisis and maintained that there was a need to give a fair price to agri produce and adopt practices of sustainable agriculture for the growth and promotion of the sector. Referring to the rising disparity in urban and rural country space, Gadkari said that unemployment had peaked in rural India which resulted in large scale migration to the cities. At some point, 80 % of the village population stayed in the village itself, while the remainder left to urban cities looking for opportunities. Now, 55% of village population stays in the village, while a major chunk has left for the cities for jobs and other avenues, he said. If rural economy is strengthened through an integrated approach, then we will be able to generate 50 lakh new jobs for rural India. We also need to promote bioethanol to end agriculture crisis, he added. The minister also stressed that the central government has embarked on a massive irrigation scheme initiative aimed at boosting agriculture production. He said that the government has planned to bring two crore hectares under irrigation through various schemes. The severe water crisis in different states were the main cause behind farmer suicides and irrigation schemes will be fast-tracked to provide relief to the farming community, he said. Air India will introduce two non-stop flights per week to Amritsar from Birmingham early next year, catering to demands of a large number of people of Punjab-origin in the city and the west Midlands, official sources said on Friday. The Birmingham Airport will be the only UK airport to operate non-stop services on the new route. Air India already operates a popular daily service from the city to Delhi since August 2013, carrying nearly 5 lakh passengers so far, a statement from Birmingham Airport said. William Pearson, aviation director at Birmingham airport, said: It is great news that we will have non-stop connections to two Indian cities. With over 200,000 British-Indian people who travel to India to visit friends and relatives, and for tourism and business interests, this additional destination shows the large demand within the region for non-stop Amritsar services from the Midlands. Pankaj Srivastava, director (Commercial) and board member of Air India, said in Birmingham: We are delighted that we are able to announce that we are planning to commence non-stop services between Birmingham and Amritsar twice a week, starting early 2018, recognising the consumer demand from the Midlands region to Amritsar. Air India is always very sensitive to the needs of the consumer and is pleased to be connecting the two cities thereby adding a new city pairing for Air Indias expanding global network with the only non-stop UK Amritsar service, he said. According to Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands, one of the most common issues raised during his interaction with the Sikh community in the region is that they and their families are unable to fly direct to Amritsar. Ever since, weve been working with Air India and Birmingham Airport to explore whether we could introduce this direct service for the 135,000 Sikhs living in the West Midlands. I am delighted this will start early next year I know it will be well received news and a well-used service, Street added. News of the new service has been welcomed in the city and beyond. Labour MP Preet Gill from Birmingham Edgbaston commenting on the news said: Sandwell is twinned with Amritsar, and in my capacity as local councillor I campaigned for these non-stop flights. This is wonderful news for the West Midlands, not just for the Punjabi community, but for business too. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three men from Mawa village in Nurpur Bedi area Rupnagar district have sent a video to their families from Saudi Arabia where they have allegedly been forced to work as bonded labourers. The men Ajay Singh, Jasvir Singh and Suresh Kumar say they have run away to the forests from where they have sent the video. Their parents on Saturday submitted a complaint with the senior superintendent of police (SSP). They said they had sent their sons to Saudi Arabia on November 17 to work as truck drivers in a company through a travel agent of Nangal. However, upon reaching Saudi Arabia, a person from the company took them from the airport to a place to look after animals, instead of employing them as truck drivers, says the complaint. There, they were forced to work as bonded laboureres to look after the animals and cut wood, it is alleged. SSP Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu said he has asked the Anandpur Sahib deputy superintendent of police (DSP) to conduct an inquiry. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia and the counterparts here have contacted the parents. A honeymoon is one of the most beautiful time periods in life for a married couple. Planning for a honeymoon is quite exciting as there are a plethora of options to choose from. If you are looking for an offbeat destination to wind off the stress post wedding and spend moments of privacy and intimacy with your better half, here are the best honeymoon destinations for you. These places listed by Kapil Goswamy, CMD, BigBreaks.com provide an ideal setting, along with an opportunity to spend some quality time with each other. -Lakshadweep The exotic islands and coral archipelagoes of Lakshadweep are one of the most secluded beach destinations in India. Covered by a thick green carpet of coconut palms, threaded by an untainted line of silvery white sands, set in an ocean, whose colours change from palest aquamarine and turquoise to deepest sapphire and lapis lazuli, the islands of Lakshadweep are a perfect retreat. Especially for those newlyweds who wish to enjoy blissful beach surroundings with an idyllic sense of privacy. Moreover, if you two love water sports, you can enjoy various water sport activities like scuba-diving, fishing and snorkeling at this romantic getaway. Head to Lakshadweep for pristine beaches. (Lakshadweep Tourism/Facebook) -Tawang Tawang is a sparsely populated town in Arunachal Pradesh with mesmerising views of valleys and mountains. Perched at a height of 10,000 ft above sea level, Tawang is an ideal honeymoon destination providing the much needed tranquillity to newly married couples. The town is immersed in the colours of Tibetan culture, with various attractive monasteries and Buddhist structures scattered all around. It is a perfect bet for couples who wish to explore a distinct culture in the realm of nature. Tawang is seeped in culture and tradition. (AFP) -Shillong Capital of the wettest state of India- Meghalaya, Shillong is a picture perfect honeymoon destination in the Northeast region of India. Also, known as Scotland of the east, Shillong is home to cascading waterfalls, pretty lakes dense forests, mystical caves and fascinating ancient tree root bridges. The city has a very young vibe as it adorns a westernised culture and has many musical events running throughout the year, making it a lively place always bustling with activity. Shillong is called the Scotland of the East. (Shutterstock) -Vietnam A perfect amalgamation of natural beauty and culture, Vietnam serves as an ideal honeymoon retreat nearby India. Its untouched landscape, exotic environment, lush green scenery, long coastlines and vibrant culture are sure to enamour every honeymoon couple. Revel in the ancient architecture of the country or relish the one of its kind floating villages. Experience the peace at Buddhist pagodas or relax at the many beach resorts and boutique hotels in the country. The scenic beauty of this country is boundless and inexpressible in plain words. Explore the floating markets in Vietnam. (Shutterstock) -Turkey If you and your partner fancy history and culture, then honeymooning at the Mediterranean land of Turkey is the best option for you. With one foot in Europe and one in Asia, Turkey represents a truly remarkable culture and a distinct race of people. Experiences like staying in cave resorts, traditional Turkish spas, sensual Turkish baths and romantic Fayton rides add to your honeymoon memoirs. Captivating architecture, lively bazaars and pristine beaches along with a vibrant nightlife, are some other key reason to invest in a honeymoon trip to Turkey. Its all you have dreamt of! Turkey is great for lovers of history and culture. (Shutterstock) Khajjiar If mainstream hill stations like Shimla or Manali do not interest you anymore, head-off to Khajjiar, a little Himalayan gem near Dalhousie. Surrounded by green meadows, forests and snow-clad mountains, Khajjiar is Himachals best kept secret and is unspoiled and less crowded. Often touted as the mini Switzerland of India, due to its resemblance to the country, Khajjiar is a perfect offbeat honeymoon destination in India. Adventure sport activities like Zorbing, trekking and paragliding also take place here which add to the element of thrill to this pleasantly charming hill station. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more TV actor Piyush Sahdev was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly raping a 23-year-old aspiring actress. Sahdev, who has worked in popular shows like Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke and Beyhadh, has been accused of raping the woman on the pretext of marriage. After the arrest, Piyush was presented before a court where he was sent to police custody till November 27. Heres everything you need to know about the case: 1. Piyush and the woman met through mutual friends and the TV actor promised to boost her career, police said. 2. The TV actor moved in with the woman and even proposed marriage to her after living with her for two months. 3. The woman told police she saw compromising photos of Piyush with another woman, after which they fought and he went back on his promise to marry her. 4. The woman approached the police on November 20 and filed a case under section 376 (punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code against Sahdev. 5. Kiran Vasantrao Kale, senior inspector, Versova police station, told HT over phone from Mumbai, Yes, he has been charged with rape. An FIR was lodged against him on November 20. After investigations, we arrested him on November 22. He was produced in court on the same day and has been sent to police custody till November 27. 6. When Hindustan Times approached Sahdevs estranged wife, actor Akangsha Rawat, she said she hasnt been in touch with him for past four months. I am not in touch with Piyush since almost four months, we separated six months back, so I have no idea if this news (of rape allegation) is true, she told us. 7. Piyush has been sent to police custody till November 27. 8. Revealing that she hasnt been in touch with Piyush for a long time, his sister and Secret Superstar-fame actor Meher Vij told Times Of India, I havent been able to get in touch with my father so I too do not know anything about this news. Actually, Piyush and I havent been in touch at all ever since he got married. His wife had some issues so I chose to back off. Whatever contact we have had, has been only through our father ever since then. 9. The TOI report also quoted a close family friend of Piyush as saying, Piyush recently went for a holiday with the actress where he got sexually involved with her. After coming back, he chose to end the relationship. Meanwhile, she had become a little serious about him. But with his negligent behaviour, she got irked. Piyush blackmailed her, threatening to leak her obscene pictures over the internet. The actress paid no heed to him. This irked Piyush who actually leaked a few pictures. 10. While his affair was said to be the reason behind the separation with his wife, the actor had earlier denied it: Yes, it is true that Akangsha and I are getting separated. The divorce is already in process. But all the rumours which are being spread are untrue. Follow @htshowbiz for more One policeman died and over 100 people were injured as Pakistan cracked down on radical Islamist protestors in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and imposed a gag order on TV channels covering the spiralling violence. The government on Saturday asked all news channels to suspend live broadcast as protests against a police operation earlier in the day in Islamabad spread to other cities, with fears that the situation could turn into a major law and order problem. Social media networks including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were also blocked in various parts of the country. The army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and urged for peaceful solution to the problem. Islamabad and Karachi were most affected by the violence, and till Saturday evening it was unclear who had the upper hand, with the government claiming its operation had been successful while supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik insisted they continued to protest and cause disruption in different parts of the country. Karachis main thoroughfare, the Sharare Faisal, has been blocked at different spots. It is feared that protests will continue on Sunday as well. Tehreek-e-Labbaik spokesperson Ejaz Ashrafi told the media over telephone that supporters of the movement were in their thousands. We will not leave. We will fight until the end, he said. Pakistans interior minister Ahsan Iqbal claimed that the protestors had contacted India, and the government was investigating why they did it, without giving further details about his claim. We can see that they have various resources at their disposal. They have fired teargas shells [at security forces], they also cut the fibre-optic cables of cameras monitoring their protest...They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state, he told Dawn News network. More than 8,500 police and paramilitary personnel took part in the Islamabad operation earlier in the day to dislodge the protestors who had blocked the Faizabad interchange, one of the Pakistani capitals busiest traffic intersections, for almost 20 days. Officials said the operation had achieved 90% success, adding that some of the protestors took to the streets and caused mayhem in different parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. TV channels reported that the police operation was suspended by evening, but there was no official confirmation of this. The protesters want the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for altering the declaration of lawmakers with regard to Finality of the Prophethood a change which the government has already reversed. Government hospitals continued to receive wounded persons, mostly police personnel, as fighting continued between protestors and police personnel throughout he day. It is estimated that more than 500 people were admitted to different hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Islamabad police, with the help of Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel and other law enforcement agencies, launched the operation against protesters after the last of a long series of deadlines lapsed this morning without response from the agitators. An Islamabad police spokesman confirmed that a policeman was killed in the clash with protesters after he was struck in the head by a rock. Protesters hurls back a tear gas shell fired by police during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. (AP Photo) The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) warned against live coverage of the Faizabad sit-in, stating that under the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015, live coverage of any security operation was prohibited. TV channels were advised to exhibit utmost sensitivity regarding the matter and refrain from live coverage. Following the PEMRA order, there has been a media blackout across the country where almost all leading private TV channels went off-air. Unconfirmed reports suggest that mobile cellular networks will also be suspended any time soon. Several vehicles were burnt as protesters, who had dispersed in smaller lanes and congested areas, regrouped and pushed back. Smoke and tear gas filled the air as police and paramilitary troops in riot gear were seen throwing rocks and using slingshots in a bid to clear 2,000 or so hardline demonstrators. Dr Altaf from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said that no major injuries were reported. Most of the injuries are minor, but we have a number of fracture cases. Protestors were being egged on by their leaders who conveyed through loudspeakers that policemen should be targeted as this would earn them sawab. Prime Minister Abbasi went into a close huddle with other party members to try and see how the issue could be resolved. A Pakistani protester from the Tehreek-i-Labaik Yah Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLYRAP) religious group runs past a burning tent during a clash with police in Islamabad on November 25, 2017. (AFP Photo) As the Thursday deadline given by the Islamabad high court expired, the civilian law enforcement agencies went into action. In the past, the government had consistently bought time to negotiate with protesters. (With inputs from agencies) Sometimes, empathy is the most potent medicine for pain. An Australian ambulance crew understood that when it decided recently to took a quick detour to a beach in order to fulfil the last wish of a dying patient they were carrying. Queensland Ambulance Service Facebook page posted a note congratulating the crew of Hervey Bay, a city in Queensland, for their act of compassion. A crew were transporting a patient to the palliative care unit of the local Hospital and the patient expressed that she just wished she could be at the beach again. (sic), the department wrote on its Facebook page. Tears were shed and the patient felt very happy, according to Helen Donaldson, the officer in-charge of Hervey Bay, who shared this story with the members of Queensland Ambulance Service. The story melted hearts on Facebook as people congratulated the team and shared similar stories of empathy. Many years ago a very close friend was getting married (and) on the day of her wedding her mother collapsed as she had terminal cancer. The ambulance was called. Instead of the ambulance taking her to hospital, they went to the church and wheeled her into the church on a stretcher. She watched her daughter get married, she died a few days later. It was a beautiful thought from the ambos there wasnt a dry eye in the church. The ambos do such a great job in all states of Australia. Thankyou all, one of users commented. As many as 61,000 people liked the post and over 19,000 shared it. Baloch nationalist leader Brahumdagh Bugti, whose request for asylum has been rejected by Switzerland, has not applied for asylum in India though he would be willing to consider any offer made by the Indian government. Bugti, who has been living in exile in Switzerland for the past seven years, called on India to do more to highlight the case of Baloch nationalists and the human rights abuses in Balochistan, Pakistans least populated and natural resource-rich province. I have not made a formal request for asylum in India though it was an issue that I discussed with Indian officials when I visited the Indian embassy here, Bugti, 35, told Hindustan Times on phone from his home near Geneva. However, if there is an offer of asylum from the government of India in view of the oppression faced by Baloch activists, I will think about it. It would be embarrassing if I were to apply for asylum and it was rejected by India, just as the Swiss have done. I dont want this situation. Bugti, the grandson of veteran Baloch leader Akbar Bugti, fled to Afghanistan shortly after his grandfather was killed in a 2006 military operation ordered by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. He moved to Europe after the Pakistan government banned his Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and began pressuring Afghanistan to take action against him. He dismissed suggestions that he and other Baloch leaders were disappointed that Prime Minister Narendra Modis mention of the situation in Balochistan in his 2016 Independence Day speech was not followed up with public support for the Baloch cause. But yes, India should do more, it shouldnt stay silent as it is a world power. The Indian government should take a stand, he said. Nobody was interested in the Baloch issue when Prime Minister Modi spoke about it. We are thankful for his positive policy and it was a big thing for us. We got support from members of the Indian public. Bugti rejected suggestions that India had raised Balochistan because of Pakistan constantly raking up the Kashmir issue. These things are different, I dont agree that they can be linked. Pakistan raises the Kashmir issue as a tit for tat but the Indian government is not like that, he said. Bugti said he had been informed by Swiss authorities that his asylum request had been rejected because Pakistan had accused him of involvement in terror activities. The documents I got also stated that a third country was opposed to me being granted asylum. This country was not named but I am sure it was China, he said. Only Pakistan is saying Im linked to guerrilla groups and making these allegations. But I lead the BRP which is a political party working for the rights of the Baloch, he added. This was a very surprising and one-sided action (by the Swiss). Pakistan, he said, had been embarrassed by a recent focussed campaign by Baloch groups in European cities such as London and Geneva to highlight rights abuses in Balochistan. We had been doing this campaign for eight to 10 years but this time we changed our tactics and used huge hoardings and advertisements on buses and taxis. This angered the Pakistan government but in the UK and Switzerland they cant make us disappear, he said. The Pakistan government is targeting a helpless person like me while the Pakistani courts free terrorists, he said. Asked if he was referring to Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, he replied: Hafiz Saeed, Osama bin Laden. Where was bin Laden killed? He added, But things are changing. See the strong position adopted by the Trump administration on the Taliban and al-Qaeda. They should change now. Bugti, however, expressed concern that Switzerlands decision to link his asylum request to terrorism could have a snowballing effect on asylum requests by other BRP activists in Europe. A week before the rejection of the asylum request, Bugtis brother-in-law, UK-based Mehran Marri, was stopped at Zurich airport and told there was an entry ban against him. Earlier, BRP members would easily get asylum in countries such as France and Germany. But it may change now, Bugti said. I plan to challenge the Swiss governments decision in the Swiss courts and prove that our Baloch movement is not linked to terrorism. We will fight this in the courts and, if necessary, take it to the European Court of Justice. This is what Im focused on now. Rebel groups in Balochistan have waged a low-level insurgency since the 1960s, demanding more autonomy and a greater say in the exploitation of the provinces abundant natural resources, including gas and minerals. Balochistan is also central to the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is centred round the provinces Gwadar port that was built with Chinese aid. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The imam had barely made it atop the mosque pulpit to deliver the sermon when intense gunfire rang out and Ebid Salem Mansour knew exactly what was going on. We knew that the mosque was under attack by (militants), he said Saturday, a day after the attack, giving a detailed account of the deadliest assault by Islamic extremists against civilians in Egypts modern history. At least 305 people were killed in Fridays attack on a mosque filled with worshippers in the troubled region of northern Sinai, a grim milestone in Egypts brutal fight against increasingly emboldened militants. Egyptian warplanes were in action on Saturday over Sinai, according to the military, targeting several vehicles in which some of the culprits of the attack were traveling. All passengers of the vehicles were killed, it added. It was impossible to independently verify the claim since the media is virtually banned from working in Sinai. Witnesses speaking to The Associated Press in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia where some of the wounded were taken spoke of horrific scenes during the approximately 20 minutes it took the militants to kill and maim worshippers. They spoke of some jumping out of windows, a stampede in a corridor leading to the washrooms and of children screaming in horror. Some spoke of their narrow escape from a certain death, others of families that lost all or most of their male members. Egyptians carry victims on stretchers following a gun and bombing attack on the Rawda mosque near the North Sinai provincial capital of El-Arish on November 24, 2017. (AFP) Mansour, a 38-year-old worker in a nearby salt factory, said he settled in Bir al-Abd, the small town where the attack took place, three years ago to escape the bloodshed and fighting elsewhere in northern Sinai. He suffered two gunshot wounds in the legs. Everyone layed down on the floor and kept their heads down. If you raised your head you get shot, he said. The shooting was random and hysterical at the beginning and then became more deliberate: Whoever they werent sure was dead or still breathing was shot dead. The militants were shouting Allahu Akbar, or God is great, and the children were screaming, Mansour said. I knew I was injured but I was in a situation that was much scarier than being wounded. I was only seconds away from a certain death, he said. As the shooting took place, many of the worshippers recited their final prayers, he added. Fridays attack targeted a mosque frequented by Sufis, members of a mystic movement within Islam. Islamic militants, including the local affiliate of the Islamic State group, consider Sufis heretics because of their less literal interpretations of the faith. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi vowed that the attack will not go unpunished and that Egypt would persevere with its war on terrorism. But he did not specify what new steps might be taken. On Saturday, he ordered that a mausoleum be built in memory of the victims of Fridays attack. Relatives of the victims of the bomb and gun assault on the North Sinai Rawda mosque wait outside the Suez Canal University hospital in the eastern port city of Ismailia on November 25, 2017, where they were taken to receive treatment following the deadly attack the day before. (AFP) The military and security forces have already been waging a tough campaign against militants in the towns, villages and desert mountains of Sinai, and Egypt has been in a state of emergency since April. Across the country, thousands have been arrested in a crackdown on suspected Islamists as well as against other dissenters and critics, raising concern about human rights violations. Seeking to spread the violence, militants over the past year have carried out deadly bombings on churches in the capital of Cairo and other cities, killing dozens of Christians. The IS affiliate is also believed to be behind the 2016 downing of a Russian passenger jet that killed 226 people over Sinai. Fridays assault was the first major militant attack on a Muslim congregation, and it eclipsed past attacks, even dating back to a previous Islamic militant insurgency in the 1990s. The militants descended on the al-Rouda mosque in four off-road vehicles as hundreds worshipped inside. At least a dozen attackers charged in, opening fire randomly, the main cleric at the mosque, Sheikh Mohamed Abdel Fatah Zowraiq, said. He spoke to the AP by phone from a Nile Delta town where he was recuperating from bruises and scratches suffered in the attack. The militants, according to one witness, stormed the mosque from several doors and as soon as they opened fire, many worshippers started jumping out of windows. The small door that leads to the corridor for the wash rooms was about the only one where worshippers rushed to escape, said a 38-year-old government employee who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation. There was a stampede. I fell down and then bodies piled up on top of me. I was the only one alive underneath. The shooting was heavy, insane and random, he recalled. These are not terrorists. These are not humans. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. But the IS group affiliate has targeted Sufis in the past. View of the Rawda mosque, roughly 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, after a gun and bombing attack, on November 24, 2017. (AFP) Last year, the militants beheaded a leading local Sufi religious figure, the blind sheikh Suleiman Abu Heraz, and posted photos of the killing online. Islamic State group propaganda often denounces Sufis. In the January edition of an IS online magazine, a figure purporting to be a high level official in the Sinai affiliate of the group vowed to target Sufis, accusing them of idolatry and heretical innovation in religion and warning that the group will not permit (their) presence in Sinai or Egypt. Millions of Egyptians belong to Sufi orders, which hold sessions of chanting and poetry meant to draw the faithful closer to God. Sufis also hold shrines containing the tombs of holy men in particular reverence. Islamic militants stepped up their campaign of violence in northern Sinai after the military ousted the elected but divisive Islamist Mohammed Morsi from power in 2013 and launched a fierce crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group. The result has been a long, grinding conflict centered on el-Arish and nearby villages and towns. The militants have been unable to control territory, but the military and security forces have also been unable to bring security, as the extremists continuously carry out surprise attacks, mostly targeting outposts and convoys. The attacks have largely focused on military and police, killing hundreds, although exact numbers are unclear as journalists and independent investigators are banned from the area. The militants have also assassinated individuals the group considers to be spies for the government or religious heretics. Egypt has also faced attacks by militants in its Western Desert. Fridays attack on a mosque in Egypts Sinai, which killed at least 235 people, is among the deadliest since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Here is a recap: US in 2001: nearly 3,000 dead The deadliest attacks in history take place in the United States on September 11, 2001. Four passenger aircraft are diverted and three deliberately slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC. The fourth crashes in Pennsylvania. The attacks are claimed by Al-Qaeda and leave around 3,000 people dead. Iraq in 2007: 400 dead On August 14, 2007 four suicide truck bombs explode in the villages of Al-Khataniyah and Al-Adnaniyah, which are mainly inhabited by members of the Yazidi community in Iraqs northern province of Nineveh. The simultaneous attacks, blamed on Sunni Islamists, leave more than 400 dead. Somalia in 2017: 358 dead A truck bomb in a busy commercial district in northwestern Mogadishu leaves 358 dead in Somalia on October 14, 2017, in what is one of the deadliest ever attacks using vehicles as a weapon. No one claims responsibility, but it is widely seen as being the work of the Shabaab, an insurgent Islamist group aligned with Al-Qaeda. Iraq in 2016: 323 dead On July 3, 2016 an explosives-packed minibus blows up, killing 323 people in a packed street in central Baghdad. The attack is claimed by the jihadist Islamic State group. The enormous explosion, which sets fire to several buildings and single-storey houses, happens in Karrada, a mainly Shiite shopping area in the capital which is crowded before the celebrations of the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Egypt in 2015: 224 dead On October 31, 2015 a Russian jet leaving Egypt crashes in the Sinai peninsula, leaving all 224 people on board dead in Russias worst air disaster. An Islamic State-linked group claims responsibility for bringing down the plane. Experts do not rule out the possibility of a bomb on board. Indonesia in 2002: 202 dead On October 12, 2002 attacks on a bar-restaurant and a discotheque on the island of Bali leave 202 dead, mainly tourists. The attack is carried out by a Jemaah Islamiyah commando linked to Al-Qaeda. Egypt was hit by its deadliest ever militant attack when gunmen opened fire and set off explosives at a mosque in the northern Sinai Peninsula, killing more than 200 people. Egypt has been battling an insurgency in the Sinai led by an affiliate of the Islamic State group that intensified after the militarys 2013 ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood from power. Hundreds have been killed in what has become a grinding stalemate in Sinai. The militants have expanded their attacks to other parts of Egypt, carrying out deadly bombings of churches to terrorize the Christian minority and deadly gunbattles with security forces. A generation earlier in the 1990s, Egypt faced a campaign of violence by Islamic militants largely based in the south of the country. The militants attacked Christians and security forces and sought to undermine Egypts economy by striking tourists. It took years but the government was able to crush it with a heavy-handed crackdown that entrenched the long-term power of security agencies in the country. Some of the campaigns militant leaders, from Islamic Jihad and the Gamaa Islamiya, would later be prominent in al-Qaida. Here is a look at some of the deadliest attacks seen in Egypt. HATSEPSUTS TEMPLE In November 1997, gunmen opened fire on tourists, killing 62 people, at the Temple of Hatshepsut in the southern city of Luxor, site of many of the countrys most dramatic and popular pharaonic monuments. It was the deadliest attack of the 1990s insurgency. SINAI ATTACKS In the mid-2000s, newly formed Sinai militant groups carried out a series of bombings against beach resorts. A suicide truck bomber hit a Hilton in Taba on the border with Israel in October 2004, and near simultaneous bombings hit two other Sinai resorts, killing a total of 34 people, mostly Egyptians and Israelis. In July 2005, bombings hit multiple sites including a hotel in Sharm el-Sheikh, the biggest of Egypts Sinai resorts, killing 88 people. The following April, bombs detonated at several locations in Dahab, killing 23 people. NEW YEARS CHURCH BOMBING A bomb explodes at the al-Qadeeseen Coptic Christian Church, hitting worshippers as they leave a midnight Mass on New Years 2011, killing more than 20 people in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria. No suspects have ever been named and the crime is still unsolved. METROJET FLIGHT 9268 A Russian Metrojet passenger airline crashes in Sinai after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh in October 2015, killing more than 220 people on board, mostly Russian tourists. The Sinai affiliate of the Islamic State group said it blew up the plane with a bomb smuggled on board, and Russia said the aircraft was likely downed by explosives. ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS IS-linked militants have carried out multiple attacks on Egypts Christian minority. In December 2016, a bombing at a chapel adjacent to Egypts main Coptic Christian cathedral in Cairo killed 30 people and wounded dozens during Sunday Mass. In April 2017: Suicide bombers hit two churches in the coastal city of Alexandria and the Nile Delta city of Tanta during services for Palm Sunday, killing at least 43 people and wounding dozens. The next month, masked militants killed 28 people when they opened fire on a bus packed with Coptic Christians, including children, heading to the remote monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor near the southern town Maghagha. ATTACKS ON SECURITY FORCES The IS affiliate has also succeeded in striking heavy and embarrassing blows on Egypts police and military. In July 2014, gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked a post in Egypts western desert near the Libyan border, killing 21 soldiers. In Sinai only a few months later in October, the IS affiliate struck military checkpoints with surprise attacks that killed more than 30. In July this year, gunmen and a suicide bomber attacked a military checkpoint in northern Sinai, killing 23 soldiers. A municipal mayor in Mexicos violent eastern state of Veracruz was killed Friday, local authorities said, just four days after a mayor-elect was murdered in the same state. Victor Manuel Espinoza -- mayor of Ixhuatlan de Madero, located some 270 kilometers (168 miles) northeast of Mexico City -- was killed with four others including his wife in the attack, the state prosecutors office said in a statement. Authorities did not provide details concerning a possible motive for the attack, which occurred Friday night on a dirt road in a neighboring municipality near the states capital Xalapa. The murders came days after a group of at least 30 armed men murdered Santana Cruz Bahena, mayor-elect of the municipality of Hidalgotitlan. That act was allegedly linked to a criminal gang that traffics stolen fuel. Three more mayors were assassinated in other Mexican states last month, while nearly 50 have been killed since 2003, according to figures from the National Association of Mayors. Violence in Veracruz has risen in 2017 compared to the year prior, with 1,382 murders documented from January to October -- a figure that already exceeds 2016s total 1,258 homicides. The state government ascribes the rise in violence to power struggles between crime gangs involved in drug smuggling, illegal immigration from Central America and the theft of fuel from pipelines. Around 190,000 people have been killed in Mexico since 2006, when the government launched a military campaign on the drugs cartels. The numbers do not show how many of the victims were linked to crime groups. At least five people, including a child, were killed and 19 others injured on Saturday in a suicide attack on security forces in the restive Balochistan province of Pakistan, police said. The attackers targeted the convoy of security forces on the Sariab road in the provincial capital Quetta, they said. The police confirmed that it was a suicide bomb attack on security forces convoy, the Geo News reported, adding five people were killed in the incident. The target was the vehicle of the Frontier Corps commander, but he was not present in the vehicle when the bomb attack took place, a government official said. Earlier on Saturday, Civil Hospital Quetta Spokesperson Wasim Baig said they had received four dead bodies while 19 persons, including a child, were injured in the bomb explosion. The fifth person is believed to have died later at the hospital. Some of the injured are still in critical condition as they were hit by shrapnels in the attack, Baig said. The attack came a day after senior police official of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ashraf Noor was killed in a suicide attack on his vehicle in the upscale Hayatabad neighbourhood of Peshawar. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban militants and Baloch nationalists often target security forces in the area. A senior Pakistani police officer and his three family members were killed by unidentified, motorcycle-borne militants in Balochistan on November 15. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Illyas who was on his way to market when he was killed in a targeted attack along with his wife, son and five-year-old granddaughter. A suspected suicide bomber killed Additional Inspector General Telecommunications Hamid Shakeel and three other police officers in a targeted attack in Quetta on November 9. Balochistan has been rocked by a series of attacks which raised concerns about a growing militant presence, including those affiliated with Islamic State, which has claimed several bombings in the restive province. The unrest has raised security concerns for projects in the $ 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link from western China to Pakistans southern Gwadar port. At least six police commandos and a civilian were killed last month when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a security forces convoy on the Quetta-Sibi Highway. In August this year, a massive suicide explosion, targeting Pakistan Army personnel in Quetta, left 15 people dead including seven civilians and injured at least 20 people. In June this year, 14 people, including seven policemen, were killed and 21 others were injured in a suicide car bombing on Gulistan Road in Balochistan. . Pakistan cracked down on radical Islamist protestors in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Saturday, calling in the military to restore law and order after violence broke out following an attempt by security forces to disperse the demonstrators. Media reports quoted an interior ministry order, which authorised the deployment of sufficient military troops in Islamabad to control law and order in the city until further notice. Earlier, the Islamabad police, with the help of Frontier Constabulary personnel and other law enforcement agencies, launched an operation against protesters after the last of a long series of deadlines lapsed on Saturday morning without response from the agitators. Security forces fought running battles with stone-throwing activists of the ultra-religious Tehreek-e-Labbaik, but failed to dislodge the activists blocking roads into Islamabad. The government also asked all news channels to suspend live broadcast as protests against a police operation earlier in the day in Islamabad spread to other cities. Social media networks including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were also blocked in various parts of the country. At least two people were killed and over 200 were injured across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with the number expected to rise. Protests also broke out in Lahore and Karachi, as well as smaller towns. A Pakistani police officer aims his gun towards the protesters next to a burning police vehicle during a clash in Islamabad on November 25, 2017. (AP) It is feared that protests will continue on Sunday as well. Tehreek-e-Labbaik spokesperson Ejaz Ashrafi told the media over telephone that supporters of the movement were in their thousands. We will not leave. We will fight until the end, he said. Pakistans interior minister Ahsan Iqbal claimed that the protestors had contacted India, and the government was investigating why they did it, without giving further details about his claim. We can see that they have various resources at their disposal. They have fired teargas shells (at security forces), they also cut the fibre-optic cables of cameras monitoring their protest...They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state, he told DawnNews. The protesters want the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for altering the declaration of lawmakers with regard to Finality of the Prophethood a change which the government has already reversed. DawnNews reported that protesters tried to break into the residence of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in Faizabad. Hamids residence in Sialkot was also attacked. (With inputs from agencies) Pakistan has justified the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, claiming that Islamabad was committed to the implementation of UNSC sanctions regime on terrorists. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder, who has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan yesterday. He is a UN and US designated terrorist. Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Saeeds release confirmed once again the lack of seriousness by the Pakistan government in bringing to justice perpetrators of terrorism, including individuals and entities designated by the UN. It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is visible for all to see, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi on Thursday. Responding to the comments made by the MEA, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan was committed to the implementation of UNSC 1267 sanctions regime and has taken several steps in this regard. The (MEA) spokesperson took exception to self-serving insinuations, he said in statement issues late last night. Faisal said that courts in Pakistan, pursuant to their constitutional duty, were determined to uphold rule of law and due process for all citizens of Pakistan. Legal processes were anchored in rule of law, not dictates of politics and posturing, he said. It is in the interest of all States to speak and act in a manner that is consistent with the imperatives of adhering to rule of law at the national and international levels, Faisal said. He said that Pakistans resolve, actions and successes in the fight against terrorism, terrorist violence and terrorists are unmatched in the world. Pakistan condemns and opposes all forms of terrorism by any individual or group, the FO spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif expressed deep anguish over alleged human rights violations in Kashmir and arrests of Kashmiri leaders, saying the intensified cordon and search operations are violative of the Kashmiris dignity and the sanctity of their families. These operations are also designed to inflict collective punishment on the innocent and defenceless people, he said in a statement issued by the FO last night. We will continue to steadfastly stand by them until the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, Asid said. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand clerics release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. Saeed was individually designated by the UN under the Security Council Resolution 1267 in December, 2008. Harbans Lal Doll, who tried to smuggle 16 illegal migrants mostly Iraqi nationals into the United Kingdom in his van across the channel from France earlier this year, has been jailed this week for more than five years. Slough-based Doll tried to smuggle the group of 16 people, comprising 14 Iraqi nationals (three families) and two women from Albania, the Home Office said, adding the group was later passed on to the French Police Aux Frontieres. Britains Border Force officers posted at the UK inward tourist controls at the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles, France, stopped the hired van on February 12. They questioned the driver, Doll, 61, who was at the wheel. He said he had left the UK the previous day to go to Calais to collect some furniture and had stayed overnight before collecting the furniture that morning. When officers asked to examine the load, they found the van three quarters full of beanbags and chairs with a double mattress stood upright part way inside the van. Hiding behind the mattress, the officers found the 16 people, including five minors. Dave Smith of Border Force said: Doll was arrested and the investigation passed to Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) officers. He was subsequently charged with assisting unlawful immigration into the UK. Doll pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial at Canterbury Crown Court and was sentenced immediately to a jail term of five-and-a-half years. David Fairclough of CFI said: Though Doll offered no explanation for his behaviour, the judge considered in his sentencing that the motivation was financial. Offences like this, where individuals take advantage of the desperation of others for personal gain, are among the worst that we deal with at CFI. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The US on Saturday threatened Pakistan with repercussions for bilateral relations if Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, who was released from house arrest on Thursday midnight, was not immediately re-arrested and charged. The United States strongly condemns the release of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba leader Hafiz Saeed from house arrest in Pakistan and calls for his immediate re-arrest and prosecution, the White House press secretarys office said in a statement. Saeeds release, after Pakistans failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistans commitment to combating international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil. If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistans global reputation. Though the White House did not spell out the repercussions it could chose from among past suggestions and calls for either stripping Pakistan of its status as a non-NATO ally that come with certain military or financial benefits or declaring it a a state sponson of terrorism. The WH statement marked a significant escalation in the USs impatience with Pakistan a major non-Nato ally. Islamabad has been on notice from the Donald Trump administration for months for its failure to act decisively against terrorists operating from its soil. The White House reminded Pakistan of that on Saturday. As President Donald J Trumps South Asia policy makes clear, the United States seeks a constructive relationship with Pakistan, but expects decisive action against militant and terrorist groups on Pakistani soil that are a threat to the region. The release of Saeed is a step in the wrong direction, the statement said. The Pakistani government now has an opportunity to demonstrate its seriousness in confronting all forms of terrorism, without distinction, by arresting and charging Hafiz Saeed for his crimes. Bilateral relations with Pakistan have been on a downward spiral for years, and repercussions for its continued inaction on counter-terrorism have take the form of cuts in aid and assistance tied to certain military cooperation and the rejection of its request for the subsidised sale of F-16 fighter jets. There has been a growing demand in the US for tougher measures against Pakistan to force it to stop using terrorists as a foreign policy tool and drop its reluctance to act against outfits that use its soil to carry out attacks across its eastern and western borders. The mosque where Fridays massacre unfolded in Egypts Sinai Peninsula had been widely associated with Sufi Muslims who have been attacked by the Islamic State group wherever the extremists operate. A Bedouin tribal leader told AFP the Rawda mosque, some 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, was known as a Sufi mosque and contained a zawiya a lodge used by the mystics for prayers and gatherings. The Islamic State (IS) is the main suspect in the attack but has not yet claimed responsibility, so it cannot be said with certainty that the mosque was targeted because of its Sufi connections. But IS has targeted Sufis in Egypt in the past. Last year, the jihadists kidnapped and beheaded an elderly Sufi leader, accusing him of practising witchcraft. The groups weekly Nabaa newsletter then published an interview with the commander of its morality police in Sinai who said their first priority was to combat the manifestations of polytheism including Sufism. Elsewhere IS has claimed attacks that have killed dozens of Sufis, most notably in Pakistan. If the mosque was attacked because of its Sufi connections, the massacre would be in line with IS in Egypt increasingly focusing on civilian targets as it makes little headway in its Sinai insurgency. Since December last year, it has killed more than 100 Christians in church bombings and shootings. Jihadists such as IS bear an institutional hatred for Sufis in particular. They adhere to a more extreme version of the puritan Salafism practised in Saudi Arabia which views Sufis as heretics. They accuse them of polytheism the greatest sin in Islam for seeking the intercession of dead saints. The Salafis also condemn what they call innovations rites and prayers adopted by Sufis which the Prophet Mohammed himself never prescribed. But in much of the Muslim world, Sufism has for centuries been accepted and practised by mainstream Muslims and Sunni Islams most important theologians. The head of Al-Azhar, Egypts top Islamic authority, is a Sufi, as are many top clerics in the Muslim world. They date their practices back to some of the prophets companions and the early generations of ascetics who shunned the increasingly worldly Islamic empire for prayer. While some Sufis use music in their prayers, the more established and larger orders shun the practice. They say they want to focus on achieving a state of purity from which the term Sufism is believed to have been derived to witness Gods presence in their lives. Some mystical concepts espoused by their religious leaders have led to detractors over the centuries accusing them of pantheism and other heresies. In recent times, as the mystics grew more influential and Arab governments embraced them for being non-political, some of their leaders have been criticised for becoming too worldly themselves. By any yardstick, the terror attack on a mosque in Egypts Sinai province, where militants affiliated to both al Qaeda and Islamic State are active, was brazen and brutal. What we know so far Dozens of militants travelling in four-wheel drive vehicles bombed al-Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abd town, about 200 km northeast of the capital Cairo, and then opened fire on the worshippers when they tried to flee. The attackers blocked nearby roads by blowing up vehicles and also targeted ambulances and rescue workers who rushed to the mosque. At least 235 people were killed and 120 injured, making it the deadliest attack of its kind in Egypts history. Who was behind the attack Though there has been no claim of responsibility, the finger of suspicion has been pointed at the Islamic State-Sinai Province, a local affiliate of the terror network led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. This group earlier known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis before it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014 has claimed dozens of attacks, including the bombings of churches in Cairo and the downing of a MetroJet flight in 2015 that killed 224 people, most of them Russian tourists. The Jund al-Islam, another group in the Sinai that is believed to have links with al-Qaeda and is opposed to the Islamic State, has issued a statement of innocence, saying it had no role in the attack on the mosque. One reason for the attack being blamed on the Islamic State-Sinai Province is the target al-Rawdah mosque was frequented by adherents of the more tolerant Sufi branch of Islam, whom the Islamic State describe as infidels and heretics who practice idolatry because of their custom of praying at shrines. The Islamic State has targeted Sufis in several countries in an area ranging from the Middle East to Pakistan, where 83 people were killed in an attack on a Sufi shrine in Sindh province on February 16. While Islamic State-affiliated groups in several other countries such as Libya and Algeria have suffered reverses in recent months, the group in the Sinai has retained its ability to strike almost at will largely because of the Egyptian governments lack of control over the thinly populated peninsula that borders the Gaza Strip and Israel. Why have terrorists become stronger in the Sinai peninsula? The chaos that followed the Arab Spring and the ouster of Egypts first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, by the military in 2013 emboldened the Islamic extremists operating in the Sinai region. The Ansar Beit al-Maqdis was formed in the aftermath of the Arab Spring in 2011. In 2014, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared an emergency in the Sinai after 33 soldiers were killed in a suicide attack and described the area as a nesting ground for terrorism and terrorists. Options for the Egypt government Shortly after President Sisi pledged to respond with utmost force in a televised address, combat jets targeted several locations in the region where the mosque is located. But Egypts scorched earth strategy to go after militants and terrorists in the Sinai has been criticised by politicians and experts, who contend it leads to more violence. However, given the limited presence of the security forces and the government in the region, the presidents options are limited. But Sisi received support from US President Donald Trump, who said on Saturday the world community cannot tolerate "barbaric terrorist" groups when he called the Egyptian president to offer condolences. The international community, Trump said, must strengthen its efforts to defeat terrorism and extremism in all its forms. A Monumental Racket: Pat Carty is granted an audience with rock royalty No surprises that the hall is absolutely heaving given the social media roaring and shouting thats being going on all week. Only three days to go! QOTSA Day is nearly here!, and the like. The standing crowd are so tightly packed that when it all kicks off later on, and serious moshing breaks out, the bouncers cant get next or near the centre of the maelstrom. The reason for all this freakery, fawning and flummery is the fabulous noise made by Queens Of The Stone Age. Over a marvellous series of albums, from the chug of the 1998 debut that Josh Homme began soon after the demise of Kyuss, to the Mark Ronson assisted glam stomp of this years Villains, they have emerged as the premiere hard rock band. Some might say that title belongs with their associates Foo Fighters, but the Queens just make better records. It is a monumental racket. After the opening stab at The Skatt Brothers creepy disco, by way of Grand Theft Auto, hit Walk The Night, and the brilliant If I Had A Tail, we get the stoner Status Quoisms of Monsters In The Parasol. So far so good, but then things go up a notch. My God Is The Sun pummels like a heavy weight, the Nuremberg rally lights blinding behind various guitar players throwing shapes like that Enrich Keckel painting Bowie and Iggy Pop nicked off. Theres an extended, ominous intro to Feet Dont Fail Me before the beat drops like a piano hitting concrete, heads are banging like its Bruxellles basement. Its the last night of our tour. We couldnt think of a better city to end it in then here, Homme offers, but the flattery isnt necessary, the whole place is already in his pocket. The glam barn dance of The Way You Used To Do utilises their lighting to fine effect. Dotted across the stage are what look like eight feet high skinny neon safety bollards, the kind you might run over when youre making a balls of parking the car. Throughout the show theyll turn a variety of different colours, like those pound shop rings that claim to be able to read your emotions. The band gets a lot mileage out of either leaning against or kicking the shit out of them. Theres no big video screen, which means the eye is only drawn more to these simple but brilliant props. Drummer Jon Theodore takes out every bit of aggression he ever had on his poor kit during You Think I Aint Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire, and No One Knows the band even get nervously out of his way and let him solo for a while so he can feel better. At this point, even the young one walking around selling beer is dancing. The thrilling gear change at the end of The Evil Has Landed - Here We Come, Get Out Of The Way! - gives way to I Sat By The Ocean, before the set morphs into some sort of East German industrial disco for a coruscating Smooth Sailing. Homme drops the ball very slightly with a damp hippy speech about how we dont work for each other and we should let go and break out of our cages, blah, blah, before redeeming himself by hammering into Domesticated Animals, followed by an awesome Make It With Chu complete with extended bluesy guitar wiggery. I Appear Missing is all Jack White-style Digitech whammy guitar, and Villains Of Circumstance slow things down a bit, giving us a chance to catch our breath, before everyone is trashing around to Little Sister. Sick, Sick, Sick is like a mudslide of noise, cascading into Go With The Flow which furiously brings the main part of the show to a close. Advertisement We dont get much time to towel ourselves down before theyre back with Misfit Love, from 2007s Era Vulgaris, which is a bit of a surprise, as it hasnt seen much service on this tour. Its motorik pulse, combined with almost Joy Division drums, is highly effective though, Whats the hell is this? my mate Danny asks, And why havent I heard it before? Homme gives out a story about the Irish fan and the cheeseburger Im told later that hes related this tale before, but if it aint broke - before they cash out with Head Like A Haunted House and A Song For The Dead. My ears are ringing like a sex scandal hotline in the bar afterwards, which is all you should need to know. Any fears that I might have had that they wouldnt live up to the brilliance of their last couple of records, Like Clockwork and Villains, prove totally unfounded, is it too late to update those gig of the year lists? The oil industry found more hopeful signs as crude inventories fell, prices rose and the rig count resumed its climb ahead of OPEC's meeting later this week. OPEC and its allies are considering extending their output cuts through next year as oil markets seem to be making progress in draining the oil glut that has lingered for more than three years. In the United States, crude inventories fell by nearly 2 million barrels as oil exports picked up and refineries churned oil into gasoline for the busy holiday driving season. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Devon Ackerlund arrived at Target before sunrise, expecting the cutthroat crowds of Black Friday lore. The Houston hospital worker finished his overnight shift and entered the store just after it opened, seeking a holiday doorbuster for the first time in his life. He had no competition as he located the display of Google Home Minis and dropped six small boxes into a big red cart. "This is great," he said. "I thought it would be gone." More than ever, this year's Black Friday encapsulated trends that have reshaped the retail industry at a time when convenience is king and promotions never end. Thanksgiving Day store openings and online sales again eroded foot traffic on the storied consumer holiday, which is expected to set an e-commerce record this year. Adobe Digital Insights forecasted online sales to hit $5 billion Friday, up about 18 percent from 2016. And Cyber Monday, once Black Friday's little-known sibling, is expected to be the largest online shopping day ever, with $6.6 billion in sales. "Those two are really converging this year, with many consumers doing their shopping on Cyber Monday and Black Friday or even earlier," said Natalie Kotlyar, consumer business leader for BDO. CYBER MONDAY: The best Cyber Monday travel deals this Thanksgiving season The unstoppable online migration had challenged retailers to compete with rock-bottom prices and perks like free shipping, which an increasing number of consumers now expect as Amazon and other e-commerce giants offer near-instant gratification. Analysts again expect a season of heavy promotions and logistics battles to speed orders to the doorstep. That poses a particular challenge for malls, which have for years been losing foot traffic alongside their department stores tenants. Even the Houston Galleria, a high-performing shopping center, wasn't packed with shoppers Friday morning. In-store pickup Already, consumers have spent more than $30 billion online this month, nearly 18 percent more than last year. Both Amazon and Walmart, locked in a price war, began rolling out deals weeks ago before offering some of their lowest prices during the Black Friday weekend. Technology research firm GBH Insights estimated that Amazon, the retail industry's fiercest online competitor, might have grabbed as much as 50 percent of Black Friday sales. The company's stock soared 2.6 percent Friday to $1,186. More traditional retailers, though, have found success with an option that e-commerce retailers don't offer: in-store pickup. At Target, much of the store's Black Friday activity took place behind the scenes as employees scrambled to bag hundreds of online orders, a popular option that enabled the store to beat its Thanksgiving forecasts even before it opened that day, said store manager Cameron Dennington. "We've done more business in here this year, but we've had less foot traffic with the higher demand for order pickup," he said. Charlie O'Shea, lead retail analyst for Moody's Investors Service, spent much of Thursday and Friday assessing the crowds at several malls and shopping centers in the Pennsylvania suburbs where he lives. All of the usual suspects, including Best Buy, Toys R Us and Kohls, were packed for much of the day, he said. The pickup counters for online orders were just as busy, he noted, a trend retailers hope will encourage more crossover between digital and physical purchases. RETAIL: The era of holiday deals is dead, and so is Black Friday "Those areas are very active in the stores I've been in," he said. "That tells me that brick-and-mortar stores are leveraging that asset." Traditionalists and thrill-seekers, however, still opted to browse in-store on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, long considered the official start of the holiday shopping season. Brittany Williams, in search of the Nintendo Switch gaming system, was first in a short line when Target opened at 6 a.m. She arrived at the checkout counter an hour later with a heavy cart filled with electronics, clothes and a $10 Crockpot she couldn't pass up. She remembers the days, years ago, when she waited for hours in the dark of night to snag the doorbusters. It was a tradition she shared with her mom, who died when she was a teenager. "I've tried to keep it alive since then," she said. Patricia Ybarra, 63, visited Toys R Us, a store in need of some holiday cheer. The company filed for bankruptcy protection to restructure more than $5 billion in debt. Ybarra hadn't visited the iconic toy store in 25 years. But on Friday, when a friend asked her to join in on Black Friday shopping, she wholeheartedly agreed. "I feel like a kid in a candy store," she said. The Best Buy on Richmond Avenue grew steadily more crowded as shoppers swarmed around high-tech televisions with brilliant displays, long a Black Friday draw. "I always see a lot of TVs coming out of the stores," O'Shea said. "How many TVs can you fit in a shopping cart?" RETAIL: Amazon's Prime Day proves to be its biggest shopping day ever Nati Hunde stood in a short line at the checkout counter with a stack of three deeply discounted Lenovo laptops. He saves his big-ticket purchases for Black Friday every year. "That's the only way to save money," he said. It used to be a much bigger time commitment, he said. He would stand in line for hours only to battle the crowds inside. But this year, he only had to wait five minutes. Seeing a pattern of decline Mitzi Mellenthin, a regular Black Friday shopper, started at the Galleria at 6:30 a.m. She knew exactly what she wanted: The 2,194 piece Lego set of the Creator Palace Cinema that's going out of stock. Over the years, she said, Black Fridays have thinned, a pattern she attributes to online sales and the Thanksgiving rush. No matter how good the Thursday night deals may be, however, you won't find her out shopping that day. "I just don't think it's right," she said. "You should be with family." At Target, though, more shoppers lined up on Thursday evening than on Friday morning. Store manager Dennington said about 300 people waited for the store to open at 6 p.m. for a six-hour rush to grab storage goods, cosmetics and stationery for the holiday season. Ackerlund, after finding the Google Home Minis, scoured the sale flyer, pleased to complete his Black Friday shopping in peace. He had already bought a Christmas tree at Walmart that morning, which he said was also near-empty when he arrived. "I really thought there would be more people," he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Monday Coal-related layoffs The state's biggest power company, Vistra Energy, formally said it was moving ahead with layoffs of more than 800 workers after Texas' electric grid operator gave approval for the shutdown of three coal-fired power plants and an associated coal mine. Fed chair plans departure Janet Yellen submitted her resignation from the Federal Reserve board to President Donald Trump, announcing that she would leave when her successor is sworn in as Fed chairman. Cloud service for spies Amazon's cloud storage unit announced that it was releasing a new service called the Amazon Web Services Secret Region, a cloud storage service designed to handle classified information for U.S. spy agencies. Uber goes car shopping Uber said it plans to buy up to 24,000 self-driving cars from Volvo, a purchase that marks a significant departure from Uber's exiting business model in which private car owners make up the company's fleet. Tuesday Goodbye to 'net neutrality' Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, moved to scrap rules around open internet access. His plan would allow giant cable and telecom companies to throttle broadband speeds and favor their own services if they wish. He was following through on a pledge to try to repeal "net neutrality" regulations enacted under the Obama administration. Huge data breach at Uber Uber disclosed that it was the victim of a data breach in October 2016 that affected 57 million driver and rider accounts and that it fired its chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, for keeping the breach a secret for more than a year. No NAFTA breakthroughs The fifth round of talks among the United States, Mexico and Canada over the North American Free Trade Agreement drew to a close with negotiators still at odds over the pact's future. Wednesday A pledge to cut methane Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP and more of the world's largest energy companies said they will reduce their methane emissions. The companies said they were joining to address climate change so they can continue to provide more efficient natural gas power to the world. However, they're not adopting any specific numeric goals to reduce methane emissions. Instead, they will follow what they call "guiding principles." Whitman to step down Hewlett Packard Enterprise said CEO Meg Whitman, 61, would be retiring in February, six years after joining its corporate predecessor and leading a turnaround effort that split the Silicon Valley icon in two. She will be succeeded by Antonio Neri, 50, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's president. Shut out of parks? A group of state attorneys general urged the National Park Service to scrap its proposal to more than double the entrance fees at 17 popular national parks. The top government lawyers from 10 states and the District of Columbia sent a letter saying the increase could put access to the parks out of reach for many. Thursday Surprises at the stores As shoppers hit the stores on Thanksgiving, they were finding some surprises: toys and televisions at J.C. Penney and Barbies at Best Buy. Retailers are looking beyond economic data and mapping out ways to pick up sales from other retailers as Amazon expands its reach. Friday Crude gains altitude Oil briefly surpassed $59 a barrel in New York for the first time in two years as OPEC and Russia were said to have crafted the outline of a deal to extend their oil production cuts. An analyst said the temporary shutdown of the Keystone pipeline contributed to the price rise. Amazon workers strike Workers at a half-dozen Amazon distribution centers in Germany and one in Italy walked off the job in a protest timed to coincide with Black Friday to demand better wages from the American online giant. In Germany, ver.di union spokesman Thomas Voss said some 2,500 workers were on strike at Amazon facilities in Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig, Rheinberg, Werne, Graben and Koblenz. In a warehouse near Piacenza, in northern Italy, some workers walked off the job to demand ''dignified salaries." A day of rest in Poland Poland's lawmakers approved a law that will phase out Sunday shopping by 2020 despite criticism that it may lead to the loss of thousands of jobs. Trade unions proposed the plan so shop and trade workers can spend more time with their families. From staff and wire reports MONDAY The Commerce Department releases new-home sales for October. TUESDAY Standard & Poor's releases its S&P/Case-Shiller index of home prices for September. The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for November. WEDNESDAY The Commerce Department releases third-quarter gross domestic product data. The National Association of Realtors releases its pending home sales index for October. The Fed releases its Beige Book. THURSDAY The Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Katherine Feser Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Northwestern Mutual Show More Show Less Northwestern Mutual fast-tracked its plans for a downtown office after Hurricane Harvey disrupted operations at its main Houston office near the Galleria. The Milwaukee-based financial services firm has moved into the 31st floor of the Kinder Morgan building at 1001 Louisiana. The new office, totaling nearly 4,200 square feet, establishes a base for serving clients in the downtown and Texas Medical Center areas. It also provides overflow offices for financial advisers at One Riverway, which is operational but still being restored. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Many big decisions need to be made during the holidays, from gift selections to menu creations. You are on your own with those issues, but we can offer some help when it comes to selecting TV programming. This year's lineup of shows includes traditional offerings like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's a Wonderful Life," but also will feature a new take on an old favorite with a live presentation of "A Christmas Story" on Fox. Ever since the 1983 film, based on the novel by Jean Shepherd, showed us all the dangers of owning a Red Ryder BB gun, it has aired in reruns every Christmas. "A Christmas Story Live!," scheduled to be broadcast at 6 p.m. Dec. 17 on Fox, is inspired by the film and the Tony-winning Broadway production. Executive producer Marc Platt made the leap from making musical films ("La La Land") and musicals on Broadway ("Wicked") to his first taste of live television with "Grease: Live." He's certain "A Christmas Story" has been so popular because it broke the mold for traditional holiday productions. "For years, our Christmas movies were sentimental, and they were sort of cozy and warm, and here came this movie that wasn't that. It was subversive and funny and sort of recognized all the family experiences each one of us have," Platt says. "We could relate to it. And so in taking it from the stage to the live television event, we're going to first and foremost deliver the humor and the comedy of the movie as it's represented on stage. " 'A Christmas Story' is going to be a Christmas family event. We will wink with the audience. We will play tricks with you on how we accomplish it. And you will always know that you are in a film because it will be very cinematic. But we'll always pull back and go, oh, my gosh. This is actually happening live before our eyes." The live version of "A Christmas Story" is just one offering on the holiday viewing menu. It's impossible to list them all but here are a few. Check TV listings for updated times: "CMA Country Christmas," 7 p.m. Monday, ABC: Reba McEntire hosts the eighth annual event from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. "Angry Angel," 9 p.m. Monday, Freeform: A young woman (Brenda Song) has been turned into an angel but is stuck on Earth. "A Very Pentatonix Christmas," 9 p.m. Monday, NBC: Jennifer Hudson and Jay Leno are the special guests. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," 7 p.m. Tuesday, CBS: Burl Ives narrates the animated tale based on the popular song of the same name by Johnny Marks. "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," 9 p.m. Tuesday, CBS: Supermodels hit the runway in lingerie. "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," 7 p.m. Wednesday, NBC: The evening includes performances by Brett Eldridge, Jennifer Nettles, Leslie Odom Jr., Pentatonix, Gwen Stefani and The Tenors. "Bruno Mars Special," 9 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. "A Charlie Brown Christmas," 7 p.m. Thursday, ABC: The digitally remastered 1965 special shows Charlie Brown complaining about the materialism he sees everywhere during the Christmas season. "Eloise at Christmastime," 7:30 a.m. Friday, Freeform: Eloise (Sofia Vassilieva) is warned not to interfere as the Plaza Hotel prepares for a romantic Christmas Eve wedding. "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas," 2 p.m. Friday, Freeform: Jack Skellington becomes obsessed with bringing Christmas under his control. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," 7:05 p.m. Friday, Freeform: The Griswold family looks to have the most fun-filled old-fashioned family Christmas ever. "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," 9:10 p.m. Saturday, Freeform: Jim Carrey stars as the title character who tries to ruin Christmas for all the Whos of Whoville. "The Polar Express," 11:50 p.m. Saturday, Freeform: Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for the tale of a young boy and the magical train he boards to the North Pole. "The Great Christmas Light Fight," 7 p.m. Dec. 4, ABC: This is the fifth season of the competition show that looks at the most spectacular and over-the-top Christmas displays in America. "Shrek the Halls," 7 p.m. Dec. 7, ABC: Shrek doesn't have the holiday spirit, but for the sake of Fiona and the kids, he tries to get into the spirit of things as only an ogre can. "Ready Jet Go!: Holidays in Boxwood Terrace," Dec. 11 (check local listings for time), PBS: Jet is excited when his idea for the annual Boxwood Terrace Christmas Pageant is accepted. "Disney Prep & Landing," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, ABC: An elf named Wayne is upset when he doesn't receive an expected promotion to be the Director of Naughty List Intelligence. "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown," 7 p.m. Dec. 16, ABC: Rerun, the younger brother of Linus and Lucy, gets Snoopy to invite his canine brother, Spike, for a visit. "Christmas With the Kranks," 11:55 p.m. Dec. 16, Freeform: A decision to skip Christmas changes when a couple's daughter decides at the last minute to come home for the holiday. Tim Allen stars. "The Sound of Music," 6 p.m. Dec. 17, ABC: The Oscar-winning classic features the songs "Edelweiss," "My Favorite Things" and "Climb Every Mountain." Julie Andrews stars. "Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic," 8 p.m. Dec. 18, Freeform: An inside look at how holiday magic is created throughout Disney Destinations. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," 7 a.m. Dec. 21, Freeform: Holiday special loosely based on the hit song. "Peppa Pig: Father Christmas," 12:30 p.m. Dec. 22, Nickelodeon: Peppa and the rest of her playgroup are very excited to put on a big Christmas show. "I Love Lucy Christmas Special," 7 p.m. Dec. 22, CBS: The new one-hour special features two back-to-back colorized episodes of the classic series: "The Christmas Episode" and "The Fashion Show." "The Dick Van Dyke Show: Now in Living Color!," 8 p.m. Dec. 22, CBS: The two newly colorized back-to-back episodes were selected by series creator Carl Reiner. They include "My Blonde-Haired Brunette" and "October Eve." "Christmas Getaway," 8 p.m. Dec. 23, Hallmark Channel: Travel writer finds herself double booked for the holidays. "A Christmas Story," midnight Dec. 24, TCM: The holiday film will run continuously until 8 p.m. Dec. 25. "It's a Wonderful Life," 7 p.m. Dec. 24, NBC: The 1946 Frank Capra film stars Jimmy Stewart. "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration," 9 a.m. Dec. 25, ABC: Hosts Julianne Hough and Nick Lachey take viewers on ride down Main Street, U.S.A. and beyond. "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown," 7 p.m. Dec. 26, ABC: The Peanuts gang is ringing in 1986, and Marcie and Peppermint Patty are throwing a big New Year's Eve bash. PRAIRIE VIEW Driving to Cameron a couple of weeks ago, the little town southeast of Waco that had the audacity - with native-son Drayton McLane's encouragement - to make a bid for Amazon's second headquarters, I was mulling over my decades-old Cameron memories. As I've mentioned before in this space, Cameron was one of the little Central Texas towns I got to know long ago as my dad's summer helper on his potato-chip route. The Milam County seat was the largest of the little towns on our Tuesday run. We called on Matula's Grocery downtown, a couple of cafes, several beer joints, neighborhood grocery stores and Tex Miller's, the best hamburger stand in all of Central Texas. (Only Bob's Big Boy Burger in Killeen came close.) Amazingly, the hole-in-the-wall hamburger mecca is still in business. George "Tex" Miller has been gone for many years and the nondescript, old building (with no sign) is a bit dingier, but the burgers are as good as ever. In business 80 years, current owner Sandy Terry told me. The secret, she says, is the new grill - installed in 1956. Before heading over to Rosebud after lunch to peddle our Creamer's Clover-Fresh Potato Chips, we had several other stops to make, including a small grocery store in Cameron's African-American neighborhood. The husband-and-wife owners lived in a house beside the store and had several children, including a little boy about my age who was a piano prodigy. More than once, his proud mother invited us into the house to listen to him play. His name eventually faded away, but I occasionally wondered whether he had become a Fats Domino, a Duke Ellington, maybe a concert pianist touring the world. "That's Danny Kelley," Milam County Judge Dave Barkemeyer told me. "He comes back home every now and then to play for special occasions." I met Danny R. Kelley a few days ago - or re-met him, I should say - in his office at Prairie View A&M University, where for the past 13 years he's been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. We laughed when we shook hands outside his office. Decades had passed - lives had been lived - but we shared a strange feeling we always had known each other. At one end of his office I noticed a large desk groaning with papers and notes and manila folders, the arcana of a university administrator's life. Against the opposite wall was a Steinway upright, the piano he now plays after Hurricane Harvey destroyed the venerable instrument he's played for years at home in Spring. Perfect pitch His piano passion revealed itself when he was about two, he told me. Weekdays at noon his mother would switch on the radio in the store to listen to the Stamps Quartet, a Dallas-based gospel group whose peppy theme song on KRLD set little Danny in motion. He'd toddle over to a shelf, shove aside the canned goods and pretend to play along. He had perfect pitch, he said, and from the beginning could tease out on a piano any tune he happened to hear. "It's still hard for me to fathom," he said. "I guess God put me here to be a musician." A traveling piano salesman heard about the gifted youngster and stopped by the Kelley house with a piano on his truck. Kelley's father bought it for $125. "My parents knew nothing about pianos," Kelley said. "They didn't realize this one had a short keyboard, 66 keys. I wish they had kept that piano. It would be a collector's item." Hazel Cox, the wife of the band director at Cameron's C.H. Yoe High School - the white school in those days - arranged with the youngster's parents to give him free lessons. He studied with Cox from age five until he was in high school. 'Giving him a future' He played the organ at Cameron's Bethel AME Church every Sunday and recalls a church meeting when members had to decide whether they could afford the new instrument a Dallas company had installed on a trial basis. Sure, it would be nice to have the organ, a practical-thinking woman pointed out, "but once Danny graduates from high school, we don't have anyone who can play it, and we'll still be paying for it.'" "And I never will forget," Kelley said, "one of the ladies there who was a leader of the church, said, 'We shouldn't worry about that; we're giving him a future.' I hardly ever play an organ that I do not think about that statement." (These days he's the organist at St. Frances Episcopal Church in Piney Point Village.) Kelley, who gave annual recitals to help the church pay off the organ, went on to Prairie View, as did his four siblings. To nurture the gifted artist in their midst, the university offered to pay tuition, room and board at any school in the country where he could study with the teacher of his choice. He studied privately with Albert Hirsh, artist-in-residence at the University of Houston, and then was accepted at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. His tutor was the piano virtuoso Leon Fleisher, whose musical lineage stretches back to Beethoven. "He took very, very few students," Kelley said, "but he was everything you can imagine as a teacher. He's now 89, and whenever he comes to Texas I make sure I go see him." 'Best days of my life' Kelley got his master's degree and doctorate from Johns Hopkins and has performed in Europe, at Carnegie Hall, at the Kennedy Center and with the Houston Symphony. He came back to Prairie View as an associate professor in 1978. These days he's preparing for an April recital at Steinway Hall in New York City. We talked about Creamer's Potato Chips - "the best," he recalled (and I agree). We talked about his hometown, where he gave his first recital at age six, before a mixed audience; where, thanks to his paper route, he knew everybody in town, white and black; where his mother was the first African-American city councilmember. "I have vivid, almost photographic memories of growing up in Cameron," he said. "Those were some of the best days of my life. I had a great childhood, a great mom and dad." Impromptu audiences My dad and I weren't the only impromptu audience. "My mom was always trying to put me on stage," Kelley said. His wife Janice, a physician, does the same thing, he said, laughing. "I ask her sometimes, 'How would you feel if every time we had company I had you take their blood pressure?'" We both laughed. It was obvious Kelley wasn't all that perturbed. It was a good afternoon, good to discover that two of Cameron's very best, Danny Kelley and Tex Miller's, are still going strong. I'm very happy to make their re-acquaintance. In the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) takes a Hawaiian vacation to get over his recent breakup. He finds himself sobbing on his balcony, and the front desk calls: "We're getting complaints about a woman crying hysterically." He deflected attention by blaming it on the floor above him, only to realize he was on the top floor. Being a crier like Peter may sound embarrassing, but science shows that he was getting healthy, on several levels. Research indicates that crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, or your "rest and digest" state. That's also equivalent to a meditation response to stress and the opposite of your alert, fight-or-flight state - good for the cardiovascular system and the spirit. Tears that express emotion contain beneficial chemicals and help eliminate toxins from your body. Crying also stimulates release of the love hormone oxytocin, a chemical associated with comforting and happiness. It is thought that crying releases opioids in the brain, which helps reduce pain. In short, crying is an effective form of self-soothing. ("There, there, things will be OK.") In the blink of an eye, you'll be transferring oxygen, moisture, nutrients and antibodies that fight infection to your cornea. It helps rally support from those around you when you're down. New hope for folks suffering with eczema Eczema - also called atopic dermatitis, or AD) can cause dry skin - itchiness and scaly rashes that can become infected. It can make it hard to sleep, cause emotional distress, social awkwardness or embarrassment. Often, strangers are cruel, fearing that the skin condition is contagious. It isn't. Treatment breakthroughs: There are two new medications that can be very effective for some people. According to information coming from the recent American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting: Crisaborole, the first new anti-inflammatory medication approved for treatment of mild to moderate AD in over 15 years, is an ointment that reduces itching, redness and swelling. It's for anyone age 2 or older. A PDE-4 (phosphodiesterase 4) inhibitor, it tamps down immune system reactions that trigger inflammation and stimulates changes in the cells on the outer layer of skin. Dupilumab is an injectable monoclonal antibody for folks 18 and older for whom other medications aren't suitable or don't work. It blocks interleukins 4 and 13, two cytokines that are associated with allergic inflammation. Ask your doc if either of these is right for you. We hope so, because it would be great to scratch eczema off your list of difficult-to-treat irritations and conditions. Q: I was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago, and we've recently moved. Even though I have a new primary care doc, I don't feel she understands all of my medical history. What should I do? Lauren E., Hyde Park, New York A: There are 15.5 million cancer survivors in America, and around 33 percent of office visits for cancer are handled by primary care physicians. Unfortunately, research shows they're often unprepared to do the job. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at 12 advanced primary care practices selected from a national registry of workforce innovators. One would think that this group would be better than average in paying attention to patient needs. However, the Rutgers University researchers found that none of the practices had what's known as a "comprehensive survivorship care program." The program should include checking for cancer reoccurrence (with scans, blood tests and exams), monitoring long-term effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatment (such as atherosclerosis, joint or bone issues, organ damage, impact on the endocrine system and hormones, cognitive changes, neuropathy, fatigue) and assessing psychological well-being. There is a push to improve survivors' follow-up care, but it's essential that you take charge. First step: Have medical records made accessible to your new primary care doctor (most electronic medical records are shareable if you allow them to be), and get a digital and a hard copy for yourself. Include information from your cancer diagnosis, surgery, treatment and post-treatment follow-up with your oncologist and oncological surgeon, plus your records from your former primary care doctor. Second step: Contact a local cancer treatment center. Ask about scheduling a follow-up visit with an oncologist and inquire about cancer rehabilitation services they offer. If you make an appointment, have your records transferred there, too. Third step: Download info from the American Society of Clinical Oncology at ASCO.org; search for "Survivorship Patient & Family Resources." They offer ASCO Cancer Treatment Summaries and Survivorship Care Plans - forms for patients and doctors to complete together. Bring these to your new primary care doctor, and set up your own survivorship care program. Hurricane Harvey is reshaping congressional campaigns in Houston. When the flood waters socked the Meyerland area, it also washed out the home of former hospital CEO David Balat, a Republican, who was hoping to unseat fellow Republican and current U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston. "Like so many people, we're being forced to relocate because of Hurricane Harvey," Balat said. "We're having to start over." Balat is now in the market for a new home, and he's had to revise his political plans. While he's still running for Congress, Balat has amended his campaign paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and announced he is instead running for a different congressional district. Instead of Culberson's 7th District - a mostly west Houston and western Harris County seat - Balat is now among a growing list of GOP candidates hoping to replace Rep. Ted Poe, R-Atascocita, in the 2nd District. Poe announced earlier this month that after six terms in Congress, he will not seek re-election in 2018. That district also includes parts of west Houston but ropes around the northern edges of Harris County and up into Humble and Atascocita. Balat said he's worked for hospitals in Spring and Humble, among other places, so he has a good feel for the district. Strengthened resolve There was a point after his home was destroyed that Balat said his campaign team came to him and wondered if he would continue to run for Congress, given that his family lost cars and their home of the past five years. But Balat, who identifies himself as a conservative Republican businessman, said what happened only strengthened his resolve to run. He said he is more determined than ever to get to Congress and dig into how the Army Corps of Engineers handled the reservoir and the water releases that upended so many lives. His prior emphasis on fiscal conservatism continues. "My message is the same now as it was before," Balat said in a note to supporters last week. "Republicans have complete control of all three branches of government, yet Congress continues to increase the debt." Balat's decision to shift to the Poe district improves his chances of winning a seat in Congress by not having to unseat an incumbent. In 2016, 97 percent of all U.S. House incumbents won re-election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Balat's decision also spares Culberson a potentially costly primary battle when he's also facing a spirited challenge from Democrats in one of the most competitive House races in Texas. Culberson is coming off a 2016 re-election in which he won his primary with just 57 percent of the vote over two GOP challengers. Balat already had raised more than $155,000, including an $85,000 loan he gave his campaign. Now that money helps Balat start with a slight advantage over other GOP rivals in the race to replace Poe. Last week, Rick Walker jumped into the race. The self-identified conservative Republican, said he will focus on more efficient government spending, smaller government and "cutting bureaucratic waste." Walker, 38, is the CEO of GreenEfficient, a company that helps commercial businesses obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Texas Rep. Kevin Roberts, R-Houston, earlier this month filed papers to run for the 2nd Congressional District as well. "From getting rid of Obamacare to strengthening our military, securing our border, and continuing the necessary work to unravel debilitating government regulations and taxes that have strangled our nation, there is no shortage of conservative reforms that are needed to create a stronger future for our children and nation," Roberts said. Former Navy SEAL Daniel Crenshaw, 33, also has said he intends to run as a Republican in the district. Crowded contests Houston Democrat Todd Litton has filed with the Texas Secretary of State to run for the seat to replace Poe. He is the only Democrat in the race so far with weeks to go during the filing period. At least four other Democrats have shown interest in running for the district. Democrats face a tough battle in District 2. President Donald Trump carried that district over Democrat Hillary Clinton by more than 9 percentage points. A spate of retirements within the Texas delegation to Congress has triggered an active filing season for candidate seeking seats in Congress. Just since the start of 2017, U.S. Reps Sam Johnson, R-Plano; Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas; Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio; Gene Green, D-Houston; and Poe have announced they won't seek re-election. Also, Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, is giving his seat up to run instead for the U.S. Senate. Green's retirement has opened the door to another crowded contest in Houston. In 29th District, several Democrats already have filed with hopes of replacing Green. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, teacher Hector Morales and real estate agent Dominique Garcia have officially filed to get on the ballot with the state. Small business owner Pedro Valencia and Houston attorney Roel Garcia have filed statements of candidacy with the FEC. Former Houston Sheriff Adrian Garcia and state Rep. Carol Alvarado also have said they are considering the race. Culberson still has plenty of opposition. Five Democrats officially have filed to challenge him as of Tuesday afternoon. Those candidates are Alex Triantaphyllis, James Cargas, Jason Westin, Laura Moser and Lizzie Pannill Fletcher. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Warden Jim Willett was expecting a calm weekend. It was Thanksgiving 1998, and he was full of turkey and ready to relax. With his family around him, he'd settled in for a quiet evening at the Walls Unit warden's house in Huntsville. But in the wee hours of the night, the phone rang: There'd been an escape. From death row. Using a hacksaw and dummies in prison garb, seven condemned men - including three from the Houston area - made an epic bid for freedom, cutting through the roof and running through a hail of gunfire like something straight out of a Hollywood film. Only one made it over the outer fence, kicking off a weeklong manhunt harkening back to the days of the Bonnie and Clyde gang - the last time a Texas death row inmate successfully made it outside the prison walls. And while the doomed escape may not have changed the fates of most of the inmates involved - five of the seven are now dead - it has forever changed life on Texas death row. In the aftermath, officials transferred all of death row to a more secure facility, eliminated work programs and took away group recreation. "It was the talk of all around the prison system," said Willett, who now heads up the Texas Prison Museum. "We were all wondering how this all happened." Nearly 20 years later, there are still unanswered questions. In 1998, death row was still at Huntsville's Ellis Unit, about 30 miles northwest of its current location in Livingston. Just a few miles down the road was the Walls Unit death chamber, the busiest in the country and one that the seven inmates were particularly desperate to avoid. A deadly crew The planning for the escape started through the work program, officials said later. Martin Gurule, a 29-year-old killer from Corpus Christi, teamed up with a crew of desperate men ready to run. From Harris County, there was Eric Cathey, convicted of blindfolding and shooting 20-year-old Christina Castillo in a botched 1996 robbery. Ponchai Wilkerson, the son of a retired deputy sheriff, had been sentenced to death for the slaying of Chung Myong Yi in a 1990 Houston jewelry store robbery. And Howard Guidry, one of the few still alive from the break-out, who was sentenced to death in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting the wife of a Missouri City police officer. Three other convicted killers - including one involved in a notorious hate crime in Tyler - joined in the plot. On Nov. 27, they made their move. The men packed their beds with paper dummies, stuffed into prison uniforms. They hoped guards wouldn't notice them missing that night, even though they'd hidden themselves away in a rec area. Two decades later, it's still not clear how they got the hacksaw used to cut through a fence and sneak up onto the roof, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark. Wearing a second set of uniforms, blackened with carbon paper and coffee so as not to stand out in their prison whites, Clark said, they bided their time on top of the building, waiting until the moment was just right. Then at 12:20 a.m., they slipped down onto the chapel roof, jumped off and rushed the fence. As they went to scale the first layer of razor wire ringing the facility, officers spotted them and opened fire. It was the first death-row escape since 1934, when Bonnie-and-Clyde gang member Raymond Hamilton broke out. Gruesome discovery Six of the fleeing men under fire stopped running, but Gurule kept at it. Before the guards could stop him, he scaled the outer fence, protected from the sharp barbs by head-to-toe cardboard armor. It helped make him a free man, but that flimsy armor would be his undoing. As soon as he stepped in the water of a nearby creek, it bogged him down, Willett said. Bleeding from a bullet to the shoulder and covered in inky clothes and waterlogged cardboard, Gurule drowned, probably not long after his escape. But prison officials didn't know that, and they rounded up forces for an intense manhunt through woods and pastures around Huntsville. "They knew the chances of him getting far were not good," Willett said. Officials vowed to track him down "dead or alive." More than 500 searchers used helicopters, horses, cars and dogs to hunt for the escapee. Willett remembers sleeping in his car between patrols around the perimeter of the search area. When they finally found the missing prisoner, it was almost accidental. Two off-duty prison officers baiting a trotline spotted Gurule's body in a creek about a mile from the prison. Authorities didn't make their gruesome find until Dec. 3, but by the start of the new year plans were already underway to move to the more secure Terrell Unit, later renamed Polunsky Unit. Loss of privileges The security changes were swift and lasting. "We just expected things to get back to how they were," said death row inmate Robert Fratta, who was there at the time. "But nope, we were wrong." Even today, there's no more work in the garment factory for death row inmates, and group recreational options were cut off. Instead, prisoners are let out of their cells to individual caged recreation areas alone for about an hour a day some days of the week. There's no more group church services, and piddling - when inmates make craft items for sale - isn't allowed on death row. They don't have bunkmates, and their cells are solid doors instead of old-fashioned bars. And there's no TV. "They're upset about that," former prison spokesman Larry Fitzgerald said at the time. Aside from the sweeping shifts, some of the security changes were smaller and specific: Death row inmates can only have one uniform at a time, and they aren't allowed carbon paper, Clark said. They are still not permitted to have hacksaws. As Black Friday bargain-hunters shopped inside, two men were injured just after noon Friday in a stabbing-turned-gunfight outside Willowbrook Mall. Both were airlifted to hospitals in the Texas Medical Center for treatment, according to the Houston Police Department. The popular north Houston shopping center off Tomball Parkway was filled with thousands of Black Friday deal shoppers when the incident happened. No one besides the two men were hurt, police said. A spokeswoman for GGP, the mall's Chicago-based property manager, said the "isolated incident occurred in the parking lot near Sears" and directed further inquiries to HPD. "We take safety and security very seriously," Lindsay Kahn, GGP's senior manager of public relations, wrote in an email. HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva said the melee began as a fight. "The first male stabs the second male," she said. The stabbed man responded by firing a gun at his attacker, Silva said. The stabbed man was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in stable condition. The man with the gunshot wound went to Ben Taub Hospital. His status was unknown, Silva said. Police did not release the name of either man. No charges have been filed and no motive has been determined, Silva said. For two years, Frank Ourada has been "supporting our troops" - more literally than most. He has connected soldiers and veterans with food pantries, temporary housing and legal advice. He haggled with an insurance company when a soldier's home flooded. He helped a suicidal veteran find treatment. Ourada basically ran triage for military families, connecting them with whatever services they need to survive. This position, National Guard Family Assistance Center specialist, may be Ourada's most rewarding ever. The only rival was his time as an infantry Marine, which in 2009 left him disabled. "This work is my therapy," Ourada, 30, told me. And yet last Friday he resigned. Because the job he loved so much had left him homeless. Ourada had his pay slashed in March, from $20.08 hourly to $13.17. He soon fell behind on mortgage payments and lost his Minnesota home. He's been crashing with friends and family since August; next week he'll move in with a buddy in Utah, where he hopes to find better-paying work. Ourada's situation is unusually dire, but he's far from alone. Hundreds of his colleagues around the country also had their pay cut by 25 to 50 percent in March. About a third have quit, taking their networks and collective decades of experience, in an exodus that leaves American military families at risk of falling through the cracks. The root of the problem? A bungled government contract. In the decades since transitioning to a more professionalized, all-volunteer force, the military has added a host of support services for the growing number of long-term military families. One was the National Guard's Family Assistance Centers. When this program's contract was awarded in 2012, the Guard had advised companies bidding on the contract to pay wages roughly equivalent to GS-7 to GS-9 levels (about $35,000 to $56,000). When the contract came up for bid last year, however, the Guard gave vendors different - and hazier - guidance. This time it merely instructed them to abide by the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act. This law requires the Labor Department to set minimum wages for hundreds of specific government contract occupations. The goal is to prevent a race to the bottom - to protect workers, but also to prevent contractors from cutting corners. Unfortunately, Family Assistance Center occupations aren't in the Labor Department's existing directory of jobs. And the National Guard never asked for them to be added, as it was supposed to do. Confusion ensued. One bidder, Cognitive Professional Services, found a junior job title that sounded vaguely related. It then built its bid around the wage floor for that occupation. That pay level was not only substantially less than what workers such as Ourada had been making. It was even less than what janitors earn in many states. The strategy worked. With its rock-bottom bid price, Cognitive won the contract and cut pay. (Cognitive did not respond to requests for comment.) Unsurprisingly, workers quit en masse. At least 135 of 399 incumbent personnel left. And given the low pay, Cognitive has struggled to retain replacements. One position has been filled and vacated three times since March and is now empty again. "Hire and train, hire and train. It's been like that for the last three or four months," says Kevin McDonnell, a Rhode Island-based supervisor whose own pay was cut in half. This isn't the first time a lowball bid led to draconian wage cuts and mass resignations on a military family support contract. It's at least the fifth case in as many years, according to Good Jobs Nation, a worker advocacy group that filed Labor Department complaints on behalf of employees on two such contracts. After I wrote about this problem in April, lawmakers grilled the National Guard about whether military families were getting the support they deserved. The Guard told Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., that it was undertaking a contract "review." And then ... nothing. On Tuesday, I called the Guard to ask what happened. Lo and behold, that very day, it decided to "modify" the contract! Cognitive sent a cryptic email to workers Wednesday saying "changes" to job descriptions and salaries were forthcoming. No further details. No mention of any back pay for the past eight months. A Guard spokesman told me that a different office will handle the next bid process, which begins next month. The Labor Department will be asked to come up with minimum wage rates for these occupations, as should have happened last year. Which sounds like an improvement. But for military families left stranded in recent months and workers such as Ourada who were shortchanged and have already moved on, it's cold comfort. Catherine Rampell's email address is crampell@washpost.com. A motion for a change of judge was denied for Isis Schauer, 18, of Houston, charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse in a September death in Texas County. Schauer is among four charged in the death of Joseph Steinfeld, 17, who went by Ally and was transitioning to female, according to relatives. The motion was denied as the request was not made in a timely manner, according to court records. Schauers attorney, Paul Joseph McMahon, is seeking to withdraw as her counsel. She also has applied for a change of venue. Rulings are expected Dec. 19 before Texas County Circuit Court Judge John Beger, according to court records. Schauer and co-defendants Andrew Vrba, 18, also of Houston, and Brianna Calderas, 24, Cabool, are charged in Steinfelds death. A fourth suspect from Thayer, James Grigsby, 25, is charged with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Abigail Lemanski poses for a photo with her family after receiving her badge. Lemanski's mother pinned the badge to her uniform. Bainbridge with his family after the pinning. Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski gives Bainbridge a certificate to honor the occasion. PreviousNext Two Recruits Complete Pittsfield Firefighter Training Matthew Bainbridge is given his probationary firefighter shield from Capt. Neil Myers. PITTSFIELD, Mass. On Tuesday, Matthew Bainbridge and Abigail Lemanski attended the state's 28th annual Firefighter of the Year Awards ceremony. There were hundreds of firefighters from throughout the state honored for heroic efforts. And the medal of honor was given to posthumously to Watertown Firefighter Joseph A. Toscano. They saw the heroism and they saw the risks. The two were just Pittsfield Fire Department recruits on that day. The next afternoon though, their families pinned their new badges to their uniform and they became probationary firefighters in the department. "Matt and Abigail got to go there and it is not something we usually get to take fresh people, new recruits to. It is not something we go to every year," Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said. "But I think it was kind of an eye-opener for them to see what types of heroic acts go on across the Commonwealth on an annual basis." Czerwinski addressed the pair's families, fellow firefighters, and members of the City Council who had gathered at headquarters for a graduation ceremony. Bainbridge and Lemanski were appointed to the department in October and have now completed the five weeks of training. Notably, Lemanski is the department's first female firefighter. "They received a lot of great training over that time. They had a lot of great meals at the fire station, learning some of the tricks and pranks that we do. But I think they are excited to be done with that and get on the floor and ride on the back of the truck and start a new career for the rest of their lives," Czerwinski said. "This isn't a job. It is a career. You always have to keep learning and you always have to know what is coming next. The next call you go on could be something trivial or it could be something major so we always have to have people on their toes." The chief urged them to continue learning about the profession. On Tuesday, two city firefighters were honored by the governor at the ceremony for a "great rescue and a great effort." But, the department has been on the other side as well with firefighters being killed in the line of duty. "That's not something I want any of our families to go through. We've had line of duty deaths here and we really don't want to see it. We want to be on the other end, saving lives," Czerwinski said. "I hope they are safe every day." Training Officer Capt. Neil Myers has been with them throughout the last five weeks and after he handed them their probationary firefighter helmet shields, he left them with a challenge. "All of us here at the PFD challenge you ton continuously educate yourself and not become a statistic. Stay hungry, stay focused, listen to your partners on the job, watch, practice, and do your job. Work hard and pass it on to those who follow you," Meyers said. "Remember where you are today and remember how hard you worked toward this career and remind yourself of this when you get mired down by distractions and the stress that frustrate all of us from time to time. Appreciate that you've earned a career where you have the opportunity to positively affect the outcome of someone else's worst day." He told them to look to all of the veterans in the firehouse and learn from their experiences. And as their career progresses, pass it on to those who follow in their footsteps. The short ceremony opened with a blessing from Fire Department Chaplain Peter Gregory and ended with the cutting of a cake. Bainbridge and Lemanski are part of the third group of recruits to graduate this year. There are some 15 probationary firefighters currently working in the Department. The probationary title lasts a year before they start to move up the ranks. Denaturalization Sought Against Five Child Sexual Abusers in Florida, Illinois, and Texas Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Justice filed denaturalization lawsuits against five individuals who, according to the Departments complaints, unlawfully procured their U.S. citizenship by concealing sexual abuse of minor victims during the naturalization process. The civil complaints were filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern District of Texas (two cases), and the Southern District of Texas. Committing fraud in any immigration matter undermines the integrity of our immigration system, and is a betrayal of the American peoples generosity, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. It is especially appalling when it also involves the sexual abuse of children. The Department of Justice has a duty to prosecute these crimes vigorously, particularly so for individuals who commit fraud in the naturalization process. I am confident that justice will be done in these cases, and I want to thank ICE, CBP, USCIS, our Civil Division, and our U.S. Attorneys offices for their hard work. This Department will continue to fight to denaturalize immigration fraudsters and to protect the American people from sex offenders." The cases were referred to the Department of Justice by the Department of Homeland Securitys U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection with investigative support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I commend the DHS personnel working diligently to remove dangerous criminals from our streets, said Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Elaine Duke. Those who unlawfully procured citizenship by concealing crimes especially sexual abuse of minors should have their citizenship revoked. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the citizenship of a naturalized U.S. citizen may be revoked, and his or her certificate of naturalization canceled, if naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation. The five defendants committed crimes of sexual abuse of minor victims prior to naturalizing. As the civil complaints allege, such crimes rendered the defendants ineligible for citizenship from the start. By willfully concealing child sexual abuse crimes, the defendants also independently rendered themselves subject to denaturalization. A description of each of the five cases and the allegations of the United States follows: Jorge Luis Alvarado Jorge Luis Alvarado, 56, a native of Mexico, naturalized on March 9, 2000. Shortly before filing his naturalization application, Alvarado made unlawful sexual contact with a sixteen-year-old child. In March 2007, he pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony. Alvarado was ordered to community supervision and to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in southern Texas. United States of America v. Jorge Luis Alvarado (S.D. Tex.). Alberto Mario Beleno Alberto Mario Beleno, 64, a native of Colombia, naturalized on Feb. 26, 2001. Before Beleno naturalized as a U.S. citizen, he committed lewd and lascivious acts on a six-year-old child. In 2001, less than three months after he naturalized, Beleno was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty/nolo-contendere in Florida state court to committing felony lewd and lascivious exhibition and felony lewd and lascivious molestation on a minor in 1993 and 1994. Beleno was ordered to register as a sex offender for his conduct. His last known residence in the United States is in Miami, Florida. United States of America v. Alberto Mario Beleno (S.D. Fla.). Eleazar Corral Valenzuela Eleazar Corral Valenzuela, 49, a native of Mexico, naturalized on June 15, 2000. Prior to applying to naturalize, he sexually abused a minor child. In November 2000, after he had naturalized, Corral pleaded guilty in Illinois state court to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. He was ordered to register as a sex offender. He has been residing in Aurora, Illinois. United States of America v. Eleazar Corral Valenzuela (N.D. Ill.). Moises Herrera-Gonzalez Moises Herrera-Gonzalez, 55, a native of Mexico, naturalized on Sept. 25, 1999. On Jan. 1, 1996, before he filed his naturalization application, Herrera-Gonzalez sexually assaulted and injured a six-year-old child. He filed his naturalization application in September 1996, nine months after the sexual assault. On July 8, 2002, after he naturalized, Herrera-Gonzalez pleaded guilty in Texas state court to committing bodily injury to a child, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to five years in prison. He has been residing in Arlington, Texas. United States of America v. Moises Herrera-Gonzalez (N.D. Tex.). Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola, 60, a native of Nigeria, naturalized on July 1, 2004. Before he filed his naturalization application in May 2003, Omopariola made unlawful sexual contact with a seven-year-old child. In 2015, after he naturalized, Omopariola pleaded guilty in Texas state court to Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, a second-degree felony. He was ordered to five years of community supervision and placed on the sex offender registry. He has been residing in Grand Prairie, Texas. United States of America v. Emmanuel Olugbenga Omopariola (N.D. Tex.). These cases were investigated by ICE, CBP, and USCIS, and the Civil Divisions Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court Section (OIL-DCS). These cases are being prosecuted by OIL-DCS and its National Security and Affirmative Litigation Unit (NS/A Unit) with support from the U.S. Attorneys Offices for the Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Texas, and Southern District of Texas. The claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. On the Occasion of the Inauguration of the New President of the Kyrgyz Republic Washington, DC - The United States government congratulates the Kyrgyz Republics newly elected President, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, on his inauguration, which took place today in Bishkek. The United States commends President Jeenbekov and the Kyrgyz people on their commitment to democracy, the orderly election process, and a peaceful transfer of power, the first such transition between democratically elected leaders in Central Asian history. The United States has been a friend and partner of the Kyrgyz Republic for more than 25 years, and we remain committed to the Kyrgyz Republics success as a democratic, prosperous, and stable country. The United States looks forward to working with the newly elected President and his administration in the spirit of equality, trust, and mutual respect. White House on the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen Washington, DC - The United States welcomes the announcement from Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition that it is reopening Hudaydah port and Sanaa International Airport to allow the urgent flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Yemen. Full and immediate implementation of the announced measures is a first step in ensuring that food, medicine, and fuel reach the Yemeni people and that the aid organizations on the frontlines of mitigating this humanitarian crisis are able to do their essential work. We look forward to additional steps that will facilitate the unfettered flow of humanitarian and commercial goods from all ports of entry to the points of need. The magnitude of suffering in Yemen requires all parties to this conflict to focus on assistance to those in need. All sides must support a political process with facilitating humanitarian relief as the top priority. We remain committed to supporting Saudi Arabia and all our Gulf partners against the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aggression and blatant violations of international law. Backed by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Houthi rebels have used destabilizing missile systems to target Saudi Arabiasystems that were not present in Yemen before the conflict. The international community must take the necessary steps to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its repeated violations of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2231 as the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps exploits the grave humanitarian crisis in Yemen to advance its regional ambitions. Millions of Yemenis are currently enduring severe deprivation; the United States continues to believe that this devastating conflict, and the suffering it causes, must be brought to an end through political negotiations. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Thanks to the Danish notion of hygge a feeling of cosy contentment manifested by enjoying the simple things in life like candles, warming cups of tea and fluffy socks lounging around the house is no longer considered lazy. Instead, its fast become a favourite way for many to relax but, far from slouching about in your holey sweats, now the fashion industry is offering a way to unwind with a semblance of style. The final word in luxury lounging, cashmere is the perfect way to tastefully hunker down for the new season, be it in a snuggly jumper, cardigan or a pair of the softest bed socks. Recommended 8 best Christmas pyjama sets Notoriously expensive though, those on a budget will be pleased to here that there are plenty of purse-friendly options too. Par for the course with some of the high streets biggest names, we suggest heading to Marks and Spencers for more a affordable option where Rosie Huntington-Whiteleys line for Autograph continues to impress. This season, you can expect to get your hands on pure cashmere two-pieces, long sleeve night dresses, cardigans and even silky separates. Rosie For Autograph, Pure Cashmere Funnel Neck Pyjama Top, 149, Straight Leg Pyjama Bottoms, 99, Marks & Spencer Speaking of which, pyjamas have come a long way since the days of mismatched novelty numbers. Instead, these days your drawers are more likely to be lined with lavishly superior versions that can be worn both in and out of the bedroom. Olivia Von Halle, 380, Net-a-Porter From Olivia Von Halles premium pairs inspired by Coco Chanel and the glamorous loungewear she wore in the 1920s, to Victorias Secret, J Crew and Whistles collaboration with London-based label Yolke, the concept of traditional sleepwear is being turned on its sartorial head. Fly Away Yolke Pyjama Set, 175, Whistles As shorter days and colder nights set in, theres nothing more appealing than a comfy pair of PJs, but now, thanks to a decadent shift in the market, you can embrace your inner couch potato with zero guilt and superfluous style points. Cashmere Striped Bed Socks, 36, The White Company For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} By now we know the Budget basics the headline-grabbers that the Chancellor spent an hour whetting our appetites for this week. We know that first-time buyers appear to have been handed a poisoned chalice in the form of abolished stamp duty. We know about the fuel-duty freeze (again) and that, from April, we get a couple more of those newfangled pounds in our pocket before HMRC comes knocking. But the Budget document itself is far more than just the Chancellors speech, at 240 pages and thats considered quite short. So whats within them? Here are the important bits: Not North of the border The small boost to our take-home pay is already a well-known bonus with the personal tax allowance increasing to 11,850 and the higher rate tax threshold rising to 46,350 from April. At least, for some of us. Scottish and the rest of the UK higher-rate income tax bands continue to diverge, as the Scottish band is currently 43,000, and unlikely to catch up any time soon, says Kate Smith, Head of Pensions at Aegon. This means that some people resident in Scotland and the rest of the UK, but earning the same amount, will not only pay different levels of income tax, but also benefit from different pension tax relief on their contributions. What are you? Down on page 32 of the Budget report theres a potentially sticky section for millions of self-employed workers as IR35 the measures to clamp down on employment tax avoidance are changed. The IR35 changes that were brought in to the public sector to tighten up tax avoidance could now be extended to the private sector. Hammond has opted for the middle ground and announced a consultation on applying off-payroll rules in the private sector as has been done in the public sector, says James Poyser, chief executive, of inniAccounts, an online accounting service for self-employed professionals. In February, the Chancellor made it the responsibility of public-sector organisations hiring contractors to decide if the contractor needed to comply with IR35. If the client decides IR35 does apply then the contractor will be taxed at source as though they were an employee, but they will not receive any of the rights that an employee would. Its very complex to understand whether someone is in IR35 or not, so [some organisations] actually advise their people to assume IR35 applies regardless of whether it does. Contractors are really under the tax microscope, adds Martin Upton, of the Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance. They are more likely to find themselves treated for tax and NICs purposes as though they are normal employees. This on top of hiking NICs for the self-employed from 9 per cent to 11 per cent over the next two years. Generation rent The backlash over the 300,000 first-time buyer stamp duty threshold was rapid and extensive, with many arguing that the move will not only fail to help those who arent in a position to buy right now, but will probably cause first home prices to increase even further. But recent campaigning over the inclusion of rental payments in tenants credit scores may still bear fruit, with the inclusion of a 2m prize to incentivise tech companies to find a solution. This is something better-off tenants will welcome, as it will help them secure better terms for a mortgage if they are aiming to buy in future, says Sam Hurst of online lettings agent Openrent. But tenants who already struggle to pay historically high rents will be worried about the effect of this to their credit scores. This is especially worrying if we consider that lower-paid renters are much more likely to take loans to cover key living expenses. Like the other housing measures in the budget it seems like it will only help the aspirational, doing nothing to help those truly at the bottom of the UKs broken housing system. Risky business Investors who plump for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) in a bid to better manage their tax liabilities have had a pleasant surprise, with the Chancellor announcing plans to doubt the amount an individual can invest under the scheme to 2m in any tax year as long as 1m is invested in at last one knowledge-intensive company. With some specialists in this field concerned the Budget would bring cuts to such tax benefits, this was a somewhat unexpected move. The additional 1m EIS tax relief means individuals may be able to claim income tax relief of up to 600,000 if invested in knowledge-intensive companies, notes Ben Faulkner, communications director at EQ Investors. Its an attractive opportunity for those looking to supplement their 40,0000 annual pension contributions. And finally... If youre one of those employees who fails miserably to claw back your expenses due to lost receipts, the Chancellor may have just handed you a get-out-of-jail-free card. From April 2019, employers will no longer be required to check receipts when reimbursing employees for subsistence using benchmark scale rates, notes law firm Ashurst. The existing concessionary accommodation and subsistence overseas scale rates will be placed on a statutory basis. HMRC also plans to improve the guidance on employee expenses, particularly on travel and subsistence and the process for claiming tax relief on non-reimbursed employment expenses. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of the last surviving female members of an elite band of courageous, idealistic and resolute people risking their lives across occupied Europe recently passed away at the age of 95 but she led an extraordinary life. From the age of 22, Yvonne Baseden was an agent in Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) and helped co-ordinate French Resistance fighters. Following one of the largest daylight airdrops of the Second World War, she was subsequently captured, tortured and survived the notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp where she also overcame illness. Ms Baseden was awarded an MBE and Frances highest honours a Chevalier of the Legion dHonneur, the Resistance Medal and the Croix de Guerre avec Palme. The SOE, housed in Baker Street in London, was created in July 1940, shortly after Frances surrender to Germany, by the newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill, with a remit to create havoc and set Europe ablaze. Dropped behind enemy lines, agents helped forge the secret army of resistance fighters who prepared the way for the Allied invasion. They all knew the consequences of capture by the Gestapo often brutal interrogation and torture, followed by execution, or grim survival in a concentration camp. The F (French) Section alone sent 39 female agents into the field, of whom 15 were executed, two were liberated from camps, one escaped and two died of natural causes. SOE was far ahead of contemporary attitudes in its use of women. From its inception, SOE began recruiting women with language skills into the Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and the Auxiliary Transport Service before sending them for specialist training; many were used as couriers because they were seldom stopped at controls and rarely picked up in mass arrests. Codenamed Odette, Ms Baseden was paired with a French aristocrat, Gonzague de Saint-Genies, codename Lucien, and their mission was to re-establish the Scholar reseau (network) around Dole, near Dijon, eastern France, after the Gestapo had compromised the previous one. Following an aborted first attempt, on 18 March 1944, Lucien and Odette were parachuted into Auch, just north of the Pyrenees. They landed some distance away from each other. Greeted by several Frenchmen, Ms Baseden was given a bicycle and was taken to a farmhouse. She then embarked on a two-day journey to Dole, near the Swiss border, where she was to operate with Lucien. Major Desmond Bailey marries Yvonne Baseden in 1948 (Rex) As a wireless operator behind enemy lines, an occupation which had a life expectancy of just six weeks, Ms Baseden was vital because she was the only link between London and the resistance in the Jura area. She was tasked with organising night-time drops of arms and explosives, while constantly moving about to avoid detection by the Gestapos direction-finding technology. In addition, she also helped train fighters in setting explosive charges, which was particularly important in the run-up to D-Day (6 June). Following D-Day, the resistance networks sabotaged bridges, railway lines and communications, considerably delaying German troops heading to the Normandy beaches; a two-day journey from southern to northern France took up to a fortnight, which helped the Allied troops and undoubtedly saved many lives and possibly shortened the war by several months. With the new Scholar network re-established, the teams work increased as the Resistance grew bolder. In Operation Cadillac they organised a mass daylight drop (14 July) by American B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, during which Ms Baseden was in radio contact with 36 Allied planes. Around 800 armed men and women from various local resistance groups were waiting to collect 3,791 canisters and 417 tonnes of armaments dropped at the designated targets. The operation was a success; the next day a celebratory meal in a cheese factory ended disastrously. A German patrol arrested a Scholar agent near the factory (which was also a safe house) because he was unaccountably carrying a radio transmitter. He knew nothing of the planned meal, but the Wehrmacht sergeant searched the factory on the off-chance of finding something there. With their arrival, the team scattered for cover. The caretakers wife cleared the table but the bicycles outside raised suspicions and guards remained. After hours, a noise was heard and more Germans returned. The sergeant fired a burst from his machine-gun through the ceiling to illicit a response. One bullet hit Gonzague de Saint-Genies in the head, killing him, and blood leaked through the ceiling. Further shots were fired and the rest were caught. Ms Baseden was retrieved by the hair, punched in the face and manacled. They were taken to Dole prison and transferred two days later to Dijon where Ms Baseden was placed in solitary confinement. Regularly interrogated by the Gestapo, she revealed nothing. Another captured Resistance fighter, however, declared Ms Baseden was a wireless operator and probably a British agent. She maintained she was an ordinary French woman who had become involved with the Resistance. In attempts to persuade her to reveal her Resistance contacts, the Gestapo beat her, stamped on her toes and bare feet and intimidated her leaving her in a dark cellar for a few days before having a guard tie her to a chair and start firing at her feet. She later failed in a suicide attempt when she tried to cut her wrists with a piece of glass. On 4 September, Ms Baseden was sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp (which was exclusively for women), near Berlin, where to her horror she encountered fellow SOE agents Violette Szabo, Lilian Rolfe and Denise Bloch; they were shot in February 1945. She also shared a hut with fellow SOE women, including Odette Churchill the others were later sent to the gas chamber. Conditions were tough, with mistreatment and abuse part of daily life. Ms Baseden laboured on a farm until falling ill with tuberculosis in February 1945. In the atmosphere of mounting apprehension among the camp authorities, as the Allied armies approached, a fellow prisoner and former escape-line organiser, Mary Lindell, secured Ms Basedens removal in a Red Cross train to Sweden, from where she was repatriated. Yvonne Baseden (l) and Nancy Wake (r) in Sussex in 2005; they both operated in France during the Second World War (Rex) Upon returning to England, Ms Baseden recalled: Before me lay nine months in hospital, a lung operation, pain, and nights tormented by fearful dreams. Born in Paris, in 1922, Yvonne Jeanne Therese de Vibraye Baseden was the daughter of Clifford Baseden, an officer in the Royal Flying Corps, who crash-landed during World War One on the Count and Countess de Vibrayes estate; invited to stay for dinner, he then fell in love with, and subsequently married, their daughter. Yvonne lived in France for eight years and then the family travelled around Europe. They were living in Spain when the Civil War broke out in 1936, so returned to France, whereupon she attended a Parisian school. A year or so later she went to Tottenham, north London, to stay with her British grandmother and embarked upon a shorthand-typing course. With the outbreak of war, she took a job as a bilingual typist and was asked to do some translation: I got my first experience of where my French could be of some use. She recalled listening to de Gaulles radio broadcast (18 June 1940) wherein he urged those of French nationality to continue the fight to free France and warned that: Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not and will never go out. Filled with patriotism, 18-year-old Ms Baseden was determined to play a part but was rejected, As mademoiselle was born of an English father. Disappointed, she joined the WAAF as a general duties clerk. She was commissioned in 1941 (later promoted to section officer) and became an interpreter-secretary to an MI19 officer at Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre, known as the London Cage, where she also played a part in the interrogation of captured German airmen and sailors. Perhaps, somewhat ironically, she later discovered that her file noted, This airwoman is not to be employed on confidential work, meaning she could not enter the ops room, due to having a French mother, which made the WAAF slightly wary of her. Following a recommendation from WAAF colleagues, Ms Baseden was called by SOE (1 June 1943) and accepted their offer. Her fluent French and her looks dark hair, olive skin and of small stature made her the ideal recruit. Like all female agents, she was seconded to FANY and kitted out in their uniform to avoid awkward questions from friends and family. She then embarked on a series of training courses, conducted at secluded country estates commandeered by the SOE and located throughout England and Scotland. Here recruits received commando-style training to improve fitness, as well as instruction on sabotage techniques and weapons training. Demonstrating an aptitude for wireless operating, she underwent several months of specialist training the only role both men and women undertook learning all aspects of Morse code and wireless repairs. In addition, she underwent parachute training. Once her training was complete, she met Gonzague de Saint-Genies. He had been a prisoner in 1940 but had managed to escape by breaking his arm with a hatchet. He arrived in Britain in 1943 and volunteered to return to France. She later discovered that he was a distant relative. Ms Baseden was given a new identity, Marie Bernier, secretary, a new French-style haircut, clothes, a large sum of money and a cyanide pill, which she refused. She was fully aware of the dangers she would face in occupied France: We knew we were going into something pretty dicey. Postwar, she married Desmond Bailey, who was award the Military Cross, of the Colonial Service and accompanied him to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). Later, she worked for the French Commercial Attache in Zambia, who was another former member of the SOE, Baron Albert de Schonen. Ms Baseden remarried in 1966 to Anthony Burney, whom predeceased her, and they lived in Zambia and Lesotho until retiring to Portugal in 1972. While travelling by car in Zambia with her 12-year old son, they were surrounded by a hostile crowd at a junction. She opened her handbag to reveal a pistol and the mob disappeared. She returned to London in 1999. On 25 September 1955, she appeared in the second episode of This is Your Life, presented by Eamonn Andrews. She also appeared in a French documentary (Robert et les Ombres/Robert and the Shadows) in which she met, 60 years after the events, two of the Resistance fighters who were in the field when she parachuted in. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Domestic abuse legislation hailed as lifesaving by Theresa May has come under scrutiny after it emerged that a number of police forces have brought just a handful of charges since it was introduced in 2015. The charge of coercive and controlling behaviour has led to no more than 20 charges by half of Englands police forces in the two years since it was enacted, data obtained through Freedom of Information requests shows. It can be brought against someone who is preventing their victim from having friendships or hobbies, refusing them access to money and determining tiny aspects of their everyday life such as when they are allowed to eat, sleep and go to the toilet. Announcing the legislation, which has a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, Ms May, the then Home Secretary, said it had the potential to save lives. She added that she was determined to put a stop to this scourge on our society. But data obtained by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed that, of the 29 police forces in England who responded to the FOI request, 19 forces have made 19 or less charges since the law was rolled out. The forces had made just 532 charges overall. At least 22 forces had made fewer than two charges per 100,000 population in the same time period. Londons Metropolitan Police the largest force in England and Wales, which serves a population of 877,8500 has brought just 36 charges for the offence since it was introduced. Thames Valley Police the third largest police force brought just 16. Opposition politicians accused the Government of passing the legislation but then making cuts to police that would prevent them from carrying out adequate training to implement it. Social Experiment sees feminist bottled at a domestic violence rally Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, said: Its no use Theresa May passing new laws to tackle domestic violence if she then cuts resources to the police who cant then train the specialist officers or staff up the specialist teams. To have any credibility on fighting domestic violence the Conservatives have got to will the means to do it. Domestic violence campaigners also said the take up of the new coercive control legislation by the police was very low and that the failure by police to arrest perpetrators of domestic violence was unacceptable. The chief executive of Refuge, Sandra Horley CBE said: Every day we support almost 6,000 women and children and we are repeatedly told about incidents where police disbelieve women or fail to investigate properly. It is unacceptable that some police forces still do not always arrest perpetrators of domestic violence. We need to get the basics right; we need a strong arrest and charge police response to domestic violence whatever the offence in order to ensure women get the protection they need and deserve. She added that in order to increase arrests under the new charge, it was essential that the police give the right support and protection to survivors. The charitys chief executive Katie Ghose, said: Survivors of domestic abuse often do not want to support prosecutions because of a lack of trust in the criminal justice system, fear of repercussions of speaking out against the perpetrator or direct threats if they do so. That is why it is essential that the police give the right response, support and protection to survivors so that more women have the confidence to come forward and report domestic abuse. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 We urgently call for both the police and the CPS to continue to improve their response to coercive control so that they send out a clear message that coercive control is unacceptable, that this crime is taken seriously and that perpetrators will be held to account for the harm they have caused. The Government has promised to transform the national approach to tackling domestic abuse through their landmark Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill, declaring that the state will do everything it can to both support [survivors] and their children. But an Ofsted report stated that far too little was being done to prevent domestic abuse or repair the damage it causes afterwards, and accused the Government of failing to implement a long-term strategy to tackle the issue. A Government spokesperson said: Domestic violence and abuse is a devastating crime that shatters the lives of victims and families. The action we have taken to tackle domestic abuse includes introducing a new offence of coercive and controlling behaviour and rolling out Clares law and domestic violence protection orders on a national basis. "We are encouraged that ONS stats published this week show that the police recorded 4246 offences of controlling or coercive behaviour in 2016/17. And while bed spaces have increased by 10% since 2010 we are committed to ensuring anyone facing the threat of domestic abuse has somewhere to turn to. "That is why the Government is providing 100 million of dedicated funding for tackling violence against women and girls. This includes a 20 million fund to support refuges and other accommodation-based services, providing 2,200 additional bed spaces." The spokesperson added that the Home Office would also publish a draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill, saying it would protect and support victims, recognise the life-long impact domestic abuse has on children and make sure agencies effectively respond to domestic abuse. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Around 200 women and children fleeing from domestic abuse are turned away from refuges each day in England, figures show, as charities warn new government policy risks pushing services to breaking point. A survey of refuges across the country shows 94 women and 90 children who had fled abuse were turned away on just one day this year. The true figures are likely to be considerably higher due to the fact that 168 services responded out of a total of 276. Charity Womens Aid, which obtained the data, is now warning that government plans to place councils in charge of funding for emergency accommodation will force refuges to reduce provision at a time when demand is far exceeding supply. Women and children who are turned away from refuges can seek help from their local council, but with budgets stretched, they often face long waits for any form of emergency accommodation. This can leave mothers faced with the choice of homelessness or returning to the abusive partner. Some are placed in hostels as they wait for accommodation, which often also house former prisoners and reportedly have a severe lack of sanitation and security. The survey shows that more than half of residents in refuges are children. Womens Aid said many survivors report that their children are experiencing anxiety and behavioural issues and problems at school as a result of witnessing domestic abuse, with one saying her son began self-harming. Twenty-six under-14s are known to have been killed alongside their mother in femicide killings last year, according to new data from the forthcoming Femicide Census report demonstrating the potentially deadly consequences domestic abuse can have if support isnt available. Freya, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, was repeatedly turned away from refuges with her children, aged two and five, after fleeing an abusive partner. She had been with her partner for a year when she and her children moved in with him in a home hundreds of miles from where they were living in London. But within six months, he began targeting her with abuse, which began as coercive and controlling behaviour and rapidly escalated into physical and at times sexual violence. Hed throw me down the stairs, push me into walls, pick me up and throw me around, and then always argue that he didnt punch me so wasnt assaulting me. This quickly progressed into sexual violence as well, Freya told The Independent. I would always try to shield the kids from it and he was very aware of that. One of his methods of abuse would be screaming and shouting for hours at night and then prevent me from going into the bedroom the kids were sleeping in, even if they were awake and crying. Freya called the police five times before she left her abusive partner. But when they came to the house she says the officers just gave him a pat on the back and told him to calm down before leaving, without referring Freya and the children to any support service. The lack of response by police compounded my feelings of hopelessness. It confirmed his rhetoric that no one would believe the abuse and that we wouldnt be helped, she explains. A month and a half after the abuse began, Freya fled the house with her children. Escaping in the middle of the night to be driven to London in a friends car, she left without her ID, and her children didnt even have shoes on their feet. We were literally fleeing for our lives, she says. She tried to get into refuges multiple times, but was constantly told capacity was full and there were no spaces available. She then approached the local council for emergency accommodation, but was initially turned her away for not having sufficient ID. They wanted six months worth of bank statements and a birth certificate for me and my children. They wanted proof that my children were mine. At one point I was even asked to provide a letter from my abuser to state that he had abused us and that we should no longer remain with him, she says. After two months sofa surfing with friends, the family was eventually placed in a hostel by the council, where they were living among former criminals. The sanitation was poor, with Freya saying she had to scrub the walls down with bleach because they had faeces and blood on them. Recommended Government savaged over domestic abuse in major Ofsted report A total of eight months after she escaped her abusive partner, Freya and her children were placed in a temporary home by the council. But she says they were lucky. I knew women who had been in hostels for more than a year, with babies, or having had birth there. These women are fleeing for their lives or are street homeless, and dont necessarily have any access to their bank accounts of financial needs to support themselves," Freya says. Its forcing people into means to gather money, which when you dont have any ID or method of being paid in cash, it forces women into exploitation and dangerous working. I was very lucky because I had friends to support me, but there were many women there who don't." "Unfortunately the majority of women who can't get into a refuge end up going back to their abusers, because they face further abuses and exploitation in just trying to survive. When your ex is trying to get you back, you either face deprivation or exploitation, or returning to the abuse and at least thats familiar. The Womens Aid figures come after the Government announced an overhaul of supported housing, which would see councils take charge of ring-fenced funding for short-term and emergency accommodation such as refuges. Campaigners warned that funding would dismantle life-saving refuges and create a postcode lottery of funding for vital services, undermining Theresa Mays pledge to do more to help women fleeing violent partners. Katie Ghose, chief executive of Womens Aid, said: It is completely unacceptable that refuges had no choice but to turn 94 women and 90 children away on just one day this year. Demand for refuges currently far outstrips supply. The Governments new funding model for refuges could be the breaking point for these life-saving services which have already been operating for far too long on short-term, shoestring budgets. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 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 We urge the Government to protect refuges not only for women escaping abuse but for their children too. Only by creating a long-term and sustainable funding model for a national network of refuges can we ensure that every woman and child can safely escape domestic abuse. The Government has promised to transform the national approach to tackling domestic abuse through their landmark Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill, declaring that the state will do everything it can to both support [survivors] and their children. But a recent Ofsted report stated that far too little was being done to prevent domestic abuse or repair the damage it causes afterwards, and accused the Government of failing to implement a long-term strategy to tackle the issue. A Government spokesperson said: Domestic violence and abuse is a devastating crime that shatters the lives of victims and families. The action we have taken to tackle domestic abuse includes introducing a new offence of coercive and controlling behaviour and rolling out Clares law and domestic violence protection orders on a national basis. "We are encouraged that ONS stats published this week show that the police recorded 4246 offences of controlling or coercive behaviour in 2016/17. And while bed spaces have increased by 10% since 2010 we are committed to ensuring anyone facing the threat of domestic abuse has somewhere to turn to. "That is why the Government is providing 100 million of dedicated funding for tackling violence against women and girls. This includes a 20 million fund to support refuges and other accommodation-based services, providing 2,200 additional bed spaces." The spokesperson added that the Home Office would also publish a draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill, saying it would protect and support victims, recognise the life-long impact domestic abuse has on children and make sure agencies effectively respond to domestic abuse. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Home Office is systematically ignoring independent medical advice not to detain people who are mentally ill as part of their bid to crackdown on immigration, The Independent can reveal. Hundreds of immigrants with mental health conditions are currently being held in detention centres against the advice of medical practitioners, in a breach of Government policy introduced last year to ensure vulnerable people are not detained inappropriately. An analysis of files by charity Bail for Immigrant Detainees (BID), seen exclusively by The Independent, finds that the Adults at Risk policy, designed to ensure vulnerable people are not locked up, is leaving mentally unwell people languishing in removal centres. The policy was introduced in response to a government-commissioned review into the UKs immigration detention system last year, which found that too many vulnerable people were being placed in detention to the detriment of their mental health. Former prisons and probation ombudsman Stephen Shaw, who conducted the review, said Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules designed as a key safeguard for victims of torture or whose health would be at risk from continued detention failed to protect vulnerable people in detention, largely due to a lack of trust in GPs to provide independent advice. The new Adults at Risk policy sets out framework for identifying different levels of vulnerability by using a series of categories. In official guidelines, the Home Office states that it aims to ensure that genuine cases of vulnerability are consistently identified, in order to ensure that vulnerable people are not detained inappropriately. On the basis of the available evidence, the Home Office will reach a view on whether a particular individual should be regarded as being at risk in the terms of this guidance, it states. But critics say that rather than reducing the number of vulnerable people held in detention, the policy instead equips the Home Office with more arguments to refuse peoples release when they are found to be vulnerable by medical practitioners. An analysis of cases of vulnerable detainees currently represented by BID, which offers legal advice and representation to people in detention, shows that 80 per cent have been defined as being at risk by a medical practitioner. The diagnosed conditions and vulnerabilities were most commonly PTSD, depression and suicidal tendencies, with two thirds recorded as being torture victims. Although this information was passed onto the Home Office, which in 90 per cent of cases accepted that the individual was vulnerable, none of the detainees have been released from detention as a result. In one case included in the report, a woman, named only as A, was found to be a victim of rape who suffers from a range of mental health problems including depression, PTSD and personality disorder. It was known to the Home Office that she was on medication for her depression, but despite this she continued to suffer from suicidal ideation, low moods and hallucinations, as well as flashbacks and bed-wetting. A Rule 35 report stated that she suffered from trauma as a result of the rape. The clinical opinion of the Home Offices own medical practitioner made it clear that As treatment could continue more effectively with specialist services that were not then available to her in detention. But the Home Office refused to acknowledge her as an adult at risk who should not be detained. She was categorised as risk level 1 Adult at Risk despite the fact that the Home Offices medical practitioner had confirmed that detention was not suitable and was putting her at further risk. The woman was later granted bail having been represented by BID after being held in immigration detention for over a year. The report states: Despite Stephen Shaws recommendations and the Home Offices response, the policy does not appear to have made any tangible improvement in the protection of vulnerable persons from harm in detention either in substance or practice. Indeed, we have observed a worsening of health in the cases examined through the application of the Adults at Risk policy. The stated objective of the Governments response to the Shaw report was to reduce the number of vulnerable people detained and treat those in detention with dignity and respect. Instead we have seen that the onus has been placed on the vulnerable person to prove that other factors are outweighed by their vulnerability, even in circumstances where the vulnerable persons at risk status is evidentially supported by independent medical practitioners. Pierre Makhlouf, assistant director at BID, accused the Government of failing to meet the original intentions of the results of the Shaw Review, saying: It instead equips the Home Office with more arguments to refuse people released when they are found to be vulnerable, he said. It has introduced a categorisation of types of evidence, absolving the Home Office of any requirement to follow up evidence where it doesnt meet a higher category. Instead, the lower categories are used as reason to refuse release, when in fact at the very least they should result in further enquiry. The intentions of the policy are being breached. The policy itself talks about reducing the number of vulnerable people detained, but the outcome of the policy is that the Home Office is able to continue to refuse peoples release. Lawyers at law firm Duncan Lewis said they have represented dozens of people who should never have been detained in the immigration centres, the majority of whom have been released with immediate effect following legal intervention. Toufique Hossain, director of public law and immigration at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, said: It has been clear since the Adults at Risk policy was introduced, supposedly as a response to the damning Shaw Report, that it is simply not fit for purpose. The policy has given the Home Office further justification to detain vulnerable individuals; including victims of torture, rape, trafficking and those with serious physical and mental health issues. We have represented dozens of men and women who should never have been detained, but were languishing in immigration removal centres until we intervened; after which they were generally released with immediate effect. We hope that this BID Report will serve as a sharp reminder to the Home Office that they are failing in their duty to safeguard vulnerable men and women from detention and that they urgently need to reconsider their approach. Dr Piyal Sen, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, who specialises in the mental health of detainees, said the Home Office was too often putting the requirement of immigration detention above the immigrants mental wellbeing. While in rare cases the requirement for detention might override the mental health needs, the broad thrust of the Adults at Rick policy was set up to address serious concerns about mentally ill being detained. But this is not being applied the way it should, he told The Independent. The Home Office is ignoring the evidence in a significant number of cases. Now weve got these guidelines set out very clearly, but they need to take more account of what the medical professionals are saying. Research shows that the detention of immigrants can have a highly negative impact on their wellbeing. A study by Kings College London earlier this year shows that the most prevalent screened mental disorder was depression, at 52 per cent, followed by personality disorder at 35 per cent and post-traumatic stress disorder at 21 per cent. Twenty-two per cent were at moderate to high suicidal risk. From 2009 until the end of 2016, between 2,500 and 3,500 migrants have been in detention at any given time. On the basis that 52 per cent of immigration detainees have some mental health problems, there is therefore a total of 1,560 vulnerable people in detention at any one time many of whom remain in there despite medical evidence that they are vulnerable. The Royal College of psychiatrists has previously reported in a position statement that it is unsurprising that the prevalence of mental illness is high in immigration detainees, who are likely to have experienced stressful life events that probably acted as predisposing factor to their mental illness. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 Asylum seekers and other migrants are sent to immigration removal centres when the Government wishes to establish their identities or facilitate their immigration claims. It is an administrative process, not a criminal procedure. A Home Office spokesperson said: Detention is an important part of our immigration system, helping to ensure that those with no right to remain in the UK are returned to their home country if they will not leave voluntarily. We operate on a presumption against detention, and the adults at risk policy aims to improve our approach to identifying individuals who may be particularly vulnerable to harm in detention. When people are detained this is for the minimum time possible, and the dignity and welfare of those in our care is of the utmost importance. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Travellers had their plans thrown into chaos this morning after many parts of the country were covered in ice following freezing temperatures overnight which dropped to below -6c. Rail chiefs were forced to cancel some services because of the conditions, which in some cases left trains frozen to the tracks in locations in the south of the country. Commuters also faced delays of up to 90 minutes on some lines because of the disruption caused by the icy weather. Recommended More than 70 rescued from flooding as Britain lashed by snow and rain It came as the Met Office issued a warning overnight for ice across London, the south east and south west of England, warning of slips and falls on untreated roads and pavements. South Western Railway said its services between Guildford and Havant and Basingstoke and Eastleigh were disrupted because of ice on conductor rails. Trains were stuck at some locations, blocking the lines, leading to rail replacement buses being laid on. Passengers were told that services were subject to delays of up to 90 minutes, cancellation and alteration at short notice. The delays came on top of disruption to SWR services to and from London Waterloo this weekend because of engineering work. National Rail this morning at just after 8am announced it had been forced to suspend trains on a section of the Southern service due to the icy weather. It said in a tweet: You are strongly advised not to travel between Lewes and Hasting this morning. Services between these stations have been suspended due to extremely icy conditions." More ice could be possible tomorrow morning and again disrupt travel plans as forecaster predicted that temperatures could plummet as low as -4c from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The chaos commuters faced this morning came after freezing weather overnight, with the Met Office saying they recorded a national low of -6.3c in Topcliffe in Yorkshire. The Arctic like conditions overnight also saw up to 3cm of snow fall in higher parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 The dramatic change at the tail end of the autumn came as Public Health England warned a prolonged spell of cold weather was likely. Met Office forecaster Steven Keats told The Independent: Temperatures today will be around 3c to 7c but it will feel bitterly cold. There is a risk of snow anywhere really but likely in the mountain areas in Scotland and also in South Wales and in the Moors, with a bit of sleet in parts of the Midlands. More an issue really is hail that is coming down in wintry showers. Its worth mentioning too there is some good sunny weather, with good visibility. Overnight it is trickier to gauge because of wind but temperatures of minus 3c and 4c are possible in parts. Figures earlier this week showed there were more than 34,000 excess deaths across England and Wales over the last winter period, the second highest level in eight years. The Office for National Statistics said the rise was likely to be due to a predominant strain of flu prevalent during the 2016 to 2017 winter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A British mother jailed in Iran has spoken from prison in Tehran to thank those campaigning for her release. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe addressed those attending a rally and march, including actress Emma Thompson, through a phone and loudspeaker to thank everyone for their support. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been imprisoned in Tehran since April 2016, when she was arrested at the citys airport after a holiday with her then 22-month-old daughter Gabriella. She told the rally near her home in north London: Im so grateful for everybodys support and love... I am so overwhelmed and moved. All that is on my mind is to be back home and to be back with my family. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was sentenced to five years in jail on charges of spying and seeking to overthrow the Tehran regime, and has been held in solitary confinement. Inside Iran: What life is really like in Tehran Show all 2 1 /2 Inside Iran: What life is really like in Tehran Inside Iran: What life is really like in Tehran 601510.bin EPA Inside Iran: What life is really like in Tehran 601511.bin EPA Her family has led a long-running campaign for her release, saying she is innocent and raising fears for her physical and mental health. At the protest a tearful Thompson hit out at the bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster and urged the Government to do more to bring her home. The Love Actually actress, who was suffering from pneumonia, called on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to get on a plane, after his suggestion earlier this month that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists in Iran exposed her to the threat of her five-year sentence being doubled. The Oscar-winning actress said: We are a net of compassion and love for Nazanin and her family. This is what we human beings do best, in stark contrast to the bunch of angry molecules bumping around in Westminster. If I can get out of bed with pneumonia to support a horribly abused member of our community then our Foreign Secretary can get on a plane and go to Iran and deal with the problem hes so seriously exacerbated. Thompson added: The screw is twisting more and more and her physical and mental health is deteriorating to such a degree now that I think we are in a very urgent situation. I cant imagine the effect of being separated for 19 months from your child. I would have gone bonkers if that had happened to me. Im just so passionate about getting her back, its a sort of physical feeling of anguish for her. Ms Zaghari-Racliffe has spent some of her prison sentence in solitary confinement (PA) Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq spoke to Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and later said: We discussed how we would take both our daughters to Peppa Pig World when shes released. Ms Zaghari-Racliffes husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said: It is profoundly moving to see so many people here. I can really feel the love, and Nazanin can feel the love, and in the end thats the most important thing, thats what keeps us going. The rally took place before a march to the Shia Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale, north-west London, to hand in a Mothers Open Letter asking for Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes release from the Tehran prison. An online petition calling for her to be returned to Britain has had more than 1.3 million signatures. Kate Allen, Amnesty International UKs director, said: Once again, its inspiring to see so many people supporting Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family this way. Shes been put through a deeply unfair trial and could be facing a fresh charge, so its extremely important that the recent political focus on Zaghari-Ratcliffes case now translates into the Iranian authorities finally releasing her. Press Association Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} DUP leader Arlene Foster has written to the leaders of all 27 EU countries, telling them that Northern Ireland will not tolerate any difference in status between itself and the rest of the United Kingdom after the UK leaves the EU. Earlier this week, it had been suggested that Northern Ireland might remain in the customs union after Brexit, to prevent a hard border between itself and the Irish Republic. But, speaking to the DUP annual conference in Belfast, Ms Foster made clear that Northern Ireland would leave the customs union. She said: We will not support any arrangements that create barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom or any suggestion that Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, will have to mirror European regulations. Northern Ireland already has special customs union rules, Michel Barnier says I have written to the heads of government of each of the EU 27 member states setting out our views. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said he will not allow Brexit negotiations to move on to trade until the Irish border issue is settled, and no one has yet offered a workable solution to the question of no hard border in Ireland, while one side of it remains in the EUs customs union and the other does not. It has been suggested that Irelands geographical border could serve as a de facto border, but Ms Foster rejected any such plan. The economic reality for our economy is that our most important trading relationship is with the rest of the United Kingdom and we will do nothing that puts that at risk in any way. We welcome the assurances from the Prime Minister and the UK Brexit team that no such internal barriers will be countenanced and that as we joined the then European Community as one nation we will leave as one United Kingdom. The DUP and Sinn Fein have still failed to form a government, 10 months after elections to the Northern Irelands Assembly at Stormont, which returned more nationalists than unionists for the first time ever. Ms Foster did not hold back in her criticism of Sinn Fein, accusing them of glorying in the murder of the IRA. She added: My thoughts are with the victims of Enniskillen, Kingsmills and La Mon and the many thousands of innocent victims who have conducted themselves with such dignity over the decades. One of the key stumbling blocks in the return to talks are over Sinn Fein demands for recognition of Irish language and culture. Ms Foster said she had been willing to set up a power sharing agreement with no conditions and deal with language and culture issues in parallel but she told her Sinn Fein counterparts: I respect the Irish language and those who speak it. However, respect isnt a one-way street. Respect works both ways. It is time that Sinn Fein started to respect our British culture. For too long they have shown nothing but disdain and disrespect for the national flag, the Royal Family, the Armed Forces, British symbols, the constitutional reality and the very name of this country. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} UK trade plans to share out quotas for cheap food imports after Brexit have been condemned by Australia for imposing unacceptable restrictions on other nations. Trade minister Steven Ciobo, who is in charge of talks over a UK-Australia trade deal, hit out at Government proposals to divide up with Brussels the numbers of goods that can be brought in on positive tariffs based roughly on current rates. Mr Ciobo said the UKs quota-splitting plan would hit other nations exporting to the European Union amid concerns from other countries including the United States, New Zealand, Canada and Brazil. His comments are likely to concern ministers, as securing favourable trade deals with nations outside of Europe is a key plank of the Governments Brexit strategy. Mr Ciobo told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: In essence its not acceptable and the reason its not acceptable is because as the EU has expanded over the years, there hasnt been a commensurate increase in the tariff rate quotas. He added: The point is that you have a choice about where you place your quota at the moment. Therefore, given that you could put it in the UK or you could put it into continental Europe, why would we accept a proposition that would see a decline in the quota available because of the Brexit decision? It comes after International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was ridiculed over claims that British businesses were harming the economy because they do not want to export their goods abroad. His Labour counterpart Barry Gardiner said Dr Fox had been warned that the deal could cause a row and that countries raising objections have a point. We warned the Secretary of State Liam Fox about this a number of months ago and he said this was going to be very easy because it was not going to make any changes in the current total quota that the EU has, he told the BBC. 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 also cautioned against accepting higher amounts of low-tariff imports of products such as lamb because of the impact it would have on UK farmers and the countryside. Liberal Democrat trade spokesman Tom Brake said: "Yet again the Government has been warned that isolating ourselves from the EU is not the straightforward panacea dreamt of by Brextremists. "There are real concerns that the UK is going to struggle to strike any deals that come remotely close to the benefits we enjoy as a member of the EU. This is another reason why the British public must have a vote on the terms of this messy divorce, including the option of an exit from Brexit." A Department for International Trade spokesman said: As we leave the EU, we will need to update the terms of our World Trade Organisation membership to reflect an independent UK trade policy. We want to ensure a smooth transition which minimises the disruption to our trading relationships with other WTO members and tariff rate quotas are one of the issues that we are discussing with them. This is largely a technical process and we will continue to engage WTO members including Australia in an open, inclusive and transparent way. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} EU negotiators are already laying the groundwork to hit the UK with demands in the next stage of Brexit talks that are unacceptable to key figures in Theresa Mays Cabinet, The Independent can reveal. Leaked documents show chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier wants to make giving the UK a good transition deal conditional on Britains automatic acceptance of new Brussels regulations during the likely two-year period after March 2019. The plan, set out to EU leaders behind closed doors, would leave the UK with no say over rules it accepts during the transition and is likely to enrage Brexiteers in the Cabinet like Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Liam Fox, who are determined 2019 should be the last year Britain takes new rules from Brussels. The move shows that it is once again EU negotiators who are setting the terms of Brexit discussions, while Ms May is still struggling to meet their initial demands relating to the first withdrawal stage of the talks. On Friday, she met President of the European Council Donald Tusk in a bid to gain approval for her offer to pay a divorce bill which may now total 40bn, and give guarantees over the Irish border and citizens rights. The Prime Minister is desperate for EU leaders to approve her withdrawal offer at a December meeting of the European Council, and allow talks to move on to settling the transition, likely to be between 2019 and 2021, and future trade with her own political survival in part depending on it. But the documents handed to The Independent show the next stage of talks will be just as punishing and fraught with political danger for her Government. 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 papers consist of a presentation, drawn up by Mr Barnier for the EU27s representatives, in which he says any UK transition out of the EU must involve the automatic application in the UK of new EU rules post-30 March 2019. The chief negotiator is clear Britain would have no institutional rights, no presence in the institutions and no voting rights under his plan, meaning the UK would end up following rules made in the interests of the remaining member states and even incorporating them into British law with no control of how they are formed. Any potential conflict over the transition has yet to surface because the EU has said it will not discuss future arrangements on that or trade until the three withdrawal issues have made sufficient progress. But the leak shows the direction the bloc is taking behind the scenes and indicates probable obstacles to agreement in future rounds of talks. Mr Barnier said in September that any transition has to respect the regulatory and financial framework of the single market and that the UK would have to continue to follow EU rules, but the subject of new laws written during the transition has yet to be explicitly broached in public. Budget 2017: Philip Hammond puts aside 3bn for 'all Brexit outcomes' The European Commissions approach also raises extra questions for the Governments EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which would give the Government powers to copy current EU law into British law at the point of departure in March 2019, but then tweak it as it pleases. In her key speech in Florence, the Prime Minister said that a transition, or implementation period, would be governed by the existing structure of EU rules and regulations, with a Downing Street spokesperson telling The Independent more recently that the transition period is subject to negotiations. Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd have been pushing for a transition which mimics current conditions as closely as possible in order to reduce instability for business as they prepare for a new regulatory framework beyond 2021. But Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson indicated in a interview ahead of Conservative conference with The Sun that it would be a red line of his that the UK accept no new regulations during the transition. Boris Johnson has said the UK must not accept new EU rules during the transition (Reuters) He said: You heard the Prime Minister say very clearly in Florence that she envisages the transition period being run under existing arrangements that was the phrase she used, The existing rules. But while battle lines were being drawn for the second phase of talks, Ms May was still undertaking a diplomatic round last week aimed at settling the first phase. As well as Mr Tusk, she met German leader Angela Merkel, Danish premier Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Belgiums Charles Michel, and Lithuanias Saulius Skvernelis at a summit in Brussels. At a recent cabinet sub-committee meeting, Ms May is said to have won backing to offer the EU some 40bn to settle the UKs financial obligations. Meanwhile David Davis has hailed progress made on the issue of citizens rights. David Davis nearly trips after finishing Brexit speech However, the issue of handling Northern Irelands border emerged last week as a potential stumbling block after Dublin demanded stronger guarantees that there would be no land border on the island of Ireland. Questioned over the matter, a Downing Street spokesperson initially said it could be a matter for negotiations whether Northern Ireland remained in the EUs customs union after Brexit, but it later backed down and clarified that the UK would leave the union as one, on withdrawal. The issue of the Irish border is particularly difficult for the Prime Minister politically because the Northern Irish DUP is propping up Ms Mays majority in the House of Commons and has used its conference to make clear it will not accept the province remaining part of the customs union. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sadiq Khan will vow there is no corner of London where Labour cant win as he spearheads his partys efforts to win over long-standing Tory councils in the capital. Labour will target Tory crown jewels in their local election push, including Wandsworth, which has been held by the Conservatives since 1974, and Barnet once dubbed Easycouncil for adopting the no-frills approach of budget airlines by charging for non-essential services. In a speech to party activists, the London Mayor will promise to make Brexit a key part of the election strategy, in an effort to win over the citys pro-Remain voters who bucked the national trend in the EU referendum. Railing against pursuing a hard Brexit at any cost, he will also take aim at air quality, police cuts and affordable housing shortages as Labour seeks to capitalise on their general election gains for Mays local council vote. Mr Khan, who has previously spoken critically of Jeremy Corbyn, will say the party is going from "strength to strength". He will say: Labour in London is going from strength to strength. Under Jeremy Corbyns leadership, we achieved the best results in London since 2001 in this years general election. However, Londoners that desperately need Labour in power across London cannot afford for us to be complacent about the upcoming local elections. Thats why we must keep taking the fight to the Tories who are weaker and more divided than ever and I pledge to lead Labour members in that fight. He will add: There is now no corner of London where Labour cant win and with enough hard work we can challenge the Tories even in their Crown Jewels of Wandsworth and Barnet. As we have shown in City Hall, Labour in power can change lives for the better from freezing TfL fares to tackling air pollution. If Labour can win control of more councils, we can truly transform the lives of Londoners. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2022 Emma Woolf, great niece of British author Virginia Woolf, and her son Ludovic sit next to a new bronze statue of Woolf, unveiled in Richmond, London Reuters UK news in pictures 15 November 2022 Lesley Sutcliffe shelters from the rain next to a life-sized replica of the innermost coffin of King Tutankhamun by artist Amanda Stoner as it goes on display inside a traditional red telephone box which has been converted into a museum, in Barnsley, South Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 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 His speech comes as Labour continued efforts to keep the party on an election footing with campaign events across the country. Mr Corbyn was due to make a speech to party faithful highlighting figures that show average workers will earn 858 less per year by 2022 than expected as gloomy economic growth forecasts set out in the Budget hit pay packets. The Labour leader will accuse the Government of presiding over a completely broken economy which will leave many ordinary workers worse off than before the financial crisis. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has suggested that the 2017 general election result was a gift from God. In his speech to the DUP conference this afternoon, Mr Dodds said: If Im honest, I did not believe that in 2017 we were heading for a hung Parliament where the DUP would hold the balance of power, but looking back I dont think it was an accident how things turned out. On reflection, its hard to imagine how the results could have done more to maximise our influence. A party spokesperson said the words were indeed, An allusion to guidance from a higher power. Theresa Mays decision to hold an election in June 2017, and then lose her majority and strike a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party, at a time when the future of Ireland is of central importance to Brexit, has left the DUP with more influence over affairs both at home and in Westminster than ever before. Mr Dodds also ruled out suggestions that Northern Ireland could remain in the EUs customs union after Brexit, telling the party there will be no internal UK border in the Irish Sea. He said if the EU wanted to install custom checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the republic that was a matter for them. But how an entirely frictionless border could exist between the two countries after the UK leaves the customs union is far from clear. He told the party that Brexit is happening. who campaigned for Brexit in advance of last years referendum, despite the difficulties it might pose to the Good Friday Agreement and the open border with the South". Since the DUPs last conference, the Northern Irish Executive collapsed over the Renewable Heat Scandal, triggering an election in January, from which no new executive has yet been formed, and the DUP have struck a 1bn deal with Theresa Mays minority government in return for supporting it at Westminster. Mr Dodds called it a chance of a lifetime and the opportunity of a generation for unionism. The new UK Government chief whip Julian Smith will address the conference this afternoon. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Terrorists were carrying the Isis flag when they killed 305 people in an attack on a Sinai mosque, Egypts public prosecutors office has stated. The claim has yet to be independently verified, but it fits the assumptions of many commentators, given that North Sinai is facing an insurgency by jihadists who aligned with Isis in 2014 and now call themselves Sinai State. As of Saturday afternoon, no terrorist group has claimed responsibility for what was the deadliest attack by Islamist extremists in Egypts modern history. But the statement from the public prosecutors office spoke of between 25 and 30 gunmen in military-style uniforms carrying the flag of Isis as they attacked the al-Rawdah mosque in the village of Bir al-Abed. "They numbered between 25 and 30, carrying the Daesh [Isis] flag and took up positions in front of the mosque door and its 12 windows with automatic rifles," the statement said. The public prosecutors office said its claim was based on investigation and the testimony of survivors. Before the statement was issued, one expert told The Independent it was highly likely that Isis affiliates were behind the attack on the mosque, which practises Sufism, a form of Islam regarded as heretical by extremists. Mohannad Sabry, a Sinai expert and author of Sinai: Egypts Linchpin, Gazas Lifeline, Israels Nightmare, said: Almost every sign points toward Isis in Sinai. They have had a decades-old lethal animosity with the Sufi community in Sinai and have killed several of their most revered clerics over the past years. 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 Isis affiliate Sinai State claimed responsibility for the beheading of two Sufi sheikhs in December 2016, accusing them of apostasy and sorcery, and threatened that it would not allow the presence of Sufi orders in Sinai or Egypt. The group has also frequently destroyed Sufi shrines in North Sinai. Mr Sabry said the mosque attack suggests that the violence in Sinai is not decreasing and that Isis has not been significantly weakened by successive army campaigns. It casts major doubt on the claims of success and achievements spread so loudly by [Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis] regime and the Egyptian military, he said. This attack hit a geographic area that the military claims is under control, proving that Isis is still maintaining some of its capabilities to mobilise weapons, explosives and fighters despite years of war with one of the biggest and strongest military forces in the Middle East. Asked about progress in the fight against terrorism, one military source told The Independent the army was doing its best but added: The terrorists are hiding in between the civilians, thats the problem. Mr Sabry said the unique and unprecedented attack sent a loud message to the North Sinai community that even a Muslim house of worship, as long as it doesnt pledge allegiance to Isis, is a target. There was, Mr Sabry added, another reason for Isis to attack Sufis. The Sufi community in North Sinai has definitely succeeded in what billions of dollars and hundreds of lives spent by Egypts military could not achieve, he said. It powerfully kept thousands of youths away from joining the ranks of Isis and has continued to fight them on social, intellectual and most importantly religious levels. Theresa May spoke with Mr Sisi on Saturday and told him the UK "stands ready to help in any way possible following the massacre. Downing Street said the two leaders agreed that international co-operation was needed to tackle the problem of terrorism. A spokesman for Number 10 said: "The Prime Minister offered her personal condolences and the condolences of the British people for the barbaric attack that took place at al-Rawdah mosque in north Sinai yesterday." The attack was a "terrible example of the threat Egypt faces" and "they agreed that terrorism was an international problem and that it was important for countries to work closely together and share expertise to counter the growing threat of terrorism around the world". "They welcomed continued bilateral co-operation in this area." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Egypts air force has conducted air strikes against suspected terrorists after the countrys President vowed to respond with the utmost force against militants who killed 305 worshippers at a mosque in the Sinai village of Bir al-Abed. A military source told The Independent that the air strikes had destroyed vehicles linked to the attackers, who used machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades to mow down worshippers in the packed mosque during noon prayers on Friday. Egypts air force is following the trail of the terrorists and has destroyed two or three of their vehicles, the military source said. Other Egyptian military sources later reported that the air strikes had killed everyone inside the vehicles, although it has not yet been possible to independently verify this claim. It is understood that the air strikes took place in mountainous areas around Bir al-Abed the small village where the attack took place, 40km west of North Sinais main city al-Arish hours after the attack. At about the same time, Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gave a televised address to the nation in which he vowed: The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force. What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism, to destroy our efforts to stop the terrible criminal plan that aim to destroy what is left of our region. As the official death toll rose to 305 on Saturday morning, more details emerged of the attack, the deadliest by Islamist extremists in Egypts modern history. The attack began when five off-road vehicles carrying been 25 and 30 armed men arrived at the al-Rawdah mosque just as the noon sermon was about to start. The main cleric at the mosque, Sheikh Mohamed Abdel Fatah Zowraiq said at least a dozen attackers charged in, opening fire randomly. He said there were also explosions. Officials cited by the state news agency Mena said the attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades as well as machine guns, and shot people as they tried to run from the building. Witnesses speaking to Associated Press (AP) in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia where some of the wounded were taken, told how the attackers spent about 20 minutes killing and maiming worshippers. They spoke of worshippers jumping out of windows, of a stampede in a corridor leading to the bathrooms and of children screaming in horror. Some spoke of their narrow escape from certain death, others of families that lost all or most of their male members. Mansour, a 38-year-old worker in a nearby salt factory, told AP: Everyone lay down on the floor and kept their heads down. If you raised your head you get shot. The shooting was random and hysterical at the beginning and then became more deliberate: whoever they werent sure was dead or still breathing was shot dead. Mansour, who suffered two gunshot wounds in the legs, said that as children screamed in terror, the militants shouted Allahu Akbar or God is great. Panicked worshippers hid behind concrete columns or whatever shelter they could find. I knew I was injured, said Mansour, but I was in a situation that was much scarier than being wounded. I was only seconds away from a certain death. Mansour, who said he had settled in Bir al-Abed three years ago in the hope of escaping the violence elsewhere in northern Sinai, added that as the shooting continued, many of the worshippers recited their final prayers. Abdullah Abdel-Nasser, 14, who was attending prayers with his father, said that at one point, a militant shouted for children to leave. The teenager rushed out, despite being wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and a bullet. I saw many people on the floor, many dead, he said. I dont think anyone survived. Three police officers on the scene said the militants also used burning cars to block roads, effectively cutting off escape routes and impeding the progress of anyone trying to get into Bir al-Abed to stop the attack. Despite the attackers call for children to leave, 27 children are among the dead. Egypts chief prosecutor Nabil Sadeq said the total death toll currently stood at 305, with 126 people wounded. It is believed that many of the victims were workers at the salt factory who had come for Friday services at the mosque, which practises Sufism, a mystical form of Islam that extremist radicals regard as heretical. 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 Despite the military air strikes, at least one Bir al-Abed resident demanded to know why the Egyptian army had been unable to stop the terrorist attack while it was in progress. Mohammed Ali, who said 18 members of his extended family were killed in the attack, demanded: Where was the army? Its only a few kilometres away. This is the question we cannot answer. Responsibility for the attack has not yet been claimed by any group, but since 2011 North Sinai has been the site of an ongoing insurgency by jihadists, who since 2014 have been aligned with Isis. The group is responsible for near-weekly attacks on the army and police in Sinai, and claimed responsibility in 2015 for downing a plane leaving the Sharm El-Sheikh beach resort, killing all the mostly Russian tourists on board. Almost every sign points toward Isis in Sinai being behind Fridays mosque attack, Mohannad Sabry, a Sinai expert and author of Sinai: Egypts Linchpin, Gazas Lifeline, Israels Nightmare, told The Independent. They have had a decades-old lethal animosity with the Sufi community in Sinai and have killed several of their most revered clerics over the past years. The Isis branch in Sinai, which calls itself Sinai State, claimed responsibility for the beheading of two Sufi sheikhs in December 2016, accusing them of apostasy and sorcery, and threatened that it would not allow the presence of Sufi orders in Sinai or Egypt. The group has also frequently destroyed Sufi shrines in North Sinai. A Sinai resident who did not want to be named told The Independent that in general there has been a change in how locals perceive Sufis in recent years. Its not really sectarianism but more like us versus the other, which was not common among Bedouins. The military source who informed The Independent of the air strikes also believed Isis was behind the attack. They attack everyone; Christians, Muslims, the military, he said. He also suggested the attack could indicate a change of tactics, as this is the first such large-scale assault directly targeting civilians in the region. They did kill civilians, but not at this scale, he said. Mr Sabry said the unique and unprecedented attack sent a loud message to the North Sinai community that even a Muslim house of worship, as long as it doesnt pledge allegiance to Isis, is a target. There was, Mr Sabry added, another reason for Isis to attack Sufis. The Sufi community in North Sinai has definitely succeeded in what billions of dollars and hundreds of lives spent by Egypts military could not achieve, he said. It powerfully kept thousands of youths away from joining the ranks of Isis and has continued to fight them on social, intellectual and most importantly religious levels. Despite successive army campaigns and after years of unrest, the mosque attack served as a dark reminder that the violence in Sinai is not decreasing, and that Isis has not been weakened. Once again it casts major doubt on the claims of success and achievements spread so loudly by Sisis regime and the Egyptian military, Mr Sabry said. This attack hit a geographic area the military claims is under control, proving that Isis is still maintaining some of its capabilities to mobilise weapons, explosives and fighters despite years of war with one of the biggest and strongest military forces in the Middle East. Asked about progress in the fight against terrorism, the military source said the army was doing its best. The terrorists are hiding in between the civilians, thats the problem, he claimed. Mr Sisi announced three-days of mourning in response to the attack. Other countries offered their condolences to Egypt, with British Prime Minister Theresa May calling it an evil and cowardly act and the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, condemning the attack and saying Paris stood with its ally. US President Donald Trump denounced what he called a horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenceless worshippers in Egypt. The world cannot tolerate terrorism, he said on Twitter. We must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Survivors of the Egypt mosque terror attack have told how Islamist extremists went on a 20-minute killing spree shouting Allahu Akbar as children screamed in terror. They have told of worshippers jumping out of windows, and stampeding to escape terrorists who used machine guns and rocket propelled grenades to kill 305 victims in the deadliest attack by Islamist extremists in Egypt's modern history. One witness said the terrorists began by spraying bullets at random, but finished by methodically shooting anyone they thought was still alive. Recommended Egypt launches air strikes in response to mosque terror attack The attack began when five off-road vehicles carrying between 25 and 30 armed men in camouflage trousers and black T-shirts arrived as the noon sermon was about to start in the al-Rawdah mosque in the small North Sinai village of Bir al-Abed. Many of those inside were workers at a nearby salt factory, practising Sufi, a mystical form of Islam renowned for its peaceful nature but regarded as heretical by extremist radicals. The mosques main cleric, Sheikh Mohamed Abdel Fatah Zowraiq said at least a dozen attackers burst in, opening fire randomly. The cleric, who survived with just bruises and scratches, told the Associated Press (AP) there were also explosions. Officials cited by the state news agency MENA said the attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades as well as machine guns, and shot people as they tried to flee the building. "Everyone lay down on the floor and kept their heads down, Mansour, a 38-year-old salt factory worker, told AP. If you raised your head you get shot. He added: The shooting was random and hysterical at the beginning, and then became more deliberate: whoever they weren't sure was dead or still breathing was shot dead." 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 Mansour, who suffered two gunshot wounds in the legs, said that as children screamed in terror, the militants shouted Allahu Akbar, God is great. Panicked worshippers hid behind concrete columns or whatever shelter they could find as the attackers, some of them masked, others showing heavy beards and long hair, continued firing. "I knew I was injured, said Mansour, who is now receiving medical treatment in the city of Ismailia, But I was in a situation that was much scarier than being wounded. I was only seconds away from certain death. Mansour, who said he had settled in Bir al-Abed three years ago in the hope of escaping the violence elsewhere in northern Sinai, added that as the shooting continued, many of the worshippers recited their final prayers. Abdullah Abdel-Nasser, 14, who was in the mosque with his father, said that at one point a militant shouted for children to leave. The teenager rushed out, despite being wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and a bullet. "I saw many people on the floor, many dead, he said. I don't think anyone survived. Three police officers on the scene said the militants also used burning cars to block roads, effectively cutting off escape routes and impeding the progress of anyone trying to get into Bir al-Abed to stop the attack. Despite the attackers call for children to leave, 27 children are among the dead. Egypts chief prosecutor Nabil Sadeq said the total death toll currently stood at 305, with 126 people wounded. Some families that lost all or most of their male members. Revealing that 18 members of his extended family had been killed, Mohammed Ali demanded to know why the authorities had been unable to stop the attack while it was in progress. Where was the army? he said. It's only a few kilometers away. This is the question we cannot answer." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A tiny cat hair helped to identify the women behind a plot to kill Barack Obama, according to legal documents filed in a Texas court. Julia Poff stands accused of posting explosives to the then president, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Marylands Social Security Administrator Carolyn Colvin last October. While the packaged intended for Mr Obama was intercepted, Mr Abbott did open the one that was sent to him but it failed to explode. Recommended Ivanka Trump defends Malia Obama over smoking video Had it detonated, it could have caused severe burns and death, the indictment says. He only appeared to escaped because he did not open the package as intended. Poff allegedly said she didn't like Obama and she was upset with Governor Abbott because "she had not received support from her ex-husband," the indictment adds. She had applied for and not received social security benefits in Maryland. FBI investigators were able to track her down using an obliterated shipping label on the package sent to Mr Abbott, according to the documents, which were filed in a Houston court earlier this week. A cigarette packet bought near her home in the small city of Sealy, around 50 miles west of Houston, also helped them to zero in on her. But it was cat hair was found under the address label, of the package posted to Mr Obama which was microscopically consistent with the hair of one of Poffs cats, that helped them make the breakthrough. 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 When investigators searched her house they found fireworks in her garage, the indictment states. She was charged earlier this month on six counts for allegedly mailing the bombs in October 2016, including mailing injurious articles and transporting explosives with the intent to kill and injure and is currently being held at a Houston detention centre. She has also been charged with food stamp fraud and False Declaration in Bankruptcy. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A church in upmarket Malibu has decided to stop providing free meals for those in need after claiming they were told by officials they were attracting too many homeless people. The United Methodist Church, one of many churches that provides food and help, has been offering free meals twice a week. But it said it was going to stop after being told the meal service was luring too many homeless people. Dawn Randall, a member of the church, said it recently received an email from city officials. Very succinctly, they claimed we are increasing homelessness, she told CBS. Reports suggest that the California city of Malibu, famed for its gorgeous beaches and multi-million dollar homes, has a growing problem with homelessness, an issue that was met with both charity and taxpayer money. The Los Angeles Times said the city, which has a population of 13,000, has roughly 180 homeless residents, but no shelter or housing for poor people. Cooking your way out of homelessness The United Methodist Church and Standing on Stone, a Christian group, had been hosting twice-weekly homeless dinners on Wednesdays and Thursdays. But the newspaper said once the metro line to Santa Monica opened last year, a number of residents complained that mentally-ill and other homeless people were camping at the beach and entering schools. In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Show all 16 1 /16 In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Celebrities and 1,000 members of public attended the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Sadie Frost at the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Celebrities and 1,000 members of the public joined the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Seyi Obakin, the Chief Executive of Centrepoint, and Colin Salmon at the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Celebrities and 1,000 members of public attended the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Celebrities and 1,000 members of public attended the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Celebrities and 1,000 members of public attended the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Celebrities and 1,000 members of public attended the End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out in London's Greenwich Peninsula on 24 November Andy Barnes In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron gets ready to bed down as 1000 people get ready to sleep out for the annual Centrepoint Sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula Nigel Howard In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out The RAF prepare tasty food before a 100 people get ready to sleep out for the annual Centrepoint Sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula Nigel Howard In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Independent reporter Alex Dymoke gets ready to bed down as 1000 people get ready to sleep out for the annual Centrepoint Sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula Nigel Howard In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Anjali Patel, Remy Diamon-Ross and Hannah Kilminster join members of the RAF as they are given dinner Nigel Howard In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Bedding down for the night, sleepers get ready for lights out in one of several tents at the annual Centrepoint Sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula Nigel Howard In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Bedding down for the night, sleepers get ready for lights out in one of several tents at the annual Centrepoint Sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula Nigel Howard In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Bedding down for the night, sleepers get ready for lights out in one of several tents at the annual Centrepoint Sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula Nigel Howard In pictures: End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out Colin Salmon is 'photo bombed' before he gets ready to bed down as 1000 people get ready to sleep out for the annual Centrepoint Sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula Nigel Howard A homeless person was taking a shower in the girls locker room in middle school - that wasnt real good, Gary Peterson, a retired developer, told the newspaper. Providing dinner is a nice thing to do and a good thing, but its the location. At a public hearing this week, Malibu Mayor Skylar Peak denied making the order and apologised for any miscommunication. No they were never formally asked to stop feeding the homeless, said Mr Peak. Not at all. Neither the church or Mr Peak immediately responded to inquiries. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The NYPD has launched an investigation into claims a group of policemen tried to intimidate an 18-year-old woman to stop her bringing charges against two detectives who allegedly raped her. The woman claims nine policemen visited her and her mother at Maimonides Medical Centre in Brooklyn, New York, where she was being treated for the rape, and tried to discourage them from coming forward with the story, according to her attorney. Eddie Martins, 37, and Richard Hall, 32, are accused of raping the 18-year-old in the back seat of their police van while she was handcuffed after being arrested for possessing drugs on September 15. She has also accused them of forcing her to perform oral sex. 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 Hall and Martins admitted to having sex with the 18-year-old while on duty but dispute her claim that it was non-consensual, according to police sources. A lawyer for one of the accused policemen also said the womens claims of bullying were untrue. Mark Bederow, a lawyer for detective Eddie Martins said: She was interviewed by [the Internal Affairs Bureau] on the evening of September 16. That neither she nor her mother informed IAB that other officers were allegedly obstructing justice severely discredits this allegation. However, the young womans attorney, Michael David, said: We were just recently in an official meeting concerning the moms recollection of events that night. Thats when it came out. Thats when I heard it. And when I heard it come out of the moms mouth, I wasnt going to let it go. Earlier, the young woman said in a statement: Im completely brutalised by the rape. Now every time I see any police, Im in a panic. She says she was driving in the Coney Island area of New York with two friends, when they were pulled over by police on suspicion of possessing illegal substances. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US has strongly condemned Pakistan's release of the alleged militant accused of masterminding the 2008 attack on Mumbai - saying it sends a deeply troubling message about its commitment to fighting terrorism. Hafiz Saeed, accused of plotting the commando operation that left more than 160 people dead, was released from house arrest earlier this week by a three-judge panel in the city of Lahore. His spokesman, Yahya Mujahid, called it a victory of truth. But the White House denounced the move and said it could damage US-Pakistan relations. Pakistan protests: army called in after clashes with Islamist protesters Saeeds release, after Pakistans failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan's commitment to combatting international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil, said press secretary Sara Huckabee Sanders. If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistans global reputation. Mr Saeed, 68, has always denied being behind the multi-target attack on Mumbai that left close to 170 people dead. In 2010, he told The Independent: They make me out to be the biggest and most evil terrorist. Do I look like one to you? He has insisted that his organisation, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, is involved solely in charitable activities. Yet both India, the US and other countries, accuse Mr Saeed of being being the attack. They say that while Jamaat-ud-Dawa may indeed perform charitable activities, it is also a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan militant group which became notorious for strikes on Indian targets, including a 2001 attack on its parliament in Delhi. In December 2008, UN Secretary Council declared Jamaat-ud-Dawa a terrorist front group. In April 2012, the US announced a bounty of $10m on Mr Saeed. After the attack on the Indian commercial capital, Pakistan was put under intense pressure to detain and prosecute Mr Saeed. India and the US said there was sufficient evidence, though this was something prosecutors in Pakistan denied. 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 Instead, Mr Saeed has spent much of the last decade being placed under house arrest and then released. His situation under house arrest is not irksome; Mr Saeed has a large property in Lahore and is protected not only by his own armed guards but by armed police officers. While some in Pakistan may wish to see Mr Saeed placed on trial, there is widespread suspicion among Indian and US officials that he still retains close links to the countrys Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has been long blamed for sponsoring many of the cross-border attacks on Indian targets. After his latest release from house arrest, Mr Saeed attacked recently ousted prime minster Nawaz Sharif as a traitor for his efforts to seek peace with India. Nawaz Sharif asks why he was ousted? I tell him he was ousted, because he committed treason against Pakistan by developing friendship with [Narendra] Modi, killers of thousands of Muslims, Mr Saeed said, according to Reuters. The Trump administration has been intensifying pressure on Pakistan to fight extremists and drive them from hideouts in Pakistani territory. The campaign appeared to produce some success this year when Pakistani security forces assisted with the release of a Taliban-held US-Canadian family after five years in captivity. However, US officials cautioned that move needed to be followed by additional measures to prove the country's commitment. The White Houses comments came as police in Pakistan launched an operation to clear Islamist protesters from an intersection linking the Pakistani capital with the city of Rawalpindi, sparking other demonstrators across the country to take to the streets in solidarity. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ivanka Trump will not be accompanied by any senior State Department officials when she visits India because Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly does not wish to bolster the image of the Presidents eldest daughter on the world change. Ms Trump, 36, is due to travel to India next week to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in the southern city of Hyderabad. The theme of this years event is Women First, Prosperity for All. But while the high-profile annual event was previously attended by former Secretary of State John Kerry and Barack Obama, the State Department is not sending any senior officials to accompany Ms Trump. CNN said this was because Mr Tillerson did not want to bolster Ms Trumps position on the global stage. In recent months, both Ms Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, have taken a front seat in several international settings where Mr Tillerson believes, that as the USs top diplomat, he should represent the country They wont send someone senior because they dont want to bolster Ivanka. Its now another rift between the White House and State at a time when Rex Tillerson doesnt need any more problems with the President, a senior State Department official told the network. Rex doesn't like the fact that hes supposed to be our nations top diplomat, and Jared and now Ivanka have stepped all over Rex Tillerson for a long time. So now, hes not sending senior people from the State Department to support this issue. Hes not supporting Ivanka Trump. Ivanka Trump 'greeted with half empty-room' while giving Tokyo speech on women's empowerment Mr Tillerson, a former top executive with Exxon Mobil, has had a controversial time since he became Secretary of State, paring down the department, failing to fill scores of senior posts and watching the departure of many senior career diplomats. He has also had a difficult relationship with Mr Trump. Earlier this summer, Mr Tillerson was forced to hold a press briefing to deny reports she had been planning to resign and had only stayed in his position after the intervention of Vice President Mike Pence. In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home Show all 13 1 /13 In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The front of the house Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The lobby Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The house exterior Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The patio Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The bedroom Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living area Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The Living Room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The kitchen Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The bathroom Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The living room Zillow In pictures: Ivanka Trump's Washington DC home The hall Zillow I have never considered leaving this post, he said. He declined, however, to deny reports that he referred to Mr Trump as a f***ing moron. He said: Im not going to deal with petty stuff like that. At around the same time, Ms Trump startled international observers when she sat in for her father at several sessions with world leaders at the G20 summit in Hamburg. She was invited to visit India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, Mr Kushner, who also has an office in the West Wing, has been handed a vast portfolio that includes improving US-China relations and securing a peace deal in the Middle East. Neither the State Department of White House immediately responded to inquiries. However, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told CNN: The Department is committed to supporting womens economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, and the summit is a prime opportunity to showcase the importance of these themes. The summit in Hyderabad faces controversy for another reason: it was to be attended by Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, but she pulled out amid growing protests over her participation in the film Padmavati. The film, set in the 14th century, depicts the life of queen Padmini. It has been criticised by right-wing groups that it misrepresents history by showing a love scene between the queen and a Muslim invader, which the director has denied. A member of Mr Modis ruling, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Suraj Pal Amu, offered a bounty of $1.5m for anyone who beheaded Ms Padukone. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Former US Attorney Preet Bharara has said cooperating with special counsel Robert Muellers investigation may be the only sane and rational move for ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Mr Flynn has become part a central part of Mr Muellers probe into whether Trump campaign advisers colluded with the Russian government to influence the 2016 election. That investigation also reportedly involves a probe into whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice when he allegedly asked ex-FBI director James Comey to drop an inquiry into Mr Flynn. Recommended Michael Flynn reportedly cuts ties with Trump This week it was said that lawyers for Mr Flynn have stopped sharing information with Mr Trumps lawyers about the investigation - the clearest indication to date that Mr Flynn is cooperating with Mr Mueller, according to the New York Times. A lawyer for Mr Flynn did not immediately respond to The Independent's request for comment. Lawyers for both Mr Flynn and Mr Trump declined to comment to the Times. In a tweet, Mr Bharara - who was dismissed by Mr Trump earlier this year - suggested that helping with the investigation may be Mr Flynns only chance to save himself and his son, Michael Flynn Jr, following reports that prosecutors have enough evidence to charge them both. 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 Mr Flynns son also worked on the Trump campaign. If you're dead to rights, flipping on others and cooperating with the prosecution is the only sane and rational move, Mr Bharara said. Also, prosecutors accept cooperation only if you can provide substantial assistance. Higher up in the food chain. Stay tuned Mr Flynn joined the campaign as an adviser in January 2016. He was selected to be Mr Trump's national security adviser during the transition, but resigned in February after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with a Russian official. At least one former Trump team member has already agreed to cooperate with Mr Mueller. George Papadopoulos, a low-level campaign staffer, recently pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a professor with Russia ties. Court documents revealed in Mr Papadopoulos indictment showed the professor had promised the campaign staffer dirt on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Bangladesh have arrested a suspected Islamist militant over the hacking death of a US blogger whose writings on religion angered hardliners. Deputy police commissioner Masudur Rahman said the man, who was named as 24-year-old Arafat Rahman, was being held in connection with the 2015 machete attack on Avijit Roy and his wife. Mr Roy was fatally injured and his wife seriously hurt, on their way home from a book fair in Dhaka. Police said they believed the suspect was a member of the Al-Qaeda-inspired group, Ansarullah Bangla Team. The organisation has been blamed for numerous attacks, including a July 2016 assault on a restaurant in the citys diplomatic quarter that left 22 people dead, most of them foreigners. Reuters said police revealed they had arrested the suspect after analysing CCTV footage. They said he was detained by officers of the counterterrorism police unit on the outskirts of the capital on Friday night. In the primary interrogation, he confessed his involvement in the killing of four other secular activists, said Mr Rahman, the senior police officer. The killing of Mr Roy, an atheist US citizen of Bangladeshi origin, sent shockwaves across the country and underscored the threat of Islamist extremists in the Muslim-majority nation of 160 million people. Bangladesh cafe attack suspect killed in police raid It was one of a series of deadly attacks targeting bloggers, foreigners and religious minorities. The news agency said police believe the Ansarullah Bangla Team militant group is behind the murders of more than a dozen secular bloggers and LGBTQ-rights activists. They believe a sacked army major, who is still at large, was the leader of the group and masterminded the killings. In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Bangladesh attacks In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Hindu ashram worker Nityaranjan Pande, 62, was hacked to death in Pabna on 10 June 2016 AP In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Hindu priest Anando Gopal Ganguly, left, was murdered in Jhenidah in Bangladesh on 7 June 2016 EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, wife of the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, was murdered in Chittagong, Bangladesh on 5 June 2016 EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh Students Union arranged a torch procession in protest over recent murders of free thinkers in Dhaka NurPhoto In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Murdered gay rights activist Xulhaz Mannan, who was editor at Bangladeshs only LGBT magazine Rex In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks A Bangladeshi policeman stands guard at the site of the murder of a law student, hacked to death by four assailants the night before, in Dhaka on April 7, 2016 AFP/Getty In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks People have protested against the murders around the world, seen here in Kolkata AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks A relative of dead Bangladeshi blogger Washiqur Rahman reacts after seeing his body at Dhaka Medical College in Dhaka on March 30 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks People gather on the spot where Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy was killed in a street in Dhaka (EPA) EPA In pictures: Bangladesh attacks Bangladesh attacks Bangladeshi social activists shout slogans during a protest against the killing Avijit Roy in Dhaka on February 27, 2015 AFP/Getty Images Al-Qaeda and Isis have also claimed responsibility for a series of killings over the past few years, including that of Mr Roy, whose killing was marked by protests by hundreds of people who took to the streets to mourn his death. At the time of his murder, his family said he had received threats following the publication of articles promoting secular views, science and social issues on his Bengali-language blog, Mukto-mona, or Free Mind. He defended atheism in a Facebook post, calling it a rational concept to oppose any unscientific and irrational belief. The government has denied the presence of foreign extremist groups, choosing to blame domestic militants instead. But security experts say the scale and sophistication of the 2016 cafe attack suggested links to a wider network. Police and army commandos have killed more than 60 suspected militants and arrested hundreds since that incident. This was the second arrest in a week relating to the killing of Mr Roy. Previously officers detained a suspected militant identified as 25-year-old Mojammel Hossain. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A British man allegedly tortured in jail by Indian police remains in custody in India. Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, has reportedly appeared at a duty magistrates court in Ludhiana. Supporters say the 30-year-old has been remanded in custody for an additional four days. The Sikh Federation UK say no official charges have been brought against Mr Johal, but local media reported his arrest was linked to the killing of Hindu leaders in Punjab. The federation briefed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn about Mr Johal's case earlier this week as he made his way to a rally in Birmingham. A spokesman for the Sikh Federation said: "He expressed his disquiet with the method of abduction, the lack of access to lawyers, British consular staff and family for the first 10 days, Jagtar's allegations of third degree torture, the fact he remains in police custody rather than judicial custody and the refusal to grant an independent medical examination." Mr Corbyn promised to discuss the matter with Preet Kaur Gill, the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs and Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston and to try and meet Mr Johal's family and campaigners early next week. Three members of the British High Commission, including Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Ayre attended Mr Johal's court hearing on Friday. His lawyer said he "pleaded his innocence" and stated he was unrelated to any of the crimes he is being linked with. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty He also said: "The court gave the British High Commission team a copy of the directions issued to the police to arrange for a meeting between the High Commission delegation and Jagtar Singh in a separate room for privacy. "The copy of the order was also given to Assistant Commissioner of Police Maninder Singh Bedi." Mr Johal was taken into custody by Ludhiana police after the hearing. Foreign Minster, Mark Field is expected to meet Mr Johal's brother as well as West Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes and Sikh representatives next week. A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Our consular staff in New Delhi have visited a British man who has been detained in Punjab. We have met his family to update them, and have confirmed that he now has access to his lawyer." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A teacher was arrested after staff at the nursery where she works were accused of giving drugs to children when their parents found what they said were needle marks on their bodies. Police detained the 22-year-old woman only giving her surname, Liu as part of their investigation into the allegations at RYB Education based in an upmarket area of Beijing, China. The probe came after families claimed children as young as three were also given pills and sexually abused. The business is part of a chain of playschools listed on Wall Street. The purported mistreatment of at least eight children at the nursery went public when parents shared images online of marks on their childrens skin which they said were caused by needles. Several parents who gathered outside the playschool in the Chaoyang district in protest spoke out over the claims that youngsters had been drugged there. Disobedient students were also forced to stand naked or were locked up in a dark room at the kindergarten, one parent told local news site Caixin. Police said in a post online that they had arrested the 22-year-old teacher, who they said is from the Hebei province next to Beijing, as part of their investigation. They said in a separate post that they had also arrested a 31-year-old woman on Thursday for disrupting social order by spreading false information about the alleged kindergarten abuse. It came after the playschool had reportedly suspended three teachers over the allegations. Officials at RYB Education said they were co-operating with the police investigation. 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 If any wrongdoing is found, we will not shake off the responsibility, it said in a statement reported by the BBC. And we have also reported to the police some false accusations against us. RYB runs 80 kindergartens and has franchised another 175, covering 130 cities and towns in China, its website shows. Its New York-listed shares plunged 38.4 per cent on Friday. Additional reporting by Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A fire at a luxury hotel in Georgia has killed 11 people and injured 21, officials have said. Contestants in the Miss Georgia beauty pageant were having dinner at the Leogrand Hotel in the Black Sea resort city of Batumi when the fire broke out, Russia's TASS news agency quoted the Georgian Interior Ministry as saying. The 20 participants fled the building using a fire escape ladder and all were unharmed, the news agency reported. At least 100 other guests and employees also escaped. The Leogrand hotel in Batumi The dead have not yet been identified, but an interior ministry statement said one Iranian and 10 Georgians were killed in the fire. Earlier, officials said 12 people were dead. Among the 21 injured was one Israeli and 12 Turkish nationals. All the wounded taken to hospital were in a stable condition, the ministry said. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear and the Georgian Prime Minister Georgi Kvirikashvili said in a Facebook post an investigation had opened into the incident. He added that "all those who are guilty of this tragedy" would be punished. The Prime Minister had been returning to the capital Tbilisi after an EU summit in Brussels when he heard of the fire and diverted his flight to Batumi, about 360km from the capital. In a later statement the Prime Minister declared a national day of mourning on Monday and said flags across Georgia would be lowered. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty He offered his condolences to the families of the victims and praised the emergency services. "Firefighters were able to save more than one hundred lives in a very difficult situation. Thanks to each of them for their dedicated service," he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A 200kg tiger escaped from the circus in Paris and roamed the streets of the French capital before it was shot and killed by its owner. The big cat was on the loose about a mile from the Eiffel Tower for some time, but the creature did not hurt anyone as it moseyed around the city. Local media reported that it managed to wander into a train station, forcing staff into and emergency evacuation. Trams were also suspended in the area, as witnesses said they saw police going down the tracks. A member of staff from the Bormann Moreno circus neutralised the animal with a shotgun and police took to Twitter to inform people that all danger was over. Images of the dead creature quickly circulated across social media with many users upset that it had been killed. "It was a very big tiger," a witness called Ralph told Le Parisien newspaper. "We heard two or three shots and saw police going down towards the tracks." 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 It was unclear how the creature escaped from the circus but police had reportedly taken its owner into custody for questioning. There is no ban on circus animals in France. It the UK they are protected by the Animal Welfare Act. In England wild animals must be licensed but there is no law to stop circuses using certain types of animals. In Wales, there is no licensing requirement. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Afghan airstrike killed a Taliban commander and five of his family members in the northeastern Kapisa province, an official in the country said. The strike was launched in Nijrab district, killing Taliban commander Dilawar Khan, as well as two women and three children from his family, said Qais Qaderi, a spokesman for the province's governor. He said authorities were also searching for Khan's brother who apparently escaped during the strike. He also said that Khan was firing shots at Afghan helicopters from his home before the airstrike. Elsewhere, security forces in the Wardak province launched an operation to clear the Jalreiz district of Taliban, killing 24 Taliban, according to Abdul Rahman Mangal, a spokesman for the province's governor. He added that two Afghan security forces were killed in the operation and six others wounded. AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The army has been called in by the Pakistani government to restore order following violent protests by Islamist groups which have left at least six people dead and around 200 injured. The countrys Ministry of Interior authorised the military deployment as clashes between protesters and police spread from the capital Islamabad to other cities, with hundreds of police officers in riot gear firing tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds. Early on Saturday, after a midnight deadline expired, police launched an operation to clear protesters from an intersection linking Islamabad with the garrison city of Rawalpindi, prompting other demonstrators to take to the streets in solidarity, bringing several major cities to a virtual standstill. A medical professional, Dr Masood Safdar, said five citizens were brought into the Banazir Bhutto hospital already dead from bullet wounds, and Dr Tariq Niazi of the Holy Family Hospital confirmed the death of a young man shot in the head during the violence at Faizabad intersection and the surrounding area. The Pakistani capital has been paralysed for weeks by those supporting firebrand Muslim cleric Khadim Hussain, who leads new hardline party, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah. The Islamist extremists have accused the countrys law minister of blasphemy against Islam and demanded his dismissal and arrest after he omitted a reference to the Prophet Mohammed in a parliamentary bill. The minister, Zahid Hamid, apologised for the omission and said it was simply a clerical error which he later corrected. The clashes came after a court ordered an end to the sit-in protest because it was disrupting daily life in and around Islamabad. The police operation and reaction from protesters, who had camped out for the last 20 days, sent scores to hospital with wounds caused by stoning and respiratory problems from tear gas. Hospital officials said almost 200 people were hurt the majority of them police officers. At least 150 people are believed to have been arrested. All television broadcasting has reportedly been suspended and social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are understood to have been blocked by the government. Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Show all 11 1 /11 Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Police clash with protesters in Pakistan A Pakistani police officer aims his gun towards the protesters AP Police clash with protesters in Pakistan A protester throws a tear gas shell back towards police AFP/Getty Images Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Pakistani riot police face off with protesters AFP/Getty Images Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Pakistani police officers carry an injured protester AP Police clash with protesters in Pakistan A policeman walks with armoured personnel carriers REUTERS Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Protesters burn Police vehicles EPA Police clash with protesters in Pakistan A protester gestures after blocking the main road leading to the airport REUTERS Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Pakistani security officials clash with supporters EPA Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Supporters of religious groups burn tires at a rally to express solidarity with protesters AP Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Protesers burn a police vehicle EPA Police clash with protesters in Pakistan Police fire tear gas REUTERS The countrys military chief general Qamar Javed Bajwa telephoned Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to call for the peaceful handling of the protest, according to a tweet by military spokesperson major general Asif Ghafoor. Senior police officer Ismatullah Junejo said police were swiftly clearing a venue of around 300 protesters who ignored the final warning to disperse. He said none of the police carried firearms to avoid loss of life, instead using tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the protesters, although witnesses said a police van came under attack and was set on fire after two police officers aimed assault rifles at protesters. We are in our thousands. We will not leave. We will fight until end, Tehreek-e-Labaik party spokesperson Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters by telephone from the scene. Tehreek-e-Labaik is one of two new ultra-religious political movements that have risen up in recent months ahead of the countrys elections due to be held before next summer. Recommended Pakistan sentences three Ahmadi men to death for blasphemy Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the protests were part of a conspiracy to weaken the government, which is still run by the party of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif removed by the supreme court in July over financial irregularities. There are attempts to create a chaos in the country, Mr Iqbal said on state-run Pakistan TV. I have to say with regret that a political party that is giving its message to people, based on a very sacred belief is being used in the conspiracy that is aimed at spreading anarchy in the country, Mr Iqbal added. In response to the escalating situation, opposition leader Imran Khan called for early elections, saying the incompetent and dithering administration had allowed a complete breakdown of governance. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When I was a magistrate I saw first-hand the devastating effects of violence against women. Along with the physical and emotional impact, violence and abuse can have a long term affect not just on the women involved but also their children, families, and our communities. In the UK, on average, two women are killed by their current or a former partner every week. An estimated 1.3 million women in Britain have experienced domestic abuse in the last year alone, while around one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. These are staggering statistics. But given that violence against women so often goes unreported, many fear that the reality is much worse. Today is United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a day to raise awareness about gender-based violence across the world, and send a message loud and clear that enough is enough. 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 No woman or girl deserves to live a life of fear. Yet violence against women is one of the most prevalent, persistent human rights violations in our world today. Global statistics show that 119 women are killed every day by a partner or family member. Serious action needs to be taken at home and abroad. Prevention is possible if we tackle the deep-rooted structures and social norms that lead to gender-based violence and abuse. In wake of recent sexual harassment allegations, MPs have woken up to the widespread misogyny and abuse of power within the walls of Westminster. But this injustice does not just pervade Hollywood or the corridors of power it exists throughout our society, in schools and universities, in businesses and workplaces, in our newspapers and on TV screens. It must be rooted out. We need a culture change and it must start with education. We must teach our children and young people to treat each other with dignity and respect, and to recognise unacceptable behaviour. Labour has long called for compulsory education on sex, relationships and consent in schools and we are glad this year the Government changed its position and helped make this law. But current guidance for schools is outdated and doesnt go far enough to embed these core principles in our education system. The guidance must be updated and rolled out across the country as a matter of urgency. Prevention efforts must be matched by our commitment to bring perpetrators to justice. To achieve this goal, our criminal justice system must be fit for purpose. Effective measures must be put in place to increase reporting, police referrals, prosecution and convictions. The Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill has not yet come to Parliament. When it does, Labour will seek to include effective measures that strengthen womens recourse to justice. Life After Sexual Violence: A new series from the Independent I strongly believe that those affected by violence against women should be at the heart of efforts to combat it. Women who have been affected need the right protection and the right support at the right time. It is frankly unacceptable that specialist womens refuges are facing closure and that on a typical day 155 women are turned away due of lack of space. Womens refuges are a lifeline, access to which no woman should be denied. But the Governments proposed supported housing funding reforms threaten the very existence of womens refuges. I urge the Government to change course and develop a sustainable form of funding for womens refuge services, to ensure that no more women and children are put at risk. We owe it to women and girls to get this right. I am proud of the positive steps Britain has helped achieve in tackling gender-based violence abroad. But we need greater progress here at home. The next Labour government will make it a priority. Today, we demand a world where there is no more violence against women and girls, where we can all live freely and without fear. Lets come together to build it. Dawn Butler MP is Labour's Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Sinai mosque massacre proves what many have suspected for months in Egypt: that Isis even without a direct claim yet is taking over the peninsula, targeting more and more of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis officers and police. Thus proving that tactical defeat in Iraq and Syria means for Isis merely a change of location. The fall of Sinai perhaps even stretching down to Sharm e-Sheikh the supposedly safe tourist resort would only further undermine al-Sisis brash claims after his coup that he would end terrorism in Egypt. This supposed battle has led to the jailing of Egyptian 60,000 political prisoners allegedly terrorists but many of them young men sickened by al-Sisis virtual dictatorship and an undetermined number of murders and disappearances. But the world, as usual, turned yesterday to the sending of condolences to the innocent victims of al-Sissis enemies. Inevitably, the victims of the regime were forgotten while the evil and cowardly mass murder of at least 235 worshippers at the al-Rawda mosque near al-Arish was condemned by Nato, Theresa May and a host of other Western leaders. At al-Sisis emergency cabinet meeting afterwards and there are more and more of these emergency government gatherings in Cairo these days there will have been questions asked about how the killers, with both bombs and gunfire, managed to slaughter so many civilians, quite a number of them friendly to the security forces. Does this have the potential to be an inside job? The question has to be asked since the last incidents of killings in Sinai, officially leaving more than 30 dead (although the figure might be far higher), included an ambush of more than 10 senior generals in the police and army who were themselves supposed to be ambushing Isis. That is perhaps the most serious element in the current Sinai insurgency, which has taken the lives of thousands of others, including members of the Christian minority and soldiers and police. For well over a year, the Egyptian army have been using air strikes against the insurgents a pattern that grimly follows the start of the Syrian civil war. More than two years ago, al-Sisi sent his security men to discuss with the Syrians government how to deal with their opponents. Who knows when the Syrian authorities will be invited to send their own officers to advise the Egyptians? 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 For the West, of course, the increase in widespread Isis-linked action in Sinai tarnishes all those claims from Iran as well as from the Americans and British that the cult has been vanquished. Egypt is evidently the next target. Since the church attacks in Cairo and Alexandria and other cities west of the Nile, it is clear that Isis has already crossed the river. You are not safe in Sinai but neither are you safe in Cairo. Needless to say, Egypt will now have an even easier time in receiving military support from the West al-Sisis military shopping expedition to France earlier this month will undoubtedly be repeated. And increased weaponry will make the Egyptian military stronger; thus the al-Sisi government will feel even bolder in arresting or torturing its political opponents. Isis must also surely know that al-Sisi is increasingly unpopular in Egypt: his promises of economic recovery after a period of austerity have so far proved false. And elections, as they say, are looming. The one thing that the Egyptian authorities have on their side is that the media have been virtually sealed off from covering the Sinai war. Thus the casualties which may be far higher than claimed have gone largely unreported or dismissed as falsifications by the military. The Sinai massacre was the bloodiest of the present Islamist war against the government in Cairo. It will not be the last. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} While Twitter went into a frenzy over a suspected terrorist attack in Oxford Circus yesterday (which amounted to nothing more than Chinese Whispers gone awry), around 305 innocent Muslims were killed in an actual terrorist attack in Egypt. The global responses to the separate incidents highlighted just how imbalanced our attitudes towards terrorism actually are. Within the space of minutes, there were thousands of tweets about Oxford Circus. The Daily Mail was quick to lick its lips amid the pandemonium, citing a 10-day-old tweet to brew rumours about a lorry attack (the article has now been removed from its site). Even though nothing actually happened, the panic that ensued was instrumentalised by far-right bigots to stir up xenophobia Katie Hopkins, for instance, tweeted: The truth of our frightened country is all the texts from children reassuring their moms and the deplorable Tommy Robinson, without any evidence to suggest Islamic extremism, tweeted: How long until we find out that todays attack in Oxford Circus was by a Muslim who was again known to our security services. While hundreds of actual innocent lives were taken at the hands of terror in Egypt, figures from the British right seemed almost keen for Oxford Circus to be an Islamist attack. 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 As an Iraqi-Egyptian living in Britain, I find the paradox not only rage-inducing, but unbearable. Ive witnessed how the West has been so conditioned to fear Muslims that were all blind to the fact that what we really need to worry about is our culture of fear instead. It has established a dangerous social cycle where the imminent threat of Islam means a potential tweet or sighting is suddenly proof of a jihadi siege in the West. Even though the United Kingdom has been victim to horrific acts of terror in recent years, including the London Bridge, Manchester Arena, Westminster and Finsbury Park attacks, lets not forget that it is Muslims and Arabs in the Middle East, as evinced by yesterdays massacre in Egypt, that suffer the most at the hands of extremism. Muslims and Arabs all over the world fear terrorism just as much as everybody else yet when fears of Western insecurity are invoked, Muslims continue to bear the brunt of hate. Our fear is unacknowledged, and the far right instrumentalise global panic to invoke yet more Islamophobia. Even more appalling, the attack in Egypt was capitalised on to propagate more hate and division Donald Trump used the attack to yet again argue for his wall, tweeting: We have to get TOUGHER and SMARTER than ever before, and we will. Need the WALL, need the BAN. So even though over 300 innocent Muslims lost their lives, Trump somehow made it about himself and his exclusionary policies. Egypt mosque attack: Locator map While most reasonable people know that Trump is the worst kind of leader there is, lets not forget that millions around the world are persuaded by his hate campaign against Muslims, and they too will see the attack in Egypt as yet more justification for all social, political, and cultural Islamophobia and segregation. Im devastated that while Muslim Egyptian comrades suffered at the hands of terrorism, the world uses it as fodder for their hate campaigns. As the Oxford Circus panic revealed, we have become so conditioned by fear that many will take anything and everything to justify their beliefs. And lets not forget that this growing divide, exasperated by far-right supremacy, only adds fuel to the agenda of Islamic extremism. There is so much that is magical and peaceful about Islam that goes unnoticed, and the world has an obligation to open its eyes to it. Yesterdays Egyptian victims, for instance, were followers of Sufism. Sufi Muslims engage in a more mystical sect of Islam, where each and every Muslim has a deeply personal and spiritual relationship with Allah, who celebrates the utter individuality and uniqueness of every person. Sometimes, Sufis connect with Allah through dancing in skirts to incur a spiritual dialogue. Its beautiful and empowering. If yesterday showed us anything, it is that we need to shift our compass from fear to sympathy and from hate to understanding. What we need right now are reasons to come together, and so I hope we can all spend some time this week properly grieving the tragic lives lost in Egypt for that is where our collective attention should be. The South Kingstown School Committee announced this week that it is reviewing a proposed memorandum of agreement that spells out the purpose and function of having police officers in its schools. The agreement sets clearly-defined roles about addressing student conduct and says school administrators would be responsible for enforcing the code of conduct and responding to routine disciplinary violations while resource officers would not serve as school disciplinarians or to enforce school regulations but, rather, would be on site to investigate and respond to potential criminal offenses and intervene in situations in order to maintain safety. Do you believe that having dedicated police officers inside locals schools makes students safer? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday night returned from Brussels to Athens , where a hellish weekend awaited him. On Monday in parliament he will face major battle which he himself provoked, so as to provide cover for his coalition partner, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos. But the drums have already begun to beat in Syriza Regional chain and high volume jewelry retailers will meet with pre-qualified international gold jewelry vendors, with a focus on Turkish, French, Peruvian and Italian suppliers in order to fulfill competitive, trend right, and classic gold jewelry product development. The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Friday, revealed that it has sealed 339 illegal pharmaceutical premises in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Speaking while briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Elijah Mohammed, disclosed that the council has sealed 339 illegal pharmaceutical premises in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mohammmed who said the efforts of the councils enforcement team is to curb activities of illegal pharmaceutical outfits in the country, added that the enforcement exercise was carried out by the team on Nov. 20 to Nov. 23. He said further that out of the 496 premises visited in the metropolis during the enforcement exercise, 20 pharmacies, 290 illegal medicine shops and 29 patent medicine stores were sealed for offences ranging from operating without registering with the council and failure to renew licences. According to The Nation, he noted that other offences committed by some of the owners of those premises included dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage and sanitary conditions. Mohammed said areas visited included Kuje, Kubwa, Mpape, Gwarinpa, Idu, Karimo, Gwagwalada, Jiwa, Deidei, Kagini, Zuba, Tunga Maje, Bwari, Ushafa, Abaji, Durumi, Kabusa, Lugbe and Paduma. The registrar, who decried the unwholesome practices of some drug dealers thereby inflicting injuries on patients, said the council decided to step up enforcement activities across the country to curb their excesses. He emphasised that most of the facilities had no appropriate storage facilities, leading to deterioration of medicines which made them unsuitable for human consumption. He said the enforcement exercise is line with National Drug Distribution Guidelines aimed at ensuring that medicines remain safe, effective and of good quality as they transit from one level of distribution chain to another until they get to the patients and other end users. One of the weaknesses in the distribution chain is proliferation of illegal medicine stores and these facilities do not have appropriate storage facilities, leading to deterioration of medicines, thus making them unsuitable for human consumption. These illegal outlets do not have trained personnel to handle the medicines in their premises. This has contributed immensely to irrational dispensing of medicines, resulting in treatment failures and negative effects on patients and other unsuspecting members of the public who patronise them. Also, the activities of these illegal outlets tend to encourage abuse and misuse of controlled medicines, with attendant negative social and security implications. The registrar, however, said some owners of the sealed premises had expressed willingness to fulfill conditions for registration by upgrading their storage facilities. He added that some others had also pledged to employ pharmacists that would supervise the dispensing of ethical products. A professor of Law at the University of Lagos, Ayodele Atsenuwa, has said that most of the funds allegedly stolen under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan were money recovered from late Nigerias dictator, Sani Abacha. Speaking Friday in Abuja at a conference on Tracking Noxious Funds organised by the MacArthur Foundation and Kent Law School, Mrs. Atsenuwa advocated a more transparent way in handling loots recovered from corrupt Nigerians. From what we are seeing now, adequate steps need to be taken to address the issue of top government officials re-looting recovered loots, she said. The senate ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the controversial reinstatement of former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdul-Rasheed Maina, had on Thursday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of allegedly sharing 222 houses recovered by the pension reform team headed by Mr. Maina. Mrs. Atsenuwa added that Nigerian law is against the whistle blower policy initiated by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The Nigerian law is against paying someone who blows whistle, she said. Speaking earlier at the opening ceremony of the conference on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Bolaji Owasanoye, said as at October 2017, over 5000 whistles had been blown since the introduction of the whistle blower initiative in the country. Speaking on a topic: Law and Practice of the Whistle Blower Policy of Nigeria; Scope of Citizens Participation, he said citizens have the responsibility to ensure that governments act rightly. Mr. Owasanoye said the whistle blower initiative was also designed to improve government revenues, adding that officials of the government agencies involved in the implementation of the policy would not benefit from the reward for the whistle blowers to encourage the citizens. Also at the event, acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, expressed hope that the conference would come up with more ideas that would aid the fight against corruption. Also speaking at the opening ceremony, human rights activist, Femi Falana, said failure on the part of government to arrest the former Director-General of State Security Service, Ita Ekpeyong, and a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, who had refused to report for questioning over corruption allegations, would send a wrong signal. Mr. Falana said the two ex-government officials could be prosecuted for resisting arrest after the anti-graft body had obtained a warrant of arrest, citing the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which barred any move to frustrate the rule of law. The SSS last week prevented the EFCC from arresting Mr. Ekpeyong, and the NIA also protected Mr. Oke. While Mr. Ekpenyong was invited by the EFCC about two weeks ago in respect of an investigation into the procurement of arms and equipment by the agency he once headed, Mr. Oke was invited for questioning in connection to the $43.4 million found in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos. The EFCC and the SSS have been at loggerheads on various fronts since the inception of the Buhari administration. The All Progressives Congress, APC, said the appointment of new Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, had helped to address acrimony in government. The party made this known in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abudullahi, on Friday in Abuja. Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen a right man for the job; the era of acrimony that has slowed us down in the past is gone, the party said. It commended the SGF, Boss Mustapha, for his visit to its National Working Committee (NWC) members, adding that his earlier visit to the National Assembly had a positive impact. This, the party noted, had reflected in the way the national assembly had been handling some outstanding issues since after the visit. According to it, the SGF`s visit to the national assembly signified a new era in the relationship between the government and the party, and with other arms of government. It, therefore, urged Mr. Mustapha to extend the interface to other government bodies. Mr. Mustapha was appointed as the new SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 30. He replaced Babachair Lawal, who was sacked following allegation of fraud and abuse of office against him. Source : (NAN) The notorious Brazilian jail, Talavera Bruce, known for fights and riots, which is also the only maximum security womens jail in Rio de Janeiro, has held its annual beauty contest for the most dangerous female criminals. On Wednesday, ten inmates swapped their prison uniforms for high heels and glamorous gowns including having their hair and make-up done to take part in the beauty pageant which is allowed once a year. According to the organizers, the competition was organized to improve their self-esteem and they were all judged on their beauty, appeal and attitude. The competition was attended by the prisons other 440 inmates, including children, and relatives of the contestants, who were allowed into the premises. One of the female inmates, Rossana Goncalves and four of her five children reduced to tears as they reunite on the sidelines during her jails annual beauty contest. The organizers named this years Miss Talavera Bruce as 29-year-old Mayana Alves, who had seven arrest warrants when she was arrested in 2015 for cargo theft. See more photos below.. Source: Linda Ikejis blog Missionary medics in West Africa and Friends of 57-year-old British optician, Ian Squire, who were abducted alongside the British aid worker in Nigeria has revealed what happened during his final moment. His fellow hostages David and Shirley Donovan, told Telegraph U.K that he was playing Amazing Grace on his acoustic guitar, before he got shot by the men who kidnapped them from their accommodation in Delta State in the early hours of October 13. According to them, the groups spirits were lifted when the kidnappers returned a guitar, and Mr Squire played Amazing Grace. A tour organized by the Kent Law School in collaboration with civil society organizations, have revealed the properties owned by Diezani Alison-Madueke and Kola Aluko in Lagos State. Properties owned by former Nigerias Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and fugitive oil wheeler-dealer, Kola Aluko were featured in Tracking noxious funds klepto tour in Lagos. The tour, organized by the Kent Law School in collaboration with civil society organizations, visited properties owned by Diezani Alison-Madueke and Kola Aluko in Lagos State. Tracking Noxious Funds is a week-long conference, which has facilitators from Kent Law School at the University of Kent, and sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation with the Institute of International Education (IIE). A new revelation has shown how a crumbling Chinese-owned oil firm allegedly offered millions of dollars as bribe to Nigerian officials. As the Chinese-owned Addax Petroleum winds up its operations on December 10, a confidential document has emerged showing how the company paid millions of dollars in bribes to Nigerian officials to secure juicy contracts in the oil industry, PREMIUM TIMES can report. According to the report, there were payments for questionable transactions to Nigerian lawyers and a company owned by politician Emeka Offor, with a huge chunk of the money believed to be used to bribe government officials, PREMIUM TIMES can report. The document, a report by leading audit firm Deloitte obtained this week by Swiss newspaper, Le Temps, said payments in excess of $20 million were made to four Nigerian legal advisors (one of them based in the U.S.), while more than $80 million was paid to Mr. Offors Kaztec Engineering Limited for questionable projects. We have concerns over payments in excess of $80 million, which were made by Addax to Kaztec regarding construction projects for the Antan and Udele/Ofrima developments, the audit firm stated in the document dated November 18, 2016. $70.8m was paid in 2015, including $48.7m for the Antan development, which was suspended in early 2015, and $15.8m for value engineering work on the Udele Ofrima development. This value engineering work has not taken place. The audit revelations on the misuse of Addax corporate funds came amidst moves by the company, a subsidiary of Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Petroleum Corporation, to wind up some of its operations across the world. Last August, it announced a proposed closure of its corporate offices in Geneva, Aberdeen, and Houston as oil prices continued to shrink. In 2001, the Olusegun Obasanjo government granted a fiscal incentive of graduated rate of royalty based on the volume of crude oil produced from OPL 98/118, now OML 123, 124, 136, and 137, as against the flat rate of 20 per cent obtainable in the industry. The fiscal regime was deemed to become effective on January 1, 2000. Addax claimed it committed a significant investment in excess of $3 billion in the development of the contract areas. However, in July 2011, the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Department of Petroleum Resources raised an objection to the fiscal regime. In 2014, Addax Petroleum dragged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation before a federal court in Abuja over allegations of miscalculation of oil royalties and taxes and a breach of their 1998 Production Sharing Contract regarding the OMLs. Joined as respondents in the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1099/2014 were the Ministry of Petroleum Resources/Department of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. But just four days before leaving office, the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan negotiated a controversial out of court settlement with Addax Petroleum, agreeing to pay the company $3.4 billion (about N1 trillion). Questionable legal fees In 2015, PREMIUM TIMES reported how then Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, negotiated the shocking deal in what industry experts said was reminiscent of the infamous Malabu Oil deal in which the same Mr. Adoke was involved in. The parties expressly acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is being executed and delivered as part of a legally binding commercial transaction in full and final settlement of all disputes concerning or related to the applicable fiscal regime in respect of OML 123, 124, 136 & 137, the agreement stated. The parties agree and acknowledge that time is of the essence with regard to the Settlement Agreement. The audit report stated that high-level bribing of Nigerian government officials was instrumental in clinching the settlement. However, in a letter to Addax dated September 7, 2015, the NNPC reversed that agreement in a decision endorsed by then newly elected President Muhammadu Buhari, in one of his first moves to clean Nigerias monumentally corrupt oil industry. The Deloitte report alleged that a significant proportion of Nigerian contracts involved bribing of government and other related officials and kickbacks by Addax management. The allegations included the use of company funds to buy a 75,000 Swiss Francs (about N30 million) Chopard watch intended as a gift for the then Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke. The watch never reached Mrs. Alison-Madueke. Another allegation was the use of a Bermuda based company called Winfield to purchase about $150,000 worth of gifts to an unnamed Nigerian official. The Nigerian official is alleged to have chosen the goods whilst in China and Addax paid for the goods through Winfield, the audit report stated. There were also allegations that the Addax Chief Executive Officer acknowledged that the Nigerian legal payments were used for purposes other than legal work, with him quoted as saying what the lawyers do with the money after we pay it is none of our business, its only the result which counts. In March this year, Zhang Yi, Addaxs CEO in its Geneva Office, and the Legal Director were arrested and charged with the payment of millions of dollars to some lawyers and an unnamed company in Nigeria. In June, Addax Petroleum reached an agreement to pay 31 Swiss Francs (about N12 billion) fine in Geneva to settle the bribery allegations. In the new document seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the law firms who received the over $20 million controversial payments from the company in relation to side letter negotiation in 2015 included Ahmed Raji and Co, Pollie Okoronkwo Immigration Attorneys, Solola & Akpana Chambers, and Consolex Legal Practitioners. PREMIUM TIMES contacted the named law firms. Some of the concerns raised by the audit in the legal payments were unprofessional conduct, low standard documentation not of the standard of reputable law firms; unverifiable information (addresses for example), provided on invoices; extremely vaguescope of work which, in some circumstances, it was virtually impossible to determine what the law firms did; and inconsistent and contradictory explanations for the payments by management. We have not received sufficient audit evidence that their payments were legitimate business expenses compliant with all relevant laws and regulations, the audit firm continued. We suspect that some of these funds may have ultimately been utilised to bribe government officials to receive a favourable settlement in relation to the side letter as has been detailed in the whistleblowing allegations in this letter. On the payments made to Kaztec Engineering Limited, the audit stated there was lack of adequate supporting documentation for the payments made in 2015 and, also, a lack of evident commercial rationale for a significant portion of the payments. It noted that number of internal reports that were suppressed by management had expressed concerns about significant overpayments to the company. We have not received sufficient audit evidence that these payments were legitimate business expenses compliant with all relevant laws and regulations, the report stated. We suspect that some of these funds may have ultimately been utilised to bribe government officials to receive a favourable settlement in relation to the side letter as has been detailed in the whistleblowing allegations. Audit report a joke Deloitte said rather than Addax Petroleum management acting upon its audit recommendations, it chose to terminate its appointments with the firm in Nigeria, the Isle of Man, and the UK. Mr. Offor is a controversial Nigerian politician who became broke in 2017, barely two years after donating $10 million to the Carter Centre to fight river blindness. He did not immediately respond to requests for comments. Pollie Okoronkwo, a U.S.-based immigration attorney, did not also respond to e-mail requests for comments. The Nigerian law firms, however, pushed back vehemently on Deloittes claims of questionable payments made to them and the likelihood that it was used for bribing officials. If they said they didnt know what the payment (to us) was for, then its a joke, Okey Egbuchu, a partner at Consolex Legal Practitioners said when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. It was a court case, so its a matter of records that we had representation so its not an issue at all. We represented (the company) in the matter, its a public record that you can look at, its at the federal high court in Abuja. They paid for our services, its been a while now so I dont have it (the case) offhand but it involved plenty of money, hundreds of millions of dollars. Henry Chibor, a partner at Solola & Akpana Chambers, said his firm never worked for Addax, adding that he was not aware of any audit report. We didnt do matters for Addax, I dont know what you are talking about, any person can go and write whatever he likes, Mr. Chibor told PREMIUM TIMES. If you have such document, I think that the only way forward is for us to see it then we will be able to answer anything. I cant sit here and begin to talk about a company that has no legal relationship with us, we didnt work for. Because any person can write anything he likes, until we see it then wed know what the person is talking about. Addax that has gone down a long time ago, what did Addax do with Solola & Akpana? Ahmed Raji of Ahmed Raji and Co said his firm was approached by Addax in 2014 and they started work for them in early 2015. We did work for Addax, we were given letter of instruction and we did our job and then we agreed on fees, said Mr. Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Addax is worth about $4 billion, they had an issue that was threatening the entire state and then they contacted us as lawyers, we have letters of appointment and we did our work and we were paid our fees, I dont know where they got that one from, the lawyer said about allegations that part of the legal fees was used in bribing Nigerian officials. If they know any public officer that we bribed, let them name him. If a lawyer opens an office and people walk in and they say look, this is our problem. You look at the magnitude of the problem and you say this is my bill. And you do your best. If they now want to be basking in the euphoria of speculation, they can go ahead and try it and then well meet up. And if you are speculating that somebody had tried to bribe a public officer, as good auditors wont you go and ask them? Wont you know an audit trail and look at inflows and outflows from the account? Because its very sickening, you are talking of bribing public officers, who are the public officers? Name them. Our accounts are there, they didnt say we were paid in cash, where is the outflow to any public officer if they are not a useless and irresponsible set of auditors? This is our story, this is my argument and there is nothing like that. The rather bizarre story has been told of the bubbly community in Lagos State where pregnant women die giving birth. It was about midday in the sleepy town called Sogunro Community. Quietness pervaded the environment as if there were no human lives present. It was later discovered that most of the residents had either gone to their offices out of town or had gone about their business and trades. For the housewives or older residents; they were either resting in their own homes or just minding their individual business. As Saturday Vanguard roved the community, it was hard to realise that this location is situated within the bustling Lagos city. Originally, the essence of the reporters visit was to ascertain the claims that lives of pregnant women in the community were at the mercy of a TBA popularly called Baba Eja. Sogunro is a community on the Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront. It is regarded as one of the largest aquatic trading communities on the suburb of Lagos Mainland coast of the Lagos Lagoon. Sadly, so, it lags behind in some of the social amenities that make life comfortable. A trip by Saturday Vanguard to the community leaves much to be desired. As the canoe man paddled our reporter on musky water, Sogunro which inhabits over 100,000 people can simply be regarded as an isolated community in its own world. History has it that Sogunro community comprises of displaced villagers in the late 1950s who lived in one of the villages such as -Abule Odubayo, Igan Oko, Abule Moso, Abule Aladiye, Pedoro, Sogbodie, Abule Elejo, Akinwunmi, Agege-odo -surrounding the present day University of Lagos (UNILAG) axis. On the waterfront are different ethnic groups from across Nigeria and the Republic of Benin whose economic structures revolve around fishing, wood logging, sawmilling and boat making. Despite a history that precedes even the Nigerian nation, Sogunro is dying for government attention for provision of basic social amenities like schools, standard hospitals, roads, potable water, security, stable power, standard market place and sanitation, among others. Trooping out of the community to join the canoe that will paddle dwellers to the other side of the community were young and old women carrying assorted trays laden with wares of smoked fish known as Egun Fish their major staple among several other items to be sold at the markets. Young children of school age were also seen hawking. Sogunro Community Breeding town for Baby Mothers The sight was striking and one that would naturally force a first-time visitor to halt and ponder. In their numbers walking aimlessly across, or so it seems, were a teeming number of pregnant teenagers between ages 14 and 19. Shame or sense of remorse was not in the picture. To them, it seemed all right. Teenage pregnancy seemed like a way of life that is readily acceptable in the community. And by the minute, it was as if their numbers were getting higher. Instinctively, the reporter began to probe. A respondent named Emeka, a fisherman in the community hinted that: Here, teenage pregnancy is no big deal. There is a sense of laxity that enables these young girls engage in sexual activities. Education is not necessarily enforced due to so much poverty in the community. Poverty is the major factor fuelling the development. We have a situation in which many of the girls are lured with money by young men who are mostly Okada operators. Another very sad aspect is that majority of the girls are not registered for antenatal care, mainly as a result of financial constraint and cultural beliefs. Again, the belief is that because we are surrounded by water, once the young girls or ladies feel cold, they believe that the best way to shake off the cold is to see someone that will warm them up. It doesnt matter whether they have a formal relationship or not as long as cash is exchanged. And they do it with no sense of remorse like I said earlier. And to shock you, they dont really believe in condoms as many of them say condoms deny them full enjoyment of sex. Asked how they cope with labour and delivery when they are due, Emeka said: That is so sad and many of them do not really seem to be bothered. Time and over again, whenever any of the pregnant girls go into labour, particularly at mid-night, they are usually in a dilemma. This is basically due to their inability to afford to register in a standard hospital. And for those who could afford it, reaching the centre at midnight is a tug of war while obstetric complication that may require surgery is out of the question. Honestly, unless there is urgent government presence with sensitization programmes, a well-equipped public health centre at least, the situation here may escalate to the point where our young girls will be dying like fowls and their babies going down with them. It is a sad story my brother, he noted with finality. Encounter with Baba Eja As Saturday Vanguard moved round the community to locate the major Traditional Birth Attendant, TBA, Mr. Elijah Paul, a.k.a Baba Eja, the stench from stagnant waters and refuse at different spots filled the atmosphere bellowing epidemic on the prowl. On arrival at Baba Ejas place, he had just delivered Mrs. Fatima Balogun, of a new born baby. She later told the reporter that she lost her first child due to complications in delivery two years back. While waiting, the reporter did a quick survey of the delivery room. It is a single wooden room surrounded by stagnant water and refuse. Its interior was decked with several herbal tools serving as Baba Ejas medical items. There is also a single chair, table and a mat laid on the bare floor which represents the labour bed. The floor is a sandy platform devoid of concrete or plastering on the wall. The side-walls made of wood were full of holes that served as easy access for mosquitoes. But to Baba Eja, all these were the reporters cup of tea as he retorted with pride after cleaning up Fatima and offered her a warm bowl of pap. Three hours later, both Fatima and Baba Eja were ready to answer the journalists questions. I have been taking delivery in this community for over 25 years. And if we are to look at the number of deliveries, it cannot be less than 20,000. That is actually the reason I am being called Baba Eja meaning Father of Fish. I am available 24/7 for any pregnant woman, he bragged. There is no time of the day or night time they knock on my door that I wont respond to their distress call. I want to assure you that I have the necessary documents to practice as a TBA. Really, my initial focus as an herbalist was not child delivery. I began to step in when many pregnant women were dying during delivery in our community here. The closest health facility is about 10 kilometers from this town. And then, if you inquired, you would be told the women died yesterday why trying to give birth either because she could not get to the health centre on time or there were no health officials to attend to them. And when the situation was becoming worrisome and repetitive, I stepped in. Further, Baba Eja said he actually mixed his practice with some level of conventional medical practice. I do encourage them to go for scan to ascertain baby position. And if the result comes out contrary, I have herbs that I give the pregnant women to enable the baby position properly. Also, I have a trained nurse that I call in whenever there are challenges because delivering a baby is not something only one person can face as it has to do with life. I demand N10,000, but most of them have never paid beyond N5,000. And I dont see them again until probably during another delivery. Amid the interactive session, Baba Eja, who hails from Ipokia Local Government Area in Ogun State said he was planning to leave the Sogunro community very soon. The question is: Is Sogunro community willing or ready to leave Baba Eja? The old man, who does not even know his real age, has lived and practiced herbal medicine for over 25years in that clan. In the thought of every pregnant woman in the community is Baba Eja to rescue them in the delivery of their babies. However, Baba Eja is appalled by the depth of poverty the residents of that community are subjected to on a daily basis. And to say that such a community is within Nigerias commercial heartbeat, the city of Lagos, is something very hard to fathom. He lamented: Honestly, It is due to challenges of life that make many people to live here. It is not that they are happy to do so. Given other choices, many of us will live in far better spots in Lagos. This seems like a forgotten part of the State. The community is never considered when the government is doing anything good for the state. So sad. Fatimas story Looking frail and pale was the newly delivered mother, Fatima Balogun, 22, as she laid on the only mat serving as bed on the sandy floor. She told the reporter that she had registered for antenatal with Baba Eja after she lost her first child at the age of 20. Narrating her story, Fatima said: I lost my first child about a year ago. I would have died with the baby but God just preserved my life. My labour pains started at midnight and my two female neighbours promptly responded. They tried all they could to help me deliver the baby. But it proved difficult. So, they quickly took me to a nearby TBA where I later give birth to the baby around 6:00am. But the baby died a few minutes after delivery. Fatima, who is a hairdresser, later registered with Baba. On a womans delivery process at Baba Ejas shelter, Fatima gave an insight. Before delivery, Baba Eja gives the intending mother some herbs to drink and bathe with. He also makes the woman to eat some concoction to ease labour pains and make the passage of the baby easier. But for this particular delivery, Baba Eja had experienced some challenges that made him call in the nurse to come and inject me. I really did not know the exact challenges. After the injection, I experienced some labour but still the baby didnt come out on time. So, Baba Eja told the nurse to administer infusion drip while he also gave me another concoction. After all these, the pressure to push intensified and I was able to push and the baby came out. In Fatimas view however, the babys delay to exit her womb was not Baba Ejas fault. I believe that the delay in my delivery was due to my failure to carry out some sacrifices Baba Eja recommended much during my pregnancy. I was unable to do them as a result of financial challenges. He had told me to appease the witches that prevented my first baby from staying but I could not due to poverty. Both mother and baby however, survived this ordeal. As the reporter continued the investigations on the maternal plight of women in Sogunro community, it was obvious others have tales of woes to tell. Mr. Kunle Adigun, a resident, told Saturday Vanguard regretfully that he lost both his wife and baby boy during childbirth. David, 27, also said his wife, Bolanle, could have been alive today to experience the joy of motherhood, but her dream was cut short because she found herself in Sogunro community where good life and health facilities are scarce. Her desire to give life led her to the great beyond. She went into labour in the middle of the night. We suspected that was a problem on its own. Her mother, who was with us at the time called for help. But there was little anyone could do because there was no means of conveying her to the other side of the canal for medical attention, David lamented. Prior to her delivery time, Bolanle had registered for ante-natal at a private hospital in Yaba. But there was no canoe to convey her there at that time of the night. That was how she and her baby died after several hours of labour in the hands of a TBA. Tanwa Kazeem, 28, a pregnant woman who is close to her delivery period lamented that healthcare delivery situation in Sogunro is worrisome, adding that when a baby falls sick, rushing that baby to hospital for emergency attention is not possible due to lack of any nearby healthcare centre. I registered with N5,000 for ante-natal at a private hospital in Iwaya area of Lagos. And I go there every Tuesday and pay N1,000 for check-ups. Already, I have paid the mandatory N10,000 for regular delivery and I pray that my labour and delivery will occur at a good time during the day when we can still move quickly to the hospital. I have two children already also delivered in the same hospital and at a good time of the day. I also practice exclusive breastfeeding on my children and as well, give them the medically advised three years spacing interval. But government needs to come and help us here. Agati Ufon, related that all her children were delivered in Cotonou as she would not risk giving birth to any child in the community. She said affirmatively: I dont deliver in this village. Once my delivery time is approaching, I travel to my place in Cotonou. Even though I patronise TBAs here where I registered with N3,500 and do collect herbs with N500 monthly, I still will not risk delivering in this community. Baale Speaks The Baale of Sogunro, Chief Yusuf Kumayon, crowned by the late Oloto of Oto in 2007 went down memory lane. Since the existence of this community, government only remembers us during election. That time, irrespective of the obstacle, they will find their way to our community but after election they forget us. Once our pregnant women fall into labour at night, crossing to the other side of the water is a major challenge. Many times, the women die when there is no means of taking them to the hospital. The only Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) is in Iwaya about 20 minutes drive away and it does not operate at night. Sogunro and two other nearby communities, Makoko and Oko Agbon have population of over 500,000 without a single PHC. Some of our pregnant women register in private hospitals in Yaba, Adekunle and Gbagada but to get them there at night has been a Herculean task. On our own, we use planks to construct bridges. But, immediately rain falls, the planks are washed away. We want government to support us in construction of roads, hospitals and schools for our children. Kumayon disclosed that so far in 2017, about 20 women have been lost to pregnancy-related deaths. Of the 20 women less than 10 children survived because both the mothers and babies got exhausted during labour. Once in a while, we have benefitted from the Lagos State Immunization Programme just as some non-government organisations do come here. However, we need the government of Lagos, our own state, to come here and see our plight. We dont think that those representing us are really presenting our case to the Governor because we can see how other areas of Lagos are being transformed. We believe in continuity. That is the reason we voted for him but we have not enjoyed the benefit. If we can have one PHC strategically positioned for benefit of the three communities, we would appreciate that as a starting point. What obtains in Sogunro community therefore shows that despite governments provision of health services through the PHCs, many women still chose TBAs due to poverty and proximity; given the level of trust people repose in them and their newly established relevance in maternal care delivery. Ambode said his administration would strive to take traditional medicine to a higher level through innovative research and development, just as he advised the TBAs to discharge their duties well according to the ethics guiding their profession, urging them to improve their practice through training. Much as the LASG expresses its high level commitment towards achieving a reduction in maternal mortality; the state MMMR is still below the national average because many of them lack access to services for women residing in hard-to-reach areas, among others. LASG reacts In his reaction to the development, the Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Kayode Omiyale, said the ordeal of the 500,000 people of Sogunro, Makoko and Oko-Agbo is known to government and moves are in progress to ensure the residents have access to quality healthcare. Since the palliative bridge built to cross the canal was swept away by heavy flood some time ago, efforts are on to build another one. We have health committees in place and they are coming up with ideas to resolve the issue. It is however not possible for us to put health centres in all the 34 communities which we have grouped into CDAs. What we want to do is to cluster them and build PHCs that will not be too far to easily reach. We will ensure they have at least one PHC that will serve the three communities on a Public-Private Partnership scheme before the end of first quarter of 2018. Medical Experts speak Dr. Olusola Odujinrin, a community health expert and Fellow of the West African College of Physician (FWACP) said Nigeria has not done well in the provision and maintenance of Primary Health Facilities (PHFs) which may have contributed to the sad reports. Nigeria is way off the track in meeting all MDGs and SDGs stipulations. We are on the back row because we lack healthcare infrastructure which necessitated the high mortality rate. Our first goal in tackling all these is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger according to the World Banks projection for sub-Saharan Africa. We can still address these challenges if we have the political will to do just that. The appropriation of the PHC has been grossly inadequate, thereby putting the lives of the mother and child at risk. According to Mr. Bayo Onajole, a health official with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), The major problem is that there have been so many programmes in place as regards the PHC. There is a need to review all these programmes. For the ones that are working, we need to appraise and for those that are not working, we need to modify them. If we do that, we will be moving a step close to solving the problem. Now, we are not calling for a complete departure, but for a change to reinforce the project to tone down the high mortality rate. Government could help to bring down the mortality rate through appropriate financing and monitoring of the fund allocated to PHC as well as checking graft. The nation can also have periodic personnel training and infrastructure development. After breaking the internet with his extraordinary Agbada last week, many Nigerians looked forward to Ebukas outfit to the white wedding of his Friends, Banky W and Adesua Etomi. He is pictured above with his gorgeous wife, Cynthia. Did his look meet your expectation? See full photo below Source: Linda Ikejis blog Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have sealed off three choice properties belonging to former Governor of Benue state. Three choice properties belonging to immediate past governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam in Makurdi has been sealed off by operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to a report by TheIndependent, the properties are his residential home in HUDCO quarters, the Metropolitan Hotel and a residential building (still under construction) close to the River Benue. The properties were reportedly sealed off following allegations that he misappropriated N107 billion during the eight years of tenure as governor of Benue stat. The Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Panel of Inquiry had submitted that 52 persons among them Suswam return various sums of money amounting to N107 billion. Four UN peacekeepers and a Malian soldier were killed in two attacks on peacekeepers in Mali on Friday, according to the UN officials. Suspected jihadists attacked peacekeepers carrying out an operation with Malian defence forces in Indelimane, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Menaka near the border with Niger, on Friday morning, the UN officials said. Later Friday, another attack was carried out against a UN convoy north of Douentza in the Mopti region, the officials said. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the outrageous attacks and warned that targeting UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and lead to sanctions, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said. The UN mission in Mali and UN officials in New York said peacekeepers repelled the Friday morning attack in Indelimane but three peacekeepers from Niger and one Malian soldier were killed, and about 17 soldiers and one civilian working for the UN were injured. The UN mission reported that at least three assailants were also killed. The mission in Mali evacuated the injured and dispatched a quick reaction force supported by attack helicopters to Indelimane to reinforce the peacekeepers on the ground, the UN said. In the second attack near Douentza, the UN mission said peacekeepers engaged the assailants in heavy fighting that involved rocket launchers. One peacekeeper was killed and three others were seriously injured, the mission said. A 2012 uprising prompted mutinous soldiers to overthrow Malis president of a decade. The power vacuum that was created ultimately led to an Islamic insurgency and a French-led war that ousted the jihadists from power in 2013. But insurgents remain active in the region. The UN Security Council condemned the first attack in Indelimane in the strongest terms and called on Malis government to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. Council members also underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes, and any involvement could lead to UN sanctions. The council expressed concern at the security situation in Mali and the broader Sahel region and urged Malian parties to fully implement a 2015 peace agreement without further delay. Members said actions by the 5,000-strong force being formed by five Sahel nations Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad to fight terrorist and criminal groups will contribute to a more secure environment in the region. The more than 11,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in Mali has become the most dangerous in the world for soldiers as Islamic militants routinely attack UN peacekeepers and convoys across the north. As of October, there had been 146 fatalities since the mission was established in 2013, according to UN peacekeeping data. Source: ( AFP ) Barely two weeks, rumours surfaced that Nigerian actress, Funke Akindele has given birth to a set of twins in London. The TV strar has now dispelled the claims saying they were not true. The news that Funke allegedly gave birth to twins started after the heavily preganant thespian left the shores of Nigeria for the United Kingdom. On the 22nd of November, online media reported that she had given birth. As expected her widespread fans took to hers and her husbands Instagram page to leave congratulatory messages but now Funke speaking through her publicist, Mr Biodun Kupoluyi says. Dont mind those people. Theyre only imagining. You can not hide a pregnancy for long. And when you deliver, people must surely know. So, delivering a set of twins in London is not something one can hide at all. source: Stargist The German Government has donated about N260m to help feed Boko Haram victims in the North-East region of Nigeria ravaged by the insurgency. The fund, aimed at benefitting 1,200 households, is to be spent in two local governments Mubi in Adamawa State and Jere in Borno State. Speaking on Friday during the distribution of cash to 800 households in Jakana, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Country Representative of Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Mr. Adeola Omosebi, noted that the assistance would be extended to other areas of Borno and Adamawa states, which were affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. He said the present intervention, which started in August this year, would wind up in December, adding that a decision was taken recently to give N5, 010 to each member of the qualified households rather than food items. Omosebi said, The intervention was part of the German Humanitarian Assistance through the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to victims of Boko Haram crisis in Borno and Adamawa states. It is a food security intervention in kind and cash-based transfers. In the first two months of August and September, food was given but later N5,010 was given out to a person for every household. Speaking further, he said those to benefit from the intervention include internally displaced persons, returnees and residents of host communities. Source : ( Punch Newspaper ) Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Friday debunked the news that he will leave the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said he would never leave the party on which platform he contested and won the governorship seat two times. Obiano spoke to the State House correspondents after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. No. Never. That is totally unfounded. I will never leave APGA. Im the leader and the Board of Trustees Chairman of APGA and again by Gods grace, the governor and governor-elect, he declared The governor described APGA as a very strong party in the South-East, saying Nigerians would see more proofs in coming elections. When asked about his relationship with his predecessor, Peter Obi, he said he had no problem with anybody. When also asked if he would woo the son of Chief Emeka Ojukwu who left the party back into the fold, Obiano said, He is of no consequence, I am sorry to say. He, however, said he had extended an olive branch to his co-contestants, saying that all of them had congratulated him. He said individual ambitions could not be greater than the interest of the state. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) A woman has caused some commotion in a community in Lagos State after refusing to allow her step children take her sick husband to hospital. The police in Lagos recently averted a major family crisis yesterday, after the biological children of ailing septuagenarian, Alhaji Shanshudeen Labinjo, made attempts to take him to hospital for treatment but their step mother resisted by locking all exit and entry points to their residence. According to a Vanguard report, the lingering family crisis which reportedly led to a face off at their Number 18, Bashua Street in Somolu area of the state, yesterday, resulted in both the step mother, children of the septuagenarian and his relatives attacking each other openly. When all efforts by the children to take their ailing father to hospital were allegedly rebuffed by their step mother who reportedly placed their residence under lock and key, they had to invite the police at Alade division to help them gain access to the house. Vanguard reports that when they stormed their fathers residence, a guard at the gate stopped them from gaining access to the building claiming that nobody was inside. The visibly rattled children of the old man who suspected foul play however, insisted on gaining access but the guard persisted. It was gathered that Policemen that accompanied them to the house also advised against forceful entry into the house. Speaking with Vanguard, one of the sons to the old man, Okiki Labinjo alleged that the whole ugly development was masterminded by their step mother whom he claimed has been holding their sick father hostage without reasons. He said: My father has been sick for a while now. Each time we made attempt to take him to the hospital, his wife, Funke, would not allow us. Each time we come to the house, we cant go beyond the gates let alone see our father. For months now, none of his children or extended family has been allowed to see him. He has loss of memory. Because of his health issues, there was a time my father wanted to jump from the second floor of the building. She would bring thugs and policemen from anti-robbery squad to harass and threaten us. They went ahead and arrested my elder brother, Lukmon who was fighting to take our father to the hospital. Right now, all we want is to have access to our father so that we can, at least, take him to the hospital so that he can have access to proper medical care, he added. Lamenting, Engineer Kamal Labinjo, the immediate younger brother to ailing Alhaji Labinjo revealed that we have made arrangement several times to take my brother to the hospital but, his wife has refused any member of the family to see him let alone take him to the hospital. How can she deny his children and family access to see him even while he is sick? This is so unfair. For goodness sake, she doesnt have a child for my bother. When she moved in to live with my brother, she came with three children she had from her previous marriage who my brother trained. We dont understand why she is refusing him medical attention after all he has done for her and her children. Can you imagine that it is one of her sons from her previous marriage that is controlling my fathers estates and properties located in different places in Lagos, while his biological children are left with nothing. She is using the police force to threaten and harass any family member that comes looking for Alhaji. Even his friends from the central mosque where he worships are forbidden to see him. The police at Alagbon have been compromised, anytime there is an arrangement to take Alhaji to the hospital At a point we had to write a petition to Police Service Commission,PSC, and to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Abuja after his Muslim brothers pleaded that we should intervene. Questioning the motive behind refusing Alhaji Labinjo access to adequate healthcare, the Convener of Jashable Touch, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Mrs Favour Benson said that it was unjustifiable for a sick person to be locked up. Why should a sick person be locked up inside the house and not taken to the hospital? How on earth do you prevent the children and relatives of a sick person from having access to him? Efforts by Vanguard to speak with their step mother failed as she could not be seen during the period the standoff lasted and the guard refused to give out her telephone number. A member of the Boko Haram sect was killed by some hunters from Gur village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno with assistance of hunters from Damaturu on Thursday. According to the Army spokesman, Sani Usman,he said in a statement on Friday that the encounter took place at Burashika village in Biu. Mr. Usman said the hunters recovered one AK-47 rifle mounted with magazine of two rounds and 48 cows, 58 goats, 36 sheep and 12 donkeys. He added that the recovered livestock had been handed over to security operatives in Gur village, pending identification by their rightful owners and handover. Source : (NAN) The Federal Government has backed the decision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) position to increase the tariffs on tobacco products. This was confirmed by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Adeosun, who was represented by the ministrys Permanent Secretary, Mahmoud Dutse, said government was currently putting in place policies to increase excise tax on tobacco, alcohol and other products. The minister said federal government had also started reviewing its excise tax rates and structure tobacco, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. She added that the review was in line with ECOWAS draft regulation on harmonisation of excise taxes on tobacco. She explained that one of the techniques used by governments all over the world is to tax products that are either consumed particularly when you want to do progressive taxation, or products that are hazardous to health and increase health spending. It is a twin objective; to raise revenue and decrease tobacco consumption. In this regard, the use of modern techniques and tools of production controls such as tax stamps or special package markings in the context of the track-and-trace system, which is a global best practice, are being considered. The harmonisation of laws establishing a system for tracing, tracking and tax verification of manufactured or imported tobacco products in ECOWAS member states is a welcome development for Nigeria. Mrs. Adeosun said it was important for member states to put in place effective track-and-trace systems to eliminate illicit trade. She noted that without effective track-and-trace system, illicit trade will undermine trade and tax measures and will have serious adverse effects on public health in West Africa. Nigeria supports the ECOWAS directives of VAT exemptions on basic food items in their raw states, medicaments and pharmaceutical products. She expressed governments support for ECOWAS Customs Codes, adding that it was part of efforts to enhance the implementation of common tariff and promote common market for West Africa. Source: ( NAN ) Argentina and Barcelona star, Lionel Messi finally extended his contract, which will keep him at the club till 2021,this was confirmed by the club in an official statement. The Spanish giants had announced in the summer that Messi had committed his future to the club but the Argentine had not signed the new deal, with his existing contract set to expire in 2018. FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentinian superstar at the club through the 2020/21 season, read a club statement. The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros ($835 million). Source: (Sky Sports) Diminutive Barcelona forward has added another massive award to his already filled up cabinet with another interesting sporting achievement. The Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has added yet another trophy to his collection. The Barcelona forward equaled Cristiano Ronaldos tally of four European Golden Shoes after receiving the award at a ceremony on Friday. He claimed the prize given to Europes top goal-scorer, for his 37 La Liga strikes in 2016-17. It is the fourth time Messi has taken the honours, after his successes in 2010, 2012 and 2013. His tally came from 34 top-flight games and saw him top the charts ahead of Sporting CPs Bas Dost, who netted 34 in the Primeira Liga, while Borussia Dortmunds Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rounded out the top three with 31. Ronaldo, winner of the award in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015, scored 25 league goals last season and did not make the top five. Last years winner, Luis Suarez was fifth this time around with 29, one fewer than Bayern Munichs Robert Lewandowski. President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari sent condolences to the government of Egypt over the attacks on a mosque in North Sinai that left at least 235 people dead after Jumaat prayers. The condolence was sent through the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President condemned the dastardly act on innocent worshippers. The President said the attack further reinforced his position that terrorism had no relationship or respect for any religion, and should be visited with the full wrath of the law. The statement read in part, The President reiterates that the workable panacea to such mindless and irresponsible attacks on citizens would be a global joint action that continually shares intelligence, simulates scenarios and regularly updates on both local and international threats. President Buhari prays that the almighty God will receive the souls of the departed, and comfort the families of those directly affected. It was earlier confirmed that the death toll had increased to 235 persons on Friday following the terrorist attack in which 109 were also injured. According to reports, the attack began with two explosions. Gunmen were said to have positioned themselves outside the mosque, shelling worshippers as they attempted to flee the Al Rawdah Mosque. Source: ( Punch Newspaper) Being a daughter of a billionaire oil magnate definitely did not stop Ifeoluwa Florence Otedola also known as DJ Cuppy from creating a name and brand for herself. The superstar disc jockey recently spoke about the dismay she feels when she is put in the shadow of her father and it raised quite a ruckus on social media. As she cover the November edition of Vibe Magazine, she discusses how her familys fame affects her, her new single with Tekno Green Light as well as the disc jockey profession in Nigeria. Read excerpts below: On her familys fame and how it affects her: I would never ever apologize for what family Im from and if anything, I can use my own opportunity to create more opportunities for others. Im actually a hardworking young woman that has a passion for DJ-ing and that message has taken me a lot of years to come through. Im still working on it, but I feel like, finally my work ethic is starting to speak for itself. On her Green Light collaboration with Tekno: Green Light is my original song. I came out to the market with a song called I love my country which was a remix, but Green Light is really me not hiding behind anyones record. Tekno and I wrote the song together, produced it, came up with it and Im so proud of it. For me its such a breath of fresh air. Regardless of how well the song does- and its doing very well- Im so proud that I decided to take a risk. Im singing on it which is a new thing for me. I love the video, I just love everything about the song, Regardless of it being my song, its such a jam. I fall in love with it every time. Every time I hear it, I feel refreshed. On working with Tekno: Tekno is an artiste that Ive always wanted to work with. If hes not playing the drums, hes playing the guitar or hes playing the piano. Ive always admired him. I literally cannot think of a bad Tekno song. Hes always working on epic stuff. Hes just grown from strength to strength and as far as my debut single, I couldnt think of a better artiste to kick it off with. On the disc jockey business in Nigeria: I feel like DJs are completely underrated, but then having said that, DJs are now getting the recognition they deserve,after so many years of playing artistes music, supporting artistes and breaking their records. Now, us DJs are taking that limelight that weve worked so hard for. You know theres people like uncle Jimmy Jatt who really started this idea of a DJ being a brand, not being hidden behind the scenes or in a corner in a room and theres amazing people like Spinall now really taking that force. For me its really exciting. As a female, I feel like we can take that branding force to another level. I could not think of a better time. When you think about how big African fashion, films, music and creativity in general is now globally, I couldnt think of a better time to be a female DJ from Nigeria. On affluence getting in the way of love: I feel like for me, its hard to say because Ive grown up in an environment where Ive looked at people because of their ambition not because of what they have. A lot of my friends are go- getters. We come from different backgrounds and its almost like Im a bit of a disappointment in that sense because I dont act like someone they expect me to act like. Ive dated people that have grown up completely different from me but the thing theyve always had in common is that theyve been ambitious. Theyve had careers, theyve had very serious goals. So I dont think that affects anything. Source 36ng Reno Omokri has posted on his Twitter page, the Spectator Index of September 2017, to show Nigeria has diminished in all sectors since Independence, compared to Singapore. In 1960 when we gained independence, Nigeria and Singapore were at the same level. But after 57 years, and especially the last 2 years of Buhari, the difference is clear. He said. Source Juliablaise The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said on Saturday that the force would deploy five mobile police units to Adamawa State to prevent future clashes between herdsmen and farmers. Idris made this known in Yola when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Mohammed Bindow to commiserate with him and the people of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that about 20 people were killed and several others injured following a clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Numan Local Government Area of the state. The attack occurred on Monday night following the killing of a farmer by suspected Fulani herdsmen resulting in a reprisal by the farming communities of Shaforon, Kodomti and Kikan all in Numan local government area of the state. The IG said that the five units would reinvigorate security operations to prevent further bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers. He also promised to deploy tracking units of the force for the investigation of previous incidents. He assured the people of the state that the incidents would be thoroughly investigated to prevent a repeat. Idris commended the traditional institution and other stakeholders in the state for wading into the crisis with a view to ending it. Source : (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC ) has been accused by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to destroy its coming convention on December 9, 2017 by arresting its key members. This was confirmed in a statement by its spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, the party alleged that the APC had postponed its own convention so as to monitor and sabotage that of the PDP. We are not completely oblivious of the plans by the APC to sabotage our convention. Apart from the internal fighting within the APC, one of the reasons why the party postponed its National Convention to next year was to enable it to monitor closely our convention with a view to destabilizing our party ahead of the 2019 General Elections. The planned parallel convention is one of those ideas of the APC to create divisions amongst members of our party. It will be most unfortunate for members of our party to allow themselves to be used against the party especially in the light of our recent painful experience. The National Caretaker Committee is willing and ready to address all the concerns of our party members regarding the forthcoming National Convention. Members should take advantage of our open door policy to ventilate their opinions, concerns and grievances. We will not give room to anybody to find any excuse to sabotage the convention. We realise of course that there is little we can do to dissuade those who have decided to become paid agents of the ruling party. According to Mr. Adeyeye, the arrest of former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, and a former Governor of Taraba State, Abubakar Danladi, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was orchestrated to run down the PDP. Part of the agenda of the APC to sabotage our convention and destabilise our party is the arrest of leaders of our party on trump-up charges of corruption. We had cried out a few weeks ago that there was a list of about fifty (50) top leaders of our party earmarked by the ruling party for arrest and incarceration. The APC propagandists said we were crying wolf. Now were being vindicated by the continuing and unrelenting arrest, intimidation and harassment of our top leaders. In the last one week, the former Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Abubakar Danladi and the former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, two prominent members of our party were arrested by the anti-graft agency, the EFCC. This is apart from the five that were earlier arrested within the month of November. We dont know who will be next in the list. These are all part of the agenda of the APC to create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity around PDP members before and after the National Convention. It is also part of the overall strategy of the ruling party to turn Nigeria into a one party state. We once again call on Nigerians and members of the international community to be vigilant to ensure that the APC does not institute full blown dictatorship in the country. The only reason why the APC is hell bent on killing the opposition in Nigeria is due to its non-performance and inability to deliver on its campaign promises. They have failed Nigerians and they know too well that they can no longer convince Nigerians to vote for them again in 2019. The party assured its members nationwide that its leadership under Ahmed Makarfi would provide an enabling environment and a level playing field for all contestants and ensure transparent, free and fair elections. Source: ( Premium Times ) Three undergraduates of the Umaru Musa Yaradua University have been arrested by Katsina Police Command for allegedly murdering one Abdulmalik Kabir in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state. The suspects all male are two third year students and a second year student, according to Bensen Gwana, the state Commissioner of Police, who paraded them before journalists on Friday in Katsina. The police arrested the three suspects when they attacked their victim and inflicted serious injuries on him which led to his death. The arrested persons caused grievous harm on their victim over an issue of girlfriend, in the month of November, 2017. The victim died in a hospital while receiving treatment, the commissioner said. Source : (NAN) The Niger State Police Command has rescued a man identified as Malam Haruna Gizo, the village head of Unguwan Gizo of Kagara Local Government Area of the state and three others from their abductors. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Austine Agbonlahor, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna that they were rescued during a joint operation by the Kagara police and a vigilance group from Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He explained that the command was taking proactive security measures to deal with any form of security threat. He added that we have deployed sufficient security personnel in identified areas prone to criminal activities across the state. We will continue to adopt proactive security measures to confront any form of threat to enable residents to move on with there legitimate businesses. He called for more cooperation from the public to enable the police to rid the state of criminals. The village head and others were abducted on Nov. 21 at Unguwan Gizo in Kagara Local Government Area of Niger. Source : (NAN) The Comptroller General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) has ordered a cancellation of promotion examination conducted for senior officers of the Service. The Nigeria Customs Service has cancelled the promotion examination recently conducted for senior officers from the rank of Assistant Comptroller to Deputy Comptroller, according to a report by Punch. The decision to cancel the examination was taken due to irregularities observed in the conduct of the examination. According to an internal circular, dated November 22, 2017, the Comptroller General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), ordered the cancellation. The circular, signed by the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Human Resources, stated that Monday, November 27, 2017, had been fixed for a repeat of the examination at the Customs Command at Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja. The circular with reference number NCS/ABJ/HRD/560/C/VOL.VIII addressed to all management staff and Customs formations nationwide read, The 2017 Promotion Examination (CBT) AC-DC (GD) taken on October 11, 2017, has been cancelled. This is consequent upon violation of the integrity of the examination process. Sources within the service said the examination, which was conducted on October 11, 2017, was allegedly marred by irregularities including leakage of examination questions. They added that the promotion examination under the management of Ali was of higher integrity compared with the previous ones. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, stated that the promotion exams were conducted for all the ranks in the service but only one paper was cancelled. He explained that the paper that was cancelled was the promotion examination paper written by Assistant Comptrollers that was to qualify them for promotion to the Deputy Comptroller rank. He said, The paper was cancelled due to integrity issue and because the current NCS has zero tolerance for lack of integrity. The exam was rescheduled for Monday. The NCS is doing this so that the officers who would be promoted would be people of high integrity who have no question mark on their character. 21 suspected cultists have been arrested by Soldiers attached to the 145 Battalion deployed to Umuahia, Abia State in Umudike in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state. This was confirmed by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Ohafia, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi,in a statement which was made available to Southern City News on Friday. He noted that the suspects were nabbed following intelligence gathered about their operations. Gbadamosi stated that the suspected cultists, aged between 18 and 25 years were sighted in the bushes around Umudike in Ikwuano LGA throughout the night of October 15, probably meeting for initiation purposes. He said, Based on the information received, the troops of the Forward Operation Base, Obot Akara swung into action and apprehended 21 suspected cult members which include one Mr. Brown Christian and 20 others. The suspects are presently undergoing preliminary investigation and thereafter, they will be handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution. The Army spokesman also added that in a related development, soldiers of 144 Battalion on routine patrol on Uka Egbu Street in Aba North LGA smashed a gang of three suspected armed robbers on October 15. He said the suspects, on sighting the patrol team, escaped to an unknown destination and abandoned one locally-made single-barrelled pistol, one locally-made revolver pistol, three live rounds of 9mm ammunition, three empty cases of 9mm ammunition. He added that the suspects also abandoned one tricycle with registration number: ESA 036 VC and a bag containing their personal belongings. He said efforts are ongoing to arrest members of the gang. According to Gbadamosi, soldiers attached to the 145 Battalion at Isiala Ngwa North military checkpoint along Aba-Port Harcourt expressway acting on a tip-off, arrested a suspected armed robber, identified as Chijindu Chidi. He said the suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution. Source: ( Punch Newspaper) Wizkid couldnt attend the traditional wedding of his former label boss, Banky W and for unknown reasons has ignored the White wedding also. Recall that Wizkid has expressed regret for missing the traditional wedding but promised to rock the white wedding. In his words; My big brother and boss for life! Love u bro ?? God bless your day! Lord knows how sad i am missing this special day?? We go rock church wedding ..Love forever! Well the church wedding went down today and he was nowhere to be found, he shared a photo of his son on snap with him as they enjoyed a special bonding time together. Banky W is believed to be the man that made Wizkid, and Wizkid being absent at Banky Ws weddings, speak tons about him. source: 36ng A leading VAT recovery firm has announced plans to grow its business by creating 80 new jobs in Kilkenny. Taxback International employs 1,200 people globally is recruiting to deal with increased demand from Irish and global clients. France has effectively stepped up the pressure on Ireland and other EU countries in the fight to lure London banking jobs after Brexit by making it less expensive to sack financial traders. The French parliament approved the measures to cut the cost of sacking traders by excluding their bonuses from compulsory redundancy payouts, in a move aimed to attract trading activities to Paris as the UK leaves the EU. Update 9.19pm: Fianna Fail is set to examine Department of Justice documents tonight in a fresh attempt to avoid an election. They were handed over this afternoon after Leo Varardkar and Micheal Martin met to discuss the crisis in Government. The documents had been prepared on the back of a parliamentary question brought forward by Labour's Alan Kelly. Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin said it is an "extraordinary development". Deputy Howlin said the documents must be provided to all the opposition parties if the Taoiseach wants to avoid further controversy. "If there's anything germane to the Tribunal - obviously, we assume that they'd be provided to the Tribunal in the first instance," he said. "But if they are germane to any of the questions raised by parliamentarians, Alan Kelly, myself or others in the Dail, they should be put on the record of the Dail and provided to all of us, all of the parties in opposition and indeed all the members of the Dail." Update 6.01pm: A meeting between the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail has finished for the day. They have both reported a "good exchange of views" and agreed to keep in contact across the weekend to try and find a way to avoid a pre-Christmas General Election. The impasse remains surrounding no-confidence motions tabled against the Tanaiste over her handling of the McCabe controversy. Micheal Martin still says Frances Fitzgerald must go while the Taoiseach maintains she has done nothing wrong. "I don't want there to be any ambiguity about this, there is no subtle message being sent out there to the Tanaiste that she should even consider resigning," Leo Varadkar said. "I won't be seeking her resignation, I don't want her to offer it to me." As more talks are expected tomorrow, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has called for votes of no confidence in the Tanaiste to be pushed back until the New Year. The TD for Dublin Bay South, has been in touch with party leaders and feels the last thing the public want is a general election. "I contacted both Micheal Martin and Mary Lou McDonald yesterday and said: 'Without changing your tack or approach, put that motion of confidence back into the New Year - you don't have to pull it, just delay it'," he said. "That would allow us to have an election - if that is what ends up - it means that this critical period of Christmas and the critical run-up to Brexit elections, we don't have an election. I think the Irish people don't want an election at Christmas," he added. Update 3.49pm: The leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are meeting again to try to find a way to avoid a pre-Christmas General Election. Leo Vardakar still says Frances Fitzgerald has done nothing wrong and will not ask for her resignation. While Micheal Martin said his party has no confidence in the Justice Minister and she must go. Both say they are willing to engage in discussions to resolve the situation and avert the collapse of the Government. The Taoiseach says they fully support the Tanaiste despite two tabled motions of no confidence in her by the opposition. Varadkar said she should not even consider quitting amid a furore that has brought his administration to the brink of collapse. There has been speculation the Tanaiste may fall on her own sword to avert a general election. Mr Varadkar said he wanted there to be no ambiguity over his public declarations of support for Ms Fitzgerald, who is under intense pressure over her handling of a 2015 email that revealed attempts to discredit a Garda whistleblower. The Fine Gael leader rejected any suggestion he was privately hoping his party colleague would walk away to quell the crisis. "I don't want there to be any ambiguity about this, there is no subtle message being sent out there to the Tanaiste that she should even consider resigning," he said. "I won't be seeking her resignation, I don't want her to offer it to me." Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has refused to budge on a motion of no confidence in the Tanaiste. It is scheduled for next Tuesday and, if Fianna Fail follows through with it, the confidence and supply agreement would be broken and the government would fall, forcing a pre-Christmas election. The threat of an election has caused turmoil in government and political circles, with the biggest fear that it would be fought in the teeth of Brexit negotiations which could determine the future of the Irish border. Fianna Fail's Stephen Donnelly said neither Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein or anyone else is looking for an election right now. He said it is a time for cool heads and he is calling on the Tanaiste to resign: "It is not anybody's interest to have an election right now. It is not in the country's interest to have an election right now. This is a very specific call - it is directed at Frances Fitzgerald," he said. "The simple fact is the majority of TDs in Dail Eireann do not have confidence in Frances Fitzgerald and our position is, based on very, very serious information that came into the public domain in the last ten days, that she should step back and our hope is that she will do so." Attending an event in Dublin on Saturday focused on role models for young women, Mr Varadkar reiterated his view that Mrs Fitzgerald had done nothing wrong. "I think there is a real injustice here in people calling for her to resign in these circumstances," he said. "I don't want to see a good woman who I think has done enormous service in Irish public life, who has been a real asset to Irish politics, brought down in this way. "I just don't think it would be fair, I don't think it would be right and I don't think the majority of the Irish people would like that to happen." He added: "I am not willing to sacrifice a good person just so the government can continue its work in these circumstances." Earlier, Mr Varadkar used his speech at the opening of the FemFest conference in the city's Liberty Hall to publicly signal his support for the embattled Tanaiste, hailing her as an "honourable and distinguished politician". The crisis centres on Mrs Fitzgerald's knowledge of a legal strategy to be employed by lawyers for the Garda Commissioner that was designed to discredit whistleblower Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe at a private inquiry into his allegations of bad policing. The information was contained in an email sent to the Tanaiste by a deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Justice in 2015. It also advised that legally she had no grounds to intervene. The Taoiseach has said Mrs Fitzgerald had been advised not to intervene in the legal strategy. He said that has since been backed up by advice from the Attorney General. The Tanaiste has faced days of allegations from opposition parties that she was aware of the campaign by lawyers for the Garda Commissioner and took no action. She has said she cannot remember getting the email in 2015. It alerted her that "a serious criminal complaint", which had always been denied by Sgt McCabe, was raised at the inquiry. Sinn Fein was first out of the blocks earlier this week with plans for a motion of no confidence, with Fianna Fail then declaring its intention to follow suit. On Saturday, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams made clear his party would press ahead with its motion, regardless of the outcome of the crisis talks between the Dail's two main parties. "The only thing that will prevent this is the Tanaiste stepping down," Mr Adams said in Drogheda. "This is nothing personal against Frances Fitzgerald. This is Sinn Fein doing our job - holding the government to account." Update 12.22pm: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said today that he is hopeful a resolution can be found in the current political impasse. He insisted that he does not want Frances Fitzgerald to resign, and that the matter is before the Disclosures Tribunal. "Certainly, if there is a way to avoid the Government falling and the Dail collapsing and an election, I'm open to that," he said. "But it can't involve the Tanaiste being forced to resign, because that would just be the wrong thing to do." Update 12.22pm: The chair of Fine Gaels National Executive has insisted that the party does not want a General Election. The Taoiseach and the Fianna Fail leader are due to meet again, but unless a compromise can be found an election could happen in a matter of weeks. "This is an emergency meeting of the Fine Gael Executive Council, convened to, I suppose, to prepare for a General Election," said Gerry OConnell. "None of us want a General Election, it's our hope that a General Election can be avoided at all cost. "The Taoiseach's position, as he set out last night, [is that] he's not going to dismiss the Tanaiste, he's going to support her to the hilt, and we support his position. "But we're preparing on the basis that the Dail may be dissolved as early as Tuesday." Earlier: The Fine Gael National Executive Council is holding an emergency meeting this morning to discuss its strategy for a potential general election. The council is meeting in the next hour at their Headquarters in Dublin. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is meeting with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin again today in a bid to break the impasse over the garda whistleblower controversy. However, Fine Gael is conscious that it will need time and space to prepare for an election in the event that one is called. Fianna Fail has put down a motion of no confidence in Frances Fitzgerald over her handling of the Maurice McCabe controversy - but Leo Varadkar says he will not sack her. It centres around an email that the Tanaiste received in May 2015 outlining the proposed legal strategy against the Garda Whistleblower at the O'Higgins Commission. The Irish Examiner's Mick Clifford says the suggestion that she could not legally interfere in the proceedings is a distraction. "There was nothing to stop her," he said. "In fact you could argue that she had a duty to pick up the phone and ring the Garda Commissioner and say: Can you tell me why, is there a valid reason for this, what is it based on, just so I can understand it, just so I have polictical cover, even, if you want to put it that way, because I have met Maurice McCabe and he seems like an honourable man, can you tell me please what is going on?" Argentina's president has said an international search will continue for a submarine carrying 44 crew members that has been lost in the South Atlantic for nine days and the vessel's disappearance will be investigated. The Argentine navy said an explosion occurred near the time and place where the submarine went missing on November 15 as it was sailing from the extreme southern port of Ushuaia to the coastal city of Mar del Plata. Workers stand around the ARA San Juan submarine during a ceremony in 2011. That has led some family members of the crew to give up hope of a rescue. Navy officials and outside experts also worry that even if the sub is intact but submerged, its crew may be running out of oxygen. "The disappearance and current search of the ARA San Juan submarine has touched all Argentines. It's a difficult moment for all, but obviously, especially for the families of the 44 crew members," President Mauricio Macri said in his first public comments about the missing submarine at the navy's headquarters in Buenos Aires. "I'm here to guarantee you that we will carry on with the search, especially now that we have the support of all the international community." More than a dozen planes and ships have been participating in the multinational search across an area of some 185,000 square miles, which is roughly the size of Spain. The Argentine navy said on Friday that Russia is sending an Antonov transport aircraft and a ship in the southern Patagonian port of Comodoro Rivadavia is being adapted to carry a US Navy submarine rescue chamber to the area. The ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric TR-1700 class submarine, was commissioned in 1985 and was most recently refitted in 2014. The sub was originally scheduled to arrive on Monday at a navy base in Mar del Plata, about 250 miles south east of Buenos Aires. Some relatives of the crew who have gathered at the base fear that their loved ones will no longer be rescued. "Hope is the last thing you lose. I'm waiting for a surprise, but I'm not really counting on it," Luis Tagliapietra, father of 27-year-old crew member Alejandro Damian Tagliapietra, said. "You go from denial to suffering, from optimism to pessimism," he said, holding back tears. When he found out about the explosion from his son's direct superior, he was told that there was a possibility there were no survivors. "I asked them if they were all dead, and he said: 'Yes.'" Some family members have denounced the navy's response to the disappearance and the condition of the 30-year-old vessel. Although Mr Macri said that it is not the time to point fingers at anyone, he promised a probe of the sub's disappearance. "This demands a serious, deep investigation," Mr Macri said. "We need to understand how a submarine that had undergone a mid-life refit, and that was in perfect conditions to sail, suffered this explosion." AP Burma and Bangladesh have signed an agreement covering the return of Rohingya Muslims who fled across their mutual border to escape violence in Burma's Rakhine state. Burma announced the agreement but provided no details on how many Rohingya refugees would be allowed to return home. Bangladesh said the repatriations are to begin within two months. More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled from Burma into Bangladesh since August 25, when the army began what it called "clearance operations" following an attack on police posts by a group of Rohingya insurgents. Refugees arriving in Bangladesh said their homes were set on fire by soldiers and Buddhist mobs, and some reported being shot at by security forces. The office of Burma's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the agreement "on the return of displaced persons from Rakhine state" was signed by Cabinet officials in Naypyitaw, Burma's capital. It said the pact follows a formula set in a 1992 repatriation agreement signed by the two nations after an earlier spasm of violence. Under that agreement, Rohingya were required to present residency documents, which few have, before being allowed to return to Burma, which is also known by some as Myanmar. "We're continuing our bilateral talks with Myanmar so that these Myanmar nationals (Rohingya) could return to their country," Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was quoted as saying by the United News of Bangladesh news agency. "It's my call to Myanmar to start taking back soon their nationals from Bangladesh." Rohingya at a refugee camp in Bangladesh expressed deep doubts about the agreement. "They burned our houses, they took our land and cows - will they give us these things back?" asked Abdul Hamid from Hoyakong. "I'm not happy at all. First, I need to know if they are going to accept us with the Rohingya identity," said Sayed Alom, also from Hoyakong. Rohingya Muslims have faced state-supported discrimination in predominantly Buddhist Burma for decades. Though members of the ethnic minority first arrived generations ago, Rohingya were stripped of their citizenship in 1982, denying them almost all rights and rendering them stateless. They cannot travel freely, practise their religion, or work as teachers or doctors, and they have little access to medical care, food or education. The Burmese government has refused to accept them as a minority group, and the statement issued on Thursday by Ms Suu Kyi's office did not use the term "Rohingya". The United States has declared the violence against Rohingya to be "ethnic cleansing", and threatened penalties for Burmese military officers involved in the crackdown. The human rights group Amnesty International said in a report that the discrimination against Rohingya has worsened considerably in the last five years, and amounts to "dehumanising apartheid". "There can be no safe or dignified returns of Rohingya to Myanmar while a system of apartheid remains in the country, and thousands are held there in conditions that amount to concentration camps. Returns in the current climate are simply unthinkable," the group's director for refugee and migrant rights, Charmain Mohamed, said. AP The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) said such reduced tourist supply will result in a push to increase prices by hotels and other accommodation providers across mainland Europe in a bid to maintain their margins. It cited Tourism Ireland figures which estimated double-digit percentage falls in the number of British tourists travelling outside the UK and in what they spend if they do. It is our hope that holidaymakers from other European markets such as Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands will help keep prices down for Irish consumers, said ITAA president Cormac Meehan. Addressing delegates at the inaugural Irish travel industry summit in Dublin, Mr Meehan said those in the industry (selling to consumers) must get ready for a very different world. Brexit will result in the renegotiation of the single sky treaty and many low-cost carriers will move their bases from the UK sooner rather than later. The uncertainty and risk are certain to impact our sectors growth, he said. Mr Meehan said a hard Brexit would hinder travel agents in the North. A weak pound will mean that cost of sales will rise, margins will drop, and lower customer numbers will result in higher prices. Increased border controls will also impact staff mobility, he said adding that the Government has failed to convince the UK of the gravity of the situation. It is up to us, travel professionals, to embrace and strengthen bonds with our counterparts in Europe to facilitate and preserve our existing confederate relationships. Latest UK data, published yesterday, shows consumer confidence is now lower than at any time since last years Brexit vote and banks approved the fewest amount of mortgages in over a year. The UK housing market has cooled sharply this year and the UK Finance trade association said banks approved 40,488 mortgages for house purchase last month, down from 41,576 in September and 3% less than in October 2016. The British economy has steadily slowed since the Brexit vote as rising inflation eats into disposable incomes and it growth forecasts were cut sharply earlier this week. The cost of borrowing for the Irish state over 10 years ticked higher to 0.59%, but the gains were in line with other eurozone sovereign debt markets, which suggests the political drama in the Dail was having little effect on markets. Local analysts said they fielded calls from international traders who were trying to get a grip on the consequences of Irish politics on the Brexit talks. A major EU summit in early December will decide if the UK has made enough concessions on the border and on its exit divorce bill for the talks to proceed. Irish political disruption has the potential to strengthen Londons negotiating hand and weaken the position of Michel Barnier, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator. However, at 89.3p, the euro was still up against sterling. Owen Callan, senior analyst at Investec Ireland, said the reaction of markets was muted because the political news from Ireland wasnt expected to affect next months big meeting. The news had not unduly ruffled market participants who assessed that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail shared similar positions on Brexit, and that Ireland wouldnt be out of the loop in the December talks, Mr Callan said. David Holohan, chief investment officer at Merrion, said there was still a major focus on what was going to happen to Irelands government ahead of the December summit. Referring to the muted market reaction, Mr Holohan said while the threat of an early election was a surprise, that participants had expected an election to be called at sometime next year. Markets may react if political uncertainty were to extend to March when a further key EU meeting on Brexit is scheduled, he said. The threat of political uncertainty across Europe has softened as the eurozone economy has strengthened helping to support the euro. One headwind is German political uncertainty after chancellor Angela Merkel saw her efforts to form a coalition government collapse. The current situation in Germany is an excellent illustration of a phenomenon which has characterised the entire eurozone throughout the year: Buoyant confidence and strong economic growth goes hand in hand with political uncertainty and instability, said Carsten Brzeski, chief economist at ING-Diba in Frankfurt. This dichotomy can easily continue in 2018. A survey by Deloitte showed European business confidence was increasing, with Irish chief financial officers seeing less uncertainty. And most Irish chief financial officers predicted that their revenues would likely rise in 2018 and were very optimistic about the prospects of investing more in their businesses in 2018, according to the survey. Here in Ireland, the findings mark a noticeable recovery from some of the shocks to the market in 2016, namely Brexit and the US presidential election. The identification of geopolitical risks and currency fluctuations among the top risks in the minds of the Irish chief financial officers demonstrates that they are not getting ahead of themselves, said Deloitte partner Alan Flanagan. Reports suggested that the group has held talks to explore a possible tie-up with Melbourne-based CrownBet, the online betting unit of Australian casino giant Crown Resorts. The Australian online betting company is seen as being a target for industry players with a UK presence seeking to expand their international operations in order to offset tougher regulations in Britain. A spokesperson for Paddy Power-Betfair declined to comment but the news followed an earlier statement by British betting firm William Hill saying that it has held very preliminary discussions, itself, with CrownBet about a potential merger with the UK bookies Australian unit. There is no certainty that these preliminary discussions will lead to any transaction, William Hill said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange. Crown Resorts admitted that it is in discussions about its 62% holding in CrownBet without providing further details. Speculation is growing that UK-focused gambling companies are set to embark on a round of consolidation to offset the threat of stricter regulation and diversify their operations. Last month, the British government outlined proposals to cut the maximum stake on gambling machines in betting shops, a move that would hit an important source of bookmakers revenue. Ladbrokes-Coral held unsuccessful deal talks with online rival GVC this year and a spate of deal-making among British companies is expected once the UK government makes a decision on gambling machine stakes. William Hill entered the Australian market four years ago when it bought Sportingbet and tomwaterhouse.com but its operations have since struggled. Earlier this week it posted a 5% decline in amounts wagered at its Australian division between the end of June and late October. Its share price was marginally down yesterday. Earlier this month, Paddy Power-Betfair reported a 9% annualised rise in third quarter revenues to 440m (502m) and a 7% increase in underlying earnings to 121m. While online revenues were down 3%, year-on-year, and gaming revenue remained flat, the group saw growth in its main geographical locations with Australia-based revenues via its Sportsbet online subsidiary ahead by almost 30%. The armed Regional Support Unit of An Garda Siochana from Waterford came across the car at Lisnalanive, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on February 13 and the brothers were arrested after a struggle. A jury found them not guilty of obstructing the officers but guilty of possessing house-breaking equipment with intent to commit a crime and also carrying a weapon, namely a Taser. Judge Gerard OBrien said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: They were caught in the darkness of night and there was a sinister possibility of a crime about to be committed. These types of offences are extremely sinister and add to peoples sense of unease in society. Duane OCallaghan, aged 40, of 8 The Cloisters, St. Johns Hill, Waterford, was jailed for 18 months with the last six months suspended. His brother, Jonathan Lindsay OCallaghan, aged 32, of 6 Meadowbrook, Tramore, Co Waterford, was jailed for 12 months, with the last six months suspended. The older man had more previous convictions. Both had previous counts for burglary. Sergeant James Hallahan said the armed unit encountered the car on a quiet country road on the night. In the car there was a pillowcase containing items including torch, safety glasses, gloves and snood, all believed to be in their possession for the commission of the crime of burglary. A Taser was also found and they were convicted separately of having that as a weapon. Des Hayes, defending, said Duane OCallaghan had come off heroin and went on a methadone treatment programme. Sian Langley, defending, said the younger man also had addiction issues and he did not want his own children to have the life that he had growing up and he wanted to change his life for their benefit. He is sorry for these offences, Ms Langley said. Judge OBrien noted this remorse from Lindsay OCallaghan which he contrasted with the absence of any remorse from the older brother. It was 1990 and Brian Lenihan senior was in the wars, but the taoiseach was standing firmly behind his tanaiste, minister for defence and the aspiring president. A few days later, Brian Lenihan was thrown under the bus, to borrow Leo Varadkars phrase. When his Progressive Democrat coalition partners threatened to collapse the government if Lenihan was not removed, Haughey unceremoniously sacked his tanaiste. The current Taoiseachs political style is very different to that of Mr Haughey. However, he is faced with a similar dilemma. He is being asked to rid himself of a loyal and capable colleague, at the behest of another party which has the power to end his Governments tenure. Mr Varadkars believes an early election might give him a chance to strengthen his partys mandate. If the Taoiseach is trying to force an election, while pinning the blame on Fianna Fail, this is high-risk politics. Under the Constitution, the loss of this majority makes the Taoiseachs right to an election very conditional and gives the President a major say. Article 13.2.2 of Bunreacht na hEireann states the President may in his absolute discretion refuse to dissolve Dail Eireann on the advice of a Taoiseach who has ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dail Eireann. Under Article 28.10 if the President does refuse to grant a dissolution, the Taoiseach must resign, and the Dail would then nominate a successor. Mr Varadkar is no doubt aware that if he arrives at the Aras seeking a general election in the aftermath of a Dail vote that has collapsed his Governments majority, the President is within his rights to decline this request. This would make Mr Varadkar the shortest serving Taoiseach in our history. Brian Murphy lectures in Dublin Institute of Technology. He is the author of Forgotten Patriot: Douglas Hyde and the Foundation of the Irish Presidency Jack Nagle told his grandfather he was going to invent a device that would prevent accidents like it from happening in the first place. The now 15-year-olds tractor safe lock, a device that automatically engages the handbrake when the driver leaves the seat, is patent pending. Mr OSullivan had been working on his suckler farm in Beaufort, Co Kerry when he got off his tractor to attend to something. I was driving the tractor and I came off to do something and forgot to put on the handbrake. I had just turned my back and the tractor ran and trapped my left leg, he told the Irish Examiner. Mr OSullivan lay beneath the vehicle for four hours, waiting for help. His wife, Eileen, was in Tralee shopping and his son, Joe, who farms with him, was also away. He suffered only minor injuries and was kept in hospital overnight. I was one of the lucky ones but I did become a lot more careful about farm safety. Jack said at the time he would invent something and he was only a child. True to his word, Jacks tractor safe lock has already won numerous awards. It was a proud Mr OSullivan at Kerry County Council offices in Killorglin yesterday, where his grandson was honoured with a civic reception by members of the South and West Kerry Municipal District. Im very proud of him. He wants to put it into production now, which would be a good thing. Its very badly needed because people are always forgetting the handbrake but if you had that on a tractor you could walk away from it and the tractor is not going to follow you. Its always happening, day after day, he said. Jacks mother Irene, grandmother, brothers Ryan and Gearoid, sister Chloe, his principal at Killorglin Community College, Con Moynihan, extended family and friends, all looked on proudly when the presentation was made. Although he was only eight at the time, Jack recalls his grandfathers accident vividly. I remember when he had the accident. It was a big thing in our family. I saw the problem and I thought something should be done about it. My granddad always reminds me of the conversation we had, he said. The tractor safe lock has already won numerous accolades, including the ABP Farm Safety Award at the BT Young Scientist, the overall best project award at IT Tralees Sci Fest, and represented Kerry in the national finals, where it won the excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics award. Jack was named Young Engineer of the Year at the Big Bang Science Fair in Belfast, his device won the junior overall project award at Tullamore Show and an innovation award and Peoples Choice award at the National Ploughing Championships. Once it has been patented, the next step for the tractor safe lock is production. Jack says his biggest obstacle here will be getting investors because of his age. Its hard at my young age to get it to the next step but if I had backers behind me it would definitely help, he said. The next step for the entrepreneurial teen is the Junior Cert and after his Leaving Cert he hopes to study engineering and develop more products to compliment the tractor safe lock. Cathaoirleach of South and West Kerry, Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald, said 22 lives had already been lost on Irish farms this year. Devices like Jacks are very important and theres great credit due to Jack coming up with an invention like this at such a young age, he said. The recipient said he was honoured to have been nominated for the award by independent councillor Michael Cahill. The people of this county really came behind me and I had great support over the last year and its an honour for me, he said. Ronan Crowley, aged 34, who now lives at 47 Gould St, Cork, was remanded in custody until yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Sean O Donnabhain decided to release the accused and remand him on bail until February 28, 2018. He pleaded guilty to a charge that, on September 20, 2012, at an address at Dunbar St, Cork, he had child porn in his possession. Detective Garda Myles Moran said the raid on the defendants home at Gould St was made on the basis of information received about downloaded material. Specifically, he had 167 image files and 125 movie files. Det Garda Moran said the images and videos included depictions of children in sexual activities with other children and in some cases with adults. He said the accused was totally co-operative with the investigation. Judge Sean O Donnabhain said on Monday he could not understand why Crowley, who was a qualified tradesman, could not find work and pay for rehabilitative treatment. He said Crowley got into viewing child pornography through idleness. Brendan Kelly, defending, said the accused was keen to get treatment but was presently unemployed. On Monday, it was confirmed the accused had not gotten a job or completed the rehabilitation. It is alleged that Fr Thomas Heley abused young boys in the Catholic parish of Ss Alban and Stephen in Hertfordshire in the late 1970s. The Irish Examiner has since been made aware of allegations of abuse against Fr Heley while he was in Cork, made not long before he moved to the UK. A member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr Heley worked in Cork through the 50s and into the 70s. Last weekend the parish in St Albans published a notice on its website which stated: we have received historic allegations, dating back several decades, that one of our priests based here in St Alban sexually abused some young people. The notice did not name the priest but said the person against whom the allegations had been made had died several years ago and both the Hertfordshire Police and the Archdiocese had been informed of the allegations. On Thursday the Herts Advertiser newspaper named Fr Thomas Heley as the alleged abuser, quoting one unnamed victim: I feel I have not been able to lead the life that I could have had, which deeply saddens me and my family. The mother of another victim was also quoted. A Hertfordshire Police spokesperson confirmed it had received a third party report of alleged abuse. However, it said that since the suspect was deceased there are no lawful lines of enquiry that we can pursue. In response to detailed questions from this paper, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart confirmed that it had received allegations relating to Fr Heleys time in the UK but did not respond to questions as to whether any allegations had ever been lodged with respect to his time serving in Cork. The Irish Examiner has since been made aware of at least one case involving two boys and in which it is claimed the MSC was contacted about the allegations at the time by a parent. Referring to the St Albans allegations an MSC spokesperson said. We informed the people in St Albans Parish of these allegations last weekend and asked anyone who has been abused to come forward and to report to the police and other relevant authorities. It said it had reported all allegations to the British and Irish police as well as the HSE/TUSLA and the National Board for Safeguarding Children. A newspaper archive search shows Fr Heley MSC took services in Cork in 1953 through to 1968, as well as leading retreats and conducting a sermon in October 1952 for three departing missionaries. The MSC declined to offer any additional information as to where he served. The Herts Advertiser said Fr Heley died in 1986. One unnamed victim is quoted in the paper: Its only recently I have felt able to disclose this abuse and I am currently struggling to process the emotions that this has brought to the forefront on my mind. The Great Blasket Island, a bare, treeless island off the coast of Co Kerry, receives up to 400 visitors a day at the height of the tourist season but its lack of facilities is giving rise to complaints, a meeting in Killorglin has heard. West Kerry councillor Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald who is leading the call for leithris poibli, said on fine days hundreds make the 5km sea journey the island made famous by Irish writers Tomas O Criomhthain and Peig. Mr Creed, who passed away on Thursday, aged 93, was a long-time Fine Gael TD for the Cork Mid and then Cork North West constituencies and held a number of junior ministerial briefs in the early 1980s. Macroom-born, he held a number of roles including minister of state in the Department of Health in the latter half of 1981, junior minister in the Department of the Environment in 1982, and minister of state in the Department of Education from 1982 to 1986. Fancy hitting the beach this Christmas Day? Its still possible! Heres our rundown of the best holidays still on offer this year. Tenerife Tenerife is an ideal destination for those of us who want to forget about Christmas and soak up some sun for a week. TUI (formerly Falcon Holidays) have a great deal departing Cork on 24th of December for seven nights staying at the Catalonia Punta Del Rey in Las Caletillas. Located minutes walk from Tenerifes famous black sand beaches, this all-inclusive resort is good value and great for families with a wide-ranging buffet restaurant, an Italian restaurant and a slightly more upmarket A La Carte eatery as well as snack bars which offer toasted sandwiches and hot dogs throughout the day. The pool is huge and there is an adults-only terrace complete with hot tubs hidden off the side for those looking for some quiet time. Rooms are spacious and have aircon and WIFI but wed suggest upgrading to a premium room to avail of tea and coffee making facilities, which are quite essential to a happy holiday. TUI flies to Tenerife from Cork on 24th December, staying at the 3 star Catalonia Punta Del Rey for seven days on an all-inclusive basis from 1,119pp. Fuertaventura Fuertaventura offers a relaxed but ultra swish festive option with a fabulous holiday from Sunway departing Cork on the 23rd of December. Hole up at the Sheraton Fuertaventura Beach Golf & Spa Resort and bask in serious luxury for the week. This resort caters to adults and kids alike, with an excellent kids club, playground, mini golf and a shuttle bus to a nearby golf course and shopping centre. The Thalassotherapy spa is a must visit but without children, please. The huge benefit of this resort is in the fact that it is part of the Sheraton brand, so certain standards must be upheld, particularly the worldwide reputation of their very comfortable beds. There are multiple options for food throughout the resort, but as this is quite upmarket, men are required to wear long trousers for dinner, particularly at the fancy meal on Christmas Day. For families travelling, Id highly recommend booking Prestige Family Rooms, which not only have sea views but also have interconnecting doors so that you can check on each other to your hearts content. If you are looking for an all singing, all dancing holiday in luxury, then this is the one for you. Sunway flies to Fuerteventura from Cork on 23rd of December to stay at the 5 star Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach Golf & Spa Resort for seven days from 1654 pp on a B&B basis with an option to upgrade to full board if you wish. Costa Del Sol With a temperate climate during winter months, the Costa Del Sol is a fabulous location to spend the festivities this year. Nerja is a long-time favourite amongst Irish holidaymakers and TUI have a holiday departing Cork on 22nd of December to stay at the Hotel Nerja Club. Ideal for adults looking to get away from it all over Christmas this resort is quiet and ultra calm with a great on-site spa and a very relaxed pool area. The pool and terrace area overlooks the nearby blue flag beach, which is an easy 15-minute stroll downhill. Nerja town is a twenty-minute walk away but there are a handful of shops, bars and restaurants located minutes away from the resort. The package on offer is half board, and meals are served buffet style in the main restaurant. They are hosting a gala dinner on Christmas Day, so bring your fancy outfit to wear to dinner after a days sunbathing. TUI flies to Costa Del Sol on 22nd December, staying at the 3-star Hotel Nerja Club for seven days on a half board basis from 809pp. Sunsearchholidays.ie have some fabulous Christmas holiday offers in the Costa Del Sol. Flying out on December 22rd, families can holiday at the 4-star Sunset Beach Club in Belamadena. The resort overlooks the beach and is minutes walk away from shops, cafes and restaurants. This self-catering holiday will suit families who need to maintain some level of normality while in holiday mode and provide an atmosphere that Santa can arrive in without hassle. There are a huge amount of activities on offer, from the 35-metre football pitch to table tennis and bowling in the on-site bowling alley. Golfers will love that the resort has its own golf desk and is located close to the exclusive golf courses of El Paraiso, and Atalaya, as well as multiple courses within a 10-minute drive. In high season Sunset Beach operates six bars and restaurants, but during less busy times of the year, this varies. Nevertheless, the food on offer is varied and kids are catered to with separate childrens menus in all outlets. Sunsearchholidays.ie flies from Cork to Costa Del Sol on 22nd December, staying at the 4-star Sunset Beach Club in Belamadena for seven nights. This self-catering holiday costs 1519 in total for 2 adults and 2 children. Lanzarote Indulge your inner royal with a visit to Sandos Papagayo Resort with Sunway this Christmas. This all-inclusive resort enjoys a super beachfront position in Lanzarotes Playa Blanca and is a really popular resort with families. All-inclusive holidays can sometimes pose a worry if you like variety when it comes to mealtimes, but this place has it covered with a pizzeria, Mexican and Asian restaurants as well as the standard buffet offering. The package includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks as well as drinks throughout the day. Wed recommend upgrading to the Royal Elite Service, which involves a room with a guaranteed sea view, breakfast in a private restaurant, access to the Royal Elite lounge, chill out terrace, pool towels in the room, mini bar with water and soft drinks on arrival, tea and coffee service and a kettle. For the notion of a quiet breakfast alone, we think its worth it, but drinks and tea and coffee facilities in the room will make your life easier. Sunway depart Cork for Lanzarote on 23rd of December to stay at the 4 star Sandos Papagayo Resort for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis from 1585pp. The best of the rest Skip off to Gran Canaria with Sunsearchholidays.ie and stay at the recently renovated and very fabulous Labranda Playa Bonita. Lots of resorts that are receiving revamps lately seem to be going for a clean, minimalist feel, and we applaud this move. The Labranda Playa Bonita is light, bright and super clean, with satellite televisions and in-room hairdryers (most important). Rooms are spacious and accommodate families very well. The terraces and balconies are all well appointed and are an ideal spot to take some quiet time out. Children are super welcome here and theres an onsite playground and kids club as well as childrens pool and lots of daily and evening entertainment. This holiday is all-inclusive, and the main meals are all served in the main restaurant on site. While the choice on offer is good and varied, be aware that certain items on the menu may be subject to a supplementary charge, and while drinks are included, some alcoholic drinks do cost extra. Sunsearchholidays.ie fly from Cork to Gran Canaria on 22nd December to stay at the four-star Labranda Playa Bonita for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis from 1199pp. Loveholidays.ie are featuring a holiday at the Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa in Estepona on the Costa Del Sol this Christmas, and it is ideal for couples who want to make this festive season the most romantic one yet. This charming hotel overlooks the beach in the quiet town of Estepona. Guest rooms are super luxurious. The hotel has an excellent spa, which is well worth a visit, and features manicured gardens, which lead out to the quiet beach in front of the property. Even though the hotel is all-inclusive, it doesnt have the sometimes-manic atmosphere that some of its counterparts have this is intimate service on a luxury scale. Their food offering is fabulous and even includes a Champagne breakfast, for those who want to start the day right, but we would ensure that we have the All Inclusive Plus level, because you are going to want to try absolutely everything that is on offer here. Loveholidays.ie fly from Cork to Costa Del Sol, staying at the 5 star Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa on 22nd December for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis from 1395 pp. Political Correspondent Frances Fitzgerald was seen as a pair of safe hands, a reliable politician who could come into the Department of Justice and sieve through the mess over the garda whistleblower controversy. Amid a web of dysfunctionality, the resignation of a garda commissioner and a department minister, Ms Fitzgerald took the baton with a role to reform how the St Stephens Green offices were run. As then-taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dail on May 8, 2014, when Ms Fitzgerald replaced Alan Shatter as minister, she would bring a reforming zeal to her new job: Restoring confidence and integrity to the Irish justice system now becomes the number one priority for the new minister. However, the Department of Justice is now, in some ways, considered the new Angola of Irish politics. That negative distinction was previously given to the embattled Department of Health. The garda whistleblower saga saw the resignation of Mr Shatter as justice minister and the then-Garda commissioner Martin Callinan, while secretary general Brian Purcell was re-assigned. There have been cover-ups, falsehoods, a smear campaign and open derision of Sgt McCabe, who has highlighted massive wrongdoing in the force. The current crisis engulfing the Government revolves around what the department and its then minister, Ms Fitzgerald, knew at a crucial time when garda management and the whistleblower were going head-to-head at the OHiggins inquiry into alleged garda wrongdoing. Publicly, garda management and Ms Fitzgerald praised Sgt McCabe. Privately, the top echelons of justice were communicating about a strategy to topple Sgt McCabe with a false sex abuse allegation. A controversial email, which now threatens to hurtle the country into a winter election, has revealed that the garda plan to use this false claim against Sgt McCabe was made known to Ms Fitzgerald. This was on May 15, 2015, one year after she was appointed to restore confidence and integrity to the justice system. So, what did the then justice minister do with this disturbing piece of information? Nothing. It has also emerged the department found this email on November 9, but the new Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, the Tanaiste and the Taoiseach were kept in the dark for days It goes without saying we are all thrilled, me in particular: where once I only had one hi-tech, high-spec lesbian to write about, now I have two. My sisters new apartment is in the same complex as her old one, which she is now renting out to my nephew Fergus and his girlfriend Liv. Fergus and Liv are 23, lovely, and vegan. But this doesnt mean they wont eat toast in bed and get marmalade on my sisters carpet. Or know about Pledge. Family opinion is undivided on this rental-arrangement: we must just all cross our fingers tightly. My sister has been sending pictures of her refurbishments over family Whatsapp as and when they happened. Her carpenter Matic featured in some of these photos. As a family, we are rooting for Matic; we hope for his sake hes as skilled at clearing up after himself as he is with a biscuit-joint. Anyway, I am in London and the refurbishments are nearly complete. I am staying with my sister and girlfriend for a couple of nights before heading down to stay with my oldest friend Vanessa. My mother has advised me that when my sister gives me the guided tour, I am to take particular note of the ergonomic layout, and the extra bedroom. I havent been told exactly how enthusiastic about refurbishments I must be but I am aiming for very, very, very. This means permanent smiling and nodding, maybe a bit of clapping, but no jumping up and down and definitely no weeping. Weeping would go down OK with my Sligo sister but not my London or Devon ones. My sister greets me in time-honoured tradition: by giving me a huge hug and saying, Shoes off. No, not in a ******* minute, now. After this, I get the tour. First, we look at a wall in the hall. It has two blank panels on it. Well, she says, what do you think? Im not sure how to apply very, very, very to a wall with two blank panels on it. What am I supposed to be looking at? I say. She presses the panels and they sort of bounce open. Inside, is everything. The only thing missing is a robot butler. I think this is what is meant by expensive storage solution. I know how to apply very, very, very to this. OH MY GOD, I shout, its like Goldie Hawns shoe cupboard in Overboard. Matic is like Kurt Russell! HES A GENIUS!!! In the kitchen, I am very very very enthusiastic about the shower-nozzle on the mixer tap. The same goes for the Bose speaker, which is longer than me and I give a little clap on the back balcony. This is for the London landmark view, not for the fake grass, which is a step too far for a gardener like me. After the tour, I am put to sit on a new velvet chaise-lounge from Habitat; I am astonished that I am allowed to sit on it without holding my sisters little hand-held Dyson vacuum at the same time. She hands me wine in a long-stemmed glass and watches me with her beady eye. I watch my wine glass with mine. My oldest friend Vanessa calls me, while I am sitting on the chaise-lounge. I am due down there tomorrow. Vanessa and my sister know each other and each others houses well. Vanessas house is like an Uzbek bazaar. I put Vanessa on loudspeaker. So whats the new apartment like? she says. A UFO, I say, with very strict rules. A UFO called Domestos. Same as her other one, then, Vanessa says. Shut up the both of you, my sister says. Bit bigger, I say, same feeling, you know slightly unreal, hovering above the earth and not quite able to connect with it. Oh, Vanessa says, well this might help you reconnect with it. I ought to let you know before you come that I heard scratching noises behind the piano last night. Please dont tell me youve got mice again, my sister says. Vanessa says, I gave the piano a good kick. Ive heard nothing since. Excellent plan of action, my sister says, a good kick will have seen them off. Thats what I thought, says Vanessa. You must remember to pass that one onto Rentokil, my sister says, in case they havent heard of it. This ire was reflective of the widespread opinion within the Soldiers of Destiny at the time that single-party government was a core belief and Charlie Haugheys deal with Des OMalley and his fellow rebels was a betrayal. In the Dail bar on Thursday evening, a group of Fianna Fail TDs gathered around the TV screen to watch their justice spokesman, Jim OCallaghan, effectively call time on the supply and confidence arrangement by saying that the party would not be voting confidence in Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald. That deal, which has seen Fianna Fail facilitate the Fine Gael-led minority Government from opposition, has become increasingly unpopular among Micheal Martins troops. So when OCallaghan called time, his colleagues, including Barry Cowen, Thomas Byrne, Robert Troy, Dara Calleary, Billy Kelleher, the two Chambers Lisa and Jack, Ann Rabbitte, and Margaret Murphy OMahony cheered loudly. Fianna Fail had made it known to Taoiseach Leo Varadkars office with just minutes to go before OCallaghan went to air that, should the Tanaiste depart her post, then their man would not appear. As much as Reynolds and his cohorts disliked that temporary little arrangement with the PDs in the late 1980s, the current crop of Fianna Failers like the current temporary little arrangement even less. The pace of events on Thursday was incredible and peoples views were literally shifting by the hour. One Fine Gael minister, in the wake of a rocky performance by Fitzgerald at Leaders Questions, told me he expected her to be gone by dinner time. But by 7pm that same minister was adamant that the party was four square behind her and that talk of her resignation or sacking was ludicrous. But, while this was an issue which began about the maltreatment of Sgt Maurice McCabe, the Garda whistleblower, this now has way more to do with the fatal strains on the minority Government and its deal with Fianna Fail. Being honest, it was always going to end this way. The sheer instability of this eunuch minority Government means the arrangement was always vulnerable to collapse. This was always ready to fall. Things on one level normalised but on the other at the back of your head was the realisation that this could still fall any time over any issue, said one minister. What is also clear, and as I and others suggested back at the start of this Dail term, once the Budget was out of the way, all bets were off and an election was possible at any stage. This was a political crisis primarily driven by growing internal frustration within Fianna Fail at the confidence and supply arrangement, which has seen them support the Fine Gael-led minority government from opposition for the past 18 months. It could never last and once the Budget in October was out of the way, all bets were off. Despite all the public pronouncements that Fianna Fail was committed to the three-year deal; in private the story was very different. It is a pain in the backside. We are grinning and bearing it to be honest, is how one leading Fianna Fail party figure described the confidence and supply deal. The grassroots have been up in arms in the past few months. I know there was a lot of dissatisfaction at many of our local meetings, said another. A huge driving force behind the cheers in the Dail bar was the frustration at the partys previous marches up the hill only for them to come back down with their tail between their legs. With the threat made during the summer on the controversy over former attorney general Maire Whelans appointment to the Court of Appeal, Fianna Fail rightly opened itself up to ridicule as to its credibility. According to senior party figures, on that occasion, Jim OCallaghan went on a solo run in saying the appointment was a surprise and did call into question the confidence and supply agreement. He went too far and, as a lawyer, he is probably used to finessing his argument in court. But you cant finesse your argument in a 15-second clip on the Six One News, said a colleague. Yet OCallaghans wings werent clipped by Martin, who continuously appears willing to forgive his legal man. There is unease from our members at us marching up the hill so often and coming back down with nothing to show for it. Sooner or later we will have to do more than talk about pulling the plug, said the source. The decision by OCallaghan to pull the trigger was a cathartic release for Fianna Fail TDs, as revealed by their audible cheers in the Dail bar. While Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar were yesterday preparing to meet, it was suggested that, should Fitzgerald resign before Tuesday, the crisis would avert itself and the show would continue. That is nonsense. Confidence and supply is dead. Even if Fitzgerald resigns the country is going to the polls. The belated decision of her Fine Gael colleagues to jump to her defence on Thursday night appears to be solely driven by a desire to show Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein that they will not remove any one of them at their behest. To illustrate this, on Wednesday night, Fitzgerald stood isolated and weakened and without a colleague willing to go to bat for her on the airwaves. Come Thursday night, you could not get ministers off the airwaves telling us that she has done nothing wrong. For Leo Varadkar, he is taking the gamble of his political career. His stubborn refusal to consider sacking his Tanaiste, despite her obvious failings on this Maurice McCabe email saga, means he is risking ending his premiership after just four months. While no politician wants an election this side of Christmas or even in the short run, the clear signal from Cabinet ministers is that should an election, they are not daunted by it. I ask why? Because Leo is now leader. If Enda was still leader, we would be goosed, but Leo and his ministers are well able to sell our message, said one minister on Thursday night. So if Fine Gael go to the country, what would its message be? Well, there is a school of thought that we remind them of our progress in office while ever so gently scaring the shit out of them about what life would be like if Sinn Fein get in, a minister said. Also, it would be likely that we would talk up the prospect of a Sinn Fein coalition with Fianna Fail, which we feel is a strong play, the minister added. What is clear is the collective experiment that is New Politics has failed and whether it is before or after Christmas, the election is on. Girl Scout Awards This year, Girl Scout volunteers have empowered more than 16,000 Nebraska girls to participate in a one-of-a-kind leadership development program that builds courage, confidence and character. Thats why Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska council recently honored area volunteers who have gone the extra mile at Volunteer Awards Ceremonies in Norfolk and Omaha. Girl Scout volunteers provide girls a place of their own to try new things and improve their communities yet volunteers often underestimate the impact they have on the lives of girls, according to Marshall. The annual awards process begins in late spring, when peers, friends, family and council staff nominate volunteers for their achievements and contributions to the girls they serve. Following are the area volunteers and the awards they received: Fremont: Fremont Beef Spirit of Girl Scouting Community Benefactor Award; Jackie Lingle Helpful Adult Award; Salem Lutheran Church Spirit of Girl Scouting Community Benefactor Award; Brenda Spiker Helpful Adult Award; Jenny Stewart 15 Years of Volunteer Service Pin, Volunteer of Excellence Award; Jessica Wolfe Helpful Adult Award. Lyons: Ashley Schild 5 Years of Volunteer Service Pin. West Point: Erica Eichelberger 10 Years of Volunteer Service Pin. Years of Volunteer Service Pins are given to adult volunteers for their years of service to Girl Scouts. The Spirit of Girl Scouting Community Benefactor Award recognizes organizations or individuals who are not Girl Scout members and provide outstanding assistance and support to Girl Scout programming. The Helpful Adult Award recognizes volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in a troop. The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes individuals who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls or adult members. To learn more about girl Scouts, visit GirlScoutsNebraska.org. LIBERAL THEOLOGY: A series of liberal theology lectures will be presented at St John's United Reformed Church, Lynwood Road, on Monday evenings from October onwards. The lectures will commence at 8pm and will look critically at images of God and explore new ways of understanding scripture. Further information is available on www.stjohnsurc.org.uk CHARITY AUCTION: All Saints' Church in Orpington is holding an auction on September 29 to raise money for The Children's Society. There will be a chance to view items from 10am until noon with the auction taking place at 2pm. There is no admission charge and parking and refreshments available. Call 01689 824624 for details. WILDLIFE WALK: The Bromley branch of the World Wildlife Federation is organising a walk for wildlife at Scadbury Park on October 7. All proceeds raised will go towards supporting the Giant Panda. The walk takes place on the circular route through the woods and meadows in Scadbury. For more details ring Edna on 020 8650 5274. WHOSE MEDAL?: Bromley Police are attempting to trace the owner of an MBE medal which was lost in the Hayes area more than a month ago. Anyone who might be able to help, should call Brian Davis on 020 8284 8814. LIONS WANTED: Biggin Hill and Westerham Lions Club is recruiting new members. The group supports a variety of community activities. For more details, call 01959 576628. September 26, 2001 10:40 Today MainStreet Fremonts Annual Christmas Walk, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., downtown Fremont. Activities will be taking place at numerous downtown businesses. The event will include refreshments, discounts, childrens crafts, raffles, movie showings, an appearance by Santa, Mrs. Claus and their reindeer, and more. HomeStore, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 701 E. Dodge St., Fremont. The HomeStore sells donated items at discounted prices. Proceeds support the mission of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Storytime, 11-11:30 a.m., Keene Memorial Library auditorium, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous womens heart to heart group, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous open meeting, 7:30 p.m., United Faith Church, 218 W. Gardiner St., Valley. Narcotics Anonymous Lie Is Dead Group, 8 p.m., Care Corps, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Sunday Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Delaney Hall, St. Patricks Catholic Church, Fremont. Pancakes, eggs, ham or sausage, toast, coffee and orange juice will be served. The cost is $5.50 for adults and $2 for ages 12 and under. Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity Group, 10:30 a.m., Care Corps, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. American Red Cross blood drive, 1-7 p.m., Bakers, 1531 N. Bell St., Fremont. To schedule an appointment, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Point of Freedom Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Education Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door. Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Monday TOPS Club (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 9 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 850 N. Broad St., Fremont. Weigh-ins begin at 8 a.m. Visitors (preteens, teens and adults male and female) are welcome. The first meeting is free. For more information, call Janet Bloemker at 402-721-8952. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Fremont Board of Adjustment meeting, 4:30 p.m., Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave. The meeting is open to the public. Fremont Health Board of Trustees meeting, 5 p.m., Fremont Healths Dunklau Conference Room. The meeting is open to the public. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous basic text study, 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Education Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door. Celebrate Recovery, 7-9 p.m., Sanctuary Church, 1640 W. Military Ave., Fremont. Childcare is available. Celebrate Recovery, 7 p.m., Fremont Church of the Nazarene, 960 Johnson Road. Fibromyalgia Support Group, 7 p.m., Health Park Plaza Conference Room 5, Fremont. Prairie Piecemakers Needlework Guild, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1544 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Members meet at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. Guests are welcome. The program will be Landscape Quilts Alaska to Wisconsin by Cathy Grier of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Lowes Foods set for Charleston, S.C., debut Lowes Foods said it will hold a grand opening Dec. 6 for its first store in the Charleston, S.C., market in Summerville. The 50,000-square-foot store will have 150 employees. A Lowes Foods fuel center already has opened. Lowes Foods is building a store in Mt. Pleasant. The grocer has established facebook.com/lowesfoodslowcountry to keep up with both store projects. Richard Craver German pharma company plans Wilson expansion Fresenius Kabi, a global health care company, said Tuesday it will make a $100 million expansion of its operations in Wilson, adding 445 jobs at the site over five years. The company specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. It currently has more than 100 employees in Wilson. It is based in Bad Homburg, Germany, with its U.S. headquarters in Lake Zurich, Ill. The expansion will include adding to its pharmaceutical production facility and building another plant. Both sites will be dedicated to manufacturing products used in hospitals and clinics throughout the United States and Canada. The new jobs will include production specialists, engineers, scientists and managers. The company has been made eligible for up to $7.2 million over 12 years in performance-bases incentives from the state Job Development Investment Grant program. Richard Craver Cordray resigns; two successors named NEW YORK The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned Friday and named his own successor, leading to an open conflict with President Donald Trump who announced a different person as acting head of the agency later in the day. That means there are now effectively two acting directors of the CFPB, when there should only be one. Typically an acting director position would be filled according to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. But Richard Cordray, along with his resignation, elevated Leandra English, who was the agencys chief of staff, into the deputy director position. Under the Dodd-Frank Act that created the CFPB, English would become acting director. Within a few hours, President Donald Trump announced his own acting director of the agency, Mick Mulvaney, who is currently director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mulvaney had widely been expected to be Trumps temporary pick. Mulvaney is a longtime critic of the CFPB, and has wanted the agencys authority significantly curtailed. The Associated Press More stock records as tech, energy rises NEW YORK U.S. stocks set more records in quiet post-holiday trading Friday as technology companies again did much of the heavy lifting. Energy companies rose with the price of oil. Macys and some of its retail counterparts rose after the department stores CEO said Black Friday sales were going well. Online titan Amazon made an even bigger gain. Oil prices and energy companies rose after Bloomberg reported that a group of key oil producers plans to extend production cuts until the end of 2018. Nearly 60 years ago, workers building a railroad bridge in Knox County, not far from the South Dakota border, unearthed human remains. Decades later, workers building a road in the same northeast Nebraska county came across more remains, and like those found in the 1960s, they ended up at the Nebraska State Historical Society. As did those found in Platte County and those discovered by a group of boys wandering along an eroding Butler County creek bed. On Wednesday, all those remains were returned to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, which will take them north and bury them in a cemetery on their ancestral homeland along the lower Niobrara River. It's an honor to repatriate the remains of their ancestors, said Dwight Howe, cultural director of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. "Before Nebraska was a territory, before the Louisiana Purchase, we lived here," he said. "We've been in this place for hundreds of years and we are honored to be recognized as people of the land." On Wednesday, Howe and Shannon Wright, the tribe's historic preservationist, came to Lincoln to prepare the remains for burial. They will be wrapped in blankets and will be buried with tobacco, sweet grass, sage and cedar, all symbols and gestures of prayer, Howe said. "They are our ancestors," he said. "So we are developing our polices and procedures to treat them as our relatives." The return of the Ponca remains is part of a decades-long process of repatriation begun in 1990 when the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act became federal law. The Nebraska State Historical Society, like all state, local and university museums that get federal money, had to inventory all the human remains in its custody, and, if archaeologists could determine which tribe they came from, they were to give them back. Many of the remains in Historical Society custody were Pawnee, said state archaeologist Rob Bozell, and several large reparations occurred with the tribe in late 1990s. Archaeologists struggled, however, to determine the origin of hundreds of other remains, and what to do with them became a hotly debated issue. Some tribes felt all remains should be returned even when they cant be affiliated with a tribe; and some scientists believed they should remain at museums. I dont think when Congress passed NAGPRA they realized thats what often happens, Bozell said. So museums were left with all these unaffiliated remains. Eventually -- 20 years later -- Congress revised the regulations so that unaffiliated remains can be repatriated based on geography, he said. And, when those regulations became finalized within the last few years, it opened the way for a joint repatriation of the last of the human remains at the State Historical Society that Bozell hopes will happen this spring. Through that work -- which involved contacting all tribes that lived in Nebraska at one time, working with the Nebraska Indian Commission and officials in Washington -- Historical Society officials found some remains that had been identified but never claimed. Among those: Four boxes with the Ponca remains of 10 individuals and funerary objects dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. State archaeologists follow clues to identify the remains: items buried with them, their location, the depth of the soil, the burial patterns. Beads found with the Ponca remains, for instance, indicate they were European trading goods, probably sewn into clothing that long since decomposed, Bozell said. And the remains were found in the middle of the Poncas homeland. You cant tell with absolute certainty, but you have to look at the evidence you have, Bozell said. Its an informed opinion. For many years, the tribe didnt have anyone to deal with historic preservation issues, he said, which is one of the reasons the remains stayed at the Historical Society. Now they do. Wright said it's an ongoing process, one he's been working on with museums across the Midwest since he began the work two years ago. When remains are discovered now -- because of flooding or erosion or construction -- the goal is to rebury them at the same or as close as possible to the same location they've been found, he said. Bozell, who has worked with the Nebraska Indian Commission on reparations since the 1990s, said he understands all the perspectives of the debate, and one of the best things about NAGPRA and related state laws is that it has forced those different groups to work together. Thats been a really good thing, he said. We sit down and figure these things out together. Archaeologists can inform tribes about things theyre not aware of and they can inform us of things were not aware of. This has been the most positive thing about reparation -- working together to solve the problem. Because the issue isnt going away. It will always happen because every year the phone rings because somebody finds something, he said. Q: Please write about the origin of Thanksgiving. Answer: This question is a little off our theme of Everyday Religious Questions, but I wanted to remind readers about the reasons the Pilgrims came to America in 1620. There were 102 passengers initially aboard the Mayflower, and the ocean crossing took 66 days. The Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest in 1621 with local friendly Native Americans. The Pilgrims were dissenters from the established churches and from government domination. The idea that those who rule do so by divine right can be traced to the Old Testament and Gods selection of Hebrew kings. This idea was reinforced by Paul who affirmed in the book of Romans that those who rule do so by authority from God. It is surprising that he wrote this passage because he lived during the reign of the infamous Emperor Nero. The Pilgrims rejected this idea and ultimately agreed with John Locke who said that those who govern do so by the consent of the governed. Democracy! They also rejected the theological notion that the Bishops are the Church and the concept of apostolic succession, which claims that Jesus gave His apostles spiritual authority that was passed on through the centuries by the succession of bishops. For them, the church was the corporate body of all believers. Thus, the Pilgrims were dissenters in both government and religion. The tradition of Thanksgiving goes back to the beginnings of the United States as a nation. In 1789, George Washington proclaimed that there should be a day for national thanksgiving. Then, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of thanksgiving. Finally, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the fourth Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving, and this was officially approved by Congress in 1941. While we are celebrating with plenty, we should always be aware of the underfed and hungry people in our land. Thanksgiving should be a day of sharing. We might also give thanks, not only for our bounty, but for those individuals who have influenced our lives and journey. Perhaps a family member, a friend, a teacher, a pastor or priest. My own life-experience has been influenced by a Jesuit priest named Father Daniel Berrigan. I first met him in 1973 when he came to speak at High Point College where I was teaching. He had just been released from prison for having burned Selective Service files in Catonsville, Md. They were files of men who were to be drafted and sent to Vietnam. I expected to meet a firebrand of a man, but I met a quiet, gentle soul who told the students at High Point that Jesus taught peace and our lives should be dedicated to that end. Someone who knew him well said that he made the words and life of Jesus written on the pages of the Bible come alive in his own life. Christ was in him. I am daily thankful that Daniel came into my life. Be sure to thank those who have influenced your life. Q: Do you believe Jonah was really swallowed by a whale? Answer: This question is a real departure from our thanksgiving theme, but it has an important message. Actually, the Jonah story does not use the word whale. It says he was swallowed by a great fish. But the legend is passed on through such unlikely paths as a rock band named Jonah and the Whales. According to the Biblical story, God called Jonah to preach to the ancient Hebrew enemies in Nineveh. Jonah refused to go. He boarded a ship bound for Tarshish on the coast of Spain. Most believed that to sail beyond that point was to risk falling off the flat earth. So, Jonah was literally fleeing to the end of the earth to avoid Gods call. A terrible storm arose at sea, and Jonah was thrown overboard to appease the wrath of God. He was then swallowed by a great fish, was in the belly of the fish three days, then spit up on dry land. Some Christians see this as a prophecy of Jesus resurrection from the tomb after three days. Not likely. Jonah finally capitulated to Gods call and travelled to Nineveh to preach. To his surprise, the king and the people heard and responded to his message. Unfortunately, the meaning of this tale has been lost as a big fish story. It is really a story that reminds the Hebrew people that they were called to be a nation of priests to the whole world ... even their enemies! Businessman Derrick L. Davis experienced one of the proudest moments in his life when the regional cancer center at Forsyth Medical Center was renamed in his honor in November 2004, his son said. That was a big deal for him, Chad Davis said of his father. He really believed in the city, and he wanted to give to the community and make it a better place. The Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center was named in recognition of a gift from Davis. He asked that the amount of his contribution not be made public. Davis, 70, died Nov. 15 in Winston-Salem following a long illness, his son said. Dad had a larger-than-life character, Chad Davis said of his father. He started from nothing, and he was a self-made man. A native of Asheville, Derrick Davis moved to southside Winston-Salem as a child and graduated from the former Gray High School in Winston-Salem in 1965. He graduated from Lees-McCrae College in Banner Elk in 1967 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves after he left college. In 1974, Davis founded D.L. Davis and Co. Inc., which has become one of the more prominent financial services and employee benefits firms in the country, his son said. Derrick Davis started that business working from his car in which he sold life insurance policies to companies such as Lowes Food Stores Inc., now known as Lowes Foods. In the early 1990s, Derrick Davis began the East Coast Capital Inc., a real-estate development business in Winston-Salem. Despite his business success, it was important to him that he stay true to where he grew up, Chad Davis said. He was an incredible father, grandfather and husband. Derrick Davis told the Winston-Salem Journal in November 2004 that he and his family decided that his financial donation to the cancer center was a good place to help the local community. I have had a long history with Novant, Davis said at that time. Both of my children were born there. It just seemed like the right thing to do. More than anything, it reaches out to so many people, people Ill never know. Carl S. Armato, Novant Healths president and chief executive, praised Davis in a statement about his death. We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Derrick Davis, Amato said. As a longtime leader in Winston-Salem, Derrick will be missed by many. Our deepest condolences go to his family during this difficult time. Derrick Davis is survived by his wife, Ann Davis, his brother, Jerome Davis, his son, Chad Davis, his daughter, Suzanne Collins Davis and two grandchildren. Chad Davis said he has worked in his fathers real-estate development business for several years. He was a real go-getter, Chad Davis said of his father. If anyone said something couldnt be done, he said it could and then figured out how to get it done. Heather and Riley Delaney had something extra to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Two of them, actually. After 485 days at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, the Rileys formerly conjoined twins, Erin and Abby Delaney, came home to Mooresville this week, just in time for the holiday. Abby and Erin were born in Childrens Hospitals Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit on July 24, 2016, 10 weeks premature and joined at the top of their heads. On June 6 of this year, a 30-member surgical team successfully separated the then 10-month-old twins. The surgery lasted about 11 hours. It was the 24th time that surgeons at Childrens Hospital separated conjoined twins, but the first time with a pair joined at the head, the least common form of attached siblings. Erin and Abby will need more plastic and reconstructive surgery over the next few years to replace the missing bone areas at the tops of their heads, adjust their hairlines and minimize scarring. Members of the twins medical team are pleased with their progress and optimistic about their long-term potential, hospital officials said this week. No one is more pleased than Abby and Erins parents. The girls are inspiring, Heather Delaney said in a statement released by the hospital. As their parents, it is very neat for Riley and me to have a front-row seat to this and watch them overcome these incredible obstacles. We cannot wait to see what their future holds. And their homecoming couldnt come at a better time, she added. Riley and I are so grateful for the care our girls have received and so excited to take them home just in time for the holidays, Heather Delaney said. Conjoined twins occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births. Most are stillborn. About 75 percent of conjoined twins are female, joined at least partially in the chest and with shared organs. If they have separate sets of organs, chances for surgery and survival are greater than if they share the same organs. Born with fused skulls, Abby and Erin were craniopagus twins, which account for just 2 percent of conjoined siblings. This is one of the earliest separations of craniopagus conjoined twins ever recorded, said plastic and reconstructive surgeon Jesse Taylor, a member of the Delaney twins surgical team, after the operation in June. We know that children heal better and faster the younger they are, therefore our goal for Erin and Abby was separation as soon as possible with a minimum number of surgeries. Investments in the interest of fighting crime was a primary talking point during Police Chief Doug Wright's quarterly police report at the Town of Summerville's Standing Committees meeting on Nov. 7 that saw the public official expound on an Intel Narcotics Detector.. Read moreS'ville PD reports drug enforcement, traffic offenses at Council meet Though a variety of polls have indicated a large majority of Americans support the idea of paid family and medical leave, disagreement about whether it should be mandated by the federal government and where the money should come to pay for it from remains strong. In the end, it often comes down to a tug-of-war between what businesses can afford and the desire to ensure workers have the chance to provide for their family members, both financially and in person. A plan by Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer that attempts to bridge this gap offering a tax credit to employers worth between an eighth and a quarter of wages paid to eligible workers during their absences. While the plan doesnt guarantee a minimum number of paid days like those seen in other countries, it marks an initial step to address paid family leave, an area where the United States has long fallen short. No other developed country lacks paid parental leave requirements at the federal level, according to the international Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Yet the U.S. has more working mothers and two-income families than ever before. Fischer is correct in noting many pertinent federal laws were passed in an era with far different workforce participation. The Family and Medical Leave Act, for instance, wasnt passed until 1993. Yet, nearly a quarter of a century later, the Pew Research Center reports only 13 percent of Americans received specific employer-paid leave. Most received at least some pay from banking available time off prior to their absence, but the lowest-income workers were least likely to earn any pay while away from work and nearly half reported having to go on public assistance to cover lost wages. Forcing Americans to rely on public assistance is an expensive proposition that often creates a vicious circle for its inhabitants. In too many cases, increasing work or wages leads to an abrupt end of needed money, trapping families by limiting their only way to make ends meet to the social safety net. To that end, Fischers plan also has a cap on earners that attempts to provide low and middle earners the benefit theyre less likely to have than their peers. The good news is Fischers measure, which shes billing as the nations first paid family leave plan, has been included in the Senates tax reform bill. Though that bill has some major flaws about which we harbor deep concerns, its better than its companion in the House but faces a difficult road to passage. Still, the senator has pushed a long-stated legislative goal closer to the finish line. Even if the Senates tax efforts fall apart, Fischer has crafted a worthwhile endeavor on paid family leave that aims to address an age-old shortcoming for American workers. Journal Star, Nov. 22, 2017 Ukraine on Saturday held a day of mourning for the millions of victims of a Soviet-era famine, as the war-torn nation's leaders branded it a Russian attempt to destroy the country. The 1932-33 famine, one of the darkest episodes in Ukrainian history, happened when Stalin's forces launched a campaign of forced "collectivisation", requisitioning grain and other foodstuffs and forcing many farmers into starvation. President Petro Poroshenko, accompanied by hundreds of Ukrainians, laid symbolic wheat ears and lit candles before the central Kiev monument to victims of the Holodomor famine -- which means "death by hunger" in Ukrainian. Poroshenko dubbed the famine a crime against humanity. "We will never forget the terrible crime of the organisers of the Holodomor," he said in a statement. Oleksandr Turchynov, who heads Ukraine's Security and Defence Council, meanwhile accused the Russian "imperial regime" of causing the famine. "Now there is a war and we again see manic attempts to destroy Ukraine," he said in a statement, referring to the ongoing separatist war in the country's east. A conflict between Russian-backed fighters and Ukrainian troops has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014, when pro-Russian forces declared parts of eastern Ukraine independent following Moscow's annexation of Crimea. Kiev and its western allies accuse Russia of plotting and backing the insurgency, which Moscow denies. Ukraine regards the famine as a genocide specifically aimed by Stalin's regime at eradicating the Ukrainian peasantry. Fourteen countries, including the United States, Australia and Canada, have recognised the famine as an act of "genocide" against the Ukrainian people, in a move which irritates Moscow. Before holding a minute of silence, Poroshenko said he hoped that Russia too would one day recognise the famine as a genocide, "or at least repent for it". The magnitude of the death toll remains controversial among historians, with estimates ranging from four to 10 million. Ukraine has remembered the victims of the famine on the fourth Saturday of November since 1998. Nebraska and Iowa are among the dozen states that would be hardest hit if the United States were to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement as President Donald Trump has threatened, a new U.S. Chamber of Commerce analysis says. Nebraska and Iowa send more than 40 percent of their exports to customers in Canada and Mexico, accounting for $2.6 billion in revenue in Nebraska and $5.6 billion in Iowa. And many jobs are tied to NAFTA exports: 90,000 in Nebraska and 138,000 in Iowa, the chamber said. Withdrawal from the free trade deal would cause Mexican tariffs on U.S. exports to spike, depressing sales, the chamber said. Tariffs would rise from zero to 10 percent on pork, 25 percent on beef, 75 percent on chicken and 75 percent on high fructose corn syrup. The chamber has been an outspoken critic of withdrawing from the agreement, and pointed out that most of the states on its list voted to elect Trump. Trump has said the deal is a bad one that siphons jobs from the U.S. under unfair terms with its North American trading partners. The other states the chamber says would be hit hard: Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Arizona, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska will present a series of meetings Dec. 12, 13, and 14 in southern Nebraska and Kansas to discuss cow-calf management options for producers with limited perennial pasture. Perennial grass continues to be in short supply and can be expensive to lease or buy. Maintaining or even expanding a cow herd can be challenging unless producers are creative in using the resources they already have. This series of meetings will move from east to west along the Kansas-Nebraska border, tailoring the content of each meeting to address this issue relevant to the unique needs of producers as resources change across the two states. Free meals will be provided at each location. Attendees are asked to RSVP by Dec. 8 for the meeting they plan to attend, by using the contact information listed for each meeting. There is no charge. Dates, location, and times for the meeting series: Dec. 12 Marysville Senior Center at 6:30 p.m. in Marysville, Kan.: Contact Anastasia at anastasia@ksu.edu or 785-562-3531 Dec. 13 Blue Hill Community Center at 6 p.m. in Blue Hill, Neb.: Contact Brad at brad.schick@unl.edu or 402 746-3417 Dec. 14 Gateway Civic Center at 6 p.m. in Oberlin, Kan.: Contact Alyssa at alyssar@ksu.edu or 785-475-8121 Speakers and topics at each meeting: Dr. Mary Drewnoski, beef systems specialist from the University of Nebraska will discuss, Outside the Box Economical Forage Options. Dr. Jaymelynn Farney, beef systems specialist from Kansas State University will discuss Dos and Donts of Cover Crop Grazing from a Livestock Perspective. Dr. Karla Jenkins, cow/calf specialist from the University of Nebraska, will discuss Confinement Cow Feeding the Science and the Art. Nebraska soybeans are heading to Bulgaria. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has signed letters of intent with nine soybean processing companies in Bulgaria. The agreement will promote Nebraska soybeans and soybean products in their facilities. This is a great opportunity, which is growing demand for Nebraska soybeans, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts said. Bulgaria is a country with a high demand for quality protein and is a relatively untapped market. Ricketts said promoting Nebraska for quality agricultural commodities supports farmers and ranchers. He said it increases our global market share, and continue to grow Nebraskas No. 1 industry. The companies want to maximize their output and are looking to source Nebraska and U.S. soybeans. They use about 2 million metric tons of soybeans per year. They have a total production capacity of 2.7 million metric tons. The Bulgarian companies visited Nebraska this year to learn more about soybean production. NDA used federal Emerging Markets Program grant funds to pay for the visit. A market research study was done to promote soybean sales in eastern Europe. They visited a soybean farm in Geneva, the Aurora Cooperative and the grain storage and trading operations of Gavilon and Scoular in Omaha. They also visited a shipping container/loading facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the ADM soybean processing facility and power plant in Lincoln. They talked with members of the Nebraska Soybean Board as well. Good personal relationships with the owners and executives of several soybean processing facilities in Bulgaria are a tremendous asset for the future, said NDA Interim Director Mat Habrock. We share similar appreciation for people, culture and agriculture. Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 2007. The EU was Nebraskas third-largest export market of soybeans and soybean products in 2015. Trade is important to Nebraska agriculture. On Friday, the USDA reported that agricultural exports totaled $140.5 billion in FY 2017. Thats $10.9 billion more than the previous year and the third-highest level on record. U.S. agriculture had a trade surplus of $21.3 billion. That was up 30 percent from the previous years $16.6 billion. China was the U.S.s largest export customer at $22 billion. Canada was second at $20.4 billion. U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico totaled $18.6 billion. Thats a 6 percent gain from last year. Japans total increased by 12 percent to $11.8 billion. The other top 10 markets were the European Union ($11.6 billion), South Korea ($6.9 billion), Hong Kong ($4 billion), Taiwan ($3.4 billion), Indonesia ($3 billion) and the Philippines ($2.6 billion). U.S. bulk commodity exports set a volume record at 159 million metric tons. That was up 11 percent from FY 2016, while their value increased by 16 percent to $51.4 billion. Soybean exports reached a record 60 million metric tons, valued at $24 billion. Corn, wheat, and cotton exports also grew. Wheat exports were up 21 percent to $6.2 billion. Corn exports were up 6 percent to $9.7 billion. U.S. dairy exports increased by 17 percent to $5.3 billion and beef exports were up 16 percent to $7.1 billion. Pork exports increased by 14 percent to $6.4 billion. Horticultural product exports increased by 3 percent to $33.9 billion. Exports of tree nuts reached $8.1 billion, the second-highest total on record. Processed food and beverage exports increased by 2 percent to $39.2 billion. Exports are responsible for 20 percent of U.S. farm income, according to the USDA. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A new federal report shows rural areas across the country are losing population at an unprecedented rate as both people and industries are concentrating in urban areas. Rural America at a Glance is the U.S. Department of Agricultures annual report on employment, population and poverty trends in rural counties. The latest edition was released last week. While Great Plains and Corn Belt states have seen a decline in rural population for decades, whats new is the declines extension in to the eastern U.S., said John Cromartie, a geographer with the departments Economic Research Service. One factor in the trend has been the out-migration of young adults and declining birth rates among young adults who remain in rural areas, according to Cromartie. He also said theres been a rising mortality rate among working-age adults in rural counties. The report showed that population declines have become widespread throughout rural America since around 2010. The number of nonmetro counties losing population reached more than 1,300 between 2010 and 2016, with a combined population loss of just under 790,000. Farm Rescue expands to include livestock feeding assistance BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A growing one-of-a-kind Great Plains farm aid nonprofit that provides free physical labor for farmers and ranchers dealing with an injury, illness or a natural disaster is expanding its services again. Farm Rescue is adding livestock feeding assistance to its list of services that include crop planting and harvesting, haying, and hay and grain hauling. The new service will be offered throughout the organizations territory, which has grown through the years to include North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana and Nebraska. Livestock still needs to be fed when crisis strikes unexpectedly, said Bill Gross, who founded Farm Rescue in 2006 and serves as its president. The organization had been eyeing an expansion into livestock aid for months, with Gross saying last spring that he wanted to make the nonprofit a year-round operation, helping ranchers in the winter months when farmers dont need help with crops. Farm Rescue doesnt dole out cash, but has about 1,100 volunteers who assist farmers in need. The organization relies on donated equipment and money donations, operating on an annual budget of just under $1 million. Monsanto asks Arkansas judge to halt states herbicide ban LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) A major agribusiness company has asked an Arkansas judge to halt the states plan to ban an herbicide thats drawn complaints from farmers across several states who say the weed killer has drifted onto their fields and caused widespread damage. Monsanto recently asked a Pulaski County judge to strike down the rule approved by the state Plant Board earlier this month that would prohibit the use of dicamba from April 16 through Oct. 31. The ban is expected to go before a legislative panel next month, but the Missouri-based company said action is needed now because farmers are already buying their products for next years growing season. The ban severely curtails Monsantos ability to sell its new dicamba-tolerant seed and low-volatility dicamba herbicide within the state, and every day the ban remains in place costs Monsanto sales and customers, the company said in its filing. Dicamba has been around for decades, but problems arose over the past couple of years as farmers began to use it on soybean and cotton fields where they planted new seeds engineered to be resistant to the herbicide. Because it can easily evaporate after being applied, the chemical sometimes settles on neighboring fields. The state earlier this year approved a temporary ban on the herbicides sale and use, and has received nearly 1,000 complaints about dicamba this year. Farmers have also complained about dicamba causing damage to their crops in other states, including Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Tennessee. The Environmental Protection Agency last month announced a deal with Monsanto and two other makers of dicamba herbicides, BASF and DuPont, for new voluntary restrictions on the weed killers use. Agricultural groups challenge California weed-killer warning The Associated Press A coalition of a dozen national and Midwestern agricultural groups sued recently to overturn a California decision that could force the popular weed-killer Roundup to carry warning labels that it can cause cancer. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Sacramento seeks an injunction barring the state from enforcing what the suit describes as a false and misleading warning. Roundups main ingredient, glyphosate, is not restricted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and has been used widely since 1974 to kill weeds while leaving crops and other plants alive. But the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based in Lyon, France, has classified it as a probable human carcinogen. That prompted the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to add glyphosate this summer to a list of chemicals known to cause cancer. The listing could lead to a requirement for warning labels on the product. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the national wheat and corn growers associations in Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota, as well as St. Louis-based Monsanto Co., which makes Roundup. The lawsuit contends that Californias false warning has harmed Monsantos reputation and its investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the herbicide and glyphosate-tolerant seeds. Sam Delson, a spokesman for the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, said the agency hadnt yet reviewed the new filing but is confident its rules are legal. In March, a California state court judge dismissed a separate lawsuit by Monsanto challenging Californias cancer warning. A University of Wisconsin-Madison study shows that the shift of more than 7 million acres into cropland led to huge releases of carbon emissions into the atmosphere after a 2007 federal law mandated ethanol in gasoline. The increased carbon emissions are equivalent to 20 million new cars driving down American roads every year, according to the researchers estimates in the study. The findings show big changes in land use across the Midwest and other parts of the United States between 2008 and 2012. That coincided with a change in federal law that required blending ethanol from crops like corn and soybeans into gasoline. The federal Energy Information Agency reported that 10 percent of 143 billion gallons of gasoline came from ethanol in 2016. The study shows the unintended consequences of a federal policy meant to reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels. While adding ethanol means burning fewer fossil fuels, the study found that the benefits were lost as even larger amounts of carbon held in the soil were released into the atmosphere in newly cultivated farm fields. The researchers used satellite images and other data to identify landscape changes over time and used computer modeling to estimate the carbon that had been stored in soil. The results drew criticism from an industry group. The Renewable Fuels Association, based in Washington, said other university studies have shown that claims of land use change after the ethanol mandate is grossly overstated. The study examined climate impacts after grassland, forests and other types of land were plowed under after passage of the ethanol mandate, also known as the renewable fuel standard. The authors of the study were Seth A. Spawn and Tyler J. Lark, two graduate students in the Department of Geography, and the projects principal investigator, Holly K. Gibbs, an associate professor of geography. The ethanol mandate has been controversial, with critics saying it has led to higher food prices and has spurred pollution by uprooting idle land into crops that require fertilizer and increased energy consumption to produce and refine the crops as a fuel additive. Critics also say that the increase in domestic oil production in recent years has weakened the claim that farmers are helping to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil. Many pro-ethanol groups say ethanol has been a boon to farm income. Corn prices, for example, jumped several years after the mandate was instituted before falling over the past four years. During the 2016 election, presidential candidate Donald Trump said he supported the mandate, and this fall directed the EPA not to take steps to cut the amount of ethanol in gasoline. Geoff Cooper, executive vice president of the Renewable Fuels Association, took issue with the methodology of the study of using satellite photographs over time to judge changes on the landscape. Cooper also said the number of acres of corn production in the U.S. has fallen more than 3 percent between 2007 and 2017 while production per acre increased by 16 percent since 2007. MITCHELL For 24 years now, the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (NFMA), (dba Independent Forage Growers), has hosted the Mid-America Forage Expo, attracting forage producers from the Panhandle, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and elsewhere. It will make its second appearance at the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds in Mitchell, from Nov. 28 through 29. The expo is designed especially for forage producers, livestock/dairy producers and others involved in forage production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing. Attendees can expect two days jam-packed full of information, education and innovation all focused on helping hay and livestock producers improve production, performance and profitability. Although alfalfa is the fourth most valuable crop in Nebraska, hay is often overlooked, NFMA Executive Director Barb Kinnan said. We dont have the research scholars that the corn and soybean commodities do, Kinnan said. We have to rely a lot on each other to find out whats going on in the industry. Kinnan said thats part of the reason why the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association was established in 1986. This years expo will feature a trade show featuring some 100 exhibitors and a fundraising auction, as well as a number of contests. The trade show runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days, with the fundraising auction with Henderson Auction Service on Tuesday evening from 4 to 6 p.m. The expo is the perfect opportunity for forage producers from across the area to network with other producers, seed companies, equipment dealers and other businesses within the forage industry and to learn from expert presenters on what some possible production and/or marketing issues producers are facing and how to deal them. Guest presentations include the following: Tuesday, Nov. 28 Salt Tolerant Alfalfa Variety Development by Ron Miller, Alforex Seeds, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. FORAGE SORGHUM: Past, Present, Futurewe know where weve been, where are we headed? by Matt Sowder, FGI; and Jeff Jackson, CROPLAN by WinField United, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29 Alfalfa Insects and Their Management by Dr. Jeff Bradshaw, UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Using Annual Forages in a Grazing Situation by Dr. Nancy Peterson of Plum Thicket Farms in Gordon. For more details about the expo, visit http://alfalfaexpo.com. NEUVO, Calif. Strolling through a flock of free-roaming rust-colored hens, Christopher Nichols admits that no one truly knows whether his chickens are happier because they can strut around and wander outside. But consumers are happier, and that matters a lot to the third-generation egg farmer and a slew of other egg producers who charge a premium price for eggs bearing the U.S. Department of Agricultures organic certification, which governs not only what hens eat, but nearly everything about how they live their lives. The consumers have an idea of what this sort of operation looks like, Nichols said, raising his voice above the chorus of clucks emanating from more than 7,000 Rhode Island red hybrids at a Nuevo, Calif., ranch that supplies his family company, Chino Valley Ranchers. When you give them a building with no windows, no natural light and a screened porch and label it as organic, I think theyre going to be a little bit ticked off. Those consumers will have to be ticked off for at least another six months. In early November, the USDA quietly shelved a rule that would have given consumers a bit more of what they assume is part of organic eggs open air. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue (who is not related to the chicken family) left open a loophole in organic regulations that has allowed factory egg farms, some with 100,000 hens to a barn, to earn an organic imprimatur without much more than a nod to letting chickens leave their coop that is, attaching a gated, screened porch to their barns. It was the third delay for the obscure but highly contentious rule, which had made it into the Federal Register on the day before President Donald Trump took the oath of office, only to fall victim to his regulatory freeze executive order. Growth in free-range The well-being of a laying hen may seem an esoteric concern to the average consumer confronted with a slew of labels that grade eggs and purport to explain how they were laid free-range, cage-free or pasture-raised, for instance. But how much space, and what kind, each hen gets is crucial to the $5.5 billion egg industry. Producers owe a good deal of their growth to organic, free-range, cage-free and other marketing labels more than 13 percent of the flock is in those niches now, according to the American Egg Board. Less than a third of those, or about 14.6 million hens, are certified organic roaming free, with some access to the outdoors, and fed only on grains raised without conventional pesticides or fertilizers. Organic eggs now fill the refrigerators of big-box stores such as Costco and Wal-Mart. Most of those eggs come from the titans of the egg industry, such as Herbrucks Poultry Ranch in Michigan and Mississippi-based Cal-Maine. Those and other egg farms have built their facilities around a 2002 ruling by USDA that allowed farms to attach a screened porch to a chicken barn and qualify it as outdoor space under the organic rules. At least a third of organic egg producers operate under that model, according to USDA. Big egg farms would like to keep it that way, saying any change would drive nearly half of them out of the market and expose birds to disease from wild birds and rodents. Costs of compliance USDA has said it would cost the industry $8 million to $30 million over about 15 years to comply with the revised organic rules. Consumers would pay an additional 21 to 50 cents per dozen eggs, the agency estimated. (The agency said benefits of the change, including increasing the willingness of consumers to pay more for the certified eggs, are worth $4 million to $50 million.) But United Egg Producers contends that nearly half the organic producers will simply leave the market, leaving shortages that will drive up prices. Nichols, who is vice president of Chino Valley Ranchers, isnt buying it. Dont let them fool you, he said. They knew darn well that they were building these buildings out of compliance. And they knew that when this day came, that they were going to have to face this decision. But they probably figured that they had the money and the political muscle to overrule it. Smaller producers, he said, just dont have that. Under the new rules, even Nichols will have to expand some open areas shared by his barns. Were OK with that, he said. Its a small price to pay in order to preserve consumer confidence. The egg industry has a longer-term strategy in mind when it fights the organic egg rules. Even as scores of restaurants and food companies, including McDonalds, have pledged to switch to cage-free eggs, the industry is using the federal farm bill process to preempt state efforts to ban cages. So far, these rotten egg measures, as opponents dub them, have failed. Smaller producers Virtually no one in the organic industry expects the Trump administration to side with smaller producers six months from now, when USDA must again decide whether to enforce the rule. As a pre-emptive move, the Organic Trade Association sued USDA in September over its previous delays making it difficult for the agency to bow to industry pressure and withdraw the rule while a federal court case is pending. Its not just the egg industry, but commodity livestock interests, said Laura Batcha, CEO and director of the Organic Trade Assn. We believe they dont want to see this go forward, despite the overwhelming majority that supports it. More than 40,000 comments were sent to USDA during the rulemaking process, the group noted. The vast majority favored passing it, partly due to consumer form-letter campaigns. Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said Perdues stall was another example of powerful agribusiness entities trampling vital animal welfare protections. Agribusiness, so far, has won important concessions from the Trump administration in its first year in office. The USDA killed an Obama rule that would have lowered the legal requirements for poultry farms to win legal claims against the large meat companies that contract them to raise chickens. That angered rural farm groups, which noted that the Farm Belt heavily supported Trump. Citing privacy concerns, USDA also purged public records regarding the handling and treatment of animals, making them available only through a Freedom of Information Act request. KEARNEY Rebecca and John Lillyman have owned their home at 421 W. 21st St. for four years, but Rebecca still feels like a tenant farmer in this house. She believes that living there is a privilege. I want people to see how beautiful an older home can be, she said. The public is invited to see it and five other homes all beautifully decorated for the holidays during the Holiday Home Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2. The event will benefit the HelpCare Clinic at 3015 Ave. A, the clinic that provides free health care to the needy. The Lillymans white frame house was built in 1910. It has two staircases, three stories and 10-foot-high ceilings. On its welcoming front porch, greenery is wound around its pillars, and inside, in the foyer, Christmas stockings belonging to the Lillymans seven children, now aged 33-14, hang on the banister. A three-foot-high Nutcracker statue counts down the days until Christmas. Usually we decorate for Christmas on Johns birthday, Nov. 25, but this year, we did it a little early, Rebecca said. Shes been assisted by Jayne Meyer, retired owner of Shopping Tripps at 2210 Central Ave. Rebecca loves Meyers creative ideas, like poking bits of greenery into shelves and working holiday greenery into the homes blue tones. Blue is Rebeccas favorite color, and Meyer worked it into the Christmas decorating. We worked together room by room. Jayne sees beauty very quickly. Often, she adds to it, but sometimes she subtracts, Rebecca said. For example, Meyer placed four votive candles on a high ledge above the door leading from the foyer into the living room. I wouldnt have thought to use that space, Rebecca said. Meyer hung garlands. She made bows. She put a splash of red ribbon on the banister and on the tall Christmas tree that sits in the bright bay window in the spacious dining room. She hung a glass garland on the tree, too. Upstairs, tour-goers will see three bedrooms, along with a tiny room off a sunny yellow bedroom. There, Rebecca relaxes in a soft off-white chair for meditation and prayer. Visitors will see that cozy nook, and her nearby wedding gown as well. The pair met in England and got engaged three weeks later. John, a native of Australia, is an architect at Wilkins Architecture Design Planning. Rebecca teaches English to international students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She and John raised their family in the Glenwood Corners area but moved into the Pioneer neighborhood four years ago. Their youngest daughter, 14, is the last child at home. We wanted to bike and work and participate in the town, Rebecca said. The 23-year-old Holiday Home Tour took a hiatus last year, but it is resuming this year with the help of the HelpCare Clinic. I know how much people enjoy the tour, Roxanne Bascom, a committee member, said. Bascom is also on the HelpCare Clinics fundraising board and knew the popular event would help spread the word about the clinic. Since it opened in the spring of 2015, the HelpCare Clinic has provided free medical care for people in Buffalo and Kearney counties who have little or no health insurance. Some 12 percent of Buffalo County residents, and 11 percent of those in Kearney County, fall into this group. When the clinic opened, it was open only on Thursday evenings, but it now has daytime hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. Were not urgent care, and we have no X-ray machines, but we have three medical providers, and weve expanded since opening in 2015, Cheryl Bressington, its executive director, said. She said several critical grants will expire at the end of the year, so money right now is essential. The tour is a labor of love for those who are making it happen. It is overseen by a committee of 10. A captain and co-captain are assigned to each home, and 12-20 people will work in each home for both the tour and the invitation-only preview the night before. Rebecca Lillyman cant wait to share her home with tour-goers. Theyll see things like these doorknobs, she said, pointing. People have been touching them for more than 100 years. WOOD RIVER A workshop demonstrating the capabilities of Google Earth will be presented by Hastings College professor of biology William Beachly from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 9 at The Nature Conservancys Derr House south of the Wood River Interstate 80 interchange. Workshop participants will use Google Earth to better understand beautiful and interesting landscapes, starting with a sense of place. Wi-fi will be available, so participants should bring laptops or other devices. The workshop will count as continuing education for Master Naturalists and trainees, but the public also may attend. Some participants may want to bring a sack lunch and hike TNCs Platte River Prairies trails after the presentation. The Derr House and prairies are at 13650 S. Platte River Drive, about two miles south of I-80. RSVPs are needed to Karen Hamburger at karen_jay@charter.net or 402 463-1497. KEARNEY Participating in a play helps students with public speaking skills, teamwork, creativity and swordplay. 3 Musketeers: All Swash & No Buckle is a comedy based on the story of the Three Musketeers, but theres a little twist in the show, said Jeni Homan, assistant director. Theres an evil villain, a stolen necklace and lots of sword fights. The boys in the cast have done a great job with the choreography of the stage fights. The story starts as DArtagnan leaves his mother and travels to Paris with a dream of employment as one of the Kings Musketeers. He earns the trust of the other musketeers and finds himself embroiled in a scheme to retrieve a stolen necklace. Homan describes the show as Monty Python-isque, a show filled with madcap humor. Kearney Catholic High School drama students present 3 Musketeers: All Swash & No Buckle at 7:30 p.m. Monday at KCHS. Admission is $5 per person. We have such an array of talent on the team, Homan said. We have band kids, kids that are athletes, kids from student council, some shy kids, kids who help with makeup. We also have kids who help with costumes, some who paint the set and help with props we have a lot of different types of kids. As a former teacher, Homan enjoys working on a project that includes students with different types of personalities. They can come in and work together as a team. The students perform 3 Musketeers: All Swash & No Buckle as an entry in one-act play competitions. The students performed the show three times in November. Those different venues forced the students to adapt to their surroundings. We might have one stage thats 30 feet and another might be three or four times the size of the stage where we rehearsed, Homan said. Sometimes, at the last minute, we have to re-arrange or change up the show to make it fit. The judges in the competitions timed the shows, too. The show must be under 30 minutes, but a good show might run 28 minutes to exactly on 30, Homan said. Its kind of scary if youre backstage and the kids are getting behind. They have to speed up or slow down to make it fit. They cant just go on stage and relax. Its a tight show. 3 Musketeers: All Swash & No Buckle times out to about 28 minutes and 30 seconds. The students contributed to the script, too. They added extra dialogue that helps bring out the humor of the story. We bought the script, but then we got permission to do a little rewriting, Homan said. The kids helped with the cuts and jokes and the comedy. The funniest ones were written by our kids. KEARNEY Miles had a difficult childhood, with no opportunities to spread his wings or know his true self. That changed at age 13 when he found a new home in Oklahoma City with Lauren McGough. The 30-year-old rehabilitation specialist has worked with Miles day after day, step by step the past two years to help him rediscover his identity as a golden eagle. Miles was poached as a chick and kept as a pet until 2015, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seized him from the poacher. When McGough got him from a North American Falconers Association friend from New Mexico whose health issues prevented him from working with Miles, the eagle was a blank slate. He was aggressive and begged for food because the only way he knew how to get food was to bully a human for it. Physically and mentally, he didnt know he was an eagle, said McGough, who is one of the worlds most skilled master falconers and soon will be featured on the CBS news magazine show 60 Minutes. Although Miles didnt catch any jackrabbits Friday morning while hunting with McGough in a grassland east of Ravenna, he seemed excited when chasing several of them. McGough said it was a good day for an eagle. They were among the humans and raptors in Kearney this week for the North American Falconers Association convention. Miles eagle education started with a fake jackrabbit. She required him to fly away from her to get the fake rabbit and increased the distance over time. Finally, it was dragged behind a truck at 35 mph so Miles would have to give chase. When he was introduced to a real jackrabbit in a Kansas field, he went after the flash of fur in a first clumsy attempt at hunting. Miles has killed 27 jackrabbits since then. Its amazing how deep that instinct is, McGough said. He can maneuver and fly fast. Im so impressed with his progress. It has changed his mindset. Miles now focuses his aggression on rabbits and is happier at home. She said Miles never will be released into the wild because he is so imprinted on humans. When asked to define their human-bird relationship, McGough said, I would say he sees me as the vehicle to chase jackrabbits. To hunt. Exciting things happen around me. ... He doesnt have to be hungry to fly for me now. Her reward is watching her fast, agile eagle soar like a falcon and fly low and fast like a hawk. McGoughs goal for 15-year-old Miles is that he has a long captive eagles can live into their 50s happy life as a hunting partner. Finding falconry McGoughs passion for raptors started at age 14. The most influential information came from the book A Rage For Falcons written by Steve Bodio that included photos of Kazakh hunters in Mongolia on horseback with golden eagles. That lit my fire, said McGough, who previously was interested in reptiles. I liked things that were wild and also hands on. Bird watching was not enough. She contacted the president of an Oklahoma falconry club and became his student. McGoughs imagination was captured by an activity that was both domestic and wild at the same time. Her first raptor was a red-tailed hawk. She had never trained an animal before, never even had a dog, and had never been hunting, so training the hawk to hunt with her was a struggle. She said it also proved to be an exercise in perseverance that served her well during eagle-related travels as an adult to Mongolia and South Africa. McGough released her hawk five years later as a University of Oklahoma sophomore preparing to study for a year at the University of Glasgow in Scotland where falconry has been practiced as a sport-art for centuries. It was the next step toward her dream of hunting with eagles. Making it to Mongolia When McGough was 17, she traveled with her father to Mongolia to meet Kazakh golden eagle handlers for the first time. Bodio, the author, helped them make the contacts. When she was an OU senior nearing completion of a bachelors degree in zoology and international relations, McGough applied for a Fulbright Scholarship to go to Mongolia. While there, she lived with an extended family of nomadic goat and sheep herders in a region of the Altai Mountains where Mongolia, Russia, China and Kazakhstan come together. It was the original birthplace of falconry, she said, and the hunters equipment and methods are much the same as they were thousands of years ago. McGough said the ethnic Kazakh falconers are Muslims, while most Mongolians are Buddhists. Their golden eagles are a stockier subspecies than found in the United States, but similar in appearance. Past generations used eagles to hunt food game, such as mountain goats and deer. Then, the focus shifted to foxes that were valuable for their fur. McGough said foxes still are hunted, although there is no fur market today. The pelts mostly are used as a cultural decoration statement on the Kazakhs clothing. Language was her first big hurdle. She hired a Kazakh translator to live with her during part of her Fulbright year. When she returned to Mongolia for a second year in 2012 to work on her Eagle Falconry in Central Asia doctoral dissertation, she could speak enough caveman Kazakh to get by. It was really hard, McGough said about living with no modern conveniences.There were no fruits or vegetables. They eat all parts of an animal, and its boiled. Eating boiled goat was very hard. So was dealing with frostbite and capturing a golden eagle. When trapping my eagle, I was thrown and dragged by my horse, McGough said. She had to learn to ride a horse with her eagle. McGough said an armrest that pivots off the saddle meant you dont have to free-carry a 10-pound eagle. It still took time for her to be comfortable in the saddle. You kind of forget that the horse is there. ... Youre communicating with the horse subconsciously, she explained. She completed her first year in Mongolia despite the changes. One incentive was knowing she would have to repay the Fulbright money if she came home early. The other was her love of eagles. They are amazing, McGough said, recalling that a month after she captured her eagle it was on its second migration from Siberia to China it caught its first fox. She released the eagle when she returned home in 2010. In 2012, her Mongolia mentor loaned her an eagle. Continuing adventures Her interests in eagles and history took her to South Africa last April to September. A fossilized skull that proved a child was killed by an eagle provided a link to human-eagle ties dating back 2.8 million years, she said. McGoughs role was to rehabilitate a crowned eagle that had a broken wing and leg and had been shot. It was an opportunity to learn about a bird species that sees primates as food. Her current to-do list includes preparing to defend her doctoral dissertation early next year at Scotlands University of St. Andrews; serving as executive director of a new non-profit, the Falconry Fund; and working with an agent on a proposal for a book about how eagles make us human. McGough also would like to teach at a university someday as an anthrozoologist, a person who studies human-animal relationships. Its a new field, one where there is room to make a mark, she said. I enjoy that. In their efforts to provide a sufficiency of water where there was not one, men have resorted to every expedient from prayer to dynamite, wrote American historian Walter Prescott Webb, author of The Great Plains, 1931. The Republican and Platte rivers run parallel for much of their courses, but the two rivers have very different characteristics. The Platte rises in the Rocky Mountains, whereas the Republican headwaters lie in the dusty plains of eastern Colorado. The Platte is filled with snowmelt and groundwater, while the Republican depends mostly on rainfall for its flows. The Platte has a vastly larger watershed, totaling more than 90,000 square miles. By comparison, the Republican watershed area is 24,900 square miles. The Platte is one of the most heavily irrigated river basins in the United States. It is the only river in Nebraska designated as overappropriated. The Republican River basin also has a large amount of irrigated cropland and is designated by the state as fully appropriated. Water shortages in the basin have caused interstate conflicts between Nebraska and its neighbors, Kansas and Colorado. Even though the water resources of both basins are heavily used, the potential for excess flows flows that exceed demands is much greater in the Platte because of its larger watershed and water sources. As part of its commitment to the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, Nebraska has agreed to protect Platte flows up to certain levels for endangered species. These target flows are considered adequate to support and protect habitat for whooping cranes, least terns and piping plovers. Flows that exceed these target levels are considered excess to the system and are available to use for other purposes. Nebraska natural resources districts and the PRRIP have made extensive use of excess flows over the past decade to recharge groundwater and augment the base flows of the Platte and its tributaries. These high flow diversions have saved valuable water by storing it underground for later use. In spite of these efforts, much of the Plattes excess flows still pass by diversion dams and continue unimpeded to the Gulf of Mexico. At best, this water is wasted. At worst, it contributes to flooding. The Platte-Republican diversion project proposes to use a small portion of this wasted, excess Platte water to supplement Republican River flows. This would be accomplished by diverting water through the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District canal system to a point east of Elwood, where it would be piped into Turkey Creek, a tributary of the Republican. The Tri-Basin and Lower Republican NRDs and CNPPID are working together to develop this project. We expect to file a water right application with the state before the end of this year. To ensure that diverting water outside of the Platte Basin doesnt interfere with potential future uses for excess flows within the basin, we will specify that we will not claim priority over future Platte basin projects if our water right is granted. Water is Nebraskas most precious resource. We must use it carefully and efficiently to ensure that sufficient water is available to sustain our good life for future generations. John Thorburn is general manager of the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District based in Holdrege. Charles Mansons bizarre plan to ignite a race war was unknown to Los Angeles in August 1969, as were his pathetic collection of young, rapt followers, his bizarre misinterpretation of Beatles lyrics, and Manson himself. What L.A. knew at the time was that seven people had been brutally murdered in two homes, apparently by invasion-style killers who left little clue as to motive. Crime was up nationwide, the turbulent 1960s were nearing their finale and the world seemed to have lost its mind. The city was terrified. The closest modern comparison may be disco-era New York, eight years later, when a killer who called himself Son of Sam stalked the streets with a .44 caliber revolver, shot 13 people and wrote mocking notes to police. David Berkowitz did his own killing (although he has claimed that cultists or demons were partly to blame) and Manson did none of his, instead sending his hangers-on to do his grisly work. In both cases, though, the killers instigated urban panic, gained media notoriety before being caught and, afterward, cemented their presence in the public mind and popular culture, assisted by endless news stories, books, documentaries and dramas. Manson and Berkowitz were rank amateurs by the murderous standards set by more recent killers, who acted in single spasms of violence without cultish followings and with motives varying from marital spite (as in the Sutherland Springs, Texas, and Rancho Tehama, Calif., shootings) to religio-political (as in the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack) to the still-unknown (as with the Las Vegas mass shooting in October). But in the near future the names of those killers will be recalled only sporadically, perhaps with the help of a quick Google query and a check of Wikipedia. The Son of Sam nickname may linger in New Yorkers memory, but the name David Berkowitiz is fading. But we will remember Manson. Why is that? After the murders and the trial, Manson did nothing but sit in prison, but the rest of us have kept him alive as a fixture in the popular imagination. We should just let his memory die. Los Angeles Times Charles Manson, the intellectual author of a series of 1969 murders so hideously brutal and pointless that nearly five decades later his name is still synonymous with slaughter, died last week. Of natural causes, they say, though I never thought anything about him was natural including the chilling moment I crossed his path 44 years ago. It was summer of 1973, between my sophomore and junior years of college, when I was working as an intern in the California Department of Corrections. The head of the state Health and Welfare Agency, which oversaw Corrections, was gearing up to run for governor, and he wanted regular positive press releases from all 32 departments he controlled. So I spent a lot of time visiting prisons to look for success stories. (Only 22 stabbings at San Quentin last month!) One of my visits was to the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, home to the hard-core-craziest inmates. Prison administrators, told an intern was coming from Sacramento, inevitably assumed I was some kind of hippie turn-em-all-loose advocate. So my visits always began with a visit to the prison office that investigated internal crime, where Id be shown photos of various shankings and beatings. From there, Id be taken to a security cell block, where the inmates could be counted on to scream abuse and threats at any visitor. I always tried not to make eye contact or gaze at them because that prodded them to new levels of frenzy. The Vacaville security wing was the worst Id ever visited, and I was really making a point of gazing straight ahead. But as we got about midway through the cell block, the correctional officer escorting me said, very casually, thats Charlie Manson over on your left. I tried to keep my head pointed straight while swiveling my eyes toward him, but my face moved a little bit, and we locked eyes, and he slowly unfurled a middle finger in my direction. Yeah, he was behind bars, but it nonetheless felt like an icicle through my heart. I thrilled with silent relief as we exited the other end of the block. I am always careful in telling this story. The first time, I said that Manson had thrown me a finger, and the person I was talking to said in horror, Oh my God? Whose was it? I had one other near-brush with the Manson Family that summer. I visited the state womens prison in Frontera, which was populated with low-security inmates who were locked up for drugs or bad checks. Most were in dorm-style areas rather than single cells. My tour was conducted by an inmate who asked if I wanted to go over to the prisons single real cell block, where a handful of medium-security inmates were. We walked to where it ended in a cinder-block wall with a barred door. Thats the maximum security area, my guide said. The only ones back there are the three Manson women. Its kind of weird. What do you mean? I asked. She took me over to the cell right outside the door and repeated my question to the woman inside. The COs dont enforce the lights-out time back there, she said. because those women are nuts. They stay up all night, and you hear these strange noises, and sometimes witchy cackling. She paused, then added: And one time, I heard bagpipes. Bagpipes? I said. Bagpipes, she repeated, then shrugged. I wonder if theyll be playing tonight. Glenn Garvin writes for the Miami Herald. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form West Kelowna Fire Rescue and members of the RCMP Fire Investigation Unit work at the scene of a West Kelowna house fire where the body of a woman was found in this November 2015 file photo. Brothers Paxton and Gabriel Vrecko with Sensitive Santa at Orchard Park mall, which provides kids on the autism spectrum and their siblings the chance to see Santa after hours in a calm environment. Edmonton Police Const. Michael Chernyk poses in this undated handout photo. An Edmonton police officer who was rammed by a vehicle outside a CFL game and then stabbed says his life has returned to normal.Const. Mike Chernyk was on duty outside Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 30 when a speeding car rammed through a barrier and sent him flying five metres in the air.The driver got out, pulled out a large knife and began stabbing Chernyk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - *MANDATORY CREDIT* NORTHWOOD | A person was life-flighted after losing control and rolling their motorcycle Friday afternoon near Northwood, law enforcement says. The Worth County Sheriff's Office said in a news release the motorcyclist, who has not been identified, was traveling east on 480th Street before losing control around a curve and going into a ditch. The crash was reported about 1:02 p.m. near Highway 65. Witnesses told deputies the motorcycle went end over end three to four times before coming to rest. The driver of the motorcycle was transported by Mercy Air Med with unknown injuries, the sheriff's office said. The crash remains under investigation. Fire departments from Northwood and Mason City also provided assistance at the scene. Ashley Miller A false killer whale named Chester has died at the Vancouver Aquarium. The young whale is shown being rescued by members of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre from a beach near Tofino, B.C., on July 10, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ HO, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks to the media before speaking with members of the armed forces via video conference at his private club, Mar-a-Lago, on Thanksgiving in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump says he's not playing ball with Time magazine as it decides its Person of the Year. The magazine counters that Trump has it all wrong. In a tweet Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, as he spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Florida, Trump sounded dismissive of the honor he received last year and could well receive again. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) FILE - In this April 10, 2017 file photo, women cry during the funeral for those killed in a Palm Sunday church attack in Alexandria Egypt, at the Mar Amina church. Egypt has been battling an insurgency in the Sinai led by an affiliate of the Islamic State group that intensified after the militaryAos 2013 ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood from power. Hundreds have been killed in what has become a grinding stalemate in Sinai. The militants have expanded their attacks to other parts of Egypt, carrying out deadly bombings of churches to terrorize the Christian minority and deadly gunbattles with security forces. (AP Photo/Samer Abdallah, File) MASON CITY | North Iowans experiencing difficult circumstances are hoping the Christmas Cheer Fund will brighten their holidays. A 37-year-old Mason City woman with four children ages 6, 12, 16 and 17 is a single mom who is self-employed. As a single parent, raising four children and receiving child support for only one of them as well as preparing for a brand new grandbaby, things are financially difficult, she wrote on her Cheer Fund application. Any assistance available in providing Christmas to all five children would be greatly appreciated. She is seeking funding for household needs, Christmas gifts and supplies. A 35-year-old Klemme man with two children ages 1 and 2 has been unemployed since 2015 due to multiple surgeries. I need help getting gifts for my two small children please, he wrote in his application requesting funds for his children. A 36-year-old Mason City man with six children ages 3, 7, 11, 13, 15 and 17 is seeking assistance to purchase blankets and warm clothes, according to her application. Mayberry: Cheer Fund enters 90th year of giving to North Iowa This week marks the starting point of the 2017 Christmas Cheer Fund campaign, and were hope Since the Cheer Fund began in 1927, $3,088,122 has been raised. This years goal is $125,000. Can you help us help those in need? The Christmas Cheer Fund was established by Globe Gazette Publisher Lee Loomis in 1927 so every child could have a present on Christmas morning. In the years since it has come to mean a little help at Christmastime to people of all ages. Donations may be dropped off or mailed to the Globe Gazette office, 300 N. Washington Ave., Mason City, IA 50402-0271. Any remaining funds not distributed for the holidays will be given to local nonprofits. The Christmas Cheer Fund balance will return to $100 in January to maintain the checking account. Those in need can apply for help from the Cheer Fund at the Globe Gazette between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Applicants must use the 2017 request form. Applications will close at noon Dec. 21. TWIN LAKES Two men were shot to death outside a Twin Lakes tavern early Friday morning. The suspect, a Trevor man, was taken into custody hours later on Interstate 94 near Tomah. His identity and the names of the two victims had not been released as of Friday night. Twin Lakes Police said the shooting victims were brothers from Twin Lakes. Police said they were called to the Beach Bar, 402 S. Lake St., at about 2 a.m. for a shooting outside the tavern. When officers arrived, they found a 28-year-old man dead in the parking lot. He had multiple gunshot wounds. A second man, 31, also had multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Burlington Hospital where he died. Several people at the Beach Bar Friday afternoon said the brothers were regulars at the tavern overlooking Lake Mary and were well-liked in the community. They are going to be missed by a lot of people, one man said. Its just a tragedy. Suspect tracked down Twin Lakes Police Chief Adam Grosz said the suspect, a 25-year-old Trevor man, fled the scene in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Deputies from the Kenosha Sheriffs Department went to the suspects home looking for him early Friday, but Grosz said the suspects cellphone led them to central Wisconsin about three hours north of Twin Lakes. We were able to track his cellphone and get his location, Grosz said. He was found by the Monroe County Sheriffs Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol traveling north on Interstate 94. He was taken into custody at about 8:15 a.m., Grosz said. We believe he was on route to a relatives residence in Hayward, he said. Grosz said police are not yet identifying the suspect. He was known in the community, he said. The police department has had contact with him in the past. Witnesses to shootings Grosz said police were told by witnesses that there was an altercation between the suspect and the victims before the shooting, which happened at bar closing time. There were witnesses to the shooting, he said. Witnesses were able to give police information on the suspect, and Grosz said police later got a description of the vehicle the suspect was driving. A man who lives in an apartment overlooking the parking lot said he heard nearly six shots in quick succession, saying it sounded like a semi-automatic handgun. Grosz said the investigation is ongoing. He said he did not know whether the brothers and the suspect knew each other prior to the shooting, or what had prompted the altercation. Rare in Twin Lakes Homicides are rare in Twin Lakes Grosz said he could not remember the last. Its a small community. Were obviously shocked that this happened. The police chief said he is proud of how his officers handled the shooting. They were able to get on top of what was going on quickly, and were able to identify the suspect and get him into custody quickly. Im proud of my department, he said. MASON CITY | Associate Judge Annette Boehlje is being remembered by friends and colleagues as a woman of many interests and talents and who had a passion for the well-being of children. Boehlje, 46, died Saturday, Nov. 18, at Good Shepherd Health Center. She held degrees in law and in ministry and was active in both fields. The Rev. Steve Johnson, who will officiate at her funeral Saturday at First Covenant Church, said Boehlje was a faithful, loyal, intelligent servant. "Many people have two degrees, but Annette is the only person I have known that carried both a law degree and a ministry degree," he said. "And she was the perfect person to do that. "Her strong and clear mind coupled with her faithful and generous heart embodied a Christianity that allowed her to be the same person in the law office or in the pulpit." Several judges reflected on her life and work. District Judge Gregg Rosenbladt said Boehlje was always striving to be better. "She always enjoyed a good conversation about legal issues or other topics of interest," he said. "She was also very strong, composed and hopeful after being confronted with a very serious medical diagnosis." District Judge James Drew said, "Annette was an excellent judge by any measure. She was firm but fair. The juvenile case work was particularly important to her and her desire to go above and beyond to protect the children was obvious. "Equally impressive to me is the dignity and grace she demonstrated after her diagnosis. She worked as long as she was able and I never heard her complain about her lot." District Judge Chris Foy said,"I think Annette became a lawyer so she could help people who were down on their luck and she wanted to be a judge for the same reason." Attorney Richard Tompkins said Boehlje was a dedicated mother, lawyer and judge. He said she could be direct in dealing with parents in danger of losing their children because of the parents' drug use. But she was extremely supportive of parents trying to overcome their drug problems. Attorney David Grooters agreed. "We were all heartbroken when we learned of her diagnosis," he said. "We will miss her bright face and contagious smile." Jeremiah and Amanda Reb had a special relationship with Boehlje. "As local foster parents, we had the pleasure of working with her on multiple cases where she always showed her love and compassion for the job," said Reb. "Our family will be eternally grateful for her service as she presided over the adoption of two of our children. May she rest in peace and may her family know that she left a legacy to be proud of." Boehlje was a member of the Una Vocis Choral Ensemble. Its artistic director, Dennis Lee, said, "She shared her lovely soprano voice for many years and was an active and dedicated member of the Una Vocis family. She was a bright and creative person and we miss her very much." MASON CITY Small Business Saturday helps North Iowans remember to shop small and can be more important than Black Friday for some of North Iowas small businesses. Its a great day to remind people to do some of their shopping at local businesses, Rachel Herman, Assistant Manager at Affordables said. Small Business Saturday was created by American Express eight years ago in 2010 and is a ceremonial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the United States. According to the U.S. Small Businesses Administration, Iowas 266,382 small businesses account for 99.3 percent of all businesses in the state and employ nearly half of the state's private-sector workforce. When we have customers supporting our store by shopping and donating they not only are supporting a local store and keeping that money in North Iowa, but they are supporting people in their job training and job searches with NIVC Services, Herman said. Small Business Saturday has become a national movement to celebrate and highlight the role and impact of small businesses on our economy," said Lisa Shimkat, Americas SBDC Iowa State Director. This Small Business Saturday, and throughout the holiday season, anyone can make a difference by shopping small." Americas SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State Universitys College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. In 2016, an estimated 112 million consumers reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, spending an estimated $15.4 billion. Mason City will host Home For the Holidays in conjunction with Small Business Saturday this year. Main Street Mason City will host the event from 3 to 9 p.m. downtown. There will be music on the Southbridge Mall Plaza, hot chocolate, a tree lighting, storytime, Polar Express Trolley rides, crafts, cookie decorating and more. Many of the businesses downtown and in the mall will have refreshments, gift bags, goodies, special deals and extended hours, according to Main Street Mason City. Shops across North Iowa will be offering deals and events for the day. Affordables will have specials throughout the day. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will have a book sale and from 1-4 p.m clothes are 50 percent off. Market 124 will have a BOGO event for ornaments. Real Deals will be giving away $5 shop credit to the first 100 shoppers in the door. The store is also offering 15 percent off of a customer's most expensive item. South Shore Donut Co. in Clear Lake will be offering $5 off $25 gift certificates and 10 percent off all SSDC merchandise including coffee mugs, t-shirts and more. Bread & Buttercreme in Clear Lake will be running a promotion, "Our customers are our bread and butter." There will be buy one get one $5 and specialty loaves of bread in the bakery and complimentary house made compound butter with each purchase. Bottomless bloody marys and mimosas will be served with brunch for $10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a reopening for a special tapas service from 5-9 p.m. (Adds quotes, background) By Alexandra Alper SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Libya's foreign minister said on Friday that OPEC could decide to extend crude oil production cuts to balance the global oil market when the group meets next week, and that Libya would cooperate with such a decision. "If it is necessary for all, we should extend cuts," said Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit in Bolivia. "We will go with the interest of all the other countries." The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet in Vienna on Nov. 30. The group, along with Russia and several other major producers, have cut their combined output by about 1.8 million barrels per day since January to reduce bloated inventories and boost oil prices. When asked if he believed OPEC's cuts should be extended to next year, Taher Siala said: "It is a matter of balancing the position of the consumers and the producers, and that is very important. If it is necessary for the interests of both, then we would be extending, yes." Siala said he expected that other OPEC member nations would share his position. "When there is a need for balancing, we will go with balancing for the market," he said, adding that OPEC representatives were in touch with non-OPEC countries like Russia about the issue. Russia has said it is ready to support extending a deal among oil producers on cutting output, although it has yet to say how long it should be for. (Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) (Adds quote, details, background) By Alexandra Alper SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Global gas supplies currently exceed demand, a situation that could lead to a "crisis" drop in prices similar to what occurred in the crude oil market, Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said on Friday. "The current excess supply of natural gas brings risks... of entering into the same crisis that affected oil prices," Novak said at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Bolivia, where top officials of major gas-producing countries have been meeting this week. Gas prices have plunged more than 80 percent in the last decade and remain under pressure due to growing supplies of shale gas and increased availability of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that can be shipped overseas. Novak said the threats to global gas prices underscore the importance of long-term supply contracts, in which producers can be assured a stable price over the course of years instead of being subject to the ups and downs of the market. Russia is the world's second-largest producer of natural gas, behind the United States. The United States has vastly increased its output of both crude oil and natural gas in recent years as improved drilling technology opened previously inaccessible reserves - a leading reason for a steep drop in petroleum prices . The GECF, which includes members like Qatar, Iran, Russia and Venezuela, is modeled after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), whose 12 member nations manage oil supply to control prices. While the GECF has called for increased "cooperation" to defend its gas market, it has not applied production limits as OPEC has done to buoy crude prices. (Additional reporting by Monica Machicao; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Dan Grebler) Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 16F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 16F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Wilbur Ross, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, is not happy with you, me, and, based on comments he made at a gathering of Big Biz executives Nov. 16, our republics representative government. When asked about the slow-and-getting-slower NAFTA trade talks at an invitation-only Wall Street Journal CEO Council meeting that day in Washington, D.C., Ross, identified by Politico as one of President Donald Trumps closest advisors on trade, said the U.S. will continue to take a hard line on its proposals just as the fifth round of the increasingly bitter talks continued later that week in Mexico City. Ross went on to report that the [NAFTA] negotiating environment has only grown more difficult as a result of industries like ag that have voiced a greater level of concern over the direction the administration is taking in the 2.0 talks. The Commerce chief was right; ag has voiced great concern over the direction the White House had taken in talks with two of the nations largest farm and food trading partners, Mexico and Canada. So concerned, in fact, that three weeks before the Journal gathering, 85 farm-affiliated businesses and groups from Deere & Co. to the Pet Food Institute had sent a sternly-worded letter to Ross calling into question his recent observation that there is not a world of oversupply of agricultural products. The letter also reminded Ross of the Trump Administrations worrisome talk of leaving NAFTA, a deal that accounted for an estimated 28 percent of all U.S. ag exports ($39 billion out of $140.5 billion) in the 2017 ag trade year. Had Ross and the President forgotten that just a year ago, candidate Trumps initiative to modernize NAFTA contained a do no harm pledge to American food and agriculture sectors? Withdrawing from NAFTA even the suggestion of withdrawal the letter warned, would cause immediate, substantial harm to American farmers, ranchers, and the U.S. economy as a whole. If Ross received the letter, he didnt heed it. He again complained about agriculture to the Journal audience when asked about NAFTA. As one special interest group, say agriculture, for example, gets nervous, the Commerce secretary whined, they start screaming and yelling publicly. They start writing letters, soliciting the Congress people, and they start screaming and yelling in public. And, good grief, an exasperated Ross added, all this public participation just complicates the environment and, frankly, makes the negotiations harder. Yeah, thats the trouble with democracy. A government of, for, and by the people involves believe it or not people. Some, like Ross, are rich; others are poor. Some are powerful; others weak. Some are well informed; others completely ignorant. All, however, were created equal no matter the amount of money in their back pocket or the number of politicians in their vest pocket. We are equal even if we are the ones screaming and yelling publicly or on the receiving end of the screams and yells. And, sure, democratic government would be speedier and less messy if we the public sat in silence while the plutocrats and autocrats run it. But the Founders didnt envision a government where individual wealth or personal power were paramount. Instead, they created a government that empowered all people: E pluribas unam, out of many, one. Those many include everyone billionaires and poets, plumbers and teachers, bankers and, yes, even yellers. Everyone. Their reason was elegantly simple. If plutocrat billionaires and even former plutocrat billionaires like Ross dominated American government, the United States wouldnt be a democratic republic that empowers people; it would be a banana republic owned solely by the powerful. We are those people, all of us, including Ross. We are the public in public debate, public policy, and public accountability. We are, in fact, the public in republic. Truly successful leaders live this idea from birth; fools die never knowing it. North Korea has appointed a senior communist party official as its new state security chief as part of leader Kim Jong-un's reign of terror aimed at preventing potential challenges to his power, a news report said Saturday. Kim picked Jong Kyong-thaek, a member of the central military committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, to be the minister of state security, according to the Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper. It cited multiple sources with information on North Korea. Kim Won-hong, a top officer in the North's military, was reportedly removed from the post earlier this year. The replacement is in line with Kim's practice of blocking certain aides or organizations from building up too much authority, it added. Last month, the Institute for National Security Strategy, which is affiliated with South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), raised the possibility that Jong might have replaced Kim Won-hong. Another Japanese newspaper, Tokyo Shimbun, reported that Kim has been sent to a collective farm in Pyongyang as a worker. The NIS told lawmakers in Seoul earlier this week that the North is conducting an inspection of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army. Hwang Pyong-so, the bureau's chief, and Kim Won-hong, who also served as its deputy chief, were punished for "impure" acts, it added. Choe Ryong-hae, the vice chairman of the party's central committee, has reportedly led the purge. (Yonhap) By You Soo-sun Kim Tae-hoon, Country Representative Ethiopia Country Office Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) / Courtesy of Kim Tae-hoon In search for meaning, Kim Tae-hoon, 43, left his profession as a surgeon in Korea and went to Ethiopia with his wife and three little boys. Although the decision has taken him away from one of the most revered jobs in the country and from one of its largest hospitals, Kim says the heart of his work in Ethiopia is still the same: saving lives. "It was not so much about leaving my job as a surgeon but a decision that would allow me to take on a more effective role out of the many things a doctor can do," Kim told The Korea Times. Since 2013, he has led various health programs under the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) in the rapidly developing, yet still one of the poorest countries in East Africa. There, he oversees four main projects aimed at improving its health sector: mother and child health, the healthcare insurance system, medical device system management and pediatric heart surgery. The last one is focused on establishing a team of competent Ethiopian pediatric heart surgeons, Kim explained. "Over 100 million people live in this vast land, and yet there is not a single hospital capable of conducting this surgery," Kim said. "For three years now, doctors from the Seoul National University in Korea and Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia have been collaborating to train a team here for this purpose. We have already seen some major accomplishments in some areas." And in all of the projects he is leading, he stressed his colleagues are involved every step of the way, constantly challenging themselves and working together to come up with ideas. He said the best part of his work is when he is able to confirm the friendship and trust he has established with the people there. It's also when he sees his Ethiopian colleagues whole-heartedly taking part in these programs. "One surgeon here told me that it's a miracle a group of surgeons from Korea came to this place to help them. The same person also went to Korea for training, and everyone was surprised by just how passionate he was about learning. He would stay in the intensive care unit until midnight and tend to the patients there, taking in much as he can," Kim said. "It's a blessing to see opportunities going to those who are prepared, and to be able to be witness those moments first hand. " Kim explained his life in Ethiopia is very different from the one he had in his home country. "I am always surprised by how different things are, how vastly different the worlds people live in are," Kim said. "People would say wherever people live are all the same, but I think that's not true at all." What he enjoys most about living in Ethiopia is the relationship he is able to have with the people around him. "In Korea, I was so busy with work that I wasn't able to establish deep relationships with those that I should truly love and care about. Now, I have meaningful relationships with them and this is what gives me a great sense of happiness and fulfillment," he said. "Of course the kids do miss toys, snacks, and ice cream that are not readily available here, but they are very satisfied with school and the freedom they have. I'm also grateful we are able to share much more laughter and tears together here than when we were back in Korea." Kim believes that more people should explore outside of Korea. "Korea is too small of a place for Koreans now, especially the younger generations. I would encourage them to reach out the world with all the potentials they have." President Moon Jae-in talks to Natsuo Yamaguchi, president of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's coalition partner the Komeito party, at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. / Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye President Moon Jae-in reiterated his negative stance on carrying out trilateral military drills between South Korea, the United States and Japan, Thursday, during his meeting with a Japanese party leader at Cheong Wa Dae. Sitting down with Natsuo Yamaguchi, president of Komeito, Moon said, "It is necessary to stably manage the situation to prevent tension from being excessively heightened." Komeito is in a coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. According to presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun, Moon made such remarks while mentioning measures to better cope with evolving threats from North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The comments were construed as Moon indirectly reaffirming his existing position that opposed the formation of a trilateral military alliance with the U.S. and Japan. Moon expressed a similar position, Nov. 3, during his interview with the Singapore-based English-language news network CAN. During his meeting with the Japanese politician, Moon said Seoul has been making efforts to resolve the North's threats peacefully and diplomatically. "South Korea and Japan, as well as South Korea, Japan and the United States, have been keenly cooperating with the international community to exert maximum pressure on North Korea to bring it to the negotiating table," Moon said. Tokyo and Washington are reportedly hoping to expand the scope of trilateral exercises with Seoul, and eventually form a trilateral military alliance in an apparent bid to better deter the North's threats and hold China in check. Japan's Nihon Geizai Shimbun reported Nov. 12 that the United States suggested holding trilateral naval exercises when three U.S. aircraft carriers were sent to waters near the Korean Peninsula. The newspaper said Japan welcomed the proposal, but such exercises did not take place due to opposition from South Korea. The Moon government's hesitation is due in part to anti-Japanese sentiment still running strong in South Korea over Tokyo's atrocities while Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. Yamaguchi told Moon the Japanese people have been anxious as the North flew its ballistic missiles over Japan twice this year, according to Park. "It is important for the international community to be united to pressure North Korea and change its attitude," Yamaguchi said. "I hope the unity of the international community could lead to a diplomatic and peaceful resolution of the North Korean issues." Moon also told Yamaguchi Seoul can learn a lot from Tokyo about earthquake-related issues, referring to the South Korean city of Pohang, which was hit by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake last week. "I wish the two nations can more actively cooperate in dealing with disasters," Moon said. President Moon also called on the two sides to expand personnel exchanges on the occasion of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Egyptians gather around ambulances following a gun and bombing attack on the Rawda mosque near the North Sinai provincial capital of El-Arish on Nov. 24, 2017. Armed attackers killed at least 235 worshippers in a bomb and gun assault on the packed mosque in Egypt's restive North Sinai province, in the country's deadliest attack in recent memory. / AFP-Yonhap Head of the Egyptian Press Syndicate Diaa Rashwan, briefs the press on the militant attack that sprayed worshippers with gunfire and explosions and killing at least 235 people in the Sinai Peninsula, during a press conference, in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 24. / AP-Yonhap South Korea on Saturday strongly denounced a terrorist attack in Egypt that killed more than 200 people. "Our government conveys a message of deep condolences to the victims, their bereaved families, and the Egyptian government and people, and wishes a quick recovery to the injured," the foreign ministry said in a statement. It stressed that terrorism could never be justified for any reason, adding that South Korea will continue to participate in efforts to root it out. The ministry was responding to the latest terror attack at a mosque in North Sinai province, which led to the death of at least 235 worshipers. It said there were no reports of any South Korean victims so far. (Yonhap) Students take the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) at a high school in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday morning. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun A total of 593,000 students took the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) nationwide Thursday after a one-week delay caused by a 5.4-magnitude quake that hit the southeastern city of Pohang Nov. 15. Due to continued aftershocks _ with a 2.0-magnitude one occurring the night before _ the test was held with an emergency response system in place. Only a slight 1.7 magnitude tremor which was not felt at test sites occurred. In Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, 5,523 students took the test with buses on standby to take them to sites in adjacent areas if a strong aftershock occurred. Fire and police officers, rescue workers, a doctor and counselor were stationed at each of the sites. Eleven students feeling psychologically unstable due to the quake last week took the test at a separate site, after signing up in advance. The test sites had psychiatrists and counselors on standby. A central disaster response team was on duty at the Pohang Office of Education. Although the test ended without damage, the absentee rate of test-takers was the highest yet at 9.48 percent _ presumed to be due to earthquake concerns. Police caught Saturday an unidentified man who infiltrated into an apartment home of Chung Yoo-ra, above, in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and stabbed a man inside. / Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwan The daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the high-profile confidant of former President Park Geun-hye, avoided possibly being murdered Saturday as police caught a man who had broken into into her home with the alleged intention of killing her. Chung Yoo-ra, 21, saw a man, identified by his surname Lee, 44, break into her home in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, around 3 p.m. Lee threatened a security guard at the entrance of her apartment building and forced him to lead him to her suite. Entering her home, he stabbed a man inside. Police received a report about the break-in and stabbing and arrived at the scene, where they grabbed Lee. The unidentified victim was taken to a hospital where he received a treatment. During police questioning Lee confessed that he has a monetary issue with Chung. Chung is suspected of gaining entrance to Ewha Womans University with the help of her mother, Choi, who abused her influence with Park to influence university officials, including the school's president, to enroll her daughter. Chung was admitted to the school as an equestrian in 2015 over other candidates who had better credentials, according to an investigation by the Ministry of Education. Chung was investigated for entering the school illegally but avoided prosecution. By Robert Skidelsky LONDON Sociology, anthropology, and history have been making large inroads into the debate on immigration. It seems that Homo economicus , who lives for bread alone, has given way to someone for whom a sense of belonging is at least as important as eating. This makes one doubt that hostility to mass immigration is simply a protest against job losses, depressed wages, and growing inequality. Economics has certainly played a part in the upsurge of identity politics, but the crisis of identity will not be expunged by economic reforms alone. Economic welfare is not the same as social wellbeing. Let's start, though, with the economics, using the United Kingdom ? now heading out of the EU ? as a case in point. Between 1991 and 2013 there was a net inflow of 4.9 million foreign-born migrants into Britain. Standard economic theory tells us that net inward migration, like free trade, benefits the native population only after a lag. The argument here is that if you increase the quantity of labor, its price (wages) falls. This will increase profits. The increase in profits leads to more investment, which will increase demand for labor, thereby reversing the initial fall in wages. Immigration thus enables a larger population to enjoy the same standard of living as the smaller population did before a clear improvement in total welfare. A recent study by Cambridge University economist Robert Rowthorn , however, has shown that this argument is full of holes. The so-called temporary effects in terms of displaced native workers and lower wages may last five or ten years, while the beneficial effects assume an absence of recession. And, even with no recession, if there is a continuing inflow of migrants, rather than a one-off increase in the size of the labor force, demand for labor may constantly lag behind growth in supply. The "claim that immigrants take jobs from local workers and push down their wages," Rowthorn argues, "may be exaggerated, but it is not always false." A second economic argument is that immigration will rejuvenate the labor force and stabilize public finances, because young, imported workers will generate the taxes required to support a rising number of pensioners. The UK population is projected to surpass 70 million before the end of the next decade, an increase of 3.6 million, or 5.5%, owing to net immigration and a surplus of births over deaths among the newcomers. Rowthorn dismisses this argument. "Rejuvenation through immigration is an endless treadmill," he says. "To maintain a once-and-for-all reduction in the dependency ratio requires a never-ending stream of immigrants. Once the inflow stops, the age structure will revert to its original trajectory." A lower inflow and a higher retirement age would be a much better solution to population aging. Thus, even with optimal outcomes, like the avoidance of recession, the economic arguments for large-scale immigration are hardly conclusive. So the crux of the matter is really its social impact. Here, the familiar benefit of diversity confronts the downside risk of a loss of social cohesion. David Goodhart, former editor of the journal Prospect, has argued the case for restriction from a social democratic perspective . Goodhart takes no position on whether cultural diversity is intrinsically or morally good or bad. He simply takes it for granted that most people prefer to live with their own kind, and that policymakers must attend to this preference. A laissez-faire attitude to the composition of a country's population is as untenable as indifference to its size. For Goodhart, the taproot of liberals' hostility to migration controls is their individualist view of society. Failing to comprehend people's attachment to settled communities, they label hostility to immigration irrational or racist. Liberal over-optimism about the ease of integrating migrants stems from the same source: if society is no more than a collection of individuals, integration is a non-issue. Of course, says Goodhart, immigrants do not have to abandon their traditions completely, but "there is such a thing as society," and if they make no effort to join it, native citizens will find it hard to consider them part of the "imagined community." A too-rapid inflow of immigrants weakens bonds of solidarity, and, in the long run, erodes the affective ties required to sustain the welfare state. "People will always favor their own families and communities," Goodhart argues , and "it is the task of a realistic liberalism to strive for a definition of community that is wide enough to include people from many different backgrounds, without being so wide as to become meaningless." Economic and political liberals are bedfellows in championing unrestricted immigration. Economic liberals view national frontiers as irrational obstacles to the global integration of markets. Many political liberals regard nation-states and the loyalties they inspire as obstacles to the wider political integration of humanity. Both appeal to moral obligations that stretch far beyond nations' cultural and physical boundaries. At issue is the oldest debate in the social sciences. Can communities be created by politics and markets, or do they presuppose a prior sense of belonging? It seems to me that anyone who thinks about such matters is bound to agree with Goodhart that citizenship, for most people, is something they are born into. Values are grown from a specific history and geography. If the make-up of a community is changed too fast, it cuts people adrift from their own history, rendering them rootless. Liberals' anxiety not to appear racist hides these truths from them. An explosion of what is now called populism is the inevitable result. The policy conclusion to be drawn is banal, but worth restating. A people's tolerance for change and adaptation should not be strained beyond its limits, different though these will be in different countries. Specifically, immigration should not be pressed too far, because it will be sure to ignite hostility. Politicians who fail to "control the borders" do not deserve their people's trust. Robert Skidelsky, a member of the British House of Lords, is Professor Emeritus of Political Economy at Warwick University. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate. On July 27 and 28, President Moon Jae-in met with top executives of the 15 largest family-run conglomerates for the first time since he took office in May. There was a featured guest. The CEO of Ottogi a midsize business group and Korea's second-largest instant noodle maker attended the event. The reason: the food maker marked the lowest ratio of non-regular workers at 1.16 percent, compared with the average of 40.7 percent among companies with 5,000 employees or more. The meager contribution made by the nation's largest chaebol to creating jobs has remained unchanged or even aggravated, government data showed. According to Statistics Korea, Tuesday, the number of employed people totaled 23.23 million last year, up only 220,000 from 2015. While small and midsize enterprises added 319,000 new jobs, large companies and nonprofit firms cut the number by 85,000 and 16,000, respectively. The state statistics agency attributed the fall of hiring by big businesses to the massive restructuring of the shipping and shipbuilding sectors as well as an overall slump in the manufacturing industry. The drop of new employment by large conglomerates is a bad sign for President Moon's priority policy to increase the number of decent jobs. However, it has long ceased to be news that revenue soars but jobs fall among chaebol affiliates. According to CEO SCORE, a chaebol watch group, the operating profits of the subsidiaries of the 30 largest chaebol in the first half of this year jumped 48 percent from a year ago to 53.1 trillion won ($48.3 billion). Their combined employment, however, dropped 0.4 percent to 963,580, over the cited period. The government is right in this regard to move toward far bolder cut-downs of administrative red tape to encourage big businesses shy of making new investments. Also welcome is the latest decision by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to make it mandatory for large companies to disclose their employment pattern and payment system regularly. Business associations and media outlets accuse the move of excessive pressurization on the private sector. Carrot and stick should go together if a policy is to get anywhere, and this applies to the attempt to rectify selfish acts by chaebol. Moon shows resolve on crackdown of workplace offenses Recently, there have been many media reports of sexual offenses at workplaces in various sectors. Hallym University Medical Center came under fire last week for its alleged inappropriate treatment of some of its nurses during an annual talent show in September. A video of the show, where the nurses were dancing in revealing clothes, went viral on YouTube. Some nurses complained on a Facebook page that they were pressured to take part in the event. The Hallym case stirred controversy after other sexual harassment cases at big companies made headlines earlier this month. A new female employee at Hanssem, the nation's largest furniture company, raised accusations of rape and sexual harassment in an online community. A female contract worker with Hyundai Card also raised accusations of sexual assault. There has also been some very disturbing news on sexual crimes against women in the military and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Several Korean embassies abroad have come under fire for allegations of sexual assaults by diplomats. In May, a female lieutenant committed suicide after she was reportedly raped by a superior. President Moon Jae-in has taken notice of the series of sex crimes against women, voicing during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday his resolve to crack down on workplace offenses. "I can clearly say that the heads of public agencies will be held responsible for not dealing sternly with sexual violence," Moon said. In Korea, there is a widespread culture of silencing victims of sexual harassment. Moon mentioned a survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family that showed almost 80 percent of victims choose not to make an issue out of what they went through. Many said they chose to remain quiet about the abuse because they felt that raising the issue would not help resolve the situation. Some victims are also afraid to speak out for fear of facing disadvantages at work or additional violence from the perpetrators. The status of Korean women has improved and more are entering the workforce, but they continue to face widespread workplace sexual harassment. The main problem is many workplaces still retain a very lax attitude toward sexual harassment. For example, Hyundai Card allegedly tried to brush off the sexual harassment allegations as "a private matter between two people in a relationship." It is time for workplaces to get rid of the shameless perceptions that sexual harassment is not a grave issue and that it is okay to degrade and abuse women. Laws need to be enforced to make it mandatory for all workplaces to conduct education on sexual harassment prevention and levy heavy punishment on bosses who neglect to deal strictly with in-house sexual violence. This has been a very challenging year for Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank. The demand for the emergency food that we provide has been very strong. This past year we provided enough food to make 267,480 meals. That enabled us to help 10,402 families and a total of 22,290 people. This last fiscal year are clients were 46 percent male and 54 percent female. Also 39 percent of those we helped were under 17, 32 percent are 18-40, 26 percent are 41-64, and 3 percent are 65 or older. A total of 637,691 pounds of food, 97,600 pounds of bread and sweets, and 12,088 pounds of non-food items (soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste) were given out to those who visited Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank. We also distributed 11,481 half-gallons of milk to our families and individuals. Our emergency food provided enough food to make meals for four days for individuals and families from 60 communities within the 10 counties in North Iowa, with 75.94 percent of those served being from Cerro Gordo County. All who come to Hawkeye Harvest Food bank must provide proof of residency and proof of income. Clients can come once each month to get their four days of food. Your tax deductible donation helps us buy the food and non perishables that we give out each day to individuals and families in need. Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank is a 100 percent volunteer organization. A donation of $25 will purchase enough food to make over 40 meals. A $50 donation provides enough food for approximately 80 meals, and $100 will help us purchase enough food for about 160 meals. There are no paid staff members. Our 137 volunteers gave 11,624 hours of their time so your donation is used strictly for the purchase of food with a small amount used to maintain our facility at 122 S. Adams. Your financial donations go a long ways with Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank. We are able to purchase the majority of our food items from the Food Bank of Iowa. Those items are purchased for $0.14 a pound, so that really stretches our donations. Not everything can be purchased from the Food Bank of Iowa, and our local grocery stores really help us out too. They provide us with substantial discounts on those very large orders for any items that are not available from the Food Bank of Iowa. Local and area food processors have also been very generous to us with their year-round donations of meat and eggs. This year, it is even more critical that those who gave last year do so again, and for anyone who hasn't donated in the past, I encourage you to help us this holiday season. Numerous individuals, families, schools, churches, clubs, organizations, businesses and industries provide additional support during the year with food collections and donations. In May, we do help Stamp Out Hunger. That's been so crucial for us during the summer months when donations drop rather dramatically. Those too are very important because they provide us with items usually not available from the Food Bank of Iowa. For those of you who are unable to make a financial donation, you might be able to donate food. Our largest needs right now are cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, chicken noodle soup, stuffing, toilet paper, rice and diced tomatoes. Another way that you could help Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank is to become one of our volunteers. We really need volunteers to help our clients from 1-4 any afternoon from Monday through Friday. A very short training is required. Our goal, for this holiday season is $25,000. That's an increase of $5,000 from last year. Please help us realize this season's goal. Gordon Ramsay By Oh Young-jin Michelin star-studded chef Gordon Ramsay left with one pledge unfulfilled. Ramsay vowed to give a kick to the British journalist who had dismissed the taste of Korean beer in disagreement with the chef's positive "beer of the people" review. There is no indication that the two met during Ramsay's short visit to Seoul this week for the filming of a reality show and promotion of Cass, Korea's top-selling beer from OB, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Belgian multinational. Therefore, there had been little chance that physical contact between the two had taken place. The journalist in this case is Daniel Tudor, who wrote that now-famous article, "Fiery food, boring beer," as a correspondent for the Economist magazine in 2012. He no longer works for the magazine and instead advises the presidential office thanks in no small part to his boring beer article. I phoned up Cass and asked how the Ramsay promotion went. A spokesman sullenly (it could be an affectation) said that it could have gone better, if the hadn't Guardian spoilt it (he didn't mention the publication specifically). If Ramsay and Tudor sought to settle their beer dispute by force, here is a chaser. The two may have said the same thing with a slightly different twist in flavor. About Tudor's article that is now five years ripe, he unwittingly complimented Korea's beers if it is taken in the context of yin and yang. Would you have fiery food with fiery beer (I don't believe that there is such a thing as fiery beer)? The gist of the Tudor article was not about the taste of the beer but more about the duopoly of the Korean beer market Cass vs. Hite. Still, the two dominate with a little bigger presence of imported beers. Whether it was his call or his editor's call, that article had a hot-button element that never fails to get Koreans excited North Korea. He claimed in the article that the North's Taedonggang Beer was better than Cass. Tudor couldn't be a fair judge as he revealed in the article, it was made with British help. So here was a Brit home away from home who tasted the taste of home. Victory hands down was preordained, wasn't it? Then, he went into beer business with his purpose being one of the following three: giving his "real beer taste" to Koreans, making a fortune or both. Now five years later, an invitation is long overdue asking Tudor whether he stands by his observation. By now, he has been more accustomed to Korean cuisine no longer surprised by the Korean delicacy of chopped live small octopus wriggling in sesame oil with finely minced scallion. Let's consider what Ramsay said. "When I have Korean food, I don't look for a wine list with the most expensive beer to go with it. I want a beer that's easy, fresh, and something I can drink without having to show off. I think that was the important thing." In other words, Cass, the Korean beer, fits Korean food. So are British beers for fish and chips. So Ramsay as a chef spoke articulately about the complementary role of food and drinks. Tudor caught the drift of it and fell short of saying it in a complete sentence, so to speak. Now what does the Guardian article leave those anonymous Cass naysayers and Ramsay haters? Were they all British? Or did they include anti-Cass fifth columns recruited from its rival Hite? I wouldn't want to know. There are a couple of afterthoughts. One is about Ramsay stirring the pot to give us better drink for thought: Is one drink necessarily better than the other? Does insisting on as such a make one a yokel? When will Koreans overcome a tendency to believe what they are told and act as if they are part of a herd? Back to the taste of Cass, it is not a Korean beer. Jinro, Korea's top distiller, had production operations for the popular liquor soju and beer made with the help of Coors, the U.S. brewery. When it went bankrupt, it sold in parts Jinro to Hite and Cass to OB, which is now under the Belgian multinational. True, Cass has developed over the years more to Koreans' liking. But it was originally born as American pale lager. So Ramsay was both right and wrong when he complimented Cass. The Cass spokesman said that his company didn't pay a large sum to Ramsay the usual sum for a celebrity plugging. Was it a British-American battle under the guise of Cass bashing? Last time they fought, it was about tea. Surely, what you drink is what you are? Oh Young-jin ( foolsdie5@ktimes.com, foolsdie@gmail.com ) is The Korea Times' chief editorial writer. This hotel development scenario just keeps getting more interesting. The "bid off" Monday between G8 Development and Gatehouse Mason City is like an auction-in-reverse. Instead of the prize going to the highest bidder, this one will go to the lowest -- to the developer who provides the best deal for the city by chipping away at its previous bid. The two developers will compete via conference call Monday morning, each getting up to a half-hour intervals to try to outdo the other for a period of not more than three hours. Then Monday night, the City Council will decide on a winner. So, a process that started almost four years ago when Phillip Chodur of G8 first proposed a Hilton hotel in the parking lot next to City Hall, now is to be decided within a few hours on Monday. Quick review: Chodur first approached the city about building a Hilton hotel -- but couldn't get a franchise agreement from Hilton. He came back to the city with a proposal to build a Marriott -- but was unable to meet deadlines for starting construction. He defaulted on the development agreement so the city sought other developers. Chodur then sued the city. Gatehouse emerged as the new developer with its plan to build a hotel in the Southbridge parking lot, connect it to The Music Man Square via a skywalk and build a conference center in The Music Man Square. The city and Gatehouse went back and forth on a development agreement. The end product, complete with changes Gatehouse wanted, was so different than the original that the city had to provide a 30-day period in which other developers could submit proposals. And guess who showed up? G8 Development, the company that is suing the city. Hence, the bid off. Chodur says he'll drop his lawsuit if the council approves his plan. Gatehouse supporters say this is bribery. Gary Schmit of Henkel Construction and Steve Noto of HPI Hospitality have both spoken in favor of G8. Though both raise valid points, they have vested interests. G8 wants Henkel to do the construction and for HPI to manage the hotel if G8's plan is picked. Emotions ran high at Tuesday's council meeting. Dalena Barz, who is with the Mason City Foundation, which oversees The Music Man Square, said the foundation has a memorandum of understanding with Gatehouse. "We have no intention of doing any business with G8," she said. But Mayor Eric Bookmeyer said the memorandum would be of no significance in the competitive bidding process. Barz also said she thought the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which could award the city up to $10 million, doesn't want to see any more changes in the city's proposal. But Director of Development Services Steven Van Steenhuyse said the state understands how the process works. Elizabeth Allison, executive director of The Music Man Square, pointed out voters gave a 75 percent "mandate" to ballot issues related to the Gatehouse plan. But Bookmeyer pointed out the vote on Nov. 7 was on two issues -- not one project. When the council voted to have the bid off, Bill Schickel voted against it, agreeing that the 75 percent vote was decisive and that the state might not look favorably on more changes. Two thoughts summarize the differences of opinion. Councilman Travis Hickey said taxpayers can't lose; they're going to come out of this with a better deal. And then there's businessman Dan Latham, who helped bring Gatehouse to Mason City. He told the council, "Don't mess this up." Good advice, whichever way the vote goes. PRESS RELEASE Enthusiasm on Belt and Road at China-Latin America Productive Capacity Forum in Beijing Nov. 24, 2017 (EIRNS)At a Beijing forum on China-Latin America Investment Productive Capacity Cooperation, held on Nov. 22, there was enthusiastic endorsement of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by the many Ibero-American and Caribbean participants, representing Jamaica, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, and Cuba, Xinhua reported Nov. 22. Officials from two Chinese companies also attended the conference, sponsored by the China Overseas Development Association. Zhang Zhenxi, Vice President of the China Overseas Development Association, noted in his speech that Chinese non-financial direct investment in Latin-America grew by 40% in 2016 over the previous year, adding that he was sure that this will continue to increase. "The Belt and Road Initiative... offers a unique development perspective," he said, "which has great significance for the improvement of infrastructure in Latin American countries." The Latin American participants expressed a desire to see more Chinese investment in their countries, and stronger bilateral cooperation in the framework of the BRI. Uruguays ambassador to China, Fernando Lugris, offered details on his countrys strong bilateral ties with China, and announced that in the future "well promote relations with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, encouraging economic cooperation even further." Note that the Uruguayans have been organizing for months for the large Nov. 30-Dec. 2 China-Latin America-Caribbean Business Forum, taking place in Punta del Este, Uruguay, at which Latin Americas participation in the Belt and Road will be a key topic of discussion. Felipe Aguayo, head of the ProMexico government trade office, said many Chinese companies are beginning to invest in Mexico because it offers favorable conditions. As for the BRI, he said, "Mexico is very interested. We want to participate in that initiative. We think it is a great opportunity." Andreas Pierotic, from the Chilean embassy in Beijing, underscored that for Chile, as well as for the rest of Latin America, "the Belt and Road has profound significance," and noted that last year, when Xi Jinping attended the APEC summit in Lima, "he invited Latin America to become part of this great initiative of trade connectivity, infrastructure, finances, think tanks and people-to-people" cooperation. He noted that recent agreement to expand the Chile-China Free Trade Agreement, signed by Xi and President Michelle Bachelet, reflects "the deepening of trade connectivity in the context of the Belt and Road." PRESS RELEASE United Syrian Opposition Delegation Will Negotiate without Preconditions Nov. 24, 2017 (EIRNS)The Syrian oppositions High Negotiations Committee (HNC) was today choosing a delegation representing all factions, to negotiate "without preconditions" in Geneva on Nov. 28, as demanded by the trio of Russia, Turkey, and Iran, and by UN Special Representative Staffan de Mistura. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has said that the Saudis had helped Russia to unify the oppositiona unity which was facilitated by the resignation of the HNCs head, hard-liner Riyad Hijab, earlier this week. The head of the oppositions Cairo Group, Firas al-Khalidi, denied reports that the Cairo and Moscow groups had withdrawn from the meeting, saying that there had been a technical dispute which has now been resolved, Anadolu Agency and others report from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the roughly 140 delegates have been meeting for two days. Although the HNCs majority position is that Bashar Assad must step down "at the beginning of the transition," this is not expected to be a barrier to negotiations. Meanwhile, on the plane returning to Turkey from his summit in Russia with the Russian and Iranian presidents, Turkeys President Erdogan told a journalist from Hurriyet that he would not necessarily exclude meeting with Bashar Assad on the Kurdish issue in the future, although there is no contact at present. "It is not appropriate to have an understanding of saying no way at all" he said. "The doors of politics are always open until the last moment." If factory farms are so safe, why are the pork producers filing suit to block having to report when the toxic gases hydrogen sulfide and ammonia emitted from hog confinements are more than 100 pounds per day? All counties in Iowa now have either poor or very poor air quality, according to a recent EPA air quality map. Factory farms are exempt from the Clean Air Act even though they produce large quantities of toxic emissions that have been proven to harm human health in multiple scientific and medical studies. With thousands of factory farms/CAFOs in Iowa that have little or no public health or environmental regulation, it's time to clean up our state so our grandchildren will inherit a state safe and pleasant to live in. That starts with a moratorium on new CAFOs until regulations can be developed to protect our most precious resource...our children. Clean air and clean water are prerequisites for good health. Contact your legislators and Gov. Reynolds and let them know what the majority of Iowans value, and that if they don't agree with us, they will be sent home. Joan Olive, Spirit Lake QUESTION: I live in a three-bedroom, three-bath home with a homeowner association. I leased a single room to a friend and asked the HOA to provide a parking permit so he could park in the community. It declined to issue the permit, saying the rental constituted commercial use of my real property, which is disallowed under the CC&Rs. This is not an Airbnb situation, nor is it a revolving door rental. It is long term. Ive read Civil Code section 4740 and relevant case law, which seem to define commercial use as something other than a sole tenant who is a friend you eat meals with, but is there anything legally definitive that answers this quandary? ANSWER: The law is fairly well-settled in this area: Almost any use of your home for money could constitute a commercial use. Included in this definition is rental of a single room to someone for payment whether or not they are your friend. The amount of money they pay you may determine the need for certain registrations or taxes, but the determining factor is the payment of money, not a previous relationship with your tenant. Advertisement As you have seen, Civil Code section 4740 directly addresses regulations of rental restrictions on homes within common-interest developments. The bottom line is that an owner shall not be subject to such restrictions in governing documents unless it was effective prior to the date the owner acquired title to his or her separate interest. Therefore, if this restriction were in place at the time you purchased your property, then the rental will be prohibited. If the restriction was passed after you purchased, then it likely wont apply to you. The matter was litigated when a La Jolla homeowner association sued an owner for breach of the CC&Rs for renting rooms in his four-bedroom home after complaints about parking issues and a loud party. The renters included a cousin, who stayed just two months, and five others who were there as long as two years. Each renter entered into a separate lease with the owner. In the case, Colony Hill vs. Ghamaty, the associations CC&Rs stated that each property shall be used and occupied for private, single-family dwelling purposes only and not be used for any commercial purpose whatsoever. However, the documents also gave each owner the right to lease his lot as long as they did not enter into separate leases for each individually rented room. Because Ghamaty had rented or leased to multiple occupants, the board decided it was a commercial enterprise. A lower court ruled in the associations favor, and the California Court of Appeal upheld the decision in 2006. It found that the rentals implied the home no longer was being used for single-family purposes. It also said that considered on a larger scale, such rentals could destroy the single-family character of Colony Hill. The citys municipal code allowed home rentals to multiple parties but the court found that under the CC&Rs, an owner could lease his entire unit to several tenants at the same time only if these tenants function as an integrated economic unit. It defined the term integrated economic unit in part by the issuance of only one lease whereby all tenants are jointly and severally responsible for all obligations under that same lease, including the rent. The justices found that because of the separate leases, Ghamaty and the renters did not function as an integrated economic unit. One of the negative implications of having several different renters occurred when there were complaints about loud parties and parking problems at Ghamatys home. As a result of having different renters over a period of time, no one specific renter took responsibility for correcting the problem that the tenancy created. The courts opinion does not ban rentals, nor does it prevent an owner from renting his or her entire property to an individual, or even a large family under one lease. It should be noted that not all governing documents and boards, for that matter, impose rules identical to those at Colony Hill. Owners in common-interest developments are cautioned to familiarize themselves with their deed restrictions well prior to purchase and before renting out any portion of their property. In your situation, there is a room lease in addition to your occupancy as an owner, destroying the integrated economic unit doctrine. If you live in Los Angeles, Municipal Code section 21.43 outlines the citys position on renting your home, or a room in your home: It is not barred but is considered a commercial enterprise. In addition to complying with any requirements for commercial leasing imposed by your association, you also may be required to register with the Housing Department, obtain a business license and register for a tax certificate. Zachary Levine, a partner at Wolk & Levine, a business and intellectual property law firm, co-wrote this column. Vanitzian is an arbitrator and mediator. Send questions to Donie Vanitzian, JD, P.O. Box 10490, Marina del Rey, CA 90295 ornoexit@mindspring.com Macys had hoped for a rush of shoppers on Black Friday. But it appears the crowds were too much of a good thing. Macys credit card payment system buckled due to a higher than anticipated volume of transactions, the retailer said, leading to delays that slowed the checkout process at department stores around the country Friday. The Cincinnati retailer said in a statement that the issue caused some transactions to take longer to process. Tweets by the department store to customers specified the issue affected credit and gift card transactions. Advertisement Macys said Friday afternoon that it had fully resolved todays system issues and that it did not anticipate any additional delays. Customers at the Macys at Westside Pavilion said the credit card payment issues forced them to either pay for their purchases with cash or come back at a later time. Consuela Amaya, 55, of Los Angeles, was buying shoes and clothes for her daughters at Macys around 10 a.m. when the cashier said her Macys card had been rejected. After a different credit card also failed, her daughter, Danely Amaya, 18, said they just paid cash and left. Dhruv Iyer, 19, was in line to purchase shirts around 1 p.m. when it became clear that there were payment issues. A cashier told him that the store could put a hold on his card and charge him for his purchase two weeks from now, but Iyer declined. His credit card was eventually cleared. Macys Chief Executive Jeff Gennette told CNBC earlier Friday morning that online and in-store traffic on Thanksgiving and Black Friday were strong. Good start to the whole Black Friday shopping season, he said in the CNBC interview. Macys stock closed at $21.07, up 2.1%. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga A computer error caused Delta Air Lines to offer super-low fares a few years ago that were up to 90% below regular prices, including a $35 one-way ticket from Raleigh, N.C., to Philadelphia. The Atlanta-based carrier caught the mistake within a few hours but not before the cheap flights were booked by some lucky travelers. A travel website announced this week that it is adding a service that can look for and display errors that lead to extremely low fares. Advertisement Cheapflightsfinder.com said it can find error fares by tracking the lowest fares on over 1,200 sources and then comparing those prices with the price for the same flights on other search engines. The website, based in Britain, said it has already found several super-cheap deals, including a round trip from San Francisco to London for $367 and New York to Paris for $346. Error fares can occur due to a multitude of reasons sometimes it is due to a misplaced decimal point, a currency conversion mistake or even human error during data entry, the company said in a news release. But the travel website warned that airlines are under no obligation to honor the error fares. Because of that, the site offers this advice: Book quickly before the airline figure out whats up. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. In Yana Welinders house, her son will say Papa to either her or her husband. Mama isnt in his vocabulary yet. But her child, who just turned 1, does have a name for another prominent figure in the household: Aga. Or, as the rest of us know her, Alexa Amazons voice assistant. Welinders son cant summon the assistant from the Echo speaker in their San Francisco home on his own. But he knows what hes trying to do. Advertisement He says it and he looks at her, and he expects her to respond, Welinder said. It cracks me up every time. Parents still grappling with kids app and smartphone use now have a new relationship to navigate the bond between their children and the all-knowing, all-hearing disembodied voice in the corner. Several parents have uploaded videos to YouTube of their kids interacting with Amazons Alexa or Googles Assistant. Some kids chatter with the voice assistants, peppering them with questions or imploring them to play their favorite songs. Others treat them as a friend who listens to what they would like to have and, in the case of Alexa, can send them gifts (much to the surprise of parents who receive those unintended orders.). While kids seem to understand that voice assistants arent people, research shows that many see them as their own entities. But, as with so many questions about kids and tech, its hard to say what that means for their development and whether it could be harmful. The jurys out on it, said Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra, founder and president of the nonprofit group Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development. The use of mobile devices among kids is already on the rise. The parental advocacy group Common Sense Media found that the average time that children 8 years old and younger spend on mobile devices has tripled over the past six years to a daily average of 48 minutes. The group also found that 42% of kids in that age group have their own tablet. Voice assistants, with their conversational nature, take the tech relationship to another level. Common Sense Media estimates that at least one in 10 American homes with young children has a voice-activated device in it. And, as research continues on the effects of these new, budding relationships, tech firms are quickly adding more kid-friendly features. Amazon recently made it easier for teens to order items through the Echo speaker on their parents accounts. Google has positioned its Home smart hub as a source for homework help and now allows parents to create kid-safe Google accounts for the Home. Mattel recently canceled plans for a child-focused home hub called Aristotle amid concerns over privacy. Regulators are starting to look at home hubs for kids, but are focused solely on privacy issues. For example, the Federal Trade Commission recently said that companies can collect voice queries from children without fear of liability, as long as they use and store them only to understand a query. Amazon said in a statement that it was evaluating the new rules to protect privacy and offer new features. Google spokeswoman Kara Berman said the company is compliant with the kids privacy law and does not store audio recordings from kid-focused apps apart from whatever is necessary to process what someone has said. But the broader issue of whether it affects childrens development is harder to nail down. Those opposing Mattels Aristotle highlighted that a voice assistant in the nursery could hurt parental bonding if the child considered the voice assistant to be their first playmate or a source of comfort. Also, kids may not be able to wrap their minds around a friend that has no body but can carry on a (stilted) conversation. And Hurst-Della Pietra, who has a background in pediatrics, said digital assistants may give kids the impression that everything can be done instantaneously. Parents may also regret letting their kids issue orders without so much as a please in a voice assistants direction. Just think carefully about the implications of tech in your home, said Jim Steyer, executive director of Common Sense Media. Dont think of smartphones and other gadgets as toys, he said, but rather as the supercomputers they are. And consider declaring the bedroom a tech-free zone and setting times when kids should be unplugged, such as dinnertime. Technology, he said, is not a bad thing in and of itself. But parents should know how tech works, particularly when incorporated deeply into the home. Used well, voice assistants can build communication skills or teach kids phrases in other languages. Welinder said she has thought deeply about her sons relationship with tech and is fine with his choice of early words. Her husband works in artificial intelligence, and she is a former technology lawyer and now product manager at the 3-D printing firm Carbon. She said their aim is to have her son learn to use Alexa just as he would any other tool, to be creative. Welinder is already thinking about ways to explain Alexa to her son when hes older. She and her husband like the idea that the boy will grow up in a world in which objects can talk back to him defining whats imaginary and whats real will be the problem to solve. Until hes old enough to understand, however, Welinder thinks its most likely her son will think of the voice as an imaginary figure, like Santa Claus. Tsukayama covers consumer technology for the Washington Post. Christian Rex van Minnen makes icons for an age whose virtues have curdled. The scariest part of his gut-punch paintings, watercolors and monotypes at Richard Heller Gallery in Santa Monica is that that age is ours. The viciousness that lurks ever closer to the surface of everyday reality and poisons the atmosphere with toxic dread and deadly anger erupts from van Minnens works with the forcefulness of a volcano. Sparing no one, Mourning Wood in Liminal Dawn zeroes in on sex, death and power, particularly as they come together in the behavior of men, fueling fantasies and inspiring actions that are hard to imagine, much less stomach. Sfumato is part of Christian Rex van Minnens Mourning Wood in Liminal Dawn exhibition (Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles) SIGN UP for the free Essential Arts & Culture newsletter Forget Freud, who thought that sex and death pretty much summed up human experience. To the dynamic duo of Eros and Thanatos, van Minnen adds Power with a capital P the kind of bare-naked, no-holds-barred brutality of evil characters in comic books or dictators pathologically detached from the last vestiges of their humanity. Violence follows, naturally and unnaturally. Visitors come face to face with a world more horrifying than horror movies. In the first gallery, eight intimately scaled portraits are presided over by The Rise of King Dick, a larger than lifesize masterpiece of strength run amok, pleasure taken in punishing others and beauty turned into ugliness. Van Minnen paints like an old master, layering and glazing so that his oils on panel seem to be illuminated from within. Details have been rendered with such fidelity that his paintings seem to be more real than the real thing. If van Minnen belonged to a movement it would be Super-Surrealism. His gigantic finger-puppet of a king looks so realistic that it seems to be alive or at least endowed with powers that make your flesh crawl. A single eye, looking out from a malformed face with the inscrutability of the Sphinx suggests that all is not lost that a glimmer of redemption might lie within. That is not the case with the eight smaller portraits. Against a shadowy concrete wall, each depicts a decapitated head perched atop a gigantic gummy candy that glistens and glows, like a sci-fi alien. Theres nothing alien about the mens faces. Some are old. Some are young. Most are white. All have been executed. But its impossible to know the circumstances that led to their deaths. Mob violence? Frontier justice? Kangaroo courts? Jury trials? Movie fantasies? Torture porn? Adding to the confusion are the crude tattoos that spell out phrases on their faces. With all the sophistication of restroom wall scrawlings, those messages make you wonder if the men chose to use their faces as message boards or if the words were inked as punishment a modern version of the scarlet letter. Questions about power and language come to the forefront, as do questions about who speaks for whom, about how meaning shifts as it moves through the world and about paintings place in it all. Similar issues take shape in the second gallery, where six monotypes, three watercolors and three oils on linen stir nuance into the queasy cocktail van Minnen so relentlessly serves up. Scholars rocks from China, folk tales from Europe and nursery rhymes from the United States expand the parameters of the Brooklyn-based artists inquiry into the malignancy of male domination, opening just a sliver of possibility in an otherwise grim reality. Richard Heller Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave., Bergamot Station, Santa Monica. Through Dec. 23; closed Sundays and Mondays. (310) 453-9191, www.richardhellergallery.com Stone of Helen is among the paintings in Christian Rex van Minnens Mourning Wood in Liminal Dawn. (Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles) Last You is a piece in Christian Rex van Minnens Mourning Wood in Liminal Dawn. (Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles) See all of our latest news and reviews at latimes.com/arts. MORE ARTS STORIES: The art of the tattoo, black and gray style Applause, and a caution, for UC Irvines planned museum The new Donna Summer musical Why your favorite TV show just might be scripted by a playwright On the campus of Cal State Fullerton, Mildred Garcia is a familiar sight, with her big glasses, wide smile and ensembles in the schools blue and orange. The university president, who many simply call Millie, loves to salsa. She waves pom-poms at sporting events. On move-in day, she rolls up her sleeves and switches between English and Spanish when talking to new students and their families. Nearly 60% of undergraduates at Cal States largest campus are the first in their families to attend college. Garcia understands their experience. She was first-generation, too. College is for everyone, she likes to say. Its never too early or too late to start. Garcia became the first Latina Cal State president when she was hired by Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2007. Cal State Fullerton, which she took over in 2012, now graduates more Latino students than any other California campus, and the second most nationwide. During her tenure, the campus, which enrolled a record 40,439 students this year, improved its four-year graduation rate by 65% and won recognition from a host of state and national education groups for closing the achievement gaps between Latinos and their white and Asian peers. She pushed the campus to develop its first academic master plan, fix problems with bottleneck courses that were slowing students paths to graduation and centralized previously scattered academic, counseling and career services to make them easier for students to find and use. The main goal, she said, was to make everyone on campus focus on helping students succeed. Garcia this month announced that she will be leaving the nations largest public university system to head the American Assn. of State Colleges and Universities, which represents more than 400 public institutions like Cal State. She took a moment to share her thoughts before taking on her new role as a national advocate for accessible public higher education. How do you make sure no student falls through the cracks? Its about not being afraid to show students that you love them and that you care about them. Faculty, staff and administrators are here because they want to be. When I meet with faculty members, I always ask: Why are you here? I remember someone said to me: Look, we at the Cal State system have students who are not entitled. Here, I know I play a small part in transforming their lives. Whereas, if I was at an elite institution, they would graduate in spite of me. Here, when you tell a student, You can make it, and you have someone sitting next to you saying, Let me show you how you can get this done, it really makes a difference. ... It's about not being afraid to show students that you love them. Mildred Garcia, Cal State Fullerton president Garcia hugs a student during a graduation ceremony in May. (Cal State Fullerton) Students learn as much from outside the classroom as inside the classroom. So what are we doing to assist outside the classroom, to engage students with the university? There were so many people, when I first got here, who didnt even know our graduation rates. They didnt know our dropout rate. And now, each college actually knows, by department, how many come in, whats the retention, whats the graduation rate, whats the ethnicity, whats the gender, where are the problems? We improved advising. Student affairs and academic affairs now work together. We set up analytics so we can actually monitor online whos in trouble so that we can immediately get them tutoring. The first semester, we monitor them. And God forbid they fail, then at the end of the semester, individuals will call them and say: Dont lose hope, we're here to help you. As a first-generation college student, I get it. You don't believe college is for you, and failing a class could really hurt your self-confidence. So when you have people showing that they care, it helps students continue to push forward. In her office, Garcia points to a copy of Francisco Ollers painting of Rafael Cordero, who opened free schools for children in Puerto Rico regardless of race or poverty. She says its a source of daily inspiration. (Rosanna Xia/Los Angeles Times) It must help to have a story so similar to many of your students. I have many students who tell me, when I tell my story, Oh my God, you just told my story. That I lost my father when I was 12, that my mom worked in a factory. ... My five older brothers and sisters were born in Puerto Rico. My brother and I were the surprises. I let them know all the time when I speak to them that I was a first-generation college student, that my parents were poor. And I'm telling them that so they know that they could reach for whatever they want to reach. That this is hard work, but when they graduate, it transforms not only their lives but the lives of the people who come after them. My family used to say, and Im going to translate it from Spanish: The only inheritance a poor family can leave you is a good education. Garcia speaks with Aiyanna Adams during a recruiting event in February about going to college. (Courtesy of Cal State Fullerton) Garcia with Pan African graduates during commencement in 2015. (Courtesy of Cal State Fullerton) Have you learned any lessons at Cal State that you will take with you to Washington D.C.? You have to listen to your constituency to understand their needs. You also have to listen to the silences. Sometimes people dont speak up, yet they have a lot on their minds. So you have to reach out to them to understand where they're coming from. ... You need to understand who you serve. And you need to work hard to ensure that people collaborate for the benefit of the people you are serving. We need to listen to all students, may they be Caucasian, may they be African American. We take for granted that we know but we dont. I may be Hispanic, I may be Puerto Rican, but I dont understand the issues of a Mexican American family who have loved ones here who dont have the appropriate papers. I learn from my students what their experiences are. I ask them, what are their needs? Then we can come back and say, OK, what can we do as an institution? Whether its counseling or advising or telling them where they can get legal services and giving them the resources to go, we need to listen to them before we even offer. You cant fix something if you don't know what the issues really are. Read more at Essential Education, our daily look at education in California and beyond rosanna.xia@latimes.com Follow @RosannaXia for more education news The Newport Beach City Council is expected next week to reverse several approvals for the derailed Banning Ranch development. The council will take up the court-ordered repeals when it meets Tuesday. In 2012, the council with different members certified an environmental impact report and approval of a general plan, code amendments and a development agreement that at the time included 1,375 homes, a 75-room resort hotel and a 75,000-square-foot retail complex on part of ranchs 401 acres of scrub and grasslands. Advertisement The project was later whittled down to 895 homes, a 75-room hotel, a 20-bed hostel and 45,100 square feet of retail space. Except for the environmental report and the development agreement, all other approvals were not to take effect until the California Coastal Commission granted the project a coastal development permit, among other actions. The commission rejected the permit application in 2016 and again this year. When the California Supreme Court ruled this year that Newport Beach had improperly approved the development, the Orange County Superior Court, under direction from the states 4th District Court of Appeal, ordered the city to vacate all Banning Ranch-related approvals. hillary.davis@latimes.com Los Angeles homeless advocates are raising alarms over a provision of the House tax bill that they say would deal a crippling blow to plans to add 1,000 new housing units annually. The House bill, passed this month, seeks to generate new revenue by eliminating tax-free bonds that provide low-interest funds for projects such as hospitals, schools and museums. The tax-free bonds also help lower costs for affordable housing. But more important, if the bill becomes law, it would cut affordable housing developers access to a tax credit program that pays for about a third of some projects. Advertisement Arcane language in the tax code requires developers who receive the tax credits to finance at least 50% of the projects cost with tax-free bonds. If there are no tax-free bonds, the tax credits would also be out of reach. That would eclipse a major portion of the funds that were anticipated to supplement Proposition HHH, the citys $1.2-billion homeless housing bond. Sean Spear, assistant general manager of the citys Housing and Community Investment Department, told members of the Proposition HHH citizen oversight committee the day after the House passed its bill that the goal of building 10,000 units over a decade depended on accessing $1.43 billion in tax credits. Losing these resources will essentially blow a hole in our goals that weve set for HHH, Spear said. Committee chairman Miguel Santana asked if that meant that we may still spend $1.2 billion but our ability to reach the 10,000 would be much more limited as the result of the drying up of other resources beyond our control? Thats correct, Spear said. Spear said Mayor Eric Garcetti has sent a letter to Congress joining a nationwide lobbying campaign by affordable housing advocates to prevent the House version from becoming law. The current Senate version of the bill does not eliminate the tax-free bonds. If the Senate passes its version, there could either be a conference committee, or the House could accede to the Senate. Nationally, according to an analysis by the accounting firm Novogradac & Co., the loss of the tax-exempt bonds would result in nearly a million fewer units of affordable housing over ten years. Matt Schwartz, president and chief executive of the California Housing Partnership, estimated that 20,000 units of affordable housing annually are at risk in the state. Even if the tax-free bonds are ultimately preserved, the uncertainty is causing a reaction in the financial markets, Spear said. At this point, many lenders are trying to make a decision on whether or not they are going to draw down all their bonds on projects, he said. One project caught up in the uncertainty is the 122-unit Metro Villas Phase II to be built by PATH Ventures next to the headquarters of the nonprofit, People Assisting the Homeless, in East Hollywood. Amy Anderson, executive director of PATH Ventures, said the projects lenders were preparing to draw down the projects entire $36-million tax-free bond before the end of the year even though the money would then have to be deposited in a bank, at a net loss of interest, until it is needed later in the construction. At this moment we are anticipating we will have to draw down all the bonds by the end of the year, Anderson said. That would raise the cost of the project, even if the House bill never becomes law. But that would be a minor setback compared with the cost if the bill does become law and the agency cannot access tax credits. It would lose more than a third of the projects $53-million cost. Schwartz of the California Housing Partnership said he remained optimistic that a fix would be found because he didnt think the House members even realized they were cutting off the tax credit program. The House ended the tax-free bonds to bring in nearly $40 billion in tax revenue over a decade but didnt understand the consequences the move would have on affordable housing, he said. But the drain on human capital in our field is already tremendous, as well as the anxiety about the uncertainty, he said. doug.smith@latimes.com @LATDoug OTTAWA, Nov. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- betterU Education Corp. (TSX-V:BTRU) (FRANKFURT:5OGA), (the Corporation or betterU), further to Corporations press release of November 3rd, 2017, in regards to entering into a Binding Letter of Intent and working towards a Definitive Agreement (Agreement), the Corporation wishes to provide additional information to investors regarding the proposed transaction. The Corporation understands that the entity with which it has entered into the LOI, and with which it will enter the Agreement being Treasure Union Ltd (TU) will not be the ultimate investor in the Corporation. Rather, the investor will be an off-shore fund (the Fund) that is in the process of being set up. The funds for the investment into betterU will come from that entity post being established. To date, the Corporation is continuing its due diligence with respect to the Fund, yet has not received any information about the specific structure of the Fund being established or its full management team. They are not in a position to confirm the investors in the Fund and the Fund manager has indicated that all investors have requested full confidentiality. The proposed Fund manager, TU, has indicated that they will provide proof of funds from the Fund by January 15th 2018; however, the Corporation has not been able to confirm that the funds are in this Fund at this time. The Corporation remains confident that once the Fund is complete and operational, funds will be made available for this investment. This confidence is due to the level of effort put into the development of the deal by both parties. The Corporation has however at this time not been provided with evidence that funds will become available for investment in the Corporation. The Corporations Board of Directors has yet to approve the Agreement for which the draft was received from the Corporations legal counsel, Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall, on November 15th, 2017. A copy of the draft Agreement has since been provided to the proposed Fund Manager for review. The final Agreement will be subject to approvals by the Board of Directors and TU prior to execution on December 31st, 2017. In support of validating the investment opportunity, the Corporation has put a significant amount of effort in the building of the deal structure and the relationship with the proposed Fund manager. The Corporations confidence comes from the history of personal and professional relations of the parties involved with betterUs board, understanding the details about the corporate structure and officers of TU, the level of effort into several months of due diligence, negotiations around the valuation and share purchase price, the level of negotiations and approval stages the Corporation was involved with, development and discussions around use of funds, growth plans and ongoing efforts to support a potential deal of this nature. The Corporation would also like to provide further clarification to the relationship between TU and the private investors in Hong Kong. Specifically, the Corporation has been advised that the private investors are a group of wealthy individuals that are working to seed the Fund to support investments such as betterU. TU is a private company incorporated and based in Hong Kong, that has no control over the private investors funds and has been selected by them to be the managing partner that will oversee the Fund. betterU has taken the disclosure of this investment opportunity to the market seriously and upon the Corporations execution of the binding letter of Intent, betterUs leadership immediately contacted IIROC to voluntarily halt their stock. It was decided by the Corporation that this was an important step in assuring proper disclosures to the market prior to the launch of the Corporations news release. It was determined by the Corporations Board of Directors at that time, that the news needed to be announced about the LOI as it was considered a material event. As part of any letter of intent, it is one of many stages along the way towards receiving further details and progressing efforts to close. The Corporation has continued to perform ongoing due diligence with support of TU, advancing its plans in anticipation of further validations of this investment opportunity. The closing of the investment into the Corporation is still expected to be on or before March 15th, 2018 and is subject to the following events, which will trigger an announcement to the market by the Corporation: (1) Execution of the Definitive Agreement by December 31st, 2017; (2) Completion of the Fund set-up in the Cayman Islands by January 15th, 2018; (3) Validation of Fund capacity to support an investment of this size by January 15th, 2018; (4) Completion of the closing documents on or before March 15th, 2018. Upon the resumption of trading, the directors and officers will be subject to the Black-out Period until the second day of trading after the second quarter interim financial statements are released to the public. Furthermore, the insiders (directors and officers) of the Corporation have entered into a pooling agreement pursuant to which each director and officer agrees not to trade their shares until the closing of the transaction as contemplated by the Agreement or the termination of the Agreement if it has been entered into. The Corporation can provide no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed, or at all. About betterU betterU, a global education marketplace, aims to provide access to quality education from around the world to foster growth and opportunity to those who want to better their lives. The company plans to bridge the prevailing gap in the education and job industry and enhance the lives of its prospective learners by developing an integrated education-to-employment ecosystem. betterUs offerings can be categorized into several broad functions: to compliment school programs with flexible KG-12 programs preparing children for next stage of education, to provide access to global educational opportunities from leading educators, to foster an exceptional educational environment by providing befitting skills that lead to a better career, to bridge the gap between ones existing education and prospective job requirement by training them and lastly, to connect the end user to various job opportunities. www.betterU.ca and www.betterU.in Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which include completion of the proposed Investment, the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Investment, the development and expansion of betterUs operations, and other matters. There can be no assurance that the Investment will be completed as proposed or at all. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, the development of competitive technologies, the marketplace acceptance of betterUs products, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of betterU. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, betterU disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, betterU undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Further information on betterUs public filings, including their most recent audited consolidated financial statements, are available at www.sedar.com. For further information, please visit http://www.betteru.ca/investor-overview/ Brad Loiselle President and CEO 1-613-695-4100 Ext. 233 Email: ir@betteru.ca Investor contact: Gurinder Sandhu Investor Relations 1-613-695-4100 Ext. 233 Email: ir@betteru.ca Congratulations you survived the biggest food holiday of the year. At least were hoping you did, and thus are reading this newsletter in the relative calm of your kitchen or wherever you find peace these days. You might have some post-Thanksgiving leftovers, in which case we have some suggestions for you. You might be on your way to your local farmers market, in which case wed suggest picking up some mandarin oranges, as eating a few of them out of hand sounds pretty meditative. If its time to eat a big dinner again, you could do worse than head to Journeymen in Atwater Village, the subject of Jonathan Golds latest review. A not-so-big dinner might be a decked-out Sonora-style hot dog, the subject of one of our stories. We also have a story about a new restaurant from a favorite chef, and another about the joy of pairing beer and barbecue. Because thats the thing about holiday dining: As soon as the table is cleared and the relatives returned, its time to think about dinner again. We hope you had a marvelous holiday. Amy Scattergood Advertisement THE JOURNEY TO YOUR PLATE Journeymen chef David Wilcox, with plates. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times ) This week Jonathan considers the cooking of chef David Wilcox, one of the two Gjelina alums who took over the Atwater Village location of the late, much-loved restaurant Canele. The new place is called Journeymen, and there our restaurant critic finds vegetable-driven dishes, natural wines, a creditable Basque cake and lots of versions of duck. Its a bird that you might appreciate more now that the turkey festivities are over. WITH LOVE, FROM HERMOSILLO Alfonso Garcia holds his Sonora-style hot dog, served by Alejandro Zamorano and his nephew David Zamorano. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times ) Food writer Margy Rochlin goes in search of the elusive Sonora-style hot dog, a condiment-loaded, bacon-wrapped street food staple that may be easy to locate in southern Arizona but not so much in L.A. She finds some very good hot dogs, including two examples of the item in question, one Compton-based cart, and the other somewhere on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park. Somewhere? This is why Twitter exists. NYESHAS NEW PLACE If you often found yourself heading to Venice not necessarily for the beach, but for chef Nyesha Arringtons cooking at Leona, now closed, then maybe read deputy Food editor Jenn Harris latest restaurant news column. She gets the details on Arringtons new restaurant, Native, as well as a new butcher shop in Fairfax from Jered Standing, formerly of Belcampo Meat Co. And, yes, theres more, including a cocktail bar called Bibo Ergo Sum. Right. BEER AND BBQ Tired of turkey and wine? How about pulled pork and Mexican lager. Beer writer John Verive gives an easy guide to pairing beer with barbecue, as craft beers diversity makes it an ideal accompaniment to whatever style of cue youre into. Verive also gives a few suggestions, not just for what to match with sour beer, but where to test out the pairings. Our Holiday Cookie Bake-off is back! Got a great holiday cookie recipe? Submit your recipe, plus an essay and photo or video by Nov. 25, to latimes.com/bakeoff. Well take the top 20 vote-getters and narrow them down to our top 5, which well bake in our Test Kitchen. The 5 finalists will be invited to our Test Kitchen and their recipes will be featured in the Saturday section in December. Jonathan Golds 101 Best Restaurants, the authoritative annual guide to local dining, is online for subscribers and now features his 2016 Best Restaurants. If you didnt get a copy of the booklet, you can order one online here. Goldbot: You can now talk to Jonathan Gold any time you want or at least the robot version of him that now lives on Facebook Messenger. You can ask Goldbot for a personal restaurant recommendation based on location, type of food or price. The bot will also deliver Jonathan Golds latest reviews straight to your device. The Daily Meal, the food and drink website under the editorial direction of Colman Andrews, is now one of our partners. Check out their stories, recipes and videos. Check us out on Instagram @latimesfood Check out the thousands of recipes in our Recipe Database. Feedback? Wed love to hear from you. Email us at food@latimes.com. Should three state lawmakers under a cloud of sexual misconduct allegations Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, Assemblyman Devon Mathis and state Sen. Tony Mendoza resign from the Legislature? Some people are calling for just that, saying that the accusations of sexual misconduct and harassment lodged against the three are so serious they cant effectively do their job. On Monday, Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) pledged to resign, but not until September, shortly before his term expires. His announcement came just hours before the Los Angeles Times broke the news that half a dozen women say Bocanegra inappropriately touched or communicated with them. The accusations are troubling, but its premature to pressure these legislators to step down. The investigations into Bocanegra and Mendoza (D-Artesia), who is accused of inappropriate behavior by two young staffers, are still open. Its not clear whether the Assembly Rules Committee is still investigating Mathis (R-Visalia) now that the Sacramento Police Department closed its probe of a sexual assault accusation made by a conservative blogger. Advertisement Anyone under investigation for serious sexual misconduct involving staff ought to be off the job suspended with pay, that is until the case is resolved. What should happen to them in the meantime, if anything? Its not reasonable to summarily discharge elected officials after mere accusations of misconduct, but should they be suspended, with or without pay? Should they be expelled or censured by their peers? Should it be up to voters, and voters alone, to unseat an elected official? Heres one policy that should be obvious: Anyone under investigation for serious sexual misconduct involving staff ought to be off the job suspended with pay, that is until the case is resolved. The Legislature isnt just a lawmaking body; it is the employer of hundreds of people who should be able to do their jobs without fear of sexual predators. Beyond that, however, we have no good answers. The California Legislature lacks clear and consistent guidelines for how to deal with a lawmaker who has been convicted of a crime, let alone accused of sexual misconduct. Without such guidelines, punishments appear to be situational and meted out in accordance with the inclination of the leadership and the popularity of the accused. Thats unacceptable. The uneven application of punishment was evident in 2014 when a trio of Democratic state senators Leland Yee, Ronald S. Calderon and Roderick D. Wright ran afoul with the law. California law gives each house of the Legislature the power to oust one of its own with a two-thirds vote. Yet after Wright was convicted of perjury and voter fraud, the Senate chose to take no action against the well-liked politician. It wasnt until the other two were under investigation for corruption that the Senate voted to suspend all three with pay. Ultimately, it was the right decision to remove them from their duties, and all three eventually resigned. Theres danger of inconsistency in the current cases as well. In fact, its hard not to wonder if these accusations would have been dealt with quietly and privately were it not for the scores of women who came forth in recent weeks to decry the boys club culture in Sacramento. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) launched an independent investigation (as opposed to one by the secretive rules committee) and removed Bocanegra from committee assignments and his position as majority whip. If the investigation affirms the accusations against Bocanegra, Rendon said, he will start expulsion proceedings. What about Mathis, now that the police investigation is closed? What should people expect, if anything? If the Assembly continues its investigation and finds nothing, should it publicly exonerate him? As for Mendoza, state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said he planned to strip the senator of his committee and board assignments and announced an independent probe. But De Leon has not said what might happen to Mendoza if the accusations of inappropriate behavior are deemed credible. In late November, the Assembly plans a hearing to discuss how to revise its approach to sexual harassment. That would be a good time to work out a policy describing how members should conduct themselves while in Sacramento and outline what the penalties are if they violate it. The Senate should do the same as an outside firm reviews its sexual harassment policies. This soul searching is healthy, but it must produce more than just empty gestures. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Since Charles Manson finished serving his life sentence Sunday, scores of readers have sent appropriately angry letters to The Times, each with all the requisite identifying information to have their words printed in the paper and online. There are enough usable letters to the editor on the late cult leader and convicted murderer to fill significant portions of print pages for several days. And what most of those readers who have submitted content for publication in The Times, thereby providing more material on Manson for us to print want is not to read so much about Manson. The truth is, on someone as singularly menacing as Manson, most of us probably have something to say even if its to say people should stop talking about a dead killer. Advertisement Adam Mekler of Pasadena raises issues he feels are more worthy of coverage: Has your paper lost its mind and integrity? I find that to waste so much space on a disgusting murderer is an abomination. I was over Mansons death when I heard it on the evening news, but The Times wont let him die. Gene E. Schwartz, San Diego Remember, there are many more topics and stories that are far more important: Puerto Rico, our failing educational system, the corrupt president and his cabinet, the so-called tax relief for middle-class Americans, the moral corruption of our political system, the climate change that is destroying our planet and more. Shame on The Times for abrogating its public responsibility. San Diego resident Gene E. Schwartz, like many readers, pointed out an irony in The Times coverage: In the paper on Tuesday, The Times Editorial Board admonished the public to stop obsessing with Manson: Hes been effectively dead to the world for more than 40 years, except to the extent that we insisted on keeping him alive in print, on television, in pop music and film. The Times has published multiple front-page articles since his death. Capitalizing on the sensationalism of Mansons legacy was OK for The Times, but shame on us for reading? If The Times wants the public to stop this obsession, then it should follow its own advice and stop printing these salacious and repetitive articles about this horrible loser. I was over Mansons death when I heard it on the evening news, but The Times wont let him die. Jo Iannello of West Hollywood suggests the appropriate place to report on Mansons death: Why are you giving so much publicity to Manson? He hardly deserves a one-liner in the obituaries section. I dont need to see his face when I open my morning Times. How much longer must we endure stories about him? Kathleen McCord of Encinitas is one of only a small handful of readers to suggest Mansons death deserves extensive reporting: In the summer of 1969, I was a young newlywed and I remember the Manson killings clearly. They were horrific and beyond anything anyone had ever experienced. The sheer brutality of the killings, in particular that of the pregnant actress Sharon Tate, who begged Mansons followers not to kill her nearly full-term baby, was beyond comprehension. These murders are incomparable. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Buffy Wicks was expecting the birth of her daughter on the same day she thought the country would be electing its first female president. Josephine instead was born two weeks late after the election of President Trump. As Wicks joined hundreds of thousands of people who took to the streets for the Womens March on Washington a few months later, she felt inspired to run for office, even as a new mom. I realized Jojo couldnt be the reason not to run, Wicks said of her first child. In fact, she is the reason to run. Advertisement Wicks, who worked as a White House aide to former President Obama and helped steer Hillary Clintons victory in California, is now attempting to win a seat in the state Assembly. The 40-year-old Oakland resident is one of nine potential candidates in the 15th Assembly District, one of Californias most diverse and politically progressive areas, covering Berkeley, Richmond and parts of Oakland. Wicks says she jumped into the competition with a desire to apply all she learned in Washington. One could assume someone with powerful Democratic friends and political experience helping capture nearly 3 million statewide votes in a primary and 8.8 million in a general election might be an easy victor in a place like this. But she is facing some popular local contenders who see her as an outsider trying to parachute in. That assessment of her candidacy is unfair, said Wicks, calling herself tethered to the Bay Area. She worked here as a community and campaign organizer a decade ago, and she bought her home in early 2016, long before the Assembly seat opened up. What I think voters care most about is who can go to Sacramento and get stuff done for them, Wicks said. The June 5 top-two primary race seems to have echoes of last years California Democratic presidential primary, which Clinton won in a closer-than-expected contest against Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The state Democratic Party is seeing bitter rifts between the perceived old guard and the newcomers. In May, there was the razor-thin defeat of Berniecrat-supported Kimberly Ellis against Eric Bauman for chair of the state party. And state party members could find themselves fractured again over the intraparty race between Sen. Dianne Feinstein and state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon. More than two-thirds of registered voters here are Democrats the second-highest of any Assembly district. And Wicks is billing herself as among the young new wave of Democrats seeking to take the reins. Wicks grew up in a single-wide mobile home in the sleepy town of Foresthill, a Sierra foothills logging community northeast of Sacramento. Her father was a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service. Her mother was a homemaker and later attended community college. Wicks followed in her footsteps and became an antiwar movement organizer in the Bay Area, later working on political campaigns. During Obamas 2008 presidential bid, she helped develop a national grass-roots organizing model that borrowed from social movement strategies, mobilizing thousands of volunteers to work for a candidate they believed matched their core set of values. As the White House deputy director of public engagement, she was one of the key staffers who helped pass the Affordable Care Act. Her most recent work has been with the California Kids Campaign, where as director she advocated for affordable child care and paid leave. Now she is among dozens of former top Obama political aides and policy staff who, heeding his call to action after Trumps election, are running for seats across the country. Democrats are in a bit of soul-searching mode after the election, and that is natural in terms of what happens after a party loses: Who are we? What are our values? she said. But I ultimately believe that at our core, we will be stronger from this. In a hopeful way, we are in a renaissance of civic engagement. That to me is the most exciting thing. Some nicknamed her Buffy the Bernie slayer during the primary. Wicks says now she appreciates what the Vermont senator has done for her party. We have more alike than we do apart, she said, and the community and nation should be rallying together on the things we agree on. California could flip the House, and these 13 races could make the difference Richmond Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles is a longtime progressive advocate who helped enact strict rent control measures. (Dennis Hearne / Handout ) Wicks, who has not held office, faces well-known candidates in the race for the seat held by outgoing Democratic Assemblyman Tony Thurmond: Oakland City Councilman Dan Kalb and Richmond City Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles. Thurmond is running for state superintendent of public instruction. Kalb has worked on tenant protection and gun control issues while on the council, and he helped write two winning local ballot measures one to strengthen Oaklands Public Ethics Commission and another to create its first police oversight commission run by civilians. Beckles is a longtime progressive advocate and helped Richmond enact strict rent control and eviction measures. In 2010, she became the citys first openly lesbian councilwoman. Both candidates have fought local environmental battles. Kalb helped block a proposal for a coal terminal in Oakland. Beckles has been a frequent critic of one of Richmonds biggest industrial presences, Chevron. Beckles said Wicks is in a race with people who have deep roots in the area, and national fundraising wont help. Campaign finance records for the most recent period show more than half of contributions to Wicks came from outside California. Folks are aware and awake to the fact of who has been in the community and who has been doing the work, Beckles said. To move here and expect people to support you is insulting. Others pointed to Thurmonds own background he served on the Richmond City Council and an area school board before his election to the state Assembly. Kate Harrison, a member of the Berkeley City Council, has backed both Beckles and Kalb, saying its important candidates maintain that community base. We have an embarrassment of riches here. We have a lot of great candidates, Harrison said. If elected, Wicks said she would work on affordable housing issues, advocate for a single-payer healthcare model, invest in community colleges and create one integrated public system of affordable child care for parents. Sen. Kamala Harris and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom have endorsed her, and powerful Obama connections including David Axelrod and Laurene Powell Jobs are among her campaign donors, as are elected officials including former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. She has had to talk and work with a lot of different people, said Pat DeTemple, a political consultant who worked with Wicks on the Obama campaign. Because of that she has a deep knowledge of how to get things done, of how politics really works. Following similar grass-roots strategies she helped develop for Obama, Wicks is out greeting voters at 20-plus house parties a month and having the long, one-on-one conversations she says she prefers. At a campaign event at DeTemples Berkeley home in August, the conversation switched from rising healthcare costs to the impact of Californias housing shortage in an area many residents see as ground zero to a crisis. Wicks opened with a credo she learned from Obama. I know what I know, and I know what I dont know, she said. But what I dont know, I want to find smart people to help me know. jazmine.ulloa@latimes.com @jazmineulloa ALSO Obamas former staffers hope to build upon his legacy as they run for office Hillary Clinton announces California leadership team How Hillary Clinton won California California politics news feed Trump promotes sons Justice with Judge Jeanine interview President Trump promoted via Twitter an interview with his son Eric Trump just before it aired Saturday night on Fox News Justice with Judge Jeanine. Eric Trump on @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews now! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 Eric Trump called into the show to defend his father from criticism prompted by the first government shutdown in more than four years, as well as a series of Womens March events that saw protesters in dozens of cities take to the streets to oppose the presidents policies. .@EricTrump joined me over the phone from Mar-a-Lago ! pic.twitter.com/Hro3TzUW52 Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) January 21, 2018 Speaking to host Jeannine Piro who is reportedly an old friend of the presidents Eric Trump offered effusive praise for his father, ticking off glowing statistics to illustrate the strength of the U.S. economy and gains against Islamic State fighters overseas. My fathers working like no ones ever worked before to bring back this country and to fulfill his promise to make America great again, said the executive vice president of the Trump Organization. He also repeated a sentiment recently expressed on Twitter by his father: That Democratic lawmakers forced a government shutdown on the anniversary of the presidents inauguration in a bid to distract from his achievements. You look at this whole government shutdown, and the only reason they want to shut down government is to distract and to stop his momentum, Eric Trump said. I mean, my father has had incredible momentum. Hes gotten more done in one year than arguably any president in history. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets: a perfect day for all Women to March President Trump hailed the nationwide Womens March gatherings Saturday. On Twitter, the president called it a perfect day for all Women to March, seeming to imply that those taking part were celebrating his administrations accomplishments: Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Participants in the marches across the United States were actually seeking to deliver a powerful rebuke to Trumps policies and mount a crucial mobilization for this years midterm elections. But Trump continued to tout his administrations unprecedented success in tweets sent later in the day: Unprecedented success for our Country, in so many ways, since the Election. Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, & ISIS, Judicial Strength & Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women & ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate - and so much more. Big 2018! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The Trump Administration has terminated more UNNECESSARY Regulation, in just twelve months, than any other Administration has terminated during their full term in office, no matter what the length. The good news is, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 In addition to the roll call of major American cities where womens marches took place including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta protesters also raised their voices in suburbs and small towns, reflecting the aim of coalescing a broad-based movement on the anniversary of Trumps inauguration to oppose the presidents stance on immigration, healthcare, racial divides and an array of other issues. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump calls shutdown a present from Democrats By Associated Press President Trump is blaming Democrats for the government shutdown tweeting that they wanted to give him a nice present to mark the one-year anniversary of his inauguration: This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 That comes after Senate Democrats late Friday killed a GOP-written House-passed measure that would have kept agencies functioning for four weeks. Democrats were seeking a stopgap bill of just a few days in hopes that would build pressure on Republicans, and they were opposing a three-week alternative offered by GOP leaders. Democrats have insisted they would back legislation reopening the government once theres a bipartisan agreement to preserve protections against deporting about 700,000 immigrants known as Dreamers who arrived in the United States illegally as children. Trump on Saturday accused Democrats of holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration: Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Cant let that happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Democrats are laying fault for the shutdown on Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress and the White House and have struggled with building internal consensus. In a series of tweets hours after the shutdown began, the president tried to make the case for Americans to elect more Republicans to Congress in November in order to power through this mess: Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 He noted that there are 51 Republicans in the 100-member Senate, and it often takes 60 votes to advance legislation: For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 #AMERICA FIRST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The stopgap spending measure won 50 votes in the Senate, including five from Democrats. Although the House and Senate were in session Saturday, it was unclear whether lawmakers would take any votes of consequence. Trump had been set to leave Friday afternoon for a fundraiser at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., where he intended to mark the inauguration anniversary. But he remained in Washington and ended up scrapping his plans to attend the Saturday fundraiser. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet casts doubt on likelihood of averting shutdown President Trump appeared to cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown Friday night in a tweet. Trump also sought to blame Democrats for what would be the first shutdown since 2013. His message came just hours before the midnight deadline by which lawmakers must pass a measure to fund government agencies, or some operations will cease. Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Despite last-minute negotiations Friday between Trump and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Congress remained deadlocked over a spending bill and the federal government was headed toward a shutdown at midnight. Senate Democrats joined by some GOP deficit hawks and immigration allies were set to filibuster a stopgap funding bill approved by the House on Thursday. A Senate vote was planned for 10 p.m. Eastern, and even White House officials predicted it would fail. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Lisa Mascaro. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump signs surveillance law after confusing tweets By Associated Press President Trump on Friday signed a bill into law to renew a foreign intelligence surveillance program, announcing his action in the latest in a series of confusing tweets about the spy program: Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2018 Trumps tweet on Jan. 11 created chaos in the House just before it voted to reauthorize what is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He linked the intelligence program to a dossier that alleges his presidential campaign had ties to Russia. That caused people to wonder if he didnt support the program that allows U.S. spy agencies to collect intelligence on foreign targets abroad. Trump and other Republicans have alleged that Obama administration officials improperly shared the identities of Trump presidential transition team members mentioned in intelligence reports. Democrats say there is no evidence that happened. Shortly before the House vote, and after conferring with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Trump did an apparent about-face. This vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land, he tweeted. We need it! Get smart! In his tweet announcing that he had just signed the bill, Trump wrote: This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! There are no obvious links between the dossier Trump spoke of, which includes salacious but unsubstantiated allegations against him, and the reauthorization of the spying program, or between the program and Trumps oft-repeated claims that the Obama administration conducted surveillance on Trump Tower during the presidential campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In tweet, Trump suggests that Pennsylvania trip is a political one The White House press office was once again forced to walk back a tweet from President Trump on Thursday morning after he described a trip to Pennsylvania later in the day as a political one a statement that would force the Republican Party, not taxpayers, to pay for the journey. The White House had said Trump was going to an industrial equipment company outside of Pittsburgh to highlight the good economy and new tax cuts, making it an official, policy-oriented event. It was widely assumed that the trip had a political cast the area is holding a special election to fill a congressional seat vacated by a Republican who resigned. Trump, by his tweet, seemed to confirm that politics was the whole purpose: Will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE, running for Congress in a Special Election (March 13). Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 Trump later shared via Twitter a pair of video clips of his speech at H&K Equipment, in which he touted the tax cuts he signed into law just before Christmas and tried to turn the conversation back to his accomplishments after weeks dominated by distractions, including questions about his mental health and comments about immigration that some considered racist: Departing Pittsburgh now, where it was my great honor to stand with our incredible workers, and to show the world that AMERICA is back - and we are coming back bigger and better and stronger than ever before! pic.twitter.com/kWPgylqFzj Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 AMERICA will once again be a NATION that thinks big, dreams bigger, and always reaches for the stars. YOU are the ones who will shape Americas destiny. YOU are the ones who will restore our prosperity. And YOU are the ones who are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! #MAGA pic.twitter.com/f2abNK47II Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 The Republican National Committee, rather than the White House, is supposed to pay for political travel so that taxpayers are not financing party activities; for trips that combine policy and politics, parties have split the cost under past presidents. Neither the RNC nor the White House responded to emails sent Thursday asking who would pay. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement later Thursday suggesting that taxpayers would foot the bill. She insisted that Trump would be conducting government business while in Pennsylvania. Read More This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets praise of Bob Dole after awarding him Congressional Gold Medal By Associated Press Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole knew the art of the deal before President Trump published the 1987 book of the same name. The two shared a stage under the Capitol dome Wednesday as Dole, 94, accepted Congress highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his World War II service and decades of work in the House and Senate. Trump later praised Dole in a tweet, attaching to his message a video composed of clips from the ceremony: Today, we witnessed an incredible moment in history the presentation of Congress highest civilian honor to our friend, and true AMERICAN HERO, Bob Dole. #CongressionalGoldMedal pic.twitter.com/qNQqDLRmCk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2018 At the ceremony, the president saluted Dole as a patriot and gave tribute to Doles struggle as a veteran who worked his way back from a grievous shoulder wound he suffered in Italy. He knows about grit, said Trump. But it was Doles penchant for working across the aisle that earned him his latest award, according to the legislation. Bob Dole was known for his ability to work across the aisle and embrace practical bipartisanship, reads the legislation Trump signed in September. Some of the awards 300 recipients include George Washington and Mother Teresa, according to the Congressional Research Service. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts report that seeks to link terrorism cases with immigration By Joseph Tanfani The Trump administration on Tuesday released a report attempting to link terrorism with migration, arguing that it was evidence of the need to dramatically reshape the nations immigration system. New report from DOJ & DHS shows that nearly 3 in 4 individuals convicted of terrorism-related charges are foreign-born. We have submitted to Congress a list of resources and reforms.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 ....we need to keep America safe, including moving away from a random chain migration and lottery system, to one that is merit-based. https://t.co/7PtoSFK1n2 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The report, ordered by President Trump in an executive order last year, said that 75% of the 549 people convicted of terrorism charges since 9/11 were born outside the U.S. Administration officials called that a sign that the U.S. needs to scrap its policy of family preferences for visas, which they call chain migration, and a diversity visa lottery program. But the report did not specify how many if any of the convicted terrorists entered the country through those means. It also did not detail how many of the convictions were related to attacks or plans in the U.S. versus overseas and how many involved people who went to fight overseas for the Islamic State or another terrorist group. Those details were not available, officials said. The report, due last year, is being released in a highly charged moment in the immigration debate, as Trump and some Republicans in Congress seek tough new border and immigration measures in return for a deal protecting the 690,000 people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Trump also fired off a pair of tweets on the topic earlier Tuesday: We must have Security at our VERY DANGEROUS SOUTHERN BORDER, and we must have a great WALL to help protect us, and to help stop the massive inflow of drugs pouring into our country! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The Democrats want to shut down the Government over Amnesty for all and Border Security. The biggest loser will be our rapidly rebuilding Military, at a time we need it more than ever. We need a merit based system of immigration, and we need it now! No more dangerous Lottery. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The focus of our immigration system should be assimilation, a senior administration official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition that his name not be used. He said the nation should give priority to potential immigrants who speak English, who have an education and those who are committed to supporting our values not family members of people already here. The official said the timing of the report was coincidental. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets welcome to president of Kazakhstan By Associated Press President Trump said Tuesday that he and the president of Kazakhstan are united in a shared determination to prevent North Korea from threatening the world with nuclear devastation. Trump and President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed North Korea along with other issues during meetings at the White House. Today, it was my honor to welcome President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to the @WhiteHouse! pic.twitter.com/TerYFZViax Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 Trump said Kazakhstan, once part of the Soviet Union, is a valued partner in our efforts to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. Together we are determined to prevent the North Korean regime from threatening the world with nuclear devastation, he said, as both presidents addressed journalists between meetings. Nazarbayev noted that his country once had one of the worlds largest nuclear arsenals but voluntarily gave it up after the Soviet Union collapsed. He said his country is in talks with Iran, which was the focus of a global deal that lifted some economic sanctions in exchange for Irans curbing its nuclear program. Trump has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal and threatened last week to pull out soon unless other countries fix what he says are terrible flaws. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump falsely claims his approval rating among black Americans has doubled By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump lashed out at the news media Tuesday morning in a tweet denouncing the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion among members of his campaign team. Do you notice the Fake News Mainstream Media never likes covering the great and record setting economic news, but rather talks about anything negative or that can be turned into the negative. The Russian Collusion Hoax is dead, except as it pertains to the Dems. Public gets it! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the presidents tweet, but it appeared as though he was watching Fox & Friends. A short time later, Trump tweeted a headline from a report that aired during that mornings episode: 90% of Trump 2017 news coverage was negative -and much of it contrived!@foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The segment focused on the latest survey results from conservative watchdog Media Research Center, which purportedly analyzed the evening news broadcasts on ABC, CBS and NBC from Jan. 20 to Dec. 31 and found that 90% of the statements made about Trump were negative. Study: 90% of Trump media coverage in 2017 was negative pic.twitter.com/vbrwup4Drg FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 16, 2018 But believe it or not, through all this negative coverage, they did a survey of 600,000 people about how black America views this president, co-host Brian Kilmeade said. His numbers have actually doubled in approval. Trump highlighted the statement in another tweet: Unemployment for Black Americans is the lowest ever recorded. Trump approval ratings with Black Americans has doubled. Thank you, and it will get even (much) better! @FoxNews Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 But its not true. The claim appears to have originated from a misreading of data from the online polling firm SurveyMonkey, according to factcheck.org. The firm polled 600,000 Americans in 2017 and found that Trumps approval rating among blacks actually dropped from 23% early in his presidency to about 17%, as of the week ending Jan. 3. Some conservative outlets, including Breitbart, produced an average from those and other SurveyMonkey figures and compared them to the scores Trump received from black voters in the 2016 exit polls. That methodology is not sound. And since the statistics measure different things, the comparison is misleading. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump goes after senator who surfaced his immigration remark By Associated Press President Trump turned his Twitter torment Monday on the Democrat in the room where immigration talks with lawmakers took a famously coarse turn, saying Sen. Richard J. Durbin misrepresented what he had said about African nations and Haiti and, in the process, undermined the trust needed to make a deal. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting, Trump tweeted, using a nickname to needle the Illinois senator. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 Trump was referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects young people who came to the United States illegally as children. Members of Congress from both parties are trying to strike a deal that Trump would support to extend that protection. Trump also cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching an agreement in tweets sent earlier Monday: Statement by me last night in Florida: Honestly, I dont think the Democrats want to make a deal. They talk about DACA, but they dont want to help..We are ready, willing and able to make a deal but they dont want to. They dont want security at the border, they dont want..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 ...to stop drugs, they want to take money away from our military which we cannot do. My standard is very simple, AMERICA FIRST & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 On a day of remembrance for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Trump spent time at his golf course with no public events, bypassing the acts of service that his predecessors staged in honor of the civil rights leader. Instead, Trump dedicated his weekly address to Kings memory, saying Kings dream and Americas are the same: A world where people are judged by who they are, not how they look or where they come from. That message was a distinct counterpoint to words attributed to Trump by Durbin and others at a meeting last week, when the question of where immigrants come from seemed at the forefront of Trumps concerns. Some participants and others familiar with the conversation said Trump challenged immigration from shithole countries of Africa and disparaged Haiti as well. Without explicitly denying using that word, Trump lashed out at the Democratic senator, who said Trump uttered it on several occasions. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks pundit for laudatory Fox & Friends spot By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump thanked Fox News personality Stuart Varney after Varney praised Trump during an appearance on Fox & Friends. In a pair of tweets early Sunday, Trump quoted from Varneys commentary, in which he argued that Trump deserves more credit for the booming economy. The pundit, who also hosts a show on Fox Business Network, cited moves by some corporations to raise workers minimum wage or pay out one-time bonuses in response to the GOP tax cuts. President Trump is not getting the credit he deserves for the economy. Tax Cut bonuses to more than 2,000,000 workers. Most explosive Stock Market rally that weve seen in modern times. 18,000 to 26,000 from Election, and grounded in profitability and growth. All Trump, not 0... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 ...big unnecessary regulation cuts made it all possible (among many other things). President Trump reversed the policies of President Obama, and reversed our economic decline. Thank you Stuart Varney. @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Varney was reacting to a quote from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who on Thursday called the bonuses handed down to workers pathetic in comparison to the gains corporations are expected to see from the tax cuts. In terms of the bonus that corporate America received versus the crumbs that they are giving to workers to kind of put the schmooze on is so pathetic, Pelosi told reporters. Its pathetic. Varney shot back Sunday that the bonuses, along with explosive stock market growth, are enriching all Americans. This is a huge shot in the arm, its the result of this tax cut deal and I think President Trump should get the credit for it, he said. .@Varneyco Sets the economic record straight after Nancy Pelosi calls U.S. mass bonuses crumbs pic.twitter.com/BvjIHGm3HE FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 14, 2018 The sweeping tax plan passed last month lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and cuts personal income taxes. Analysts say the benefits will largely flow to corporations and the wealthy, as theyre more likely to be in positions to share in corporate profits. For instance, Wells Fargo & Co., which responded to news of the tax overhaul by announcing it will raise workers pay to at least $15 an hour, also reported that it expects to pay an effective tax rate of 19% this year, down from about 31% in previous years. That should amount to tax savings of more than $3 billion annually. On average, middle-class Americans are expected to see a very small tax cut in the near term and a tax increase after 2025, when all of the tax cuts for individuals expire. The tax cuts for corporations, however, are permanent. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer James Rufus Koren. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts MLK proclamation in tweet, but ceremony is overshadowed by reports of racist remarks By Associated Press President Trump signed a proclamation Friday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, noting the contributions of a great American hero. Today, it was my great honor to proclaim January 15, 2018, as Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service activities in honor of Dr. King's life and legacy. pic.twitter.com/samlJsz1Nt Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 Overshadowing the event was mounting backlash from Trumps comments during a private meeting with lawmakers the day before. A short time after the meeting, which was called to discuss a possible immigration deal, reports emerged that Trump had asked participants why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, the Senates second-ranking Democrat, appeared to confirm those reports on Friday. Trump did not respond Friday to several questions about the incident, including whether he actually used vulgar language to describe African nations, or if he is racist. The president said at the White House that love was central to the slain civil rights leader. Trump said the nation celebrates King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or place of our birth, we are all created equal by God. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump criticizes Democrats in tweet calling for stricter immigration rules President Trump hit out at Democrats on Thursday night in a tweet calling for stricter immigration rules. Trump wrote that members of the party seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the border with Mexico: The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process. It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans. We must build a Great Wall, think Merit and end Lottery & Chain. USA! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the tweet. Earlier Thursday, Trump rejected a bipartisan compromise to resolve the standoff over so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children but have temporary permits to work, attend school or serve in the military. The president drew widespread condemnation after reports emerged that he had asked participants in an Oval Office meeting about the proposal why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts bill aimed at improving border screening for fentanyl By Associated Press President Trump signed legislation Wednesday aimed at giving Customs and Border Protection agents additional screening devices and other tools to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Speaking at a surprise bill-signing ceremony while flanked by members of Congress from both parties in the Oval Office, Trump described the bill as a significant step forward in the fight against powerful opioids such as fentanyl, which he called our new big scourge. He echoed that language Thursday in a tweet: Yesterday, I signed the #INTERDICTAct (H.R. 2142) with bipartisan members of Congress to help end the flow of drugs into our country. Together, we are committed to doing everything we can to combat the deadly scourge of drug addiction and overdose in the United States! pic.twitter.com/ELZvFol5Lo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 The legislation will pay for new portable and fixed chemical screening devices to detect and intercept fentanyl at ports of entry and in the mail, along with other laboratory equipment and personnel, including scientists. Trump has made fighting the opioid epidemic a centerpiece of his administration, though critics say he hasnt dedicated nearly enough money or resources to make a difference. Trump suggested during his remarks on Wednesday that hed like to take a more aggressive approach to the drug crisis but the countrys not ready for what he has in mind. So were going to sign this. And its a step. And it feels like a very giant step, but unfortunately, its not going to be a giant step, because no matter what you do, this is something that keeps pouring in, he said. And were going to find the answer. There is an answer. I think I actually know the answer, but Im not sure the countrys ready for it yet, he added. Does anybody know what I mean? I think so. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump applauds news that Toyota-Mazda plant is slated for Alabama By Associated Press Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda on Wednesday announced plans to build a mammoth, $1.6-billion joint-venture plant in Alabama that will eventually employ about 4,000 people. President Trump lauded the news in a tweet: Cutting taxes and simplifying regulations makes America the place to invest! Great news as Toyota and Mazda announce they are bringing 4,000 JOBS and investing $1.6 BILLION in Alabama, helping to further grow our economy! pic.twitter.com/Kcg8IVH6iA Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Good news: Toyota and Mazda announce giant new Huntsville, Alabama, plant which will produce over 300,000 cars and SUVs a year and employ 4000 people. Companies are coming back to the U.S. in a very big way. Congratulations Alabama! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 Several states had competed for the project, which will be able to turn out 300,000 vehicles per year and produce the Toyota Corolla compact car for North America and a new small SUV from Mazda. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and company executives held a news conference to announce that the facility is coming to the Huntsville area not far from the Tennessee line. Production is expected to begin by 2021. The decision to pick Alabama is another example of foreign-based automakers building U.S. factories in the South. To entice manufacturers, Southern states have used a combination of lucrative incentive packages, low-cost labor and a pro-business labor environment, because the United Auto Workers union is stronger in Northern states. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump highlights call for border wall in tweets on visit with Norways prime minister By Associated Press President Trump praised Norways prime minister in a tweet on Wednesday after Erna Solberg became the first foreign leader to visit with the president in 2018. Today, it was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway to the @WhiteHouse - a great friend and ally of the United States! Joint press conference: https://t.co/qWR1BhfQZI pic.twitter.com/PJvwznjRCO Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Trump also shared via Twitter a video clip of a joint news conference he held with Solberg on Wednesday afternoon. In the clip, Trump responds to a question from a reporter by saying there can be no bipartisan immigration deal absent funding for his long-promised wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been seeking a solution for hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers, young people who were brought to the United States as children and are living here illegally. The United States needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. The safety and security of our country is #1! pic.twitter.com/4CFzQXb5aS Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 We need the wall for security, we need the wall for safety, we need the wall for stopping the drugs from pouring in, Trump said Wednesday. Any solution has to include the wall because without the wall, it all doesnt work. On Tuesday, Trump drew widespread attention when he said during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers that he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. That contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill in subsequent tweets and public comments. Read More This post contains reporting from Los Angeles Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises Cabinet in tweet touting meeting By Associated Press President Trump promoted a meeting of his Cabinet on Wednesday, sharing via Twitter a link to a video of the session posted on the White House YouTube account. In his tweet, Trump thanked his Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country and wrote that the last year has been one of monumental achievement. I want to thank my @Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country. 2017 was a year of monumental achievement and we look forward to the year ahead. Together, we are delivering results and MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/ptXa1hAPwW pic.twitter.com/yv6RALkQf3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The former reality television star continued to dispense accolades at the meeting Wednesday, greeting reporters in the Cabinet Room by saying: Welcome back to the studio. Then he proceeded to relive a Cabinet Room session from the prior day, when he had allowed reporters and TV cameras to stick around for much of his meeting with a bipartisan group of legislators on the thorny issue of immigration. It was a tremendous meeting. Actually, it was reported as incredibly good. And my performance you know, some of them called it a performance I consider it work, Trump said. Trump went on to say he had received letters from news anchors calling it one of the greatest meetings theyve ever witnessed. He added that the media will ultimately support Trump in the end, because theyre going to say, if Trump doesnt win in three years, theyre all out of business. Asked for examples of letters received from news anchors, the White House said it had received private communications. It also offered a series of positive on-air comments and tweets from journalists about the unusual access to the meeting. During his remarks, Trump swung from praising his own meeting coverage to telling journalists that they were dependent on his presidency for ratings to threatening a strong look at libel laws. Still, Trump thanked the journalists in front of him, joking: Youve gotten very familiar with this room. I appreciate your nice comments yesterday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump blasts DACA ruling in tweet calling courts broken and unfair By Lisa Mascaro President Trump denounced the federal courts Wednesday as broken and unfair after a district judge in San Francisco issued a nationwide injunction keeping protections in place for so-called Dreamers. Trump tweeted: It just shows everyone how broken and unfair our Court System is when the opposing side in a case (such as DACA) always runs to the 9th Circuit and almost always wins before being reversed by higher courts. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Trump administrations decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, which has protected from deportation some 700,000 people who came to the country illegally as children. Alsup granted a request by the state of California, the University of California and other plaintiffs to stop Trump from ending DACA on March 5. The administrations decision to end DACA, which was announced in September, was based on a flawed legal analysis, Alsup wrote in his decision. Dreamers would be irreparably harmed if their DACA protections, which allow them to live and work legally in the U.S., were stripped away before the courts had a chance to fully consider their claims, he ruled. The action is the mirror image of a ruling in 2015 by a federal judge in Texas who ruled in favor of that state when it sought to block President Obama from expanding DACA to include the parents of Dreamers. Trump administration officials praised that judicial ruling. By contrast, they sharply criticized Alsups decision. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks lawmakers for productive immigration meeting, says deal must include border wall President Trump thanked a bipartisan group of lawmakers for participating in a meeting on immigration legislation on Tuesday. Much of the discussion involved so-called Dreamers, an estimated 700,000 young people who were brought to the country illegally as children and are now facing deportation. In a tweet, Trump wrote that there was strong agreement to negotiate a bill to protect Dreamers, as well as put into place some of the reforms favored by Republicans. Thanks to all of the Republican and Democratic lawmakers for todays very productive meeting on immigration reform. There was strong agreement to negotiate a bill that deals with border security, chain migration, lottery and DACA. https://t.co/SdqAQ3aL3z pic.twitter.com/8DYHZHspAy Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 The most notable exchange of the meeting came when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the San Francisco Democrat, asked Trump whether he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. Yeah, I would like to do it, Trump responded. The statement drew widespread attention because it contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump later backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill, tweeting that a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico must be part of any deal: As I made very clear today, our country needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Pressure has been mounting for Congress to broker an immigration deal by Jan. 19 as part of a must-pass budget package to fund the government. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks officers and veterans in tweets President Trump doled out a slew of accolades Tuesday via Twitter. He thanked the nations law enforcement officers, including in his message a hashtag denoting a day of appreciation organized by a national support group for law enforcement families. On behalf of the American people, THANK YOU to our incredible law enforcement officers. As President of the United States - I will fight for you, and I will never, ever let you down. Now, more than ever, we must support the men and women in blue! #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/Qb4uxB4JRm Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trump later expressed gratitude for federal immigration agents, in particular: .@ICEgov HSI agents and ERO officers, on behalf of an entire Nation, THANK YOU for what you are doing 24/7/365 to keep fellow Americans SAFE. Everyone is so grateful!#LawEnforcementAppreciationDay President @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/HXCpTlruVo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The president thanked veterans as he cited his administrations efforts to curb the number of veteran suicides by improving mental health treatment for the high-risk group: Today, it was my great honor to sign a new Executive Order to ensure Veterans have the resources they need as they transition back to civilian life. We must ensure that our HEROES are given the care and support they so richly deserve! https://t.co/0MdP9DDIAS pic.twitter.com/LP2a8KCBAp Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trumps tweet included photos of the president signing an executive order Tuesday directing the secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to provide seamless access to mental health and suicide prevention resources for 12 months for members leaving the armed forces. Also on Tuesday, Trump touted a law he signed the day before designating the birthplace of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a national historic park: It was my great honor to sign H.R. 267, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act, which redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. https://t.co/Qe0b6HBFTY pic.twitter.com/QTgaqTawPT Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 And he thanked House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) for sharing a video compilation comprised of clips of politicians and commentators praising the GOPs tax cut bill: Thank you @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy! Couldnt agree w/you more. TOGETHER, we are #MAGA https://t.co/QaxtqpyXTR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump hails tax bill in tweets recapping speech to farmers By Associated Press Connecting with rural Americans, President Trump on Monday hailed his tax overhaul as a victory for family farmers. Farm country is Gods country, Trump told the annual convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Trump became the first president in a quarter-century to address the federations convention. His Southern swing also included a stop in Atlanta for the national college football championship game. Cant wait to be back in the amazing state of Tennessee to address the 99th American @FarmBureau Federations Annual Convention in Nashville! #AFBF18 On my way now - join me LIVE at 4:00pmE: https://t.co/QaljAqekdD. pic.twitter.com/Wm7Io0hYT8 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and a group of Tennessee lawmakers, Trump said most of the benefits of the tax legislation are going to working families, small businesses, and who the family farmer. The package Trump signed into law last month provides generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and more modest reductions for middle- and low-income individuals and families. In every decision we make, we are honoring Americas PROUD FARMING LEGACY. Years of crushing taxes, crippling regs, & corrupt politics left our communities hurting, our economy stagnant, & millions of hardworking Americans COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN. But they are not forgotten ANYMORE! pic.twitter.com/MdYS7xnukQ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The president vastly inflated the value of the package in his speech, citing a total of $5.5 trillion in tax cuts, with most of those benefits going to working families, small businesses and who? The family farmer. The estimated value of the tax cuts is actually $1.5 trillion for families and businesses because of cuts in deductions and the use of other steps to generate offsetting tax revenue. We have been working every day to DELIVER for Americas Farmers just as they work every day to deliver FOR US. #AFBF18 pic.twitter.com/QDH7fvFkZ7 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 From Nashville, Trump traveled to Atlanta to watch Alabamas Crimson Tide and Georgias Bulldogs face off Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship. We are fighting for our farmers, for our country, and for our GREAT AMERICAN FLAG. We want our flag respected - and we want our NATIONAL ANTHEM respected also! pic.twitter.com/16eOLXg6Fi Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Before departing for the game, Trump referenced his ongoing defense of the American flag and the national anthem, saying there was enough space for people to express their views. We love our flag and we love our anthem, and we want to keep it that way, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet hails drop in unemployment rate for African Americans By Associated Press President Trump touted a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans on Monday in a tweet. African American unemployment is the lowest ever recorded in our country. The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped a full point in the last year and is close to the lowest in recorded history. Dems did nothing for you but get your vote! #NeverForget @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The rate fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Trump also hailed the development via Twitter on Saturday. His latest tweet on the topic came about an hour after it was discussed during an episode of Fox & Friends, according to Mediaite. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump talks up the economy and dresses down the media in Sunday tweets With President Trump cheering from the sidelines, the White House on Sunday pressed its defense of the presidents fitness to govern, as fired former aide Stephen K. Bannon reversed course and apologized for his role in a new books explosive portrait of Trump. The presidents critics, meanwhile, said Trumps stream of taunts and insults in response to the book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, released last week served only to underscore the authors unsettling portrayal of Trumps year-old presidency, depicting a leader whose own aides consider him childish, ignorant and dangerously erratic. Trump provided more ammunition Sunday morning, as he continued to attack the book via Twitter while preparing to depart Camp David for the White House: Leaving Camp David for the White House. Great meetings with the Cabinet and Military on many very important subjects including Border Security & the desperately needed Wall, the ever increasing Drug and Opioid Problem, Infrastructure, Military, Budget, Trade and DACA. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Ive had to put up with the Fake News from the first day I announced that I would be running for President. Now I have to put up with a Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author. Ronald Reagan had the same problem and handled it well. So will I! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 The most vehement defense of Trump on Sunday came from senior advisor Stephen Miller, a onetime Bannon acolyte who distanced himself from his former mentor. In a combative appearance Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, Miller called the book grotesque and writer Michael Wolff the garbage author of a garbage book. Trump is known to closely monitor aides televised performances in putting forth his case, and he gleefully weighed in within moments of Millers televised clash with host Jake Tapper. CNN has long been a particular target of Trumps ire. Jake Tapper of Fake News CNN just got destroyed in his interview with Stephen Miller of the Trump Administration. Watch the hatred and unfairness of this CNN flunky! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trumps reaction, however, seemed to bolster Tappers on-air depiction of Miller as using his appearance on the show to play to the president rather than addressing questions put to him. I get it theres one viewer that you care about, the host said exasperatedly after Miller turned the discussion repeatedly to negative news coverage of the president while deflecting specific queries. Later on Twitter, Trump took up two themes that have been prevalent on his social media feeds recently. The president again went after the news media, tweeting that the recipients of his self-proclaimed most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year, which he promised earlier in the week to announce on Monday, would actually be revealed the following Wednesday: The Fake News Awards, those going to the most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media, will be presented to the losers on Wednesday, January 17th, rather than this coming Monday. The interest in, and importance of, these awards is far greater than anyone could have anticipated! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trump later lauded a New York Post opinion piece that compared him favorably with his predecessor, President Obama, as well as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. In quoting the op-ed, Trump initally misspelled consequential as consensual, but he deleted those tweets and re-sent the messages. His is turning out to be an enormously consequential presidency. So much so that, despite my own frustration over his missteps, there has never been a day when I wished Hillary Clinton were president. Not one. Indeed, as Trumps accomplishments accumulate, the mere thought of... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 ...Clinton in the WH, doubling down on Barack Obamas failed policies, washes away any doubts that America made the right choice. This was truly a change election and the changes Trump is bringing are far-reaching & necessary. Thank you Michael Goodwin! https://t.co/4fHNcx2Ydg Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Trump also continued talking up the economy, which has been enjoying a period of strong gains. The Stock Market has been creating tremendous benefits for our country in the form of not only Record Setting Stock Prices, but present and future Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Seven TRILLION dollars of value created since our big election win! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 In addition to Miller, other senior administration officials made the rounds of Sunday news talk shows to decry the claims made in Wolffs book. CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Wolffs characterization of Trump as averse to digesting classified briefing material was ludicrous, and the ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, insisted that that those around Trump love their country and respect their president. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Responding to book that mocks his intelligence, Trump tweets hes like, really smart By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump declared himself a very stable genius on Twitter on Saturday and later in a televised news conference called the author of a book that questioned his mental fitness a fraud. His comments came on a bone-cold day at Camp David during a weekend retreat with top administration officials and Republican congressional leaders strategizing on the years legislative agenda, including matters such as infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and national security. Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Still, Trumps explosive rebuttal to author Michael Wolffs claims not only opened the day, but it also ensured the presidents capability to fill the highest office in the land was a topic that would not go away. In his early-morning tweets, Trump said two of his greatest assets have been mental stability, and being, like, really smart. He noted that his former Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, played these cards [about competence] very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In morning tweets, Trump touts job numbers and takes digs at news media By Associated Press President Trump used Twitter on Saturday morning to tout a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans. He also used the tweets as an opportunity to take digs at media outlets whose past coverage he has found to be critical. The African American unemployment rate fell to 6.8%, the lowest rate in 45 years. I am so happy about this News! And, in the Washington Post (of all places), headline states, Trumps first year jobs numbers were very, very good. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The unemployment rate for African Americans fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Still, the rate for black workers remains well above those for whites and some other groups, something experts attribute in large part to decades of discrimination and disadvantages. Robust job creation has lowered unemployment for all Americans. U.S. employers added nearly 2.1 million jobs in 2017 the seventh straight year that hiring has topped 2 million. In his tweet, Trump praised a report that noted the numbers, touting the fact that it appeared in the Washington Post (of all places). Minutes later, Trump renewed his attack on an ABC News reporter who was suspended last month after filing an erroneous report on Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security advisor. Brian Ross, the reporter who made a fraudulent live newscast about me that drove the Stock Market down 350 points (billions of dollars), was suspended for a month but is now back at ABC NEWS in a lower capacity. He is no longer allowed to report on Trump. Should have been fired! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The reporter, Brian Ross, was reportedly reassigned within ABC News upon returning from his unpaid suspension. But on Saturday, Trump wrote that he should have been fired. Trumps tweets came hours before he was set to host congressional Republicans and administration officials at Camp David. The meeting scheduled to begin at midmorning Saturday was expected to touch on the budget, infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and the shape of the midterm election this fall. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump commends Sen. Rand Paul after he proposes eliminating all U.S. aid to Pakistan President Trump commended Sen. Rand Paul after the Kentucky Republican announced plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate all U.S. aid to Pakistan. Trump tweeted Friday night: Good idea Rand! https://t.co/55sqUDiC0s Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 On Thursday, the Trump administration announced it was suspending security assistance to Islamabad until the country moves aggressively against local militants who have attacked U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration at the apparent inability of Pakistani authorities to rein in militants who cross out of the countrys rugged tribal areas to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to lash out at Sloppy Steve Bannon in tweets on tell-all book By Associated Press President Trump is praising a major Republican donor family for distancing themselves from his former advisor Steve Bannon. Trump tweeted Friday: The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon. Smart! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trump has continued to lash out at Bannon over an explosive new book that quoted his former aide as questioning Trumps competence and describing a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower among Donald Trump Jr., Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer as treasonous and unpatriotic. On Thursday, billionaire GOP donor Rebekah Mercer issued a statement distancing her family from Bannon. Mercer is a co-owner of Breitbart, the populist website Bannon helps run. I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected, Mercer said. My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements. The book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, quickly shot atop Amazons best-seller list, and the publisher moved up its release date by four days, to Friday. Trump took up the topic again on Twitter on Friday night, denouncing both Bannon and the books author, Michael Wolff, in starkly personal terms: Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad! https://t.co/mEeUhk5ZV9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Trumps message linked to a meme depicting a parody book cover titled, Liar and Phony, that featured a photo of Wolff and disparaging quotes about the author. In a tweet sent earlier Friday morning, Trump suggested the book was intended to serve as a distraction from the FBIs investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which Trump wrote is proving to be a total hoax. Well, now that collusion with Russia is proving to be a total hoax and the only collusion is with Hillary Clinton and the FBI/Russia, the Fake News Media (Mainstream) and this phony new book are hitting out at every new front imaginable. They should try winning an election. Sad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 That came amid reports that Trump directed his White House counsel to tell Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to not recuse himself from the Justice Departments Russia investigation. Trumps effort to keep Sessions, a vocal and loyal supporter of his election bid, in charge of an investigation into his campaign offers special counsel Robert Mueller yet another avenue to explore as his prosecutors work to untangle potential evidence of obstruction. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises the economy ahead of meetings at Camp David By Associated Press President Trump is praising the strength of the U.S. economy ahead of meetings at Camp David with congressional Republicans. Trump tweeted early Friday: Dow goes from 18,589 on November 9, 2016, to 25,075 today, for a new all-time Record. Jumped 1000 points in last 5 weeks, Record fastest 1000 point move in history. This is all about the Make America Great Again agenda! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Six trillion dollars in value created! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The president also told reporters on the South Lawn that the tax cuts are really kicking in after Congress passed a package of tax cuts at the end of 2017. And the president praised the December jobs report, which found U.S. employers added 148,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%, the lowest level since 2000. The modest but steady pace of hiring is a reassuring sign for investors who have been buoyed by the just-passed Republican tax plan and have been sending stock market indexes roaring to uncharted heights. The president is meeting with Republican congressional leaders and members of his Cabinet on Friday and Saturday to discuss the 2018 agenda. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets as Dow crashes through 25,000 By Associated Press President Trump dispatched a congratulatory tweet as the Dow Jones industrial average rose above the 25,000-point mark Thursday, just five weeks after its first close above 24,000. Dow just crashes through 25,000. Congrats! Big cuts in unnecessary regulations continuing. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 After the Dow closed above 25,000, Trump shared a graphic depicting the stock indexs record-setting rise. MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/iONbr1DkVk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Later in the day, the president was back on Twitter, complaining that news outlets had barely covered the stock market milestone. He suggested that the strength of the economy would be the biggest story on earth, had it unfolded during the presidency of his predecessor. The Fake News Media barely mentions the fact that the Stock Market just hit another New Record and that business in the U.S. is booming...but the people know! Can you imagine if O was president and had these numbers - would be biggest story on earth! Dow now over 25,000. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The Dow broke past 1,000-point barriers in 2017 on its way to a 25% gain for the year, as an eight-year rally since the Great Recession continued to confound skeptics. Strong global economic growth and good prospects for higher company earnings have analysts predicting more gains, although the market may not stay as calm as it has been recently. The Dow has made a rapid trip since it reached 24,000 points Nov. 30, partly on enthusiasm over passage of the Republican-backed tax package, which could boost company profits this year with across-the-board cuts to corporate taxes. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to Fire and Fury book in tweet lashing out at author and Sloppy Steve President Trump lashed out at the author of a soon-to-be-released book about the chaotic first year of his presidency Thursday night. In a tweet, Trump called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, a phony book and claimed that hed never spoken to its author, Michael Wolff. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Trump wrote. He appeared to be referring to former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, whose stunning criticisms of Trump and his circle figure prominently in the title. I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that dont exist. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trumps tweet came hours after he had his lawyer demand that Henry Holt & Co. and Wolff stop publication the book. Instead, the publisher expedited the books release to Friday, four days before it was slated to hit bookstore shelves, in response to unprecedented demand. Published excerpts on Wednesday and Thursday whetted that appetite and roiled Washington. Bannons comments, including that it was treasonous and unpatriotic for Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort to have met in 2016 with Russians said to have dirt on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, prompted Trump on Wednesday to rebuke his former advisor, saying Bannon had lost his mind. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks senators who attended meeting on immigration President Trump tweeted thanks to Republican senators who attended a meeting about possible immigration legislation on Thursday. In his message, Trump also listed his top priorities when it comes to any type of overhaul of the nations immigration system. Thank you to the great Republican Senators who showed up to our mtg on immigration reform. We must BUILD THE WALL, stop illegal immigration, end chain migration & cancel the visa lottery. The current system is unsafe & unfair to the great people of our country - time for change! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Trumps tweet echoed his remarks at the beginning of Thursdays meeting, when he insisted again that constructing a border wall and overhauling two legal immigration programs must be part of any deal with Democrats to protect the so-called Dreamers from deportation. Two-year deportation protections and work permits given under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program begin to expire March 6 under an executive order. Trump announced in September that he was ending the Obama-era program, but told Congress to draft a law to continue protections for people brought to the country illegally as children a group that has widespread public support. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Brian Bennett. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump resumes Twitter war against kneeling NFL players President Trump has resumed his Twitter war against NFL players who kneel during the national anthem to protest social injustice and racial inequality. In a tweet early Thursday, Trump replied to a supporter who shared a meme that appears to depict family members lying on the grave of a fallen soldier with the caption: This is why we stand. Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! Trump wrote. So beautiful....Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! https://t.co/tJLM1tvbvb Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The president has denounced players who kneel during the anthem in previous tweets. Hes also called for the firing of players who do so. His latest message came amid news that the NFL finished the regular season with TV ratings that fell nearly 10% below the previous season. Analysts attribute the drop to controversies facing the league, as well as changing viewing habits and a possible saturation point in the number of games available. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Stephen Battaglio and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump credits himself with facilitating talks between North and South Korea By Associated Press President Trump says his tough stance on nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula is helping push North Korea and South Korea to talk. Trump tweeted early Thursday: With all of the failed experts weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasnt firm, strong and willing to commit our total might against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 That assertion is in conflict with some of the presidents own statements. Last year, he ridiculed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for talking about negotiations with the North. This week, Trump seemed open to the possibility of an inter-Korean dialogue after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare overture toward South Korea in a New Years Day address. But Trumps ambassador to the United Nations insisted that talks wont be meaningful unless the North is getting rid of its nuclear weapons. The overture about talks came after Trump and Kim traded more bellicose claims about their nuclear weapons. In his New Years Day address, Kim repeated fiery nuclear threats against the United States. Kim said he has a nuclear button on his office desk and warned that the whole territory of the U.S. is within the range of our nuclear strike. Trump mocked that assertion Tuesday evening in a tweet. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After disbanding his vote fraud panel, Trump still says voting system is rigged By Brian Bennett One day after disbanding his troubled voter fraud commission without any findings of fraud, President Trump continued to call the U.S. voting system rigged and said states should require that Americans have voter-identification cards. In two tweets on Thursday morning, Trump blamed the commissions failure on the lack of cooperation from mostly Democrat States that refused to hand over voter rolls because they know that many people are voting illegally. However, voting supervisors in Republican-led states refused as well, objecting on privacy and other grounds. Many mostly Democrat States refused to hand over data from the 2016 Election to the Commission On Voter Fraud. They fought hard that the Commission not see their records or methods because they know that many people are voting illegally. System is rigged, must go to Voter I.D. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 As Americans, you need identification, sometimes in a very strong and accurate form, for almost everything you do.....except when it comes to the most important thing, VOTING for the people that run your country. Push hard for Voter Identification! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Despite Trumps assertions, analysts have not found evidence of widespread voter fraud. Trump created the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May after alleging, without proof, that millions of illegal votes were cast for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Trump was elected after winning a majority in the electoral college, but the nationwide count showed Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes. The commission sought personal data on voters across the country and faced mounting lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump touts another good day for stocks, credits tax cut By Associated Press President Trump touted another good day for the stock market Wednesday in a tweet. Stock Market had another good day but, now that the Tax Cut Bill has passed, we have tremendous upward potential. Dow just short of 25,000, a number that few thought would be possible this soon into my administration. Also, unemployment went down to 4.1%. Only getting better! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Big gains for technology and healthcare stocks helped U.S. indexes set records again Wednesday. Some analysts attributed the surge to investor enthusiasm for Trumps $1.5-trillion tax cut. All told, Wall Street analysts estimate the tax package should boost earnings for companies in the Standard & Poors 500 index by roughly 8% this year. Thats much more generous than the average tax cut of 1.6% that middle-class families will receive, according to the Tax Policy Center. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The public has been less enthusiastic about the tax law. A Monmouth University poll last month found that nearly half of Americans disapproved of it, with only 26% in support. Still, as Trump also noted on Twitter, some workers have seen a benefit: So far, dozens of companies have announced bonuses and higher minimum wages as a result of the tax cut. AT&T, Comcast, Bank of America, and American Airlines have all pledged to pay $1,000 bonuses to their employees. Some 40 U.S. companies have responded to President Trumps tax cut and reform victory in Congress last year by handing out bonuses up to $2,000, increases in 401k matches and spending on charity, a much higher number than previously known. https://t.co/bmWrwWzxMR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Investors also appear less concerned than many politicians about how the additional profits will be used. The Trump administration says it expects companies will plow much of the extra profit back into their businesses, purchasing more software, machinery, and other equipment. Those investments will make workers more productive and provide a key boost to the economys long-run growth. They should also boost wages and salaries for employees. Opponents of the tax law respond that companies are more likely to pass the windfall on to shareholders in the form of higher dividend payments and share buybacks, which raise the price of those shares still in investors hands. Previous cuts in corporate tax rates, in the United States and overseas, havent always led to higher wages. For Wall Street, its all good, at least in the short run. Most analysts take the view that either way, companies and the economy will benefit. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to death of Mormon Church president By Associated Press President Trump mourned the death of Mormon Church leader Thomas S. Monson on Wednesday evening. Trump tweeted a link to a statement in which he said that Monson demonstrated wisdom, inspired leadership, and great compassion and delivered a message of optimism, forgiveness, and faith. Melania and I are deeply saddened by the death of Thomas S. Monson, a beloved President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...https://t.co/ETD3fWtfU3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 A church bishop at the age of 22, Monson became the youngest church apostle ever in 1963 at the age of 36. He served as a counselor for three church presidents before assuming the role of the top leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. After a life of church service, Monson died Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins. He was 90. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets that Iranian protesters will see great U.S. support at the appropriate time By Associated Press President Trump continued to express support for Irans anti-government protesters on Wednesday. In a tweet, Trump commended the protesters and pledged that the United States will support them at the appropriate time. Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government. You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Trumps tweet Wednesday morning came as Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo sent a letter to United Nations officials complaining that Washington was intervening in a grotesque way in Irans internal affairs. The President and Vice-President of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts, the ambassador wrote to the U.N. Security Council president and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The U.S. didnt immediately respond to the letter, which maintains that Washington has crossed every limit in flouting rules and principles of international law governing the civilized conduct of international relations. At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran during a week of anti-government protests and unrest over economic woes and official corruption. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people took part in counter-demonstrations Wednesday backing the clerically overseen government, which has said enemies of Iran are fomenting the protests. Trump has unleashed a series of tweets in recent days backing the protesters, saying Iran is failing at every level and declaring that it is time for change in the Islamic Republic. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump congratulates Sen. Orrin Hatch upon news of his retirement By Associated Press President Trump congratulated Sen. Orrin Hatch for an absolutely incredible career upon news of Hatchs impending retirement. In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, Trump called Hatch a tremendous supporter and wrote that he will be greatly missed in the Senate. Congratulations to Senator Orrin Hatch on an absolutely incredible career. He has been a tremendous supporter, and I will never forget the (beyond kind) statements he has made about me as President. He is my friend and he will be greatly missed in the U.S. Senate! pic.twitter.com/0VjzLEeHTl Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Hatchs decision to retire from the Senate after four decades lets the Utah Republican walk away at the height of his power after helping to push through an overhaul of the tax code and persuading Trump to downsize two national monuments. Retirement also preserves the 83-year-olds legacy by allowing him to avoid a bruising reelection battle that would have broken his promise not to seek an eighth term. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet exaggerates progress in improving veterans care By Associated Press President Trump played up tremendous progress in improving care for veterans in his first year on Tuesday in a tweet. His message linked to an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is fighting for our veterans. But it overstates the impact of these steps. We will not rest until all of Americas GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time. Keep up the great work @SecShulkin @DeptVetAffairs! https://t.co/ir25vW15hx pic.twitter.com/OtuzIgxMn6 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The departments poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard. A fifth claim involves telehealth, a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasnt been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House. A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited effect so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims. The last two initiatives make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trumps watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the effect on veterans care is not fully known. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump unleashes his first tweetstorm of 2018 By Noah Bierman President Trump clearly didnt resolve to change his Twitter habits this year. With nine disparate tweets over three hours on Tuesday morning, the first working day of 2018, Trump continued to exploit social media to be the most aggressive commentator in chief in American history. For any other president, his posts would have made for a monumental day of (mis-)statements. Yet for Trump, the series attacks on political foes and media, provocations of foreign leaders and self-praise for events he had nothing to do with was all but unremarkable. His Twitter barrage sent between 7:09 a.m. and 10:16 a.m. reflected a familiar gamut after nearly a year in office: Attacks on political foes: Nearly 14 months after his election, Trump called for the jailing of Huma Abedin, Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid (his misspelling, another occasional feature of Trump tweets). Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols. She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 In the same tweet, he disparaged the Deep State Justice Dept, headed of course by his appointees, calling on it to act against James B. Comey, the FBI director he fired for investigating the Russia thing. Diplomatic provocations: Trump again called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Rocket man, ridiculed the volatile nuclear-armed foe for recent military defections and openly speculated about potential talks between North and South Korea. Sanctions and other pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not we will see! Trump wrote. Later Tuesday, Trump tweeted: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Also later Tuesday, Trump tweeted an attack on Pakistan, his second in as many days, and added a new one against Palestinians: It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They dont even want to negotiate a long overdue... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Undermining media: Trump offered Congratulations! to A.G. Sulzberger, who took over as publisher of the New York Times this week. The Failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, to give the news impartially, without fear or FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved. Get... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ....impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all of your phony and non-existent sources, and treat the President of the United States FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you wont have to write an apology to your readers for a job poorly done! GL Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the two-part post was really yet another slam against a perceived media foe: Trump said the paper had a last chance to fulfill its journalistic mission, and accused it of relying on phony sources and substandard reporters just days after he granted another exclusive interview to the paper. As a bonus, the tweet contained a recycled falsehood, that the paper apologized after the election for reporting on him unfairly. It didnt. Trump later said on Twitter that he would soon announce the most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year. Stay tuned! I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 oclock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 The president also tweeted a quote from Fox Business Networks Lou Dobbs Tonight, which aired a segment praising Trumps first-year accomplishments. Dobbs reportedly joined Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday for a gala to celebrate New Years Eve. President Trump has something now he didnt have a year ago, that is a set of accomplishments that nobody can deny. The accomplishments are there, look at his record, he has had a very significant first year. @LouDobbs Show,David Asman & Ed Rollins Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Taking credit: Trump congratulated himself for policing the border with Mexico, an area where his policies and anti-immigration rhetoric are believed to have had some effect on reducing illegal crossings. Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for your kind words on how well we are doing at the Border. We will be bringing in more & more of your great folks and will build the desperately needed WALL! @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 He took credit for employee bonuses by companies after he signed Republican tax cuts into law last month. Companies are giving big bonuses to their workers because of the Tax Cut Bill. Really great! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the jaw-dropper was Trump congratulating himself for planes not crashing. Since taking office I have been very strict on Commercial Aviation. Good news - it was just reported that there were Zero deaths in 2017, the best and safest year on record! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 It was the safest year on record worldwide, but the American streak without commercial jet passenger deaths goes back to 2009. Trump, who has promoted deregulation as one of his top accomplishments, has not signed off on any new airline safety regulations. The White House pointed to new security screening of passengers, to electronic devices to prevent terrorist attacks and to Trumps support for privatizing air traffic control a proposal that has gotten nowhere in Congress. Falsehoods: Trump said President Obama, in brokering the 2015 nuclear arms limitation deal with Iran, foolishly gave money to the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. He didnt. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 The nuclear deal, which included major U.S. allies as signators, released Irans own funds that had long been frozen. Trumps art of the deal: When Trump sees a big deal looming, he often blasts the other side to gain leverage, as hes written. This week he resumes a showdown with Democratic lawmakers over funding the government and immigration protections for so-called Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Trump, who in September ordered a gradual end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, sought to shift blame for the resulting controversy, saying Democrats are doing nothing for DACA and are just interested in politics. Trump has insisted that any help for Dreamers be paired with funding for a border wall and a crackdown on legal immigration. Democrats, and some Republicans, are opposed. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In tweet, Trump suggests U.S. will withdraw financial assistance to Pakistan By Shashank Bengali Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies & deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018 U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest and asked for clarification about Trumps comments, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to tweet in support of Iranian protesters By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Trump has tweeted about the protests for three days straight as Iranians took to the streets despite a heavy police presence, tear gas and scores of arrests. The defiance gained urgency after two people were reported shot to death in the city of Dorud, about 200 miles southwest of Tehran. As the conflict escalated, Iranian authorities on Sunday slapped a temporary ban on Instagram and the messaging app Telegram, which were widely used to fan protest fervor. Iran, the Number One State of Sponsored Terror with numerous violations of Human Rights occurring on an hourly basis, has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Irans leaders already are casting Trumps increasingly effusive expressions of support for the demonstrators as opportunistic meddling and are painting the demonstrators as foreign pawns, adopting a strategy that some analysts say could jeopardize the legitimacy of the nascent antigovernment protests. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets condolences after Colorado deputies are shot in ambush, one fatally By Associated Press A man fired more than 100 rounds at sheriffs deputies in Colorado early Sunday, killing one and injuring four others, before being fatally shot himself in what authorities called an ambush. Two civilians were also injured. President Trump expressed sorrow, writing on Twitter: My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said deputies came under fire almost Wait did the president really say, Mission Accomplished? By Marc Olson Some are recalling the last time a president declared Mission accomplished, in May 2003 when George W. Bush was talking about Iraq. (Stephen Jaffe / AFP/Getty Images) President Trump on Saturday morning thanked his allies in a tweet that declared the airstrikes on Syria perfectly executed, but he might have wished hed stopped there. Instead, he ended his message with the phrase, Mission Accomplished! Thats a line that might have a previous president shaking his head. On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq under a Mission Accomplished banner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. That war, which began in March 2003, grew into a prolonged conflict that didnt end until 2011. In 2008, the White House said it had paid a price for the backdrop. A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Auditor says Pentagon is censoring key data on the war in Afghanistan By Shashank Bengali The Pentagon is blocking the release of data showing how much of Afghanistans territory lies outside government control, censoring a key metric used to gauge progress in the 16-year war, a watchdog agency said Tuesday. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, an auditing agency established by Congress, said in its latest report that the Pentagon instructed it not to release unclassified data on how many districts and people are controlled or influenced by insurgent groups. This is the first time SIGAR has been specifically instructed not to release information marked unclassified to the American taxpayer, the head of the agency, John F. Sopko, wrote in a letter. Sopko also said the U.S.-led military coalition, for the first time since 2009, classified information about the size and attrition rates of the Afghan security forces, important indicators of progress in building up army and police forces on which the U.S. already has spent $70 billion since 2002. The decision to withhold more information from congressional oversight and the public comes amid growing violence in Afghanistan and an intensifying combat mission involving a greater number of American troops. Following a series of bombings in Kabul that left at least 136 people dead in 10 days, President Trump signaled on Monday that he was focused on trying to win the conflict militarily, saying, We dont want to talk with the Taliban. But data released by SIGAR since 2015 have shown how the insurgents have gained ground against Afghan security forces. In its previous quarterly report, the watchdog said that only 57% of Afghanistans 407 districts were under Afghan government control or influence as of August 2017, the lowest level of control since it began tracking the statistic in December 2015. The steady decline in government control should cause even more concern about its disappearance from public disclosure and discussion, Sopko wrote. The watchdog also accused the Pentagon of overstating the impact of its efforts to combat drug cultivation and trafficking, among the Talibans main sources of revenue. The Pentagon touted airstrikes that destroyed 25 drug labs in November and December, saying it eliminated nearly $100 million of Taliban revenue. The labs being destroyed are cheap and easy to replace, SIGAR said. According to some estimates, they only take three or four days to replace. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Women journalists shunted to rear for Pences visit to Western Wall By Noga Tarnopolsky The view from the womens section. (Noga Tarnopolsky / Los Angeles Times) Vice-President Mike Pences 48-hour visit to Israel stumbled into a public storm Tuesday when female reporters covering his final stop at Jerusalems Western Wall were penned behind four rows of their male colleagues. White House officials told stunned journalists that the arrangement emanated from a request made by the Western Wall rabbi, Shmuel Rabinowitz, and followed Western Wall rules. Some women journalists said they could not recall such treatment in the past. In a statement to Israels Channel 10 news, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said it was exactly as it was during the visit of the U.S. president to the Western Wall last May. Later in the day, in a statement to the newspaper Haaretz, the foundation blamed the United States embassy in Tel Aviv and Israeli security officials for the segregation, and announced they would reexamine the way they handle such events. Women who covered previous VIP visits said the Pence arrangements were significantly more onerous than previous visits, when male and female journalists were separated but not offered substantially different work conditions. LIVE coverage of our male colleagues granted access to cover VP at Western Wall as we are penned into #PenceFence pic.twitter.com/k3svkxfQsa Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) January 23, 2018 The arrangement reflected procedures at the Western Wall, Judaisms holiest site, where on regular days, men have access to two thirds of the area available for prayer. Tal Schneider, the diplomatic analyst for Globes, a financial newspaper, protested that the separation of men and women may be valid for the requirements of Orthodox prayer, but no one is praying here. We are here to work. I dont appreciate being restricted in my ability to work because I am a woman, she said. The discriminatory attitude towards women is infuriating and is unbefitting of a modern country. Yael Freidson, the Jerusalem affairs correspondent for Yediot Ahronot, Israels widest circulation newspaper, said she worried that her editors could choose male colleagues for the next assignment, knowing they would have better access. Before Pence arrived, journalists were herded onto a specially constructed platform in the middle of the Western Walls esplanade, with women guided to the right behind a white fence, and men, many carrying cameras, directed to the left, where they had more than double the space. Towards the end of the vice presidents 10-minute visit, male journalists were permitted into the VIP tent where he received a gift from Rabinowitz, while the women remained in their enclosure. None of the men publicly protested the treatment of their female colleagues. Israels Association of Women Journalists filed a formal complaint with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, herself a woman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, after his pardon from Trump, says hell run for Senate in Arizona By Kurtis Lee (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) Former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who last year was pardoned by President Trump in a case stemming from his enforcement tactics aimed at immigrants, announced Tuesday he will run for the open Senate seat in his home state. I am running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Arizona, for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again, Arpaio, 85, said on Twitter. Hell enter a Republican primary for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake. Last summer, Trump pardoned Arpaio, who was convicted in July of criminal contempt for violating a federal court order to stop racially profiling Latinos. It was Arpaios roughly quarter-century as sheriff that gave him a national reputation for his tough treatment of people suspected of being in the country illegally. Repeated court rulings against his office for civil rights violations cost local taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. In the early 1990s, Arpaio directed construction of a tent city for immigration detainees, a measure he said was intended both to alleviate overcrowding and to underscore his aggressive enforcement measures. But it was open to the burning Arizona sun, and drew widespread criticism. After Trump entered the presidential race in July 2015, Arpaio invited him to Phoenix to talk about a crackdown on illegal immigration. He endorsed Trump just before the first votes in the Iowa caucuses in 2016 and frequently spoke out on behalf of Trumps campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump ends controversial voter fraud commission By Kurtis Lee President Trump signed an executive order late Wednesday ending the voter fraud commission he launched last year as the panel faces a flurry of lawsuits and criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. Trump signed the order disbanding the commission rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, created by executive order in May with the stated goal of restoring confidence and integrity in the electoral process, has faced a barrage of lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns, as the commission sought personal data on voters across the country. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congress returns to work with slimmer GOP majority to accomplish Trumps agenda By Lisa Mascaro Congress returns to work this week with unfinished business on spending, immigration and other crucial issues, but with an even narrower GOP majority that will make it tougher to move on President Trumps agenda. The House and Senate will convene Wednesday, swearing in the newly elected Democratic senator from Alabama, Doug Jones, and Minnesotas Tina Smith to replace a fellow Democrat, Sen. Al Franken, who is resigning as the latest high-profile public figure sidelined by allegations of sexual misconduct. The change gives Republicans only a one-seat margin in the Senate. Trump, fresh off passage of the GOP tax cuts bill, is pushing lawmakers to pivot quickly on his new year priorities of infrastructure investment and immigration, as well as his foreign policy agenda. But another legislative victory seems far off. Republicans have struggled to hold their majority together and Congress first must tackle critical stalled agenda items that leaders punted to 2018. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump threatens to cut off U.S. aid to Palestinians By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump on Tuesday angrily threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Palestinians as punishment for what he called their failure to show appreciation or respect to the United States. Writing on Twitter, the president compared the Palestinians to Pakistan, a nuclear-armed ally that abruptly drew his ire this week and a similar threat to drastically curtail aid. He accused the Palestinians of recalcitrance in what he described as their refusal to negotiate a peace deal with Israel. Palestinian officials have said they can no longer use Washington as a broker to restart peace talks with Israel following Trumps Dec. 6 decision to overturn decades of U.S. policy and recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and ultimately to move the U.S. Embassy there. The Palestinians also claim part of Jerusalem as the capital of an eventual independent state. Until now, the United States and most of the world agreed the citys political status was a matter to settle in final peace talks. The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned any effort to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, and the Palestinian leadership said it would not meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who had planned a trip to the region. That trip is on hold. [W]e pay the Palestinians HUNDRED [sic] OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect, Trump wrote on Twitter. [W]ith the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them? In response to Trumps tweet, Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, issued a statement saying: Palestinian rights are not for sale. By recognizing Occupied Jerusalem as Israels capital Donald Trump has not only violated international law, but he has also singlehandedly destroyed the very foundations of peace and condoned Israels illegal annexation of the city. We will not be blackmailed, she said. President Trump has sabotaged our search for peace, freedom and justice. Now he dares to blame the Palestinians for the consequences of his own irresponsible actions! The United States does not pay large amounts of money directly to the Palestinian Authority, the government that rules over parts of the Palestinian West Bank. Instead, most money goes to the U.N., refugee or aid agencies and even Israel to pay for roads, welfare, schools, security and other Palestinian projects. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, said Tuesday that the administration was planning to cut off one of those organizations, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, until the Palestinians return to the negotiating table. UNRWA, which receives around $300 million annually from the U.S., for years has been the lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It was not clear if Haley was threatening to cut all U.S. support for the agency. Special correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The White House stops short of calling for government overthrow in Iran By Brian Bennett President Trump wants Iran to give its citizens basic human rights and stop being a state sponsor of terror, his top spokeswoman said, but the White House stopped short of calling for a change of government in Tehran. If they want to do that through current leadership, if thats possible, OK, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. Sanders praised the organic popular uprising, which she said the widespread protests in Iran represented. The protests grew out of years of years of mismanagement, corruption, and foreign adventurism have eroded the Iranian peoples trust in their leaders, she said. Earlier Tuesday, Trump called Irans government brutal and corrupt and wrote in a tweet: The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Trump also blamed President Obama for foolishly giving Iran money that he said went to fund terrorism. The money he referred to were funds belonging to Iran that had been frozen by the U.S. and were released as part of the deal in 2015, which blocked Irans development of nuclear weapons. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Retirement of Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch clears the way for a Mitt Romney revival By David Lauter The retirement of Utahs senior senator, Orrin G. Hatch, opens the way for a widely expected Senate bid by Mitt Romney, the Republicans 2012 presidential nominee and a frequent critic of President Trump. Although Romney previously served for two terms as governor of Massachusetts (and was raised in Michigan, where his father was governor and his mother ran for the Senate), he comes from a prominent Mormon family with strong ties to Utah. He also served as chief executive of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Hes viewed as a strong candidate for the Senate seat. Romneys criticisms of Trump, however, could prompt a challenge in a Republican primary. Trump was widely reported to have tried to convince Hatch to run for a seventh term, in part to head off a Romney candidacy. Last month, Romney and Trump were on opposite sides of one of the biggest political fights of the fall the battle over the Senate seat from Alabama. The president strongly supported Roy Moore, the Republican candidate who had been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Romney called Moore a stain on the GOP. Roy Moore in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity. Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 4, 2017 On Tuesday, Romney tweeted praise for Hatch, but did not immediately reveal his own plans. I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch for his more than forty years of service to our great state and nation. Read my full statement: https://t.co/YwjUpjez5y Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) January 2, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.S. calls on Iran to unblock social media sites amid protests By The Associated Press The Trump administration is calling on Irans government to stop blocking Instagram and other popular social media sites as Iranians are demonstrating in the streets. Undersecretary of State Steve Goldstein says the U.S. wants Iran to open these sites. He says Instagram, Telegram and other platforms are legitimate avenues for communication. The United States is encouraging Iranians to use virtual private networks, known as VPNs. Those services create encrypted links between computers and can be used to access blocked websites. Goldstein says the U.S. is still communicating with Iranians in Persian through State Department accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. He says the U.S. wants to encourage the protesters to continue to fight for whats right. Goldstein says the U.S. has an obligation not to stand by. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump blasts Democrats in advance of immigration meeting By Brian Bennett The day before a meeting of administration officials and congressional leaders on outstanding legislative business, President Trump accused Democrats of doing nothing to hammer out an immigration deal to protect from deportation people brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA just interested in politics, Trump wrote in a Tweet on Tuesday morning, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program by its acronym. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer along with the Republican leaders, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, are scheduled to meet on Wednesday at the Capitol with Trumps legislative director, Marc Short, and budget director, Mick Mulvaney. The White House on Tuesday said the meeting is to discuss separate spending caps on military and domestic programs. Yet the Democrats insist the discussion also must include a variety of legislative issues that Trump and Congress punted into the new year on immigration, the budget, healthcare and more. That stance reflects Democrats leverage: Republicans need Democratic votes to pass a government-funding bill and avert a federal shutdown when the current funding expires Jan. 19. Democrats especially want separate legislation replacing the Obama-era DACA program; Trump in September ordered a phase-out of the program, beginning March 6, and called on Congress to act before then on an alternative way to address the plight of the group. However, Trump has demanded that any alternative must be part of a package including both money for a border wall and immigration limits. Democrats are opposed. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Pakistan hits back after Trump accuses its leaders of lies and deceit By Aoun Sahi Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies and deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump again cheers on Iran protests By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size --- were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 The presidents earlier hailing of the protests drew condemnation from Irans government. A Foreign Ministry spokesman called his comments deceitful and opportunistic. Following an overnight report of the first two fatalities stemming from the protests, Trump raised some eyebrows by expressing concern over human rights violations as authorities move to crack down on the demonstrations. During his first year in office, the president has shown scant inclination to press foreign governments to respect the fundamental rights of their citizens. The USA is watching closely for human rights violations! Trump said in his tweet Sunday. Some domestic critics have pointed to the presidents inclusion of Iranian nationals in his travel ban, suggesting he was more interested in bashing the Tehran government than in supporting freedom of speech in Iran. Even some of the presidents allies said that supporting the protesters on social media did not amount to making policy. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he had urged Trump to give a national address laying out his Iran strategy. President Trump is tweeting very sympathetically to the Iranian people, Graham said on CBS Face the Nation. But you just cant tweet here. You have to lay out a plan. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Australian diplomats tip a factor in FBIs Russia inquiry By Associated Press Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer. (Alastair Grant / Associated Press) An Australian diplomats tip appears to have helped persuade the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the U.S. election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign, the New York Times reported Saturday. Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos told the diplomat, Alexander Downer, during a meeting in London in May 2016 that Russia had thousands of emails that would embarrass Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, the report said. Downer, a former foreign minister, is Australias top diplomat in Britain. Australia passed the information on to the FBI after the Democratic emails were leaked, according to the Times, which cited four current and former U.S. and foreign officials with direct knowledge of the Australians role. The hacking and the revelation that a member of the Trump campaign may have had inside information about it were driving factors that led the FBI to open an investigation in July 2016, the newspaper said. White House lawyer Ty Cobb declined to comment, saying in a statement that the administration is continuing to cooperate with the investigation now led by special counsel Robert Mueller to help complete their inquiry expeditiously. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is a cooperating witness. Court documents unsealed two months ago show he met in April 2016 with Joseph Mifsud, a professor in London who told him about Russias cache of emails. This was before the Democratic National Committee became aware of the scope of the intrusion into its email systems by hackers later linked to the Russian government. The Times said Papadopoulos shared this information with Downer, but it was unclear whether he also shared it with anyone in the Trump campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump offers fresh support for protesters in Iran as demonstrations continue By Lisa Mascaro Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! pic.twitter.com/kvv1uAqcZ9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2017 President Trump again offered support Saturday for anti-government protesters in Iran, where a third day of demonstrations, the largest in years, spilled across the country amid fears of a crackdown. Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching! Trump wrote on Twitter. Trump took a break from playing golf near his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to tweet clips from his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September when he called for Iranian democratic reforms. Iranian authorities warned of potential violence as the street demonstrations, which began over economic conditions, swelled into frustrations with the theocratic rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump has maintained a hawkish stance toward Iran, sharply criticizing the landmark nuclear disarmament accord that Tehran reached with then-President Obama and five other nations in 2015. In October, Trump declined to certify the accord to Congress although the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency says Iran is complying with it. Several conservative GOP senators signaled their support for Trumps position and backed the protesters in Iran. Others in Congress did not immediately respond, however, amid conflicting reports over who had organized the demonstrations. Even after the billions in sanctions relief they secured through the nuclear deal, the ayatollahs still cant provide for the basic needs of their own people, said Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a Trump ally and opponent of the nuclear deal. We should support the Iranian people who are willing to risk their lives to speak out against it, he added. Trump initially tweeted his support on Friday night. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement at that time as protests spread. There are many reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with the regimes corruption and its squandering of the nations wealth to fund terrorism abroad, Sanders said. The Iranian government should respect their peoples rights, including their right to express themselves. The world is watching. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement When it comes to U.S.-Russia relations, it takes two to tango, Kremlin says By Sabra Ayres The deteriorating relationship between the United States and Russia is one of the biggest disappointments of 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman told reporters today. Russia would like to rebuild relations between the two adversaries, but it takes two to tango, Dmitry Peskov said today during a conference call with the press. We want and are looking for good mutually beneficial relations based on mutual respect, mutual trust with all countries, primarily with European ones, including the United States, but it is necessary to dance tango, as they say. Peskov blamed the ongoing anti-Russian Russophobia in Washington for playing a major role in blocking the two countries from moving forward in their relationship. U.S. investigations into the Trump presidential campaigns alleged collusion with the Kremlin during the 2016 U.S. election and accusations that the Kremlin tried to interfere with the electoral process continue to cast a dark shadow over the relationship, he said. Peskov told reporters that Moscow was perplexed by the investigations. The Kremlin has continued to deny having any involvement with the Trump campaign or doing anything to interfere with the American election. This is definitely a U.S. domestic affair, but in this case it naturally hurts our bilateral relations, which is regrettable, Peskov said. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have been categorized as the worst theyve been since the end of the Cold War. This year, Washington and Moscow have engaged in a diplomatic tit-for-tat in which both sides have been forced to reduce diplomatic staff, embassy properties have been repossessed by the hosting countries and visa services have been interrupted. The U.S. diplomatic mission to Russia shrank from 1,200 personnel, including some Russian local staff, to just over 450 across all its three consulates and embassy in Moscow. In the U.S., Russia was forced to vacate its San Francisco consulate. Moscow has also blamed anti-Russian sentiments on the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to ban Russian teams from wearing their tricolor uniforms or flags during the upcoming games in South Korea. The international body accused some of the Russian national teams of doping. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.S. and Turkey resume reciprocal issuing of visas but frictions remain By Tracy Wilkinson The United States and Turkey began issuing reciprocal visas again on Thursday, more than two months after normal visa service was suspended in a dispute over the arrest of two U.S. diplomatic staffers in Istanbul the latest friction between the two nominal allies. The State Department said it was lifting the visa restrictions after it was assured by the Turkish government that U.S. Embassy employees would not be arrested when performing their official duties. But the Turkish Embassy in Washington denied assurances were offered concerning the ongoing judicial processes, and suggested that the arrests were legal and justified. It is inappropriate to misinform the Turkish and American public that such assurances were provided, the embassy said in a statement. The dispute has aggravated the already tense relationship between the United States and Turkey, which is a member of the NATO military alliance. The two countries have clashed over U.S. support for Kurdish rebels in Syria and over Turkeys demands that the U.S. extradite a Turkish cleric who lives in rural Pennsylvania. After a failed coup attempt killed more than 250 people in July 2016, Turkeys autocratic president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, launched a harsh crackdown on his political opponents, arresting or firing tens of thousands of teachers, police, journalists, military officers and others. Erdogan accused Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic educator and former political ally, of orchestrating the coup. Gulen, who has lived in a compound in the Pocono Mountains, has denied any involvement. The Justice Department has so far denied Turkeys repeated demands to extradite Gulen. Erdogan raised the issue again at the White House in May, but his visit ended in a public relations disaster when his security guards brutally beat peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence. Two Turkish employees of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul were arrested this fall for alleged ties to the 2016 coup attempt. The U.S. responded by suspending most visa services at its missions in Turkey in October. The Turkish government reciprocated in November. State Department officials said they have repeatedly demanded more information about any formal charges against the two employees. They reiterated on Thursday that serious concerns about the allegations remained. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump: China caught RED HANDED allowing oil to reach North Korea By Brian Bennett (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) President Trump isnt taking a holiday vacation from Twitter. In one of three tweets early on Thursday from his West Palm Beach golf club, he charged that China was caught RED HANDED allowing oil shipments to reach North Korean ports. Pronouncing himself very disappointed, Trump in effect was acknowledging the failure of his months-long effort to convince China to clamp down further on energy shipments going to the isolated country, which relies heavily on Beijing, as a way to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017 Trumps tweet came after a South Korean newspaper published what it said were U.S. spy satellite images of Chinese ships selling oil to North Korean ships. The United Nations Security Council, which includes China, has voted repeatedly to restrict fuel shipments to North Korea. Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in November to cut off North Koreas oil supply entirely, the American ambassador to the U.N., Nikki R. Haley, said at the time. It is unclear if Trumps admonishment of China was based on news reports or classified information he received from U.S. intelligence officials. There was no daily intelligence briefing on Trumps public schedule Thursday. He is expected to return to Washington next week after spending the Christmas holiday and New Years Eve at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print President Trump again falsely claims hes signed more bills than any president By Brian Bennett President Trump visits a firehouse in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP) After another morning at his Florida golf club, President Trump visited firefighters and paramedics at a West Palm Beach firehouse and praised his own performance as president, including with a false boast. Trump touted his administrations work to roll back government regulations and cut taxes and claimed credit for the stock market hitting record highs. He also said hes signed more bills into law than any other president, which isnt true. We have signed more legislation than anybody, Trump said, standing in front of a rescue vehicle inside the fire station. We have more legislation passed, including the record was Harry Truman a long time ago, and we broke that record, so we got a lot done, Trump said. An analysis by GovTrack, a website that tracks bills in Congress, shows that Trump has signed the fewest bills into law at this point than any president in more than 60 years, back to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump administration urges Russia to reinstate monitors in Ukraine, lower violence By Tracy Wilkinson Sergei Lavrov (AFP/Getty Images) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asked Russia on Wednesday to reinstate its military personnel at a monitoring station in eastern Ukraine intended to quell escalating bloodshed. In a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Tillerson also urged Russia to lower the level of violence and underscored the Trump administrations concern over increased fighting in Ukraine, the State Department said in a statement. Russia last week withdrew its monitors from the Joint Center on Coordination and Control, which is tasked with verifying a much-violated ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists. Moscow cited what it called restrictions and provocations from Ukrainian authorities that made it impossible for the observers to do their jobs. Washington has accused the pro-Russia forces of being responsible for many of the truce violations. Late last week, the State Department also announced plans to provide Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, a decision that angered Moscow. The State Department statement did not say whether the weapons deal came up in Tillersons conversation with Lavrov. The two also discussed North Korea, its destabilizing nuclear program and the need for a diplomatic solution to achieve a denuclearized Korean peninsula, the statement said. Russia has offered to serve as a mediator between Washington and Pyongyang, but direct talks do not seem likely at this point. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.S. sanctions two more North Korean officials for ballistic missile program By Tracy Wilkinson The Trump administration announced sanctions Tuesday against two more North Korean officials for their alleged role in Pyongyangs expanding ballistic missiles program. The Treasury Department is targeting leaders of North Koreas ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate [North Korea] and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a statement. The nuclear-armed country tested an intercontinental ballistic missile last month that U.S. officials said appeared capable of reaching New York or Washington, a significant milestone in the countrys growing arsenal. The Treasury Department identified the two North Korean officials as Kim Jong Sik, who reportedly is a key figure in the ballistic missile program and led efforts to switch missiles from liquid to solid fuel (which makes them easier to hide before launch), and Ri Pyong Chol, who was reported to be a key official in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The sanctions block banks, companies and individuals from doing any business with the targeted officials. It also allows the U.S. government to freeze any American assets owned by the officials. On Friday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to add more sanctions on North Korea, its third round this year. The new measures order North Koreans working abroad to return home within two years, and ban nearly 90% of refined petroleum exports to the country. In a statement published Sunday by North Koreas state-run KCNA news agency, the foreign ministry denounced the new U.N. sanctions as an act of war. We define this sanctions resolution rigged up by the US and its followers as a grave infringement upon the sovereignty of our Republic, as an act of war violating peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the region and categorically reject the resolution, it said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Salt Lake Tribune calls on Sen. Orrin Hatch to not seek reelection in scathing editorial Perhaps the most significant move of Hatchs career is the one that should, if there is any justice, end it. The last time the senator was up for reelection, in 2012, he promised that it would be his last campaign. That was enough for many likely successors, of both parties, to stand down, to let the elder statesman have his victory tour and to prepare to run for an open seat in 2018. Clearly, it was a lie. Read the editorial>> Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Christmas Eve, Trump on Twitter: New attacks on FBI official, decrying Fake News By Laura King President Trump launched a Christmas Eve attack on FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom he accuses of favoritism toward his former opponent, Hillary Clinton, and also returned to a longtime favored theme, excoriating the news media for failing to sufficiently extol his accomplishments. .@FoxNews-FBIs Andrew McCabe, in addition to his wife getting all of this money from M (Clinton Puppet), he was using, allegedly, his FBI Official Email Account to promote her campaign. You obviously cannot do this. These were the people who were investigating Hillary Clinton. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2017 Thank you President TRUMP!! pic.twitter.com/LKdkT0FL99 oregon4TRUMP (@shawgerald4) December 23, 2017 The Fake News refuses to talk about how Big and how Strong our BASE is. They show Fake Polls just like they report Fake News. Despite only negative reporting, we are doing well - nobody is going to beat us. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2017 Trump, who is spending the holidays at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, also sent Christmas greetings to deployed military personnel, praising them for success in the fight against terrorism. The early-morning swipe at McCabe followed a flurry of tweets attacking the deputy FBI chief on Saturday. McCabe, who has been a lightning rod for Republican attacks on the FBI, is expected to retire early in the new year. How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wifes campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017 FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2017 Critics say the president and his allies are in the midst of a systematic campaign to denigrate the FBI and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is looking into potential collusion by the Trump campaign in Russias attempts to sway the 2016 presidential election. In a pair of statements on Twitter, Trump again expressed scorn regarding news coverage of his administration. For months, the president has been particularly critical of reports regarding the Russia investigation and more recently has repeatedly complained he does not receive enough credit for a booming stock market. In his video conference message to troops overseas, the president made apparent reference to the fight against the militants of Islamic State, who over the last year have lost most of the territory they previously controlled in Iraq and Syria, including former strongholds in Mosul and Raqqah. Were winning, Trump told military personnel deployed in Qatar, Kuwait, Guantanamo Bay and aboard the guided missile destroyer Sampson. Reporters traveling with the president heard his address, but were ushered from the room before he took questions from the troops. The president often breaks with longtime custom and makes politically charged statements at events in which he addresses military personnel. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trumps Wells Fargo tweet cited in court hearing as reason to remove Mulvaney as CFPB acting chief By Jim Puzzanghera A recent tweet by President Trump about possible penalties against Wells Fargo & Co. was cited during a court hearing Friday as a reason for removing White House official Mick Mulvaney as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The attorney for Leandra English the bureaus deputy director who has said she is the rightful acting head said Trumps tweet showed he was trying to exercise improper influence over the independent consumer watchdog. I think that [tweet] shows you this isnt just some hypothetical concern, the attorney, Deepak Gupta, told Judge Timothy J. Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia during a nearly two-hour hearing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump administration recognizes Honduran presidents reelection By Tracy Wilkinson The Trump administration on Friday formally recognized the incumbent president of Honduras, conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez, as the winner of a bitterly contested presidential election held last month. In a statement, the State Department congratulated Hernandez while also acknowledging widespread irregularities in the Nov. 26 vote and calling for a robust national dialogue to overcome political discord in the Central American country, a close ally of the administration. The Organization of American States, which monitored the election, said it was so flawed that only a new round of voting could establish a fair and transparent outcome. But the U.S. rejected that determination. Uproar over the contest led to demonstrations in Honduras that left numerous civilians dead after state security forces opened fire on the protests. Activists and others voiced criticism Friday of the administrations decision. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), a leading Democratic voice on Central American issues, said he was angry and deeply disturbed by the State Department decision. The recent elections in Honduras were deeply flawed, chaotic and marred by numerous irregularities, McGovern said. U.S.-Honduran cooperation on matters such as drug-trafficking, violence and immigration requires a credible, legitimate government that has the support of its people, in Honduras, McGovern said. Hernandezs victory also was controversial because it was the first time a sitting president was allowed to run for re-election, barred until now by the Honduran Constitution. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate Leader Mitch McConnell says fixing DACA is no emergency until March By Lisa Mascaro Amanda Bayer, left with banner, and Marisol Maqueda, right, join a rally in support of so-called Dreamers outside the White House. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday hes committed to allowing a vote on a bill for so-called Dreamers in January, but sees no rush to resolve the deportation threat posed by President Trumps decision to end a program protecting immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. There isnt that much of an emergency there, he said. There is no emergency until March. Well keep talking about it. Trump called for phasing out by March the Obama-era program that allows the young immigrants, many of them longtime residents, to get two-year deferrals of any deportation threat so they can legally attend school or work. Beneficiaries must be vetted for security purposes. Trump told Congress to come up with a legislative alternative for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which President Obama created by executive order, to protect those currently eligible. A bipartisan Senate group has been working with the White House, but talks stalled this week amid administration demands for curbs on legal immigration flows in exchange for protecting the DACA recipients. Meanwhile, Dreamers and immigrant advocates stormed the Capitol in recent days pressing for the help promised by Trump and Democratic congressional leaders that failed to materialize in the years final legislation. Advocacy groups say more than 120 immigrants each day are falling out of compliance without DACA renewals, putting them at risk of deportation. The number that is projected to swell to more than 1,000 a day in March. Weve been gridlocked on this issue for years, McConnell said. We want to have a signature. We dont just want to spin our wheels and have nothing to show for it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print President Trump signs tax bill By Noah Bierman (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump on Friday morning signed a sweeping tax-cut measure his first major legislative achievement before heading off for a Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Fla. The president also privately signed a short-term spending bill to fund government operations through Jan. 19. Congress approved it Thursday, after Republican leaders were unable to bridge differences in their own party as well as with Democrats to get agreement on funding for the full fiscal year. The stopgap bill punts fights on immigration and other issues to January. The tax bill, approved earlier this week in Congress in largely party-line votes, slashes corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% and also includes a host of other provisions for individuals, all intended to boost the economy. Critics point to nonpartisan analyses showing that the package, including changes greatly reducing the number of estates subject to taxes, steers the bulk of tax benefits to top earners and the wealthy, including Trump, despite his repeated claims that hell take a hit. Trump signed the bill quietly Friday, but held a public ceremony with Republican lawmakers on Wednesday after the bills passage; he also tweeted about the measure extensively. He is expected to hold another public ceremony after the New Years holiday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Pelosi urges Ryan to prevent Republicans from curtailing Houses Russia probe By Chris Megerian House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin greets House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Friday urging him to ensure the Houses investigation into Russian interference with last years presidential campaign is not cut short. The American people deserve a comprehensive and fair investigation into Russias attacks, wrote Pelosi, of San Francisco, in her letter. Political haste must not cut short valid investigatory threads. The House Intelligence Committee has been probing the issue since March 1, and Democrats have repeatedly warned that Republicans are trying to wrap up its work prematurely. Pelosi said Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, should take urgent action to ensure this investigation can continue. AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, said Pelosi simply wants to see this investigation go on forever in order to suit her political agenda. Whether it concludes next month, next year, or in three years, she will say it is too soon, Strong said in a statement. She added, The investigation will conclude when the committee has reached a conclusion. The committees work is led by Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas). His spokeswoman, Emily Hytha, said he remains committed to conducting this investigation as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible. With more interviews scheduled, the investigation shows signs of extending into next year, Bloomberg reported Friday. BREAKING: Steve Bannon and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski have been sent letters requesting they testify to House Intel panel in early January, per @HouseInSession Laura Litvan (@LauraLitvan) December 22, 2017 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congress votes to avert government shutdown, but Senate fails to pass disaster aid package By Lisa Mascaro ( (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)) Congress approved a temporary spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, but failed to complete work on an $81-billion disaster aid package to help California, Gulf Coast states and Puerto Rico recover from wildfires and hurricanes, as lawmakers scrambled Thursday to wrap up business before a Christmas break. The stopgap measure continues federal operations for a few more weeks, setting up another deadline for Jan. 19. But it left undone a long list of priorities that members of both parties had hoped to finish this year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Wells Fargo says raises were not linked to tax bill passage then backtracks By James Rufus Koren Wells Fargo & Co.s move to raise its minimum pay to $15 an hour was part of a long-term plan and not related to the passage of the Republican tax overhaul as the company implied, said a bank spokesman, who later backtracked and stated the hikes were a result of the bills approval. The bank was among several large corporations to publicly announce pay raises or new investments immediately following the final House vote in an apparent public relations offensive to boost the popularity of the tax bill The San Francisco bank had implied the direct linkage to the tax legislation in a news release Wednesday, shortly after Congress passed the tax overhaul, which slashes the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% starting Jan. 1. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Obamacare signups beat expectations, despite Trump administrations opposition By Noam N. Levey President Trump with Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Despite Trump administration efforts to discourage people from signing up, the number of people enrolling for Affordable Care Act coverage nearly hit last years level, the government revealed Thursday. Exchange open enrollment for 2018 coverage ended w/ approx 8.8M people enrolling in coverage. Great job to the @CMSGov team for the work you did to make this the smoothest experience for consumers to date. We take pride in providing great customer service. Administrator Seema Verma (@SeemaCMS) December 21, 2017 The 8.8 million people who enrolled in the 36 states that use the federal governments healthcare.gov system significantly exceeded most forecasts. The Trump administration stopped most outreach and other efforts this year aimed at getting people to sign up. The president also repeatedly said publicly that Obamacare was dead. Open enrollment continues in California and several other states that run their own healthcare marketplaces. The figures from the federal government indicate that when those states wrap up for the year, the number of people covered by Obamacare will be nearly the same as in 2017. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly condemns U.S. policy change on Jerusalem despite Trumps threats By Tracy Wilkinson The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted Thursday to condemn President Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite Trumps threats to punish countries that voted against the U.S. position. The resolution passed in an emergency session at U.N. headquarters in New York with 128 in favor, nine opposed and 35 abstentions. The nonbinding resolution demands that Washington rescind its declaration, which included a plan to transfer the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in coming years. The resolution value is mostly symbolic, showing how isolated the U.S. is in the move. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., warned this week that she would be taking names of countries that opposed the U.S., and Trump on Wednesday suggested he might cut U.S. aid to governments that voted in favor of the resolution. Let them vote against us, Trump said. Well save a lot. We dont care. The U.S. recognition of Jerusalem reversed decades of international consensus on the political status of the divided city. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their capital in a future independent state. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said the U.N. was facing an unprecedented test and that history would remember those who stand by what is right. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrats defend Robert Mueller, saying Russia investigation must be allowed to continue By Chris Megerian Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) speaking during a committee hearing earlier this year. (Molly Riley / Associated Press) House Democrats said they will fight Republican attempts to discredit and undermine the work of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is investigating whether President Trumps associates helped Russian meddling in last years election. There is an organized effort by Republicans, in concert with Fox News, to spin a false narrative and conjure up outrageous scenarios to accuse special counsel Mueller of being biased, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) said. Trump has said he has no plan to fire Mueller, but Democrats are alarmed by escalating criticism of the special counsels work. Why is the president afraid of the facts and the truth? Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) said. He added, No matter what the facts are, were satisfied if the investigation is complete. A letter of support signed by 171 Democratic members of Congress will be sent to Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, and oversees his investigation. Rosenstein has defended Mueller in the face of Republican criticisms. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print U.S. blacklists Myanmar army general who it says oversaw atrocities against Rohingya Muslims By Shashank Bengali The Trump administration on Thursday blacklisted a Myanmar army general who it said oversaw human rights abuses committed by security forces against Rohingya Muslims. Imposing economic sanctions against the general, Maung Maung Soe, was the toughest action the United States has taken in response to a brutal army offensive that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has described as ethnic cleansing. In a statement, the Treasury Department said it had examined credible evidence of Maung Maung Soes activities, including allegations against Burmese security forces of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrest as well as the widespread burning of villages. The Rohingya are an ethnic and religious minority of about 1 million people in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, also known as Burma. The United Nations says that more than 640,000 Rohingya have fled the country since August, after the army launched clearance operations in response to attacks carried out by a Rohingya insurgent group against security forces. Rohingya refugees in crowded camps in neighboring Bangladesh have described horrific violence by Myanmar forces, including mass rapes, summary executions and children being burned alive. The aid group Doctors Without Borders estimates that 6,700 people were killed in the first month of the operation. Myanmar authorities deny committing atrocities and say that only a few hundred fighters were killed. Maung Maung Soe was chief of the armys Western Command, which carried out the offensive. He was transferred from his position last month, according to news reports. He was one of 13 individuals worldwide who were blacklisted Thursday under a new U.S. law that gives the Treasury Department authority to target officials for human rights abuses and corruption. Others included former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh; Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the late Uzbekistan dictator Islam Karimov; and Artem Chaika, son of Russias prosecutor-general. Today, the United States is taking a strong stand against human rights abuse and corruption globally by shutting these bad actors out of the U.S. financial system, said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. The sanctions freeze any assets Maung Maung Soe holds in the United States and bars Americans from doing business with him. It is also a sign of how quickly U.S. relations with Myanmar have soured. Under the Obama administration, the United States forged closer ties with the former military dictatorship and eased economic and political sanctions as the country began implementing democratic reforms. But Myanmar, which does not regard the Rohingya as citizens, has lashed out at the international community over the current crisis. It has jailed journalists, blocked access to affected areas in the western state of Rakhine and this week barred a U.N. human rights investigator from entering the country. Rohingya activists said the U.S. action would not have much effect on a country that survived under economic sanctions for years. It is the whole military institution that has a policy to persecute these people, said Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist and blogger in Germany. According to the U.S.s own definition, the army is carrying out ethnic cleansing. They have a responsibility to protect these people. Sanctions on one person are really not enough. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Dreamers will have to wait until next year for Congress long-promised protections By Lisa Mascaro Amanda Bayer, left with banner, and Marisol Maqueda, right, join a rally in support of so-called Dreamers outside the White House. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)) A promised year-end deal to protect the young immigrants known as Dreamers from deportation collapsed Wednesday as Republicans in Congress fresh off passage of their tax plan prepared to punt nearly all remaining must-do agenda items into the new year. Congressional leaders still hope that before leaving town this week they can pass an $81-billion disaster relief package with recovery funds for California wildfires and Gulf Coast states hit during the devastating hurricane season. But passage even of that relatively popular measure remained in doubt as conservatives balked at the price tag. Rather than finish the year wrapping up the legislative agenda, the GOP majorities in the House and Senate struggled over their next steps. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Chants of protest drown out any caroling this holiday season at the Capitol By Lisa Mascaro U.S. Capitol Police arrest a man wearing a Santa Claus hat during a protest against the Republican tax bill. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Image) Outside the U.S. Capitol, the lights on a towering Christmas tree are flipped on each evening, giving the Engelmann spruce a festive twinkle; inside the marble halls, wreaths and garlands decorate doorways and alcoves ahead of the holidays. But the spirit of the season has been punctuated by other sights: a Jumbotron parked across from the Capitol reflecting pool broadcasts images of young immigrants who face deportation; Little Lobbyists, children with complex medical needs, were featured in a recent news conference; protesters filed into the visitor galleries to shout against the Republican tax plan. While its beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Capitol, its also shaping up to be a holiday season of protest. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Tax bill simplifies filing for some but complicates it for others and dont count on that postcard By Jim Puzzanghera A priority of the Republicans tax overhaul was simplification, and they drove home the point this fall with an omnipresent prop: a red-white-and-blue postcard. Were making things so simple that you can do your taxes on a form the size of a postcard, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) said last month, pulling one from his jacket pocket as he and Republican leaders unveiled their bill. They gave a couple of the cards to President Trump at a White House meeting a few hours later and flashed them often during news conferences and TV interviews in the coming days. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Top U.N. human rights official reportedly wont seek reelection The top United Nations official for human rights, who has frequently criticized the Trump administration, has reportedly decided not to seek a second term, saying his work had become untenable. Zeid Raad Hussein, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, notified his staff in an email that was obtained by several news outlets, including Agence France-Presse. Staying when his four-year term is up for renewal at the end of August might involve bending a knee in supplication, AFP quoted Husseins email as saying. Hussein is a Jordanian prince who has criticized, among other things, President Trumps attempts to ban visitors or refugees from six predominantly Muslim countries. The news comes a day before the U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote on a nonbinding resolution condemning the Trump administrations formal declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision that went against international consensus. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has warned she will be taking names of those who vote against the United States on Thursday. Trump echoed that sentiment Wednesday, voiced support for Haley and implying to reporters that he would consider cutting off U.S. aid to countries that vote against the U.S. Well, were watching those votes, Trump said. Let them vote against us. Well save a lot. We dont care. On Monday, the United States lost a Security Council vote 14-1 on a binding resolution that would have required Washington to rescind its declaration. Haley then vetoed the resolution. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Top Democrat warns Trump not to fire Mueller or interfere with his investigation By Chris Megerian Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, one of the top Democrats involved in the congressional inquiries into Russian interference in last years election, said Wednesday that any attempt by President Trump to interfere with the separate criminal investigation would be a gross abuse of power. Warner, who is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, delivered his warning from the Senate floor as Republicans escalate their criticism of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and his team of prosecutors and FBI agents. Some Democrats believe Trump is laying the groundwork to fire Mueller even though the president has publicly denied it. Mueller was appointed in May after Trump fired FBI Director James B. Comey. In the United States of America, no one, no one is above the law, not even the president, Warner said. Congress must make clear to the president that firing the special counsel or interfering with his investigation by issuing pardons of essential witnesses is unacceptable and would have immediate and significant consequences. Some Democrats say the White House may try to in effect short-circuit the Mueller investigation by replacing Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who is the only official empowered to fire Mueller. Rosenstein recently told Congress that the special counsel is acting appropriately and that he would not dismiss Mueller without just cause. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement We have essentially repealed Obamacare, Trump says after tax bill passes By Brian Bennett President Trump at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday at the White House. (Chris Kleponis / Getty Images) President Trump is celebrating Republicans passage of the tax overhaul bill as a two-fer: On Wednesday, in addition to tax cuts, he checked off his promise to repeal Obamacare, pointing to a provision in the bill to end the penalty on Americans who dont get health insurance. We have essentially repealed Obamacare, Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. Other provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act are still in place, and Trump and congressional Republicans failed completely on the replace half of their vow to repeal and replace the program. In Trumps view, however, stripping away the laws individual mandate to get insurance or else pay a tax penalty amounts to repeal of the whole law. Congressional analysts have said that millions of people would lose insurance as a result, either by choice or because they cannot afford it without subsidies, and that premiums would increase for others as younger, healthy people drop coverage. We will come up with something much better, Trump said, adding that block grants to states could be one approach. By his comments, Trump tacitly acknowledged that repeal of the mandate is likely the best he can do following Republicans failure this year to agree on a repeal-and-replace bill. Looking back on his first year, Trump also boasted of his administrations efforts against the Islamic State and increased immigration enforcement. He said he had not given up on funding a border wall or tightening immigration law to limit citizens ability to resettle foreign relatives in the country. He said he would very shortly visit the border with Mexico near San Diego to see wall prototypes that have been built. He didnt answer a reporters shouted question about how he would personally benefit from the tax bill. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print House gives final OK to GOP tax plan, sending it to Trump By Lisa Mascaro Congress gave final approval to the GOP tax plan Wednesday, 224-201, after the House took an unusual do-over vote to clear up differences with the Senate-passed bill. The $1.5-trillion package now heads to President Trump, who plans to sign it into law. The House had approved the tax bill on Tuesday but was forced to take another vote Wednesday because a couple of provisions in the version it approved were found to be in violation of Senate procedures. Those provisions were dropped before the Senate gave its approval early Wednesday. Critics complained the Republicans rushed to pass the sweeping tax plan to deliver Trump a year-end legislative victory, but supporters shrugged off the problems as minor. The tax plan dramatically cuts corporate rates and provides some individual rate reductions, overhauling the tax code for the first time in 30 years. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump administration effort to block immigrant from having an abortion fails By David Savage Scott Lloyd is director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) President Trumps lawyers rushed to the Supreme Court and U.S. appeals court in Washington on Monday evening to file emergency appeals seeking to prevent an immigrant in detention, dubbed Jane Roe in court, from having an abortion. That set the stage for a legal showdown on whether the administration can block pregnant minors in custody from choosing to have an abortion. But the legal clash, which the administration has seemed eager to have, fizzled out Tuesday when the governments lawyers admitted the 17-year-old unaccompanied minor in their custody was actually 19. They said they had obtained her birth certificate and realized she was not a minor after all. As a result, Roe, who is 10 weeks pregnant, will no longer be held in a detention center for immigrant minors, and will not be subject to an administration policy that tries to prevent minors in immigration detention from having abortions. Administration lawyers told appeals court judges Tuesday night that Roe was being sent to a facility for adults and likely would be released until her immigration status can be resolved. In a brief order, the D.C. Circuit Court agreed to put the case on hold, but told government attorneys to confirm that she will be permitted to obtain an abortion. The administration had earlier tried to delay another young woman, referred to in court as Jane Poe, from having an abortion, but officials relented on Monday because she was 22 weeks pregnant and nearing the time limit for a legal abortion. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate panel rejects Trumps pick to lead Export-Import Bank, a leader in the effort to shut it down By Jim Puzzanghera A Senate committee on Tuesday rejected President Trumps nominee to lead the Export-Import Bank, extending the chaos at the embattled agency whose job is to help U.S. companies sell their goods abroad. Two Republicans joined all Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee in voting against former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) to be the banks president. Garrett had been a vocal critic of the Ex-Im Bank and a leader of a conservative effort that shut the bank down for five months in 2015 by blocking its congressional authorization. He and other bank opponents branded the banks aid as crony capitalism. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Congress proposes $81-billion disaster aid package, including funds for California wildfires By Lisa Mascaro Congress is set to consider an $81-billion disaster aid package that includes wildfire recovery money for California and other Western states as well as hurricane relief with a price tag reflecting a year of record-setting natural calamities. The legislation, the text of which was released late Monday, would provide almost twice as much as the $44 billion the White House sought last month to cover relief efforts along the Gulf Coast and in the Caribbean. Republican congressional leaders added more money after California lawmakers objected that the administration had failed to include help for areas damaged by wildfires and Democrats protested that the overall amount President Trump asked for was insufficient. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House blames North Korea for worldwide WannaCry cyber attack By Noah Bierman The Royal London Hospital, a victim of the unprecedented global cyberattack in May. (Niklas Hallen / AFP/Getty Images) The White House officially blamed North Korea on Tuesday for the cyberattack in May known as WannaCry that infected hundreds of thousands of computers in 150 countries, affecting healthcare, financial services and vital infrastructure. Thomas P. Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, noted in a briefing with reporters that the consequences were beyond economic. He warned that North Koreas malicious behavior is growing more egregious. Bossert did not specify what evidence American officials have to blame North Korea, citing security issues, but he cited the countrys prior attacks as revealing hallmarks of how Pyongyang and its network of hackers operates. He said other allied countries had joined the United States in making the determination. The administration did not announce any penalties on the regime, which is already subject to severe sanctions over its nuclear program. They want to hold the entire world at risk, Bossert said of North Koreas rulers, referring to the nations nuclear and missile provocations as well as its alleged cyberattack. Given its isolation and international sanctions, North Korea is desperate for funds. Bossert said the country did not appear to make much money on the ransom attack, as word spread that paying a ransom did not result in getting computers unlocked. Its primary goal, he said, was spreading chaos. Bossert and Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary of homeland security for cybersecurity and communication, said the United States, through a combination of preparation and luck, escaped the worst of the attack, as a patch to the malware was found before U.S. companies and other interests were severely crippled. However, Manfra said, We cannot be complacent. Bossert added, Next time were not going to get so lucky. Manfra praised Microsoft and Facebook for their efforts to combat WannaCry and to block more recent attempts to hack U.S. systems. She and Bossert urged more cooperation and information-sharing from American and multinational companies, arguing a united front is vital to protecting against bad actors who do not differentiate between government and business. Bossert rejected criticism that the the Trump administration has more aggressively called out North Korean cyberattacks than it has Russias meddling in the 2016 election. He said the administration has continued the national emergency initiated by President Obama. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print GOP lures some mountain bike groups in its push to roll back protections for public land By Evan Halper When their vision of creating a scenic cycling trail through a protected alpine backcountry hit a snag, San Diego area mountain bikers turned to an unlikely ally: congressional Republicans aiming to dilute conservation laws. The frustrations of the San Diego cycling group and a handful of similar organizations are providing tailwind to the GOP movement to lift restrictions on the countrys most ecologically fragile and pristine landscapes, officially designated wilderness. Resentment of these cyclists over the longstanding ban on mechanized transportation in that fraction of the nations public lands presents a political opportunity for Republicans eager to drill fissures in the broad coalition of conservation-minded groups united against the GOP environmental agenda. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Vice president postpones Israel trip a second time in case his vote is needed to pass tax cut bill By Noah Bierman (Ethan Miller / Getty Images) Vice President Mike Pence is delaying his trip to Egypt and Israel for a second time in case he is needed to break a tie in the Senate for the tax bill that is expected to pass narrowly this week. Two White House officials confirmed the changed schedule, which they say is unrelated to to protests in the region over the administrations decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. Pence had initially been scheduled to leave last Saturday. Late last week, the White House moved the trip back a few days to Tuesday night, in case Pence was needed to break a Senate tie. But Monday, they decided to postpone the trip further, to January, given the possibility of a late Senate vote and the coming holidays. He wants to see it through the finish line, said a White House official, referring to the tax measure that is a centerpiece of the Republican legislative agenda. We dont want to leave anything to chance. The mid-January dates will allow Pence more breathing room to merge schedules with embassies and hotels, the official said. Trump still plans to address the Israeli Knesset, a high-profile venue to discuss the Jerusalem decision where it is most popular. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump judicial pick who drew ridicule at hearing withdraws By Associated Press A White House official says the Trump judicial nominee whose qualifications were questioned by a Republican senator has withdrawn his nomination. Matthew Petersen, who was nominated by President Trump to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, has been the subject of widespread ridicule since he was unable to define basic legal terms during his confirmation hearing Wednesday. A White House official says Petersen has withdrawn his nomination and that Trump has accepted the withdrawal. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the development publicly. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy pressed Petersen, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, who testified he had never tried a case, on his qualifications to the bench. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump says McCain will return to Washington if needed for tax vote By Laura King President Trump said Sunday that Sen. John McCain, who is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer, was returning home to Arizona for the holidays but would come back to Washington if needed to cast a vote on the Republicans tax overhaul bill. The Arizona Republicans office announced last week that McCain was receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington for complications from his cancer treatment. McCains daughter Meghan tweeted earlier Sunday that her 81-year-old father would be spending Christmas in Arizona. The Senate is expected to vote early this week on the tax cut legislation, but the GOP appeared to have secured sufficient support without McCains vote. John will come back if we need his vote, Trump told reporters as he returned from a weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David. Hes going through a very tough time. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Putin calls Trump to thank him for U.S. help foiling terrorist strike By Laura King Vladimir Putin phoned President Trump to thank him for what the Russian president said was CIA help in foiling a terrorist attack, the Kremlin said on Sunday. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the two leaders conversation to reporters. It was the second time that the two leaders had talked in four days; Trump called Putin on Thursday to thank the Russian leader for lauding the U.S. economy. Putin, in his annual year-end news conference, had praised Trump for a strong performance by the U.S. stock market. Perhaps ironically, given his credit to the CIAs recent help, Putin at that news event dismissed as hysteria the consensus among American intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign. In reporting Putins call to Trump on Sunday, the official Russian news agency Tass said Putin thanked his American counterpart for information shared by the US Central Intelligence Agency that had helped break up a plot to set off explosives in St. Petersburgs landmark Kazan Cathedral and elsewhere in the city, which is Russias second-largest. Russian authorities last week had credited their countrys counter-intelligence service, the FSB, for foiling the attacks. They reported that seven people affiliated with Islamic State had been detained in St. Petersburg in connection with the plot. The FSB, the successor organization to the KGB, announced Friday that the group had planned to carry out the attacks on Saturday, and that one of those in custody had confessed to the cathedral bomb plot. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mnuchin: Government shutdown unlikely but could happen By Laura King Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said on Sunday that a government shutdown this week was unlikely but possible. A two-week stopgap spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month provided enough funding to keep the government running through Friday. A deadlock on another temporary funding measure would open the door to a possible shutdown. I cant rule it out, but I cant imagine it occurring, Mnuchin said on Fox News Sunday, suggesting everyone had an interest in avoiding the government grinding to a halt and federal workers going unpaid, especially in the holiday season. I would expect that both the House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats, understand if they cant agree on this, they need to have another short-term extension to move this to January, the Treasury secretary said. We cant have a government shutdown in front of Christmas. In May, irate over concessions made to Democrats in hammering out a spending measure, President Trump tweeted that a good shutdown might help matters. While both parties agree that a government shutdown involves a degree of disruption that is not beneficial to either side, shutdowns in 1995-96 and in 2013 mainly caused a backlash against Republicans. The latest funding measure is to be taken up after a vote on a massive GOP tax overhaul, expected by midweek. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump transition team says sensitive emails should not have been shared with Robert Mueller By Chris Megerian (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) President Trumps transition team is crying foul over how special counsel Robert S. Mueller III obtained emails for his investigation into Russian meddling in last years campaign and possible Trump campaign complicity. Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for the transition team, sent a letter to Congress on Saturday saying there was an unauthorized disclosure of emails. While the Trump transition is long over, the transition team remains a nonprofit organization. Its emails were hosted by the General Services Administration, a federal agency. Mueller reportedly obtained the emails directly from the agency. There are attorney-client communications, Langhofer said in an interview. There are executive-privileged communications. He added, What were asking Congress to do is to take some legislative action to make sure this never happens again. Peter Carr, a spokesman for the special counsels office, defended the process for obtaining emails. When we have obtained emails in the course of our ongoing criminal investigation, we have secured either the account owners consent or appropriate criminal process, he said. The letter was first reported by Fox News. A request for comment from the General Services Administration was not immediately answered. This story has been updated with a comment from the special counsels office. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Virginia house arrest is ending for Paul Manafort By Chris Megerian (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) A federal judge agreed Friday to end Paul Manaforts house arrest in Virginia, allowing President Trumps former campaign manager to return to Florida while awaiting trial. The decision followed a dispute between Manaforts legal team and prosecutors working for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who accused Manafort of violating a court order restricting public statements about the case. Under the terms of the judges order, Manafort will be allowed to live at his home in Florida as long as he stays within Palm Beach and Broward counties and obeys a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. If he misses a court appearance, he would forfeit four properties valued at $10 million total. The deal, which includes GPS monitoring, is not as permissive as Manafort originally sought. He had asked to be able to travel freely among Florida, New York, Virginia and Washington. Manafort faces criminal charges of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print GOP negotiators enhance child tax credit to win over Sen. Rubio By Lisa Mascaro Republican negotiators slightly increased the refundable portion of the expanded child tax credit in their tax plan, raising it to $1,400 in hopes of winning back Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) support ahead of next weeks vote. Rubio announced Thursday he was withholding support after negotiators ignored his push to make the expanded tax credit, which increases from the current $1,000 to $2,000 in the proposed bill, fully refundable for lower- and moderate-income filers. The refundable portion in the original bill was $1,100. The Florida senator argued that was not enough to help working-class Americans, many of whom already view the GOP plan as tilted toward the wealthy. Rubios office was waiting to see the final text before commenting on whether the change was enough to win him over. We have not seen the bill text, and until we see if the percentage of the refundable credit is significantly higher, then our position remains the same, Rubios spokeswoman said. Negotiators meeting Friday before unveiling the bill said they thought they had the support they needed from Rubio and other holdouts. Im confident both chambers will pass it next week, said Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sen. Marco Rubio opposes GOP tax bill, depriving leaders of crucial support By Lisa Mascaro 20.94% Corp. rate to pay for tax cut for working family making $40k was anti-growth but 21% to cut tax for couples making $1million is fine? Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 12, 2017 Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) says he is currently opposed to the GOP tax plan because it fails to include his proposed enhancements to the child tax credit, leaving leaders without crucial support ahead of next weeks expected vote. Republicans can only lose two GOP senators from their slim 52-48 majority as they push the plan forward under special budget rules to prevent a Democratic filibuster. Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday altered his planned Israel trip so he could be on hand, if needed, to cast a tie-breaking vote. Rubio, and GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, have fought to increase the child tax credit, doubling it to $2,000 in the GOP plan, but they also want to increase its refundability. They argue it will lower taxes on middle-income families at a time when the tax plan is being criticized as tilted to the wealthy. Sen. Rubio has consistently communicated to the Senate tax negotiators that his vote on final passage would depend on whether the refundability of the Child Tax Credit was increased in a meaningful way, Rubios spokeswoman said. Lee stopped short of opposing the bill, but his spokesman said Wednesday he is undecided. GOP leaders, though, have said they believe they have the support for passage. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House gives Roy Moore a unsubtle shove: Time to concede By David Lauter (Alex Wong / Getty Images) The White House sent a clear signal Thursday to the defeated Republican candidate for Senate in Alabama: Its time to concede. Roy Moore refused to concede the race on Tuesday night when Doug Jones, the Democrat, was declared the winner. Election night results show Jones winning by about 1.5 percentage points, three times more than the states standard for a recount. Although a few absentee and provisional ballots remain to be counted, theres no indication they would change the result. On Wednesday, Moore notably did not call to congratulate Jones even as President Trump and other leading Republicans did. Instead, he released a video declaring the battle rages on. Asked at the daily news briefing whether the White House thinks Moore should concede today, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, It probably sounds like it maybe should have already taken place. Sanders also dismissed the idea, pushed by some Moore supporters, that Jones victory was tainted in some fashion. Asked if the Democrat had won fair and square, she said, I think the numbers reflect that. The states Republican senator, Richard Shelby, offered a similar comment in an interview with MSNBC in which he said he was willing to work with Jones. If I was 25,000 votes behind, its not going to change much, Shelby said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print House Speaker Paul Ryan says hes not leaving anytime soon By Lisa Mascaro House Speaker Paul D. Ryan shot down suggestions Thursday that he might soon be retiring. Stories often circulate that party leaders, especially the House speaker, are stepping aside. Ryans tenure has been as rocky as that of his predecessor, Rep. John Boehner, who abruptly resigned in 2015 amid GOP infighting. Asked Thursday if he would be leaving, Ryan answered a simple no, as he left his weekly press conference in the Capitol. Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who reluctantly took over the speakers gavel after Boehners departure, had just finished talking up the GOP tax plan, which leaders hope to pass next week. He also outlined his sweeping agenda for his longtime goal of entitlement reform of welfare benefits next year. Two stories published Thursday suggested Ryan may soon be out. This is pure speculation, said spokeswoman AshLee Strong. As the speaker himself said today, hes not going anywhere anytime soon. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print GOP leaders reach tax deal, cutting corporate rate to 21% and top individual rate to 37% By Lisa Mascaro Republican leaders on Wednesday agreed on a revised plan to cut taxes that would lower the corporate rate from 35% to 21% and drop the top individual rate for the richest Americans to 37%, according to GOP senators and others briefed on the deal. The tentative accord marked a significant step in the Republican push to have a tax bill on President Trumps desk by Christmas. Leaders did not release details of the compromise or the text of a final bill as negotiations continued. Its critically important for Congress to quickly pass these historic tax cuts, Trump said Wednesday, promising that Americans could begin to reap the benefits of the plan as early as February, if passed. Critics, however, said the latest changes particularly the lowering of the top individual rate from the current 39.6% only reaffirmed several independent analyses that show the bulk of the savings from the Republican plan would go to businesses and the wealthy. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Farenthold to retire from House amid harassment accusations By Associated Press Texas Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold wont seek reelection next year, two Republicans said Thursday, adding his name to the list of lawmakers leaving Congress amid sexual harassment allegations that have cost powerful men their jobs in politics, the arts and other fields. The accusations against Farenthold surfaced in 2014, when a former aide sued him alleging sexually suggestive comments and behavior and said shed been fired after she complained. The lawmaker said he engaged in no wrongdoing and the case was settled in 2015. But the House Ethics Committee said last week that it would investigate Farenthold after congressional sources said hed paid an $84,000 settlement using taxpayers money. Though Farenthold said hed reimburse the Treasury Department, such payments have drawn public criticism from people saying lawmakers should use their own money for such settlements. A House official said Farenthold spoke twice Wednesday to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), while another official said the congressman spoke once with Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) who heads the GOPs House campaign committee. Those discussions suggested that Farenthold may have come under pressure from leaders to step aside. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. Last week, three lawmakers facing accusations of sexual harassment announced their resignations. Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) have already left Congress while Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has said he will step aside soon. Mike Bergsma, Republican county chairman in Farentholds home county of Nueces, Texas, said Fare VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Senator Minerals Inc. (TSXV:SNR) (OTC:SNRAF) (Frankfurt:T1KA) (Senator or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding share capital of Keefe Lake Projects Inc. (Keefe Lake Projects). Subject to existing royalty rights, Keefe Lake Projects holds a 100% interest in the Keefe Lake Uranium Project (the Project), an advanced exploration project that covers an area of approximately 15,400 hectares, on the eastern side of the Athabasca Basin, in northeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. The Project is on trend with the McArthur River, Cigar Lake and Key Lake Mines, three of the largest and richest uranium mines in the world. The Keefe Lake exploration model is a shallow basement or sandstone-hosted uranium deposit, with average basement depths of only 170 meters. Since 2012, the Project has been subject to over $4,000,000 in exploration expenditures, including airborne geophysics, 2D seismic and diamond drilling. In 2012, 8 holes were completed on targets picked through an integration of traditional magnetic and EM datasets (GEOTEM, AEROTEM and VTEM) with the seismic and historical down hole data. Drill Hole AU4-01 and KEF-12-08 both encountered uranium mineralization, associated with hematite alteration and fracturing of altered quartzofeldspathic gneiss, as well as base metal enrichment (lead, cobalt, arsenic and nickel) in the sandstone. All holes at Keefe Lake showed alteration that extended into the basement. In addition, a deep 535m hole was set 374m into the basement and examined with a sonic probe to enhance the seismic survey. First pass drilling in 2012 by Athabasca Uranium encountered anomalous uranium values at depth. Keefe Lake Drilling 2011-2012 Hole Depth from(m) Depth to (m) Width (m) U (ppm) KEF-12-08 470.9 471.5 0.54 116 KEF-12-08 546.9 547.9 0.5 175 AU4-01 400 402 2 112 In addition, the assays also confirmed base metal enrichment in the overlying sandstone indicative of favorable chemistry for uranium deposition and a high degree of silicification, which has been repeatedly fractured and healed. Results from the drilling program also encountered a massive subsurface quartzite ridge identified, similar to the control of mineralization at Denisons Phoenix A Deposit and at the McArthur River Mine. The Keefe Lake Project was also subject to a seismic survey, which was interpreted by the University of Saskatchewan Seismology Laboratory, under the supervision of Dr. Zoltan Hajnal (Ph.D. Geophysics), who played a key role in the discovery of Hathors Roughrider Deposit, among other successes. The seismology team, which has also performed work at MacArthur River and the Millennium Mine for Cameco, has an unparalleled understanding of Athabasca Basin uranium deposits. In consideration for the outstanding share capital of Keefe Lake Projects, the Company will issue 6,100,000 common shares. Completion of the transaction remains subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, and the transaction cannot be completed until such approval is obtained. Dr. Peter Born P.Geo., a Qualified Person, has reviewed and approved the disclosure of technical information within this news release. For further information contact Tim Fernback at 604-340-3774. Tim Fernback President & CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this release that are forward-looking information are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. All such forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements, however, are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information or statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include those described under the heading Risks Factors in the Companys most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. MINNETONKA, Minn., Nov. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vital Images unveils the newest version of Vitrea Advanced Visualization software, which is the cornerstone of its imaging platform. This includes numerous product enhancements and state of the art modality applications that have been incorporated into the release. Vital is a pioneer in the industry, with over 25 years of experience in advanced visualization technology. Vital developed a modular viewing platform that can be configured to meet the unique viewing needs of users, providing access to relevant images from across the entire healthcare organization. Version 7 will be available for demonstration in Vitals booth (North Hall, #7323), at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, in Chicago, November 26 to December 1. Performance and workflow efficiency along with a lightweight integration engine ensure users have standardized toolsets across all modalities and all ologies. We continue to improve and enrich our clinical offerings across all modalities, says President and CEO Jim Litterer. At Vital, we are pleased and excited about the significant improvements we continue to add to our premier advanced visualization offerings. A sample of Vitals newest innovations: Intuitive user interface with a dark color scheme for better viewing in the reading room Semi-automated Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement valve plane measurements Updated stent manufacturer templates and Fleischner Criteria for 2017 4D CT Brain Perfusion addition for DSA shuttle perfusion and 4D support for thin slice axial and helical data Multi Modality Viewer updates for XA, PET and PET/CT CT Colon Analysis with electronic bowel cleansing (EBC) Stereolithography (STL) export for enterprise users with new 3D printed anatomical models on display in the Vital booth 4K high resolution monitor support Increased rendering performance and faster time to first image Shared modified presets across the organization In addition to the existing exceptional partner integrations with their newest releases, we have three new partner applications that help make this platform truly dynamic and focused on the clinical demands of the industry, says Dave Nuthals, Product Line Director, Advanced Visualization. 4DM, powered by INVIA, is state-of-the-art software for nuclear cardiology quantification, review and reporting for SPECT, PET, and hybrid-CT patient studies. 4DM enables physicians to assess a patients cardiac health by reviewing patient images and 4DM quantifications all in a single, convenient, and configurable application. Building on Mirada Medicals vision to provide simple and accurate solutions to complex image analysis problems in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, Vital is pleased to announce two new integrated applications. Mirada RTx delivers software tools for radiation therapy treatment planning that bring new levels of functionality, speed, and accuracy to the planning process. delivers software tools for radiation therapy treatment planning that bring new levels of functionality, speed, and accuracy to the planning process. Mirada Nuclear Medicine (NM) Workflows provides flexible display protocols and workflows that allow quick and easy reading of NM studies. About Vital Images Vital Images, Inc., a Canon Group company, is a leading provider of diagnostic imaging and enterprise informatics solutions to help healthcare organizations deliver exceptional care while optimizing resources across multi-facility organizations. The company's solutions are scalable to meet the unique needs of hospitals and imaging centers and are accessible throughout the enterprise anytime and anywhere. For more information, visit www.vitalimages.com, or join the conversation on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. Vital Images and Vitrea are registered trademarks of Vital Images, Inc. in the US and may have protection in other countries. For more information contact: Diane Hunt Director, Marketing Vital Images 952.487.9866 dhunt@vitalimages.com As bullets tore through flesh, fires raged and black smoke eclipsed the sky, Maxim Kuzin knew it was time to leave his home of Kiev, Ukraine. The latest conductor to lead the Orange Coast College Symphony was born and raised in the capital city of the Eastern European country. From a young age, Kuzin, 41, displayed a superior voice and good ear, signaling a heightened musical aptitude. His aunt Olha Shevchuk recognized his abilities and urged the cultivation of his talents. He was enrolled in a special music school, the Lysenko Kyiv Boarding School for Gifted Children, one of three such schools in the country. Kuzin later attained an undergraduate degree in choral conducting in 1999 and a graduate and postgraduate degree in instrumental and orchestral conducting from the Tchaikovsky National Musical Academy of Ukraine in 2003 and 2009, respectively. In concert with his academic life, Kuzin held various jobs, including the music director and conductor of the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars, an experience Kuzin called unique. Following his education, he went on to hold jobs as a music director and conductor for various orchestras and theaters. Then, in February 2014, a violent revolution took hold in Ukraine following months of citizen protests against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovychs rejection of a European Union association agreement. Many dissenters claimed the decision would hurt the countrys economy. Kuzin said the countrys youth felt it was tantamount to extinguishing their future. These protests, termed the Maidan revolution, took place in the Maidan Nezalezhnosti, or Independence Square, in Kiev, near an institute where Kuzin was teaching music classes. Many of his students and friends took part in the protests. Kuzin said protests were peaceful until a militant police force started beating and killing the dissenters in attempts to quell the uprising. The capital turned into a battleground, with tens of thousands of protesters raging against Yanukovychs police. Kuzin said a family friend was severely beaten by an officer of the Berkut, or special police force, during the conflict and had to undergo three surgeries for her injuries, eventually losing an eye. Everyones circle of friends was affected by the violence in Kiev, Kuzin said. It was heartbreaking. It was like, What is happening in my country? A student of his was part of the Hundreds, one of the units formed to protect the protesters. Fortunately, he wasnt shot dead as were more than a hundred other innocent people, Kuzin said. He is a bassoon player. A very bright young man. As the violence spiraled, Kuzin made the decision to leave the country in early March 2014 with his wife, Victoria, and daughter Margarita, now 12. They planned to visit his brother in Philadelphia for a few weeks and hoped to return once the chaos halted. We didnt take our winter clothes with us it was all unprepared, Kuzin said. It was a complete 180-degree change for us. They never returned. Kuzin moved with his family to Los Angeles in 2015 and was hired by Orange Coast College this past summer. Hes directed two concerts so far and has said his experience has been positive. His personality and the craft he perfected in Ukraine seems a perfect fit for the community college, said Eliza Rubenstein, OCC director of Choral and Vocal Activities and Music Department chair. Our department prides itself on a faculty filled with world-class musicians who are also patient and compassionate teachers, and Maxim fits that bill completely, Rubenstein said. He can speak at length about the most particular nuances of Beethovens tempo choices, but he can also make the entire orchestra crack up by showing up to rehearsal in a Dracula costume. Kuzin doesnt know if hell ever return to Ukraine with his family. The country is in abnormal shape, Kuzin said. There is still ongoing conflict. When these things happen, its like you have an open seizure on the body. The country cannot function as normal. Its psychologically and economically hard for people. Right now I would rather say that with the development of my career, I see my future here. The OCC Symphony will perform Computer Games Unplugged! at 7:30 p.m. March 3 and Carmen & Company at 7:30 p.m. May 12, both in the Robert B. Moore Theatre on campus, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. For more information on upcoming concerts, visit https://bit.ly/2jeTHbz. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot A change in the election schedule may be coming to Glendale Community College, with the schools trustees leaning in one direction for new dates, though they have not made a final decision. David Viar, Glendale Community Colleges president/superintendent, laid out two plans that would merge the colleges election dates with those of the statewide elections during a board meeting this past Tuesday. Currently, the college holds elections in odd-numbered years, but it could change to even-numbered years to align with the state elections. The first option elongates the terms for trustees elected in 2015 by 11 months. So, rather than having an election in April 2019, a new date of March 2020 would match up with state primaries. Subsequently, those elected in 2017 would also have 11 months added to their tenures and would be up for reelection in March 2022. The second option calls for a 19-month extension and switches to California general elections in November of 2020 and 2022. The general purpose [is] to improve and encourage voter turnout, particularly for municipal and local elections, Viar said. A change is necessary because the board is one of many governing bodies scrambling to become compliant with the California Voter Participation Act, which was signed into law in 2015 and goes into effect Jan. 1. The act stipulates that a political subdivision cannot hold elections outside of a statewide date if the last election results were at least 25% smaller than that of the previous four statewide elections. Viar said the difference easily crosses the threshold for the colleges past four elections. Viar also said that if the college did not change its election cycle, it runs the risk of being taken to court. Im not very comfortable with 19 months. That seems a little bit self-serving, Board member Yvette Vartanian Davis said. As for which option to choose, the trustees tended to lean toward lining up with state primaries. Looking at the big picture and whats in the best interest of the college and the best interest of trustees being elected by our electorate, I think that looking at the March date is a better date because I think well get more participation, Ann Ransford, the boards vice president, said. Board member Anthony P. Tartaglia said he thought March was favorable over November because there would be less confusion for voters. Clutter on the election ballot is bad enough or hard enough to get constituents to vote for community college [issues] because we generally tend to be at the last of the ballot, he said. Viar backed Tartaglia by adding, [The] only propositions going on the March ballot are those put on the ballot by the state legislators. All citizen-initiated initiatives must now go on the ballot in November. A large number of propositions will be on in November. Board member Yvette Vartanian Davis said she had a different concern. Im not very comfortable with 19 months, she said of the other proposed extension of terms. That seems a little bit self-serving. The views held by board members coincide with those of the Glendale City Council, which on Nov. 7 decided to amend the city charter to move municipal elections to the March primary cycle, beginning in 2020. Glendale residents will have a chance to vote on that proposed change in April. Glendale Community College trustees are expected to make their decision at their next board meeting on Dec. 19. Viar said Glendale Unified school board members are expected to discuss moving the districts election dates during their next meeting on Tuesday. While Glendale Unified and Glendale Community College are not bound by decisions made by the City Council, the savings if all three entities consolidated their elections would be substantial. According to a report by Viar, [The Los Angeles] County estimate of election costs for the city, GUSD and GCC consolidating in March is approximately $250,000 , and for November would be approximately $235,000. Glendale Community College paid approximately 27% of the last municipal elections costs this year, which totaled $159,606. A move to either statewide election date would save the college roughly $90,000. andrew.campa@latimes.com Twitter @campadresports After an inconclusive fall election threatened to paralyze Germanys leadership, the renewal of an uncomfortable right-left partnership could herald an end to what analysts had been calling the countrys worst post-war political crisis. The center-left Social Democrats abruptly said Friday that they are open to forming a coalition government with Chancellor Angela Merkels conservative party. The Social Democrats, or SPD, had reluctantly joined forces to support the conservatives to form a majority in parliament during eight of the last 12 years. Then this fall the SPD steadfastly refused to supply the needed backing for another four years under Merkel after suffering another drubbing, its worst result in 70 years, in the national elections on Sept. 24. Advertisement But the pressure on the SPD and its beleaguered chairman, Martin Schulz, to abandon that firm Nein grew inexorably this week after Merkels efforts to forge an unwieldy three-way coalition with two other smaller parties collapsed acrimoniously Sunday. Merkels failure to find a willing coalition partner raised fears of political turmoil in a country that desperately craves stability. Germanys European Union partners watched in horror as Merkels power and political career appeared to be eroding in recent weeks at the worst possible moment, when the bloc was increasingly dependent on her sure-handed leadership in the face of Brexit negotiations with Britain over its exit from the EU, the euro zone debt crisis and growing trans-Atlantic tensions following President Trumps election. With her grip on power at home ominously slipping away and doubts about her future spreading to capitals across Europe, the 63-year-old veteran chancellor got the unexpected last-ditch reprieve Friday thanks to the heavy-handed intervention of Germanys figurehead president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Despite his limited powers as the titular head of state, Steinmeier has been twisting arms behind the scenes all week in a desperate bid to find a way to avoid the time-consuming and destructive process of new elections that would not likely take place until April. Such a delay would have prolonged the period of uncertainty at a time when the European Union and Germany, the EUs largest member, can ill afford it. Steinmeier, who was himself defeated by Merkel in their race for chancellor in 2009, managed to persuade his SPD party ally Schulz in a private hour-long meeting Thursday at his office in the Bellevue Palace in Berlin to rethink a hasty decision made right after the election results were announced on Sept. 24. Back then Schulz ruled out helping Merkel form a stable government for another four years. The SPD, which suffered setbacks in the last three national elections, had grown tired of playing a thankless role as second fiddle in another Merkel government. Schulz spent eight long hours through Thursday night huddling with other SPD leaders after meeting Steinmeier nearly three times as long as planned. Schulz emerged from the closed-door SPD talks early Friday to announce that the party had decided, for the sake of Germanys national interests, to explore the possibility of another grand coalition with Merkels conservatives even though it was not something his party wanted to do. Attempting to save face after long refusing such a course, Schulz added that the party would nevertheless ask its 430,000 grass-roots members to vote to approve or reject any detailed coalition agreement that would be hammered out in the next month or two with Merkels conservatives. We dont have a government crisis, but Germany is in a complicated situation, Schulz said, tacitly referring to the countrys fear of minority governments or unstable coalitions after the turmoil of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s and 1930s made possible Hitlers rise to power. Merkel, who had been facing down calls from within her own party to resign after talks with the two other parties collapsed Sunday, did not comment directly on the SPDs about-face. But as she spoke briefly to reporters in Brussels, Merkels broad smile spoke volumes; she appeared to be clearly relieved that the SPD had finally changed its mind a move that most likely indirectly helped prolong her political career. Merkel is not out of the woods yet, however, as the SPD is likely to demand a high price for another four years as her supporting cast. Even though the crisis appears to have been averted, the coalition talks could last until late January, analysts predict. Kirschbaum is a special correspondent. ALSO On the shadowlands of the frontier, a U.S. border agent plans his future in Mexico Shocking sexual abuse allegations at a kindergarten in Beijing has China on edge Ukrainian government forces fought fierce battles against pro-Russia militants around the occupied town of Slovyansk on Monday in an attempt to recover control of the focal point of a rebellion that Kiev authorities contend is being directed from Moscow. At least four officers were killed and 30 wounded in the latest move against the armed militants in eastern Ukraine claiming to represent a Peoples Republic of Donetsk, the Defense Ministry said in a statement reported by the Kyiv Post. A government helicopter was shot down, the ministry reported, but its crew managed to escape. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov also reported via the newspaper and his Facebook page that a special forces unit was dispatched Monday to Odessa to restore order in the Black Sea port. The city on Friday saw the worst violence in the now 6-month-old conflict between supporters of closer relations with the European Union and the Russia-allied populations in Ukraines south and east. Advertisement At least 46 people died in Odessa after a clash Friday when firebombs set ablaze the citys trade unions building where pro-Russia gunmen had taken up positions on the upper floors. A statement issued by Odessa police after the conflagration suggested the gunmen were targeting a march by supporters of the pro-Western government in Kiev. Riots were reported over the weekend in Odessa as Russia supporters in the culturally and linguistically divided city stormed police headquarters and freed dozens of pro-Russia militants arrested Friday in alleged violence. Odessa police reportedly did little to resist the jailbreak, prompting the relocation of more than 40 remaining pro-Russia militants in custody and the deployment of the special security force, Avakov said. A funeral Monday for Vyacheslav Markin, an Odessa regional lawmaker who was severely burned in the Friday fire and died Sunday, drew 300 pro-Russia militants. They vowed to avenge the death of the politician, who was known for his opposition to the Kiev leadership, news agencies reported. Ukraines acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, and interim Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk took power in Kiev in late February after former President Viktor Yanukovich agreed to a power-sharing interim government and early elections but fled to Russia instead. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin allies have denounced the Kiev leadership as coup-installed and illegitimate. Days after Yanukovich fled, Russian troops occupied the regional parliament and key government installations in Ukraines Crimea area, which organized a hasty referendum on secession and appealed for annexation to Russia. Putin issued a decree making Crimea part of Russia two days after the vote, a move denounced by the international community as illegal. NATO officials estimate there are 40,000 Russian troops along Ukraines eastern border, and the Kiev leadership and its Western allies accuse the Kremlin of plotting to take more territory in the Russian-leaning eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. Pro-Russia militants, some in Russian army camouflage uniforms and carrying weapons of the Kremlins armed forces, have occupied about a dozen towns and cities in an arc of land stretching from the Russian border to the strategic Black Sea ports east of Crimea. Fighting in Slovyansk and elsewhere in the industrialized Donetsk region has intensified as opponents of the interim leadership in Kiev, the capital, appear to be trying to disrupt a May 25 presidential election. Separatist militants in Slovyansk and the coal and steel belts of the Donetsk region have called a rival vote for secession on Sunday. Putin justified the Crimea invasion as necessary to defend the peninsulas Russian majority population, and Kremlin officials have made similar accusations of endangered Russians and Russian-speakers in denouncing Kiev authority in the tumultuous east and south. On Monday, the Kremlin news service reported that Putin had been provided a 70-page White Book detailing human rights abuses in Ukraine since the rebellion against Yanukovich began in November. The report is aimed at drawing the attention of the world community and international legislators to registered human rights violations in Ukraine, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said according to an RIA Novosti report. The reported violations were based on information from Russian, Ukrainian and Western media sources, statements by representatives of the current authorities in Kiev and their supporters, eyewitness accounts and on-the-spot observations and interviews of Russian noncommercial organizations, the Kremlin news service said. Ukraines interim authorities and U.S. and European officials have expressed concern that the Kremlin is laying the groundwork to justify an invasion of eastern and southern Ukraine on the pretext of defending the Russian communities Putin and his government contend are being abused by fascist leaders in Kiev. The assailants arrived in five all-terrain vehicles: between 25 and 30 gunmen clad in military-style camouflage pants and black T-shirts and carrying an Islamic State flag. They positioned themselves at the main gate of a Sufi mosque and in its 12 windows. Then, as the imam was about to deliver his Friday sermon, they set off explosives and sprayed hundreds of worshipers inside with bullets. At least 305 people were killed among them 27 children and 128 were injured in what authorities are describing as Egypts worst attack by suspected Islamist extremists in modern times. Advertisement Investigators and survivors on Saturday offered new details about the carnage that unfolded at the Rawda mosque, in the dusty North Sinai town of Bir Abed. As the gunfire and explosions rang out, worshipers dived to the floor and stampeded for the doors and windows, they said. Some even climbed into the pulpit, where Imam Mohammed Raziq had been speaking moments before. There were people on top of me bleeding, and I couldnt feel anything, Raziq said in an emotional interview with Egypts DMC TV channel. After the initial round of seemingly random gunfire, the militants methodically checked their victims for signs of life. They were shooting anyone who seemed to be breathing, Raziq said. Those assailants who werent wearing masks sported thick beards and long hair, investigators said. They blocked access to the mosque by torching seven cars belonging to worshipers and also opened fire on ambulances as they raced to the scene. President Abdel Fattah Sisi vowed to respond with extreme force and avenge our martyrs. Egyptian warplanes destroyed several vehicles used in the attack, killing their occupants, and also targeted suspected terrorist hide-outs containing weapons, ammunition, explosive materials and administrative necessities, the military said Saturday. 1 / 6 Egyptians carry victims on stretchers after an attack on the Rawda mosque near the North Sinai provincial capital of Arish. (AFP/Getty Images) 2 / 6 A video frame grab shows people and ambulances waiting to evacuate victims outside the Rawda mosque in Arish, Egypt. (EPA / Shutterstock) 3 / 6 Egyptians check bodies lying in a truck after the attack on the Rawda mosque near Arish, Egypt. (AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 6 Egyptians gather at the scene of the Rawda mosque attack. (AFP/Getty Images) 5 / 6 A video frame grab shows people gathering outside the Rawda mosque after the attack. (EPA / Shutterstock ) 6 / 6 People pass the Rawda mosque on the Sinai Peninsula. (STR / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock) The governments supporters cheered the military on. If officials wanted, we would go out with weapons and face these devils, columnist Kareem Abdel Salam wrote in Egypts Al Youm Al Saba newspaper. But the countrys security forces have been using such tactics for years in the Sinai Peninsula without appearing to dent the ability of a persistent Islamist insurgency to inflict devastating attacks. Its really essential that there be a review of the strategy, given such a huge attack being able to take place, said Timothy E. Kaldas, a nonresident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy in Washington. He noted that a state of emergency that has been in effect in the region since 2014 has strangled the local economy and alienated the Bedouin tribes who live there. While many people agree that the counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism strategy needs to be more multifaceted and not just a military solution, fundamentally thats very unlikely to happen so long as the country remains a military dictatorship that sees the military as the solution for every one of its problems, Kaldas said. Militants stepped up their attacks after Sisi came to power in a coup that toppled an elected Islamist president in 2013. Hundreds of police and soldiers have been killed since then, most of them in attacks carried out by a group that pledged loyalty to Islamic State in 2014. As of late Saturday, no group had claimed responsibility for this latest attack. But a statement issued by the office of Egypts chief prosecutor, Nabil Sadeq, said at least one of the assailants was brandishing a black flag inscribed with the declaration of the Muslim faith There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet like those carried by Islamic State. The groups local affiliate, known as Sinai Province, has carried out deadly bombings on churches in the capital, Cairo, and other cities. It also is believed to have been responsible for the downing of a Russian passenger jet in 2015. But the militants have not previously taken aim at a Muslim place of worship. At least two other Egyptian militant groups, Jund al-Islam and the Hasm Movement, denounced Fridays attack. The mosque that was targeted is frequented by Sufi Muslims, followers of a mystical form of Islam that is deemed to be heretical by Islamic State and other Sunni extremists. Many of those who worship there are members of the Sawarka tribe, who are generally viewed as supportive of the government and have refused to cooperate with the militants. The scale of the bloodshed shocked Egyptians. Sisi ordered that a mausoleum be built to honor the victims, and prayers were offered for them at mosques and churches across the nation Saturday. After the funeral prayer at Cairos Sayeda Zeinab mosque, one man shouted, Long live Egypt. The mosque is a focal point for both Shiite and Sufi Muslims, who chanted poems in praise of the prophet Muhammad and crowded a room said to house the tomb of one of his granddaughters. It is practices such as these that have made the Sufi tradition a target of Islamic State, which considers the veneration of tombs to be blasphemous. The January edition of an Islamic State online magazine featured an interview with a Sinai commander who vowed to eradicate Sufis from the area. But millions of Egyptians belong to Sufi orders. Next week, they will celebrate the prophets birthday another practice discouraged by Islamic State. In preparation for the holiday, lights have been strung across city squares, and stalls have sprung up selling special sweets. We dont know who is really doing this, said one Cairo sweets vendor, who was too afraid to give his name. I think Islamic State is actually people in the police themselves. Who else can do this? Its terrible what happened yesterday. These people who killed Muslims in a mosque are not Muslims themselves. Special correspondent Medhat reported from Cairo, and staff writer Zavis from Beirut. Special correspondent Umar Farooq contributed to this report from Cairo. alexandra.zavis@latimes.com Twitter: @alexzavis UPDATES: 5 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with witness accounts, analyst comment and prayers offered at mosques and churches across the nation. 10 a.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting including new details about Fridays attack. This article was originally published at 3:35 a.m. Residents of a Hanover Township, Northampton County, home noticed a fire on Thanksgiving Eve and got to safety, but they're displaced until repairs can be made, a township fire official said Saturday. The blaze was reported about 10 p.m. Wednesday at 949 Wedgewood Road. Destroyed were the garage and two cars, as well as the family room of the attached home, said township fire Marshal Scott Milham. There was also smoke damage throughout the home. No firefighters were injured in the response. The cause remained under investigation, as did the point of origin, Milham said; it wasn't immediately clear if it started in the garage or the family room. It did not appear suspicious, and was looking like an accident, Milham said. The residents were hosting family ahead of the holiday and planned to have nine people in all sleeping there overnight, according to the fire marshal. The house is "non-livable for the foreseeable future," Milham said. Assisting the Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Co. were the Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. from Lower Nazareth Township, Catasauqua Fire Department, East Allen Township Fire Department and Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Co. and Nancy Run Fire Co., also from Bethlehem Township, as well as the Han-Le-Co Fire Co. from Hanover Township, Lehigh County Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. RARITAN TWP. - A two-story garage was destroyed in a large fire on Friday. Firefighters responding to Cherryville Hollow Road around 6 p.m. reported the building was already engulfed in flames. The fire remains under investigation as of Saturday morning. The South Tanker Task Force was activated to ferry water to the scene because there are no hydrants in this part of the township. Tankers filled up on Wescott Drive by Hunterdon Medical Center. Firefighters, who battled the blaze for several hours, returned around 10:30 p.m. to put out hot spots. Among the fire departments that responded were the Raritan Township Fire Department, Quakertown Fire Company, Lebanon Borough Fire Department and tankers from fire departments in the southern part of Hunterdon County and Bucks County in Pennsylvania. Firefighters from Clinton, Readington and Lebanon Township were asked to man the responding fire department's houses while the crews were battling the fire. Others that responded included the Hunterdon County Fire Coordinators, township police, and the Flemington-Raritan and Clinton rescue squads. Former Lehigh County resident Adam Matos was sentenced this week to life in prison after a Florida jury was unable to agree unanimously on having him put to death for murdering four people. The Tampa Bay Times reports 11 of 12 jurors voted Tuesday for the 32-year-old to be executed for the 2014 killings, but without unanimous agreement, Matos automatically received a life sentence. Matos, formerly of Orefield in North Whitehall Township, was convicted by the jury Nov. 16 of four counts of first-degree murder. Three of the victims, Megan Brown and parents Gregory and Margaret Brown, were also from the Lehigh Valley. They lived in Heidelberg Township for more than a decade before moving to Florida in 2014. On Aug. 28 of that year, Matos shot to death Megan and Greg Brown then fatally bludgeoned Megan's new boyfriend, Nick Leonard, with a hammer before doing the same to Margaret Brown. According to the Tampa Bay Times, after the Pasco County jury left the courtroom, the victims' survivors expressed their "rage and anguish ... as the judge heard them tell of gaping holes in their hearts." "In my nightmares, I see him trembling and shaking to find and load his rifles, his hands shaking so much he's hardly able to get a shell into his gun to defend his family," Gregory Brown's younger brother, Richard Brown, said, according to the report. "To this day I can feel his helplessness and shock as the murders were unfolding in front of him." Matos had pleaded not guilty to the murders in October 2014, but he admitted at his trial earlier this month to having killed the four. He claimed he'd been attacked in the Browns' Hudson home in by Leonard, from whom he wrestled a firearm, the Tampa Bay Times reported. He also stabbed Leonard before fatally shooting Greg Brown and Megan Brown, according to the report. He then finished off Leonard with the hammer and met Margaret Brown as she was coming home into the garage, where he killed her, the report states. Megan Brown and Matos' then-4-year-old son was in the home at the time but was uninjured. Matos left the four bodies piled atop each other in an open field about a mile from the home, where they were found Sept. 5, 2014. He was arrested that same day in a Tampa hotel with his son. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. TROPHIES Jake Weikert's interest in American Sign Language is opening horizons for other students in the Bethlehem Area School District. Weikert, now a senior at Liberty High School, took an interest in sign language four years ago. He started taking lessons, along with his mom, Courtney Weikert, a kindergarten teacher in the district, and his sister. He began volunteering at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School with hearing and hearing-impaired students, and eventually wrote a letter to Superintendent Joseph Roy about offering sign language as a high school class. This week the school board approved American Sign Language as a level-one course in 2018-19 and possibly an advanced course after that. Weikert plans to study in the deaf education program at Bloomsburg University and become a certified K-12 teacher. The pre-Thanksgiving Day bonfire bonfire at Easton Area High School requires a lot of labor -- collecting wood, assembling it, protecting it. The annual tradition gets a big assist from the Palmer Township Fire Department, which inspects the huge pile hours before it is ignited. According to Assistant Chief Jim Alercia, the department also coordinates with the Northampton County 911 dispatch center to check out the reports of fires called in by passing motorists, many of whom mistake the bonfire for a brush fire or a fire at a neighboring building. Firefighters are on hand to extinguish any spot fires that flare up nearby, and also check on campfires used by seniors while they guard the pile. Thanks to a gift from Lauren's Hope Foundation, a nonprofit that helps brain-injured children, the family of 13-year-old Taylor Munro will be getting a fence at their Hanover Township home. Her parents, Scott and Shannon Munro, wanted a fence to allow Taylor, who has a gross developmental delay, more freedom to play outside. They were surprised by cost estimates of up to $10,000. The foundation partnered with B&B Custom Pools and Elite Fencing Concepts to build an enclosure. The group was formed in memory of Lauren Flood, who died four-and-a-half years after her birth from complications of a traumatic brain injury. TURKEYS Customers of Uber, the popular ride-hailing service, are the latest victims of a large-scale data hack. The New York Times reported that names, email addresses and mobile phone numbers of up to 57 million Uber customers were accessed by hackers in 2016 -- and that Uber paid a $100,000 ransom to try to cover it up. The company's new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the breach also exposed the names and driver's license numbers of 600,000 drivers, but did not include customers' credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers or birth dates. Uber said the breach was discussed with a potential investor in the company, SoftBank Group Corp., before going public about the crime on Tuesday. Uber suffered a data breach in 2014, when information on about 50,000 drivers was stolen. Curbside mailboxes continue to be a target for thieves in the Lehigh Valley. Authorities say two Allentown men pulled letters out of U.S. Postal Service box in Whitehall Township using string and sticky traps designed to catch mice and insects. Geudy Tatis-Gil and Jesus Alberto Perez, who allegedly cashed $380 in stolen checks, were charged with theft of mail and other offenses, according to a federal indictment filed this week. Investigators learned of the scheme when ripped-open mail was found on a road near a Bethlehem mailbox in June, which led to a sting operation at the Whitehall location. THEY assembled at the crossroads. A huge crowd. As the flames crackled softly, there was silence. The coffin came close and then spontaneous applause rang out. For the family it must have been a massive support. It was a simple thing but a rural Ireland statement and a mark of respect, says Mike Houlihan of the scenes in the centre of the town of Kilmallock on Sunday night last. The local fire brigade oversaw a controlled bonfire at the crossroads. Cal ODonnell was known for his bonfires. The 80-year-old died unexpectedly at the University Hospital Limerick last Thursday. His coffin was carried from Daffys funeral home to SS Peter and Paul's Church in Kilmallock on Sunday night. He was buried on Monday in Effin Cemetery. When you have a victory, you celebrate it and the bonfire was Cals symbol. It was a statement that something had been achieved, Mike adds. Mike and Cal were neighbours - both residents of The Green Road. On many a great day in the town during the 1990s - particularly in 1992 and 1993 when Kilmallock and Mike were in their pomp and Cal was reveling in their success - a bonfire blazed brightly at the crossroads. He always reckoned the bonfires had to be lit - it was tradition, continues former Kilmallock star player Bernie Savage, a good friend of Cals. I remember the one he lit after Limerick beating Cork in 1996, Id say he lit it at about six oclock in the evening. I remember he went up to the Donie Barrys and came down with a load of tyres out of Donies. On his way back down his pants began to slip. He didnt know whether to drop the tyres or grab his pants, Bernie smiled. Bernie played against Cal during their time in England. While Bernie only remained in England for three years, Cal was there from 1956 until 1978. Bernie played with Brothers Pearse in London while Cal played with St Marys hurling club in London in the 1960s and the 1970s. He played all his life in the corner back position. He was uncompromising, says Bernie. Cal used always tell this story. In 1955 Kilmallock won their first county minor title and he was marking a fella known as 26 Goal Eric. Eric Smith was his name. He used to hurl with Treaty. Cal was marking this 26 Goal Eric and didnt Cal bury him! While in London, Cal was chairman of the Kilmallock Mens Association and his wife Ann was the secretary. They did the world of good - they used to have a dinner dance every year. They would invite people from Kilmallock. They would have one special guest and they would have a couple of other special guests as well, says Bernie. They would organise that about 40 would go from here every year for that dinner dance and that lasted for years, and years and years. It started off in the Spotted Dog but it ended up in the Tara Hotel. It needed a bigger venue because it was getting more popular. Cal was the face, and Ann worked away behind the scenes, Bernie explains. While Cal wouldnt have been known for his singing voice, there were a few songs that remained close to his heart. There were two songs in particular that he would sing a few verses of - the Old Knocksouna Boat and The Road Near Abbeyshrule, says Bernie. Cal was known affectionately by many as Calin (een), Everyone was known as 'in' by him in the end - it was always Bernin, and Mikin and Tomin. If you heard him talking about the hurling, he would be describing the love and pride we have for our little club. Along with hurling, Cals other great passion in life was greyhounds. He was a big doggie man - be it coursing or track, says Mike Houlihan. When you would be going or coming from school, Cal would be out with his dogs walking - that familiar stride leading five or six dogs, getting them ready for the track, adds Mike. Cals sporting pursuits brought him all over the county and country, ensuring he built up many great friendships along the way. He was the best character Kilmallock ever had. He was known by everybody, says Bernie. Cal ODonnell is very deeply regretted by his loving wife Ann, daughters Rose and Sue, sons Tom, Pat, and Dave, brother Tom, sisters Mary, Biddy, Ann, and Nelly, his extended family and a large circle of friends. THERE have been nearly 60 drug seizures in Limerick Prison so far this year, according to new figures released by the Department of Justice. Statistics released by Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, show that there were 57 drug seizures at the Mulgrave Street prison, between January 1 and September 17. Limerick Prison had slightly fewer seizures than Castlerea, 60, and Cloverhill Prison, with 61 drug seizures. There were 100 drug seizures in Midlands Prison, 126 in Wheatfield, and a total of 310 in Mountjoy. The Minister released the data in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Independent TD, Deputy Clare Daly. Deputy Daly also questioned the Minister about the review of the Keeping Drugs out of Prison policy, to which he said that it was under constant review by his officials in the Irish Prison Service. He said that his officials are exploring new technologies to assist in the prevention of drug smuggling into prisons, and the retrieval of such contraband that have made it into the prisons. For example, the prison service has introduced a confidential telephone line which allows prisoners and members of the public to alert authorities, in strict confidence, of activities related to the illegal smuggling and use of drugs in prisons, he stated. Though the IPS regularly record drug seizures, there are limitations, such as the IPS not having the lab facilities needed to establish the exact chemical composition of all drugs, he said. The data that the Minister released does not have a breakdown of what type of drugs were seized at Limerick Prison. It should be noted that the policy is not just about the security element it also deals with treatment for prisoners. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that any prisoner who enters the custody of the Irish Prison Services while presenting with addiction issues has access to addiction services, and is actively encouraged to engage with those services. LIMERICK-based building contractor Roadbridge, which won company of the year at the annual Chamber business awards, is hoping to grow substantially and get back to 2007 levels. Roadbridge, based at Crossagalla in Ballysimon, was named overall winner at the prestigious ceremony, which took place at the Strand Hotel last weekend. Conor Gilligan, the managing director of the firm which specialises in roads, civil engineering and waste water management projects said the firm is setting itself to future growth. We are an infrastructure contractor which has set our feet on the west coast of Ireland. Other contractors who come in from abroad find it difficult to work here. Tonights recognition is brilliant. To be recognised among your peers is hugely important. Its very good for staff morale. It demonstrates where we are at, he said. Roadbridge employs 50 people in its city offices plus a further 60 contractors working on Irish Water infrastructure locally. Globally, the firm has 1,000 people on its books 400 in Ireland. Mr Gilligan says his aim is to get back to 2007 levels, both in terms of employment and turnover. Wed like to add another 500 people, he said, adding that he hopes Roadbridge will bid for the Limerick-Cork motorway project. Presenting the award to Roadbridge, Chamber president Ken Johnson praised the company for its innovative approach and continuous investment in its staff and services. Roadbridge is a forward-looking company that has achieved significant growth through completing major projects in the transport, renewables and energy, utilities, commercial, industrial waste management and leisure sectors, he said. The overall prize represented a second award for Roadbridge, which was also named best large company at the ceremony. The biggest night in Limericks business calendar, the annual awards dinner, for which the Limerick Leader is a media partner and was sponsored by LIT, was attended by 450 business leaders and government officials across the region. It featured a keynote address from Niall Gibbons, the chief executive of Tourism Ireland (see p13). And there was a special lifetime achievement award for former Finance Minister, Fine Gael leader and long-serving Limerick TD Michael Noonan, from president, Mr Johnson. In his address to the award, the PWC accountant said while Limerick is becoming a role model in terms of cities and regions in Ireland, we cannot become complacent. We cannot take our leg off the accelerator collectively or individually. All stakeholders need to remain focused and continue working together on our shared vision and goals. To use the old slogan a lot done, but more to do, Mr Johnson said. He added Limerick can become Irelands second capital. LESS than two weeks ago it was damaged by floods, but Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum is proving that the show must go on, as they host a very special event this Sunday. The European premiere of a film, about one mans record-breaking journey around the world in a flying boat, will take place in the West Limerick village a spot of historical and cultural significance for the flying boat in Europe. Australian man Michael Smith made 83 flights and stopped in 25 countries over a seven-month period in 2015, making a film about the experience called Voyage of the Southern Sun. I visited the Foynes museum during my few days in Ireland, and it was the greatest testament to the golden era of flying boats Ive seen anywhere. Not only was Ireland the greenest place I visited, but by the far the friendliest. Im really looking forward to returning to launch the book and film in Ireland, he said. The man, who was named Australian Geographics Adventurer of the Year, will also launch his book of the same name on the day. His story begins when he left Melbourne in a Searey Amphibious aeroplane called Southern Sun, to loosely follow the Qantas Empire flying boat route of 1938 from Sydney to London. On reaching Foynes, Michael decided to continue flying across the North Atlantic, North America, the North Pacific. Upon his arrival in Longreach, Australia, on November 11, 2015, he became the first person to solo navigate the world using a single-engine flying boat. Incredibly, Mr Smith had limited flying experience, no support team and only basic instruments in his tiny flying boat. He risked his life to make modern aviation history. At a leisurely 80 knots, Michael took his time to fly from cities to forests, deserts and rivers, over mountains and volcanoes, coral reefs, vast stretches of oceans, ice floes and glaciers. His journey captured the geographic splendour of the world, and the film documents all, while he learns a little about humankind and himself along the way. He also met plenty of adventure and made new friends along the way including enormous raccoon-sized rats on the uninhabited Aleutian island of Attu, some surprised members of the Special Branch on his arrival in the UK, while he had a near-death experience while leaving Greenland. I am delighted that Michael has chosen to premiere his film here. I know he has a great story to tell and believe there will be a lot of interest in it, said director of the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, Margaret OShaughnessy. We have had some difficult days here in Foynes following the recent flooding, but the show must go on, and what better show to lift all our spirits than the European premiere of a film documenting Michaels epic journey around the world. Tickets to the premiere of Voyage of the Southern Sun are available from the museum, and early booking is advisable as places are limited. For many, Foynes is the home of the flying boat and the golden era of aviation. It is also home to some of the most coveted artefacts from the golden era of Hollywood, as its late patron Maureen OHara bequeathed her memorabilia to the west Limerick Museum. A new wing is due to be built onto the museum to display the Maureen OHara items. But first, Ms OShaughnessy and her team will be working to repair the damage caused during the recent flooding, ahead of the next tourism season beginning in March. Hundreds of thousands of euro worth of damage was caused to the museum when a man-made lake near Foynes overspilled. A MEDICAL doctor who was accused of bullying a colleague at the University of Limerick has issued High Court proceedings against UL for defamation and personal damages. Dr Niall Cahill, the medical director of the Student Health Centre at UL from 2000 to 2015, is the third person cited in the recent HEA report into UL to sue. Suspended whistleblowers Person B and Person C have also issued proceedings. At least one other former employee is also considering legal action, on foot of the release of the report by Dr Richard Thorn. Dr Cahill, Person T in the report, wrote to the new UL president Dr Des Fitzgerald, informing him of the legal proceedings issued on November 14. If Des Fitzgerald is acting with moral authority, he will address the wrongs that were perpetrated against all of the victims, Dr Cahill told the Limerick Leader. This is bringing the city into disrepute. It isnt fair on the decent people of Limerick, he added. In 2015, Dr Cahill received a confidential severance package of 185,000, plus his legal costs of 24,600, and a letter of reference from the university in August 2015, after raising concerns about HR following the bullying accusations. He said that he had been raising concerns around governance and HR matters in UL since 2010, when a number of complaints were made against him by one employee, and a package to leave the university was foisted upon him. Dr Cahill, who is a GP in Limerick city, claimed that former University of Limerick president Dr Don Barrys remarks to the Public Accounts Committee earlier this year in relation to bullying were defamatory. He denies the bullying in the strongest terms possible, and has said that as a doctor for more than 30 years, he wants to have these allegations heard by the High Court and not by a flawed internal process. Dr Cahill called for a detailed independent review of all HR investigations carried out by UL. He also claims that UL misled the Revenue Commissioners when he attempted to investigate the status of his employment, after a tender was put out which made him feel as though he was being pushed out. Regarding Dr Cahills case, the HEA report of early November found: The review believes that a proposal to tender for medical services without obvious attempts to address the fact that Person T had served the University for an extended period was unreasonable and likely to diminish the relationship with Person T. It also found that the universitys findings regarding Dr Cahills misconduct lacked the necessary transparency of decision-making for such a significant hearing. Dr Cahill now hopes to seek justice and fair process. There is no moral compass at the heart of the University of Limerick , or at least there has not been for some years now, he said. I wont be making any settlement until this is all sorted out for all of the victims its not just about my case, said Dr Cahill. TWO women whose partners are Travellers have failed in their objection against the renewal of a public dance licence by a city hotel. Elizabeth McNamara and Hazel Hackett objected to the application by Kilmurray Lodge Hotel Ltd claiming they had been discriminated against because of the company they were in when they arrived at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel earlier this year. Solicitor Darach McCarthy said it was his clients case that the company is not of good character and is therefore unfit to hold a licence given what happened. Judge David Waters was told the company is the licencee and that it operates a licenced premises at the popular hotel in Castletroy. In her evidence, Ms McNamara said she made a reservation through hotels.com to stay at the hotel on the night of February 25, last. The booking, the court heard, was for three rooms and related to three couples. Ms McNamara told Mr McCarthy that one of the couples were married earlier in the day and that it was the intention of all six people to go to the hotel to avail of dinner and drinks as residents. Ms McNamara said having arrived at the hotel at around 4pm, a diffculty arose which resulted in the hotel cancelling the booking and a full refund being issued. She claimed she was told by a member of staff that the booking was not coming up on the system and that there were no available rooms at the hotel. Solicitor Gearoid McGann, representing the respondent company, said his client was not disputing that the booking had been made but said the reason for the cancellation was that none of the guests had a valid credit card which was required by the hotel. Receptionist Anna Hanczur confirmed the booking had been uploaded to the hotels computer system and that she had followed hotel policy by asking each of the women to fill out individual guest registration cards before handing over the room keys. She said she also requested a valid credit card to secure the booking in accordance with procedure. Once we have a swiped the credit card, it allows customers to charge any extras such as food, she said. Mr McCarthy put it to the witness that a fiction was created to avoid having to allow his clients into the hotel after the identity of their partners was established. He said while neither of the objectors are members of an ethnic minority they believe they were refused entry because of the company they were in. I feel we were discriminated against due to the ethnicity of the people we were with, said Ms Hackett. Duty manager Anthony Walsh rejected this assertion saying he was unaware who the women were with as the three men had remained in the car park and had not come into the hotel. I never met these ladies before, I didnt know who they were. I never saw their partners, I didnt see who was or wasnt with them, he said. Mr Walsh said he had been called to reception on the day as none of the women had a valid credit card an assertion which was disputed by Ms McNamara. I did have a credit card, I had the one which was used to make the booking, she said Later, Ms Hackett said the card was in the name of Ms McNamaras partner and that it was in her handbag. Mr Walsh confirmed that he had contacted hotels.com to cancel the booking as the women were anxious they would receive a refund. Dismissing the objection, Judge Waters said there was a direct conflict as to what had happened and what was said when the women arrived at the hotel and that he was not satisfied to refuse the application. LIMERICK publican, Kathleen Mulcaire, Kathleens Bar, Bank Place, Rathkeale was fined a total of 2,000 at Newcastle West court for breaches of the licensing laws. Sergeant Tony Miniter was on public house duty in Rathkeale about 1am last March 20, he told the court, and found approximately 20-25 people on the premises. A lot were consuming fresh alcohol and there was evidence of fresh alcohol being served he said. Quite a number of people were running out the back door, he said. He spoke to Ms Mulcaire, who was not in court to answer the charges. There were 14 previous breaches, he said. Ms Mulcaire was fined 500 on each of four breaches of the licensing laws: selling intoxicated liquor, permitting intoxicating liquor to be consumed, permitting people to be on the licensed premises and non production of her licence. Two other breaches of opening the premises for sale of intoxicating liquor and exposing liquor for sale were taken into consideration. Recognisance with leave to appeal was fixed at 250. On the same night, Sgt Miniter also inspected Hickeys Bar, Bridge st, Croom, the property of James Hickey. There was evidence of fresh alcohol being served, the sergeant said, and about 10-15 people on the premises. Mr Hickey was fined 300 for permitting intoxicating liquor to be consumed in breach of the licensing laws. On March 19, the licensed premises of Brid Tangney, Kilmacow, Kilfinny were inspected about 2am and about 20 people were found on the premises. The licensee was apologetic, the court was told and the premises were cleared. Pleading for his client, solicitor Michael ODonnell said it was a very well run business. This was the busiest weekend since Christmas, he said. Ms Tangney was fined 250 for permitting intoxicating liquor to be consumed. LIMERICK racehorse trainer Robbie McNamara has hit out at the ESB after finding out that he was to a face one of the coldest weekends this year alone with no electricity. The Croom native, who has been confined to a wheelchair after a devastating fall in April 2015, took to social media to air a major complaint with ESB and Electric Ireland. And within hours of his statement being rapidly recirculated in the Twitosphere, ESB workers were being deployed to fix the problem at his home in Kildare. In a statement on his Twitter account on Friday evening, he told Electric Ireland that the ESB cut his electricity on Thursday without warning. [I] was told last week I needed to change the lease into my name which I thought was already done since I moved in a year ago. There was an outstanding bill from previous tenants that I was only made aware of last week, that the landlord dealt with immediately, the Limerickman said. He said that he is on his own in a wheelchair for three days with no electricity or heating. And though he said that everything is now in order, he has been told that services will not resume until Monday at earliest". [I] hope you have a nice warm weekend while I sit in the cold and dark trying to preserve the battery on my phone and doing my utmost not to catch hypothermia on the coldest weekend of the year, he said. After a busy working week, Mr McNamara told the Leader as he was returning home that the ESB workers are to meet the jockey at around 11.30pm. I dont have to wear every stitch of clothing that I have, he said. It was a pain in the backside. It was just inconvenient. Its a busy weekend, he said, We are building up to a busy time of the year with the races. I want things to be going well. I dont need this. I have work early in the morning, and I will be on the go until the evening time. He said that he posted on Twitter to stop them treating people like that on Twitter. It wasnt for my own, it was for other people. I knew it was going to be a bit controversial when I put it up. I didnt want to just write them a message on Twitter or ring their customer care, because I had tried all that and I wasnt going to get anywhere. So, I thought, the only chance I have of getting my power on is making a bit of a scene of it and, kind of, embarassing them into it. And thats exactly whats happened, he explained. In response on Twitter, Electric Ireland said that they were very sorry to read of your experience and that they would contact him during the evening. A spokesperson for the ESB told the Limerick Leader that they were aware of the matter and that a reconnection is being organised for this evening. Whisky business India consumes 48% of the world's whisky. It is the fastest-growing market and the largest producer of the spirit. But what exactly are we making and drinking? /food/drink/whisky-business-111646830319184.html 111646830319184 story When the Kenyan chef-restaurateur Kiran Jethwa visited India earlier this year to shoot Spirited Traveller, a show aired on Fox Life that discovers a country through its favourite beverages, he made Fried Whisky Ice Creamchocolate ice cream flavoured with whisky, oranges and pistachio, dipped in jalebi batter, deep-fried and served with sugar syrupfor the Delhi episode. I was told that people in Delhi love whisky and fried food," Jethwa said. So heres my tribute to that spirit." Whisky is decidedly the spirit of choice in Indiawe consume almost half the whisky produced worldwide. From the cheapest Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) variantwhisky makes for almost 90% of IMFLto limited-edition single-malt Scotch, people are drinking more whisky today than ever, spending anywhere between Rs50 per 25ml peg for a McDowells at a Paharganj bar in Delhi to Rs1,500 for a small Johnnie Walker Blue Label at a five-star hotel. While gin is going through something of a resurgence, it is still whisky that racks up the numbers, with a more-than-healthy lead over every other alcoholic beverage. Though the entire alcobev (alcoholic beverage) industry has grown steadily over the last decade, whisky is the flag-bearer in India," says Thrivikram G. Nikam, executive director at Bengaluru-based Amrut Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. Part of the growth is because whisky has gone through an image makeover. It is not considered an old mans drink anymore. Just like James Bond single-handedly legitimized the vodka martini and Carrie Bradshaw made Cosmopolitan the drink of choice for young women, Don Draper has made the Old Fashioned sexy again in the 21st century. With social barriers to enjoying a drink being discarded, increasing economic prosperity and 19 million new consumers entering the legal drinking age each year (in India), the overall economic and demographic opportunity is extremely attractive," says Amrit Thomas, chief marketing officer, Diageo India, which represents more than one-third of the whisky sold in India. The growth is most evident at entry-level IMFL, a category that includes all alcoholic spirits made in India, except beer and wine. The majority of consumers choose IMFL, rather than beer or wine," says Nikam. This is the segment that is largest in India." But there is one pertinent question: Is the concoction manufactured in India whisky at all? Bottles being labelled at Amrut Distilleries Bengaluru plant. Courtesy Amrut Drinking doubles The Indian spirits market was valued at Rs1.84 trillion in 2016, according to data from consumer research firm GlobalData. Whisky accounts for more than 60% of this figure. The country is not only the largest market for the spirit, it is also the largest global producer of whisky. Consider these numbers: Whisky consumption in India has more than doubled, from 80.2 million nine-litre cases in 2007 to 193.1 million nine-litre cases in 2016, according to the 2017-2021 forecast by the International Wine and Spirits Research (IWSR ), a leading source of data and analysis on the alcohol beverage market. In the same 10-year period, global whisky consumption rose from 242.8 million to 399.2 million nine-litre cases. Of the whisky consumed in India last year, 189.7 million nine-litre cases, or 98.24%, was Indian-made. This indicates that India consumes 48% of the worlds whisky. It also suggests that India has been, by far, the largest contributor to the 157 million nine-litre case increase in worldwide consumption of the liquor over the last decade. No wonder, then, that the IWSR says that Indian whiskies will be one of the major contributors to the growth of the global industry in the next five years. Globally, Scotch is forecast to contribute 10.5m (million) cases to whisky growth over the next five years and US whiskies a further 8.9m cases," according to the IWSR report. Other whiskies (predominantly Indian) will be the largest contributor, growing by 28.2m cases. The US is the second-largest growth market for whisky behind India..." Whiskys growth story in India is largely predicated on the rise of IMFL brands. But most Indian whiskies are made of molasses, which means they would qualify as rum and not whisky in the international market. Whiskys growth story in India is largely predicated on the rise of IMFL brands. But most Indian whiskies are made of molasses, which means they would qualify as rum and not whisky in the international market- Your whisky is rum Whisky, in the classical understanding, is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. These grainsbarley, maize, wheat, rye, etc.are malted and fermented, and can be used in various combinations or on their own to make whisky. Ground malted barley is soaked in warm water to extract sugars. The sweet liquor called wort is drained and transferred to fermentation tanks. Yeast is added to this to break down the sugars to alcohol. The fermentation results in a liquid called wash, which is then distilled. Most companies distil the liquid twice but sometimes it is distilled thrice. The distilled whisky is then stored in wooden barrels for maturation. In India, most of the whisky is made from molassesthe dark, viscous by-product obtained by refining sugar from sugarcane. Fermented molasses are boiled to extract alcohol, which is distilled. The distillation results in a neutral spirit with 96% alcohol by volume, which forms the base of all IMFL. This is blended with a small amount of Scotch for flavour, and voila, we have Indian-made whisky. The major difference between the molasses-based and grains-based whisky is at the distillation stage," says Nikam of Amrut, which makes both kinds of whiskies. When we use the molasses base, we distil the alcohol till it becomes neutral and doesnt have any characteristic flavour. For grains, we do an incomplete distillation so part of the flavour from the grains is there before it goes into barrels to mature." Amrut, which was established by Radhakrishna Jagdale in 1948, produces spirits from vodka to gin, including Amrut single malt whisky, which is exported to more than 25 countries. According to Nikam, Amrut produces about 6 million nine-litre cases of liquor annually, 35,000 of which are single malt whisky. The company exports at least 60% of its single malts. As the company tries to expand beyond its key southern markets, Amrut is planning to increase its single malt production to 100,000 cases by 2022, half of which Nikam hopes will be consumed in India. Globally, making whisky is a strictly regulated business. For example, in 2008, Europe passed a directive asserting that whisky was an alcoholic drink produced exclusively by the distillation of a mash made from malted cereals. This immediately excludes most Indian whiskies" from the category. Scotland took this a step further the next year, introducing the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SWR). The new regulations gave the precise definition of different kinds of whisky and the difference between a single grain and a single malt. The document has stringent guidelines on regional and geographical indications, production and maturation of Scotch. According to the SWR, Scotch cant be made or matured outside Scotland. For a whisky to be called Scotch, it has to be made in Scotland, with set raw materials, and has to be aged within the country for three years or more. Much of the whisky-producing worldfrom the US to Japan and Australiahas stuck to similar guidelines regarding the product and its manufacturing process. American bourbon whiskey, for example, must mature in new oak barrels, which are then used to age Scotch. In India, however, there are multiple regulations governing consumption age, on obtaining liquor licences and the tax structureleading to arbitrary and exorbitant prices. But there are hardly any rules that benefit the end user, such as differentiating whisky from rum, or even country liquor for that matter. The only stricture, according to a 2005 Bureau of Indian Standards publication, is that whisky should be made either from a neutral spirit that matches its standards, or a Grade I rectified spirit, or a mix of both. It is this laxity on the part of the Bureau of Indian Standards that allows for so many different spirits, many of which are artificially coloured, to be bottled and legally sold as whisky. Yet last year, for the first time, the Union government standardized alcohol as a consumable product beyond tax purposes, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) came up with the draft Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages Standards) Regulations, 2016, which defined various kinds of alcohol and their types. According to the draft, Whisky is an alcoholic beverage made from neutral grain spirit or rectified grain spirit, or neutral spirit or their mixture or is made by distilling the fermented extract of malted cereal grains such as corn, rye, barley; or molasses." At the same time, both rum and country liquor are defined by the FSSAI in pretty much the same way. Going by this definition, its hard to establish the difference between these three kinds of alcohol. Blending tanks at Amrut Distilleries Bengaluru plant. Photo: Hemant Mishra/Mint Angels share Most whisky made in India is aged briefly because the higher temperatures result in quicker evaporation of the spirit during the maturation stage, a phenomenon known as the angels share". The draft regulations require that whiskies in India, when labelled matured, shall be matured for a period of not less than one year in wooden oak, wooden vats or barrels". This means that much of the whisky that falls in the IMFL category is not aged at all. Understandably, there has been retaliation, mostly in Europe, against the rise of India-made cheap whiskies". In its 2013 annual report, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) urged European Union-wide action against the extremely worrying" quantities of cheap Indian blends being imported into the EU. There is no compulsory definition of whisky in India, and the Indian voluntary standard does not require whisky to be distilled from cereals or to be matured," according to a 2014 PTIreport which quoted the SWA report. Very little Indian whisky qualifies as whisky in the EU owing to the use of molasses or neutral alcohol, limited maturation (if any) and the use of flavourings. Such spirits are, of course, considerably cheaper to produce than genuine whisky." If India is predominantly a whisky market, why are some of its best whisky makers exporting the bulk of their produce?- Anand Virmani Long tryst with whisky Whisky distillation came to India with the British in the 19th century. Edward Dyer, father of Reginald Dyer, the infamous British colonel who ordered the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, was the pioneer of whisky-making in India. Dyer senior set up a distillery in Kasauli in the 1820s. Kasauli, in the Himalayan highlands at 6,000ft above sea level, has climate similar to Scotland, with the added advantage that there was fresh springwater nearby. The distillery later moved to Solan. Dyer brought equipment and copper stills from Scotland, some of which are still in use. The distillerys Solan No.1 was the best-selling whisky in India for over a century but today, the only malt whisky from the Himalayas is struggling to find takers. How molasses took over grains is actually quite an interesting story. Across the world, people use agricultural surplus to make alcohol. Barley in Scotland; wheat, corn and rye in the US; rice in some Asian countries; and sugarcane in India. This is why molasses became prominent in Indian alcohol production. In 1947, entrepreneur Vittal Mallya bought United Breweries, a group of five breweries in south India that made beer for British troops. At one time, United Spirits Ltd, the groups alcoholic beverages company, was the largest spirit producer in India, with around 60% of the market share. Its brands included locally produced Bagpiper, Royal Challenge, McDowells No.1, and Antiquity, Jura and Dalmore single malt Scotch whiskies. Diageo Plc., the worlds largest producer of spirits, now owns USL and the business is now called Diageo India. Diageo India is a market leader in both Scotch and IMFL segments and our brands are all available at distinctive price points in the overall whisky category," says Thomas. With each brand attracting a different set of consumers driven by varying taste preferences and affordability, we see sufficient interest across all the segments." But if you want to reach the masses, pricing your product at Rs300 per 750ml bottle, it simply isnt possible to make it with grains, says Nikam. At that price point, the product can only be made from neutral spirits," he says. Entry-level whisky is the most volatile space of the market. Those people who were consuming country liquor will slowly move up to entry-level IMFL," says Nikam. If you take the whiskies in the Rs300 price range and change the price by Rs5, youd suddenly gain or lose 50% of your market share," says drinks consultant Anand Virmani. Frankly speaking, at that range, you cant really make a good whisky." But consumers are upgrading as a result of increased exposure, better knowledge and more disposable income. Brands are taking notice. Several brands in the Rs600-800 range have repackaged themselves," says Virmani. Many now have a limited edition kind of product too in the mix. It is an evolving market." IMFL has its place. It is okay in the context in which it is being consumed," says London-based whisky writer Joel Harrison. Even though it isnt the drink of the connoisseur, it is sweet and accessible, and can be easily consumed neat or mixed into a long drink." Theres been significant improvement in the distillation technology and, therefore, even the alcohol made from molasses in most cases is of extremely good quality and does not make much of a quality difference," says Sridhar Pongur, joint managing director at Goa-based John Distilleries Pvt. Ltd, which makes the Paul John brand of single malt whiskies. However, since maturation is not normally done in India, there is definitely a difference in taste and flavour." The company produces around 1.3 million nine-litre cases of whisky per month which, according to Pongur, is a 50:50 mix of grain-based and molasses-based whisky. Though the company sells in select Indian markets, most of its single malt is exported to 30 countries. Both Amrut and Paul John are making some of the best single malt whiskies in the world," says Virmani. But if India is predominantly a whisky market, why are some of its best whisky makers exporting the bulk of their produce?" The bottling and assembly line at the plant. Photo: Hemant Mishra/Mint No takers at home? It is only in the last decade or so that Indians have really started appreciating good whiskies," says Nikam. We have been making whisky since 1948. When we produced the MaQintosh blended whisky in the 1980s, which had a good portion of malt whisky, people rejected it, saying it was very dry and heavy." When Amrut made its first single malt whisky in 2004, the company had to launch it in Glasgow, UK. People had rejected our blended whisky," says Nikam. So there was no way we could launch a single malt in India. In fact, we initially had no plans to sell it in India." But as the initial scepticism towards an Indian single malt subsidedthe launch in Scotland proving a brilliant PR moveAmrut began getting attention. Whisky connoisseur and writer Jim Murray vouched for Amrut and in 2010, in his Whisky Bible (a yearly guide), rated Amrut Fusion the third-best single malt in the world. Heavy, thickly oaked and complex...", said Murray of Amrut Fusion. Soon Amrut was in high demand in the domestic market. In 2010, Amrut launched its single-malt portfolio in India. Consumption cues in India have always come from the West. Be it clothes or cars, people tend to prefer buying things that are made outside the county. But that perception is slowly changing. Compared with whisky from, say, Australia, which still is a very young industry and needs improvement, Indian whiskies like Amrut are much better," says Bill Lumsden, head of distilling and whisky creation at The Glenmorangie Company. I have tasted Amrut in blind competitions, and I must say it has potential." Creating knowledge Indian consumers are slowly warming up to good home-grown whiskies but there still is a general lack of awareness, especially about what makes whisky and what doesnt. This is amplified by the high import taxes on foreign liquor, which puts imported whiskies out of the reach of most people, skewing the demand in favour of IMFL. While locally made spirits are taxed by individual states, imported spirits are taxed at both the Union and state level. An import duty of 150% is levied on all imported spiritsfinished, bottled-in-origin products such as Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker, and bulk spirits that are bottled in India, such as Teachers. This is one of the highest import duties in the world. All states have different taxation levels and methods, so the cost of an imported whisky can appreciate by 160-500% by the time it reaches the consumer. India could be a great market for imported spirits such as bourbon and Scotch, but it needs to simplify the tax structure, state laws and import duty," says Harrison. Maybe they should reclassify IMFL not as a whisky, to make the market more even." One way to deal with taxes is to bottle Scotch in India. On the one hand, it reduces the tax burden on the manufacturer and on the other, it gives the consumer a far better product at a lower price point. The high customs duty at 160% is a deterrent for the Scotch whisky business," says Anshuman Goenka, who leads Bacardi Pvt. Ltds whisky portfolio for Asia, Middle East and Africa. One of the initiatives taken by international Scotch brands is to bottle locally in India. This makes the pricing more accessible for the consumer." Due to the complexity of the market and the tax structure, India becomes a hard market to navigate for foreign brands. Many companies feel that there is a market in India, because the consumers are used to drinking spirits. There is an emerging middle class with increasing disposable income and the population is huge, so sale potentials are massive," says Harrison. But then they try and operate in India and it is just too complex for many, so profitability is lower, and they end up moving away from the market." But high taxes open up a lot of possibilities for the whiskies made in India as well. We should actually take advantage of the situation," says Magandeep Singh, author of The Indian Spirit: The Untold Story Of Drinking In India. There is nothing particularly wrong with molasses whisky. We have managed to create an entire industry with it. We actually have become better at it over the years and today there are some very decent molasses whisky." The onus is on Indian distillers to improve their products and practices. In 2016, the per capita consumption of spirits in India stood at 3.2 litres compared with the global level of 6.4 litres. And the spirits market in India is forecast to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.1% during 2016-21, according to GlobalData. I hope people start making good whisky here which is not just for export," says Virmani. A platform has been readied by Amrut, John Paul and Rampur. Imported whiskies like Jim Beam have managed to bring the prices down by bottling in India and have given people at that price range a taste of a better product. I am sure in the next decade we will see many whisky makers coming out of India who will make good whiskies and will be able to sell in India." The job market in The Woodlands and Montgomery County continues to heat up, fueled by the ongoing expansion of some of its largest employers, and just as the busy holiday hiring season arrives. Figures from the Texas Workforce Commission show the unemployment rate for the county declined to 3.5 percent in October, a decline from the 4.1 percent county unemployment rate posted in September. The lower rate continues a string of improved monthly numbers. The improvement in October comes as employers based in The Woodlands expand their payrolls, as new businesses move into the county and around the same time as retailers hire people to work in their stores. And, the local expansions are taking place while the entire state enjoys a hiring boom. STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT LOWEST IN 40 YEARS Officials with the workforce commission say the Texas economy added 71,500 seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs in October, dropping the statewide unemployment rate to 3.9 percent. That's 90 consecutive months of annual growth for the state and sets the record for the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Texas in four decades. "Texas has recently experienced some of its most serious economic challenges, but despite these obstacles, our economy is booming," Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement posted on the governor's web site. "This resiliency is a testament to the diversity of our economy and the strength of our workforce. As governor, I will continue to promote policies that allow businesses to thrive and keep Texas the best state in the nation to do business." In The Woodlands and nearby areas, the region continues to rebound from Hurricane Harvey, while also enjoying the economic benefits of expanding payrolls of major employers. The Conroe Independent School District, which according to The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership is the largest employer in the township, and other organizations continue to help keeping the local employment picture shining bright. With some 7,600 employees across its entire district, Conroe ISD hired nearly 700 new employees, including teachers and paraprofessionals for its current school year. Of those hires, 125 were to fill new positions that were added this year, according to spokeswoman Sarah Blakelock. And next year the district is planning job fairs in April and June to hire more people. HEALTH CARE HELPING TO BOOST THE WOODLANDS ECONOMY Also giving a boost to the local economy is the health care industry. "Health care is certainly a growing sector," said Laura Lee Palmer, vice president of business retention and expansion for the economic development partnership. "We've had some new hospitals open and continue to grow employment in the area." Indeed, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center is the third largest employer in The Woodlands, while CHI St. Luke's Health The Woodlands Hospital is listed by the development partnership as sixth. Officials at Memorial Hermann, while not providing specific hiring numbers, say hiring plans at the facility will "align" with the center's growth plans. "In general, we will continue to hire clinical positions in the categories of nursing, respiratory therapy, radiology and pharmacy, to name a few," said Connie Heard, Memorial Hermann senior human resources business partner. "There are non-clinical positions that are priorities as well, such as administrative support, finance and security." REGION RECOVERS RAPIDLY FROM HARVEY Meanwhile, the region seems to be recovering especially well from the impacts from Hurricane Harvey with state figures showing the leisure and hospitality industry added nearly 35,000 jobs throughout Texas in October. The rebound comes after the industry experienced its largest monthly decline in September as some establishments were forced to shut down because of Harvey. Statewide, employment in trade, transportation and utilities also grew, adding 10,000 jobs across the state during the month, with more jobs coming to the region. In Conroe a new FedEx facility being built in the city's Conroe Park North Industrial Park is expected to produce about 100 full-time jobs, while other companies building facilities in the park are also in the process of, or will be hiring scores more. And the holiday season is also helping to keep the job market hot, with retailers looking for help to work in their stores. "We do see an annual influx [of jobs] in retail for the Christmas and the holiday season," Palmer notes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A U.S. Navy veteran who acknowledges he's facing quite a challenge has announced he's running as a Democrat for Montgomery County judge. Jay Stittleburg, who admits he has a difficult battle ahead to win the election in conservative, Republican-dominated Montgomery County, has filed to run as the Democratic candidate against incumbent Judge Craig Doyal. Doyal, a Republican, has been in the post since January of 2015 after winning the county's judge race in 2014. Previously, Doyal had served as Precinct 2 commissioner from 2001-14. Also running for the position is state Rep. Mark Keough, a fellow Republican who currently represents The Woodlands in the Texas House of Representatives. Keough had announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking another term in the House. As for Stittleburg, he's a former Navy submarine warfare officer and a political novice who hasn't held office before. He concedes he's running against two established politicians who are well known across the community. "I think the first challenge is name recognition," Stittleburg told The Villager, adding that he is not discouraged. "To me the biggest challenge is people don't know who I am." Both Doyal and Keough said they were aware of Stittleburg's entry into the race, but refrained from any comments on the new challenger. "It's been a long time we've had a Democrat running for county judge," Doyal said, noting Montgomery County's strong Republican representation. "I'm looking forward to a Democratic challenger." Keough said he welcomed Stittleburg to the field. "I was aware of his presence," Keough said. "I welcome him to the field because this is what's important to the people. People have choices. I say the more the merrier." In touting his qualifications to be a county judge, the 44-year-old Stittleburg points to his experience in the Navy where he initially enlisted at the age of 18, but later earned an officer's commission after attending the United States Naval Academy. He says his Navy career includes being an Iraq War veteran where he served two tours of duty as a submarine warfare officer with a deployment to the Persian Gulf. He left the service as a lieutenant and currently works as a project manager providing consulting services on federal compliance matters to oil, gas and chemical operations. Stittleburg, who lives in Porter, says he would use his experience to bring what he terms "judicious expenditure" over the use of tax dollars collected in the county. And, he said he won't be intimidated by his lack of name recognition or experience. "Fiscal responsibility and tending your tax dollar. That what this job is all about," he said. Early voting for the spring primaries begins Feb. 20 and runs through March 2. Election day is March 6. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A California man who planned to launch himself 1,800 feet high on Saturday in a homemade scrap-metal rocket - in an effort to "prove" that Earth is flat - said he is postponing the experiment after he couldn't get permission from a federal agency to do so on public land. Instead, Mike Hughes said the launch will take place sometime next week on private property, albeit still in Amboy, California, an unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert along historic Route 66. "It's still happening. We're just moving it three miles down the road," Hughes told The Washington Post on Friday. "This is what happens any time you have to deal with any kind of government agency." Hughes claimed the Bureau of Land Management said he couldn't launch his rocket as planned on Saturday in Amboy. He also claimed the federal agency had given him verbal permission more than a year ago, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. Representatives from the BLM and the FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. Hughes said he had originally intended to arrive in Amboy on Wednesday to start setting up the rocket. The BLM's denial, along with some technical difficulties - a motor in his modified motor home quit working for a day - threw a wrench into his plans, according to Hughes. "I don't see [the launch] happening until about Tuesday, honestly," he said. "It takes three days to set up. . . .You know, it's not easy because it's not supposed to be easy." Assuming the 500-mph, mile-long flight through the Mojave Desert does not kill him, Hughes told the Associated Press, his journey into the atmosflat will mark the first phase of his ambitious flat-Earth space program. Hughes's ultimate goal is a subsequent launch that puts him miles above Earth, where the 61-year-old limousine driver hopes to photograph proof of the disc we all live on. "It'll shut the door on this ball earth," Hughes said in a fundraising interview with a flat-Earth group for Saturday's flight. Theories discussed during the interview included NASA being controlled by round-Earth Freemasons and Elon Musk making fake rockets from blimps. Hughes promised the flat-Earth community that he would expose the conspiracy with his steam-powered rocket, which will launch from a heavily modified mobile home - though he acknowledged that he still had much to learn about rocket science. "This whole tech thing," he said in the June interview. "I'm really behind the eight ball." That said, Hughes isn't a totally unproven engineer. He set a Guinness World Record in 2002 for a limousine jump, according to Ars Technica, and has been building rockets for years, albeit with mixed results. "Okay, Waldo. 3 . . . 2 . . . 1!" someone yells in a test fire video from 2012. There's a brief hiss of boiling water, then . . . nothing. So Hughes walks up to the engine and pokes it with a stick, at which point a thick cloud of steam belches out toward the camera. He built his first manned rocket in 2014, the Associated Press reported, and managed to fly a quarter-mile over Winkelman, Arizona. As seen in a YouTube video, the flight ended with Hughes being dragged, moaning from the remains of the rocket. The injuries he suffered put him in a walker for two weeks, he said. And the 2014 flight was only a quarter of the distance of Saturday's mile-long attempt. And it was based on round-Earth technology. Hughes only recently converted to flat-Eartherism, after struggling for months to raise funds for his follow-up flight over the Mojave. It was originally scheduled for early 2016 in a Kickstarter campaign - "From Garage to Outer Space!" - that mentioned nothing about Illuminati astronauts, and was themed after a NASCAR event. "We want to do this and basically thumb our noses at all these billionaires trying to do this," Hughes said in the pitch video, standing in his Apple Valley, California, living room, which he had plastered with drawings of his rockets. "They have not put a man in space yet," Hughes said. "There are 20 different space agencies here in America, and I'm the last person that's put a man in a rocket and launched it." Comparing himself to Evel Knievel, he promised to launch himself from a California racetrack that year as the first step in his steam-powered leap toward space. The Kickstarter raised $310 of its $150,000 goal. Hughes made other pitches, including a plan to fly over Texas in a "SkyLimo." But he complained to Ars Technica last year about the difficulty of funding his dreams on a chauffeur's meager salary. A year later, he called into a flat-Earth community web show to announce that he had become a recent convert. "We were kind of looking for new sponsors for this. And I'm a believer in the flat Earth," Hughes said. "I researched it for several months." The host sounded impressed. Hughes had actually flown in a rocket, he noted, whereas astronauts were merely paid actors performing in front of a CGI globe. "John Glenn and Neil Armstrong are Freemasons," Hughes agreed. "Once you understand that, you understand the roots of the deception." The host talked of "Elon Musk's fake reality," and Hughes talked of "anti-Christ, Illuminati stuff." After half an hour of this, the host told his 300-some listeners to back Hughes's exploration of space. While there is no one hypothesis for what the flat Earth is supposed to look like, many believers envision a flat disc ringed by sea ice, which naturally holds the oceans in. What's beyond the sea ice, if anything, remains to be discovered. "We need an individual who's not compromised by the government," the host told Hughes. "And you could be that man." A flat-Earth GoFundMe subsequently raised nearly $8,000 for Hughes. By November, the AP reported, his $20,000 rocket had a fancy coat of Rust-Oleum paint and "RESEARCH FLAT EARTH" inscribed on the side. While his flat-Earth friends helped him finally get the thing built, the AP reported, Hughes will be making adjustments right up to the launch. But he won't be able to test the rocket before he climbs inside and attempts to steam himself at 500 mph across a mile of desert air. And even if it's a success, he's promised his backers an even riskier launch within the next year, into the space above the disc. He told Ars Technica last year that the second phase of his mission might involve floating in a balloon up to 20,000 feet above the ground, then rocket-packing himself into outer space. "It's scary as hell," Hughes told the AP. "But none of us are getting out of this world alive." This is true. And yet some hope to live to see its edges. CAIRO - Egypt's security forces were on high alert Saturday after striking back at militants whose massacre of more than 300 people at a Sinai mosque raised fears of a new and bloodier phase in the country's struggle against Islamist insurgents. Egypt's state-run Information Service tried to portray Friday's carnage - at least 305 dead, or about quarter of the male population of the village of Rawda - as a sign of "weakness, despair and collapse" among militants opting for easy civilian targets rather than hitting heavily armed security forces as in the past. But the level of coordination and precision by the attackers gave no obvious suggestions of a struggling force in an area where Islamic State-inspired groups have gained a key foothold. The assault on a mosque - a rarity in Egypt - also raised concerns over increasing threats to the country's minorities, including the Muslim Sufi community hit Friday. Survivors and officials described five pickup trucks carrying up to 30 gunmen - some of them masked - converging on the al-Rawda mosque as the imam began his sermon. Some worshippers died in a suicide blast; others were gunned down as they ran. The attackers would later walk among the fallen, 27 of them children, shooting those who appeared to be breathing. Eyewitnesses said that some had carried a black flag that local residents recognized as belonging to State of Sinai, a local Islamic State affiliate that has remained largely intact even as the Islamic State's main bases in Iraq and Syria have crumbled. By the time the attackers left, there were so many bodies on the ground that a fleet of ambulances couldn't hold them, said a local resident, Muhamed Khalil, 25. Instead, the bodies were piled high on the back of pickup trucks and in the trunks of private cars. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion immediately fell on Islamic State-linked militants who have dueled with the army across the desert region. President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi vowed to avenge the bloodshed with "brute force" - pushed by widespread horror to act with even more resolve. But the contours of a tougher approach remain hazy. Egyptian security forces have been locked in battle with the country's Islamic State affiliate for several years. The insurgency has killed hundreds in the heavily patrolled Sinai and militants have struck further afield, including Christian Coptic churches in Cairo and Alexandria. "The Egyptian government has been describing its reaction to every attack as a harsh response since the summer of 2013, if not before. So it's difficult to assess what is meant by a promise to do more than that," said Zack Gold, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Late Friday, the army said that it launched airstrikes on vehicles apparently used by the assailants, but it was unclear if any suspected militants were killed in the counterattack. In Rawda, a hamlet off the roadway cutting across northern Sinai, almost no one was left untouched by the violence. According to Egypt's 2011 census, Rawda was home to some 2,100 people. Assuming the population had stayed relatively constant, it appeared that Friday's massacre would have killed around a quarter of the male population. "We had to bury them in mass graves. In every hole, we would bury 40 or 50," said the resident Khalil, who help lay entire families together. "People were silent, motionless, unable to grasp the reality of what had happened." The massacre also drew acts of kindness. Community members arrived at a hospital in droves to donate blood, first aid kits and all the painkillers they could afford. Egyptian security forces have been locked in battle with the militants since 2011, when the group - then known then as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis - initially trained its firepower on Israel. But when the army overthrew Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, the campaign instead set its sights on Egypt's security forces, growing ever more deadly amid deepening state repression of Sinai's Bedouin inhabitants. Since the militants' 2014 pledge of allegience to the Islamic State, the government has worked to keep its war with extremists in the shadows. Journalists are banned from entering the area, amid frequent reports of militant atrocities and heavy-handed tactics by the army. But local residents said that an attack had been threatened for weeks. "An ISIS member would stand at the entrance of the village, hand a piece of paper to a resident and ask him to deliver it to one of the Sufi scholars in the area," said a local journalist, who asked that his name be withheld out of fears for his security. "The attack was never a surprise to the community here. It is the savagery that was," he said. Experts following Sinai Province have attributed its growing brutality to a rising number of members who do not have family ties to North Sinai, as well as the pressures that accompany affiliation with the Islamic State. "When you call yourself ISIS, you have to start copying the more brutal attacks and showing you're in control," Gold said. Al-Rawda's dead were mostly believed to be Sufi Muslims, a branch of Islam considered heretical by many extremists. Some of the dead also may have had links to a local tribe that had opposed the Islamic State's presence in the area. An edition of the Islamic State's al-Nabaa newsletter, published last year, featured an interview with one of the group's Egyptian cadres, promising to "combat the manifestations of polytheism including Sufism." Friday's attack made those dangers manifest on a national stage. Keeping his eyes glued on a state television broadcast Saturday, Mohamed Saleh, a pharmacist in Cairo, described the attack as a "lightning shock." "They targeted Muslims. They killed Muslims," he said. "Egypt has suffered a lot, but these are our cruelest years." The record price a Leonardo da Vinci canvas fetched at a Nov. 15 auction in New York may have a downside for its seller, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. An unidentified buyer agreed to pay $450.3 million, including fees, for Da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" at a Christie's auction in New York, obliterating the previous record set in 2015 for a Pablo Picasso work. And it far outstripped the $127.5 million Rybolovlev paid Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier for the canvas in 2013. Yet the cash could complicate Rybolovlev's legal quest to prove he was overcharged by about $1 billion on a collection of 40-plus paintings he bought from Bouvier. Rybolovlev in 2015 filed a complaint in Monaco, where he lives, accusing Bouvier of fraudulently misrepresenting the prices he paid to secure works by Picasso, Claude Monet and others, and then massively overcharging the Russian over a decade for the paintings. Bouvier, who developed a network of tax-free port storage facilities in Geneva, Luxembourg and Singapore, denies any wrongdoing and says he was merely charging market prices to a good repeat customer determined to build one of the world's top art collections. "For Bouvier, this is very good news, as he can relax more and claim 'I advised Rybolovlev well and didn't overcharge him, look at this current result,'" said Thomas Stauffer, a partner at Zurich-based art advisory firm Gerber Stauffer. "And this gives the lawyers for Rybolovlev something of a headache." "This proves the masterpieces sold to the Rybolovlev group were priceless," Ron Soffer, Bouvier's Paris-based lawyer, said by telephone. Yet other sales haven't been as successful. Rybolovlev sold five paintings he'd bought from Bouvier at a Christie's auction in March for a loss of some $150 million, leaving art experts puzzled as to why he'd sell so many at once. "The record-breaking sale of da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi' has helped restore some of the value of the collection," said Sergey Chernitsyn, an adviser to Rybolovlev. "This is a welcome development for Rybolovlev family trusts as we undertake legal proceedings to address the shocking alleged fraud committed by Yves Bouvier who deceived the family, all while pretending to be a friend and advisor." Rybolovlev's case against Bouvier won't be affected by the price the da Vinci fetched, Chernitsyn said. "We are not arguing the price of the paintings bought with the assistance of Bouvier," Chernitsyn said. "We are arguing in the court the methods he has used to get the fraudulent profit hidden from his client." The final price included a buyer's premium, which is a fee paid by the winner to the auction house. Christie's wouldn't disclose what the seller's fees were, if any. Chernitsyn declined to comment on that issue. Complicating Rybolovlev's claim are two separate complaints recently brought against the Russian. Swiss prosecutors are examining a criminal complaint filed by Bouvier against Rybolovlev in September, alleging that he and his lawyer had "unusual contacts" with Monaco officials before Bouvier's arrest in January 2015 that "involved a clear breach of official secrecy and active bribery." That complaint is based in part on friendly text messages between his lawyer, Tetiana Bersheda, and Monaco officials, discovered by a Monaco judge. The judge was investigating a separate complaint by Tania Rappo, a Bulgarian resident of Monaco who had introduced Bouvier to Rybolovlev, that Bersheda had illegally taped Rappo's conversations. Rybolovlev was charged as an accomplice in that invasion-of-privacy case. Chernitsyn referred to an Oct. 19 statement when Rybolovlev said he had done nothing illegal. "All my actions in this matter have had only one purpose -- to uncover a massive fraud in the art market," Rybolovlev said in that statement. Bersheda has also denied any wrongdoing and previously said, "There has been no crime committed other than possibly the biggest art fraud in history." Google Maps As the identity of a man found dead in Comal County is released, details surrounding his apparent murder have yet to be released. Glenn Larssen, 56 of Canyon Lake, was identified as the man found dead at 7:35 a.m. Monday in a home in the 700 block of Rambling Drive, according to the Comal County Sheriffs Office. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A man was arrested Friday on accusations of committing a string of thefts at area Dollar General stores. Andrew Ward, 30, faces at least one robbery charge and possibly more after he admitted to robbing five stores, according to the San Antonio Police Department RELATED: Driver crushed to death in rollover crash at S.A. H-E-B ID'd Officer Carlos Ortiz, spokesman for the SAPD, said Ward was arrested at a motel room without incident. In each of the robberies, Ward kept his hand inside his jacket telling the employees that he was armed, Ortiz said. But he never pulled out a weapon, police said. RELATED: BCSO: 2-year-old boy dies after being run over by relative's car Investigators said that although he admitted to five robberies, they are asking for the publics help to determine if he was involved in any others. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento resident Charis Hill was caught off guard by the tiny bottle of saline solution hanging from the intravenous pole when she went for the latest infusion of medication that helps her avoid crippling pain. Accustomed to seeing a much larger bag of fluid, she immediately asked staff about the change. That's when she learned that, since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, key U.S. pharmaceutical plants on the island are experiencing manufacturing delays and distribution holdups that have caused unprecedented shortages of the widely used and critical fluid. Intravenous infusions of saline solution are used to hydrate patients during treatment or to dilute drugs during infusions, and Hill said she's worried about whether there will be enough of the fluids when she arrives for her next treatment in six weeks. Flu season approaching Perhaps the best indicator of the dearth of saline solution is that patients such as Hill have begun to take notice. Earlier this month, leaders of both the American Hospital Association and the California Hospital Association sent letters about the scarcity of supplies to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, asking Commissioner Scott Gottlieb to take any and all steps to resolve the worsening shortages. The treatments, they said, are essential to patient care in hospitals. "Baxter, one of the largest manufacturers of small-volume IV bags, has three plants located in Puerto Rico that continue to have issues with communications, transportation systems, and inadequate personnel during recovery efforts," wrote Alyssa Keefe, the vice president for federal regulatory affairs at the California Hospital Association. "These continued challenges threaten not only our present supply cache, but also future inventory needs - particularly with upcoming seasonal illnesses such as influenza." Local health systems are taking various steps to ensure that patient care is not affected by the shortage. At UC Davis Health, for instance, the medical team is now giving drugs directly rather than diluting them with a minibag, said UC Davis Health spokesman Charles Casey. This takes more time for a nurse, Casey said, but it probably doesn't substantially increase costs. "Since 2013," he said, "we have increased the amount (of saline minibags) that we purchase, but right now we cannot purchase any," said Casey, adding that the shortage of saline minibags deeply concerns the system's pharmacy leaders. Seeking domestic supply The medical team at Dignity Health is conserving as much of its saline solution supply as possible. Sutter Health said representatives from its pharmacy and clinical teams have worked together with inventory managers to find distributors that can supply what they need and to seek alternatives. Hill, who suffers from a debilitating form of arthritis known as ankylosing spondylitis, snapped a picture of the little bottle of saline solution, just 50 cubic centimeters, at the top of the IV pole at her station, and she posted it on Facebook, noting that usually a much larger bag typically hung there. "I asked if they had saline in reserve and are using it up, but no, they ordered this," she said. "It's the second order since the hurricane, and this shipment had smaller bottles than the last." Hill said she's worried that the shortage will affect the supply at her clinic. If she has to go to a hospital, she said, she's uncertain that her Medi-Cal plan will cover it. "I won't have any choice but to go without it," she said. "The drug builds up in your system over six months. If I miss a dose I have to build it up again, and if I go too long without it, I'll be in severe pain and have to be bed-bound." Thomas P. Nickels, who manages government relations for the American Hospital Association, said hospitals are switching patients to appropriate alternatives such as oral products, changing how they administer IV drugs and prioritizing patients based on clinical factors. "We strongly urge FDA to do more by pushing current manufacturers to not only continue to produce these products at their maximum capacity but also to make investments to ensure an increasing supply for the future," Nickels wrote in his letter to the FDA commissioner. "We also encourage FDA to seek out and approve new domestic suppliers of these products in locations that are not prone to natural disasters." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAIRO - Militants detonated a bomb inside a crowded mosque in the Sinai Peninsula on Friday and then sprayed gunfire on panicked worshippers as they fled, killing at least 235 people and wounding at least 109 others. Officials called it the deadliest terrorist attack in Egypt's modern history. The scale and ruthlessness of the assault, in an area racked by an Islamic insurgency, sent shock waves across the nation - not just for the number of deaths but also for the choice of target. Attacks on mosques are rare in Egypt, where the Islamic State has targeted Coptic Christian churches and pilgrims but avoided Muslim places of worship. The attack injected a new element into Egypt's struggle with militants because most of the victims were Sufi Muslims, who practice a mystical form of Islam that the Islamic State and other Sunni extremist groups deem heretical. And it underscored the failure of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who has justified his harsh crackdown on political freedom in the name of crushing Islamic militancy, to deliver on his promises of security. "The scene was horrific," said Ibrahim Sheteewi, a resident of Bir al-Abd, the small north Sinai town where the attack took place. "The bodies were scattered on the ground outside the mosque. I hope God punishes them for this." A Sinai police officer said the dead included at least 15 children. A witness put the toll even higher, saying he had helped gather the bodies of 25 children. Hours later the Egyptian military carried out several airstrikes near Bir al-Abd targeting militants fleeing in four-wheel-drive vehicles, an Egyptian military official said. World leaders quickly condemned the attack on the mosque, with President Donald Trump denouncing it as "horrible and cowardly." He said later that it explained why the United States needed a border wall with Mexico and restrictions on immigration, which he referred to as "the ban." El-Sissi has struggled to impose his authority over Sinai since he came to power in a military takeover in 2013. Islamic militants who had found a safe haven in Sinai for attacks on Israel then turned their guns on the Egyptian armed forces. But even by recent standards in Egypt, where militants have blown up Christian worshippers as they knelt at church pews and gunned down pilgrims in buses, the attack on Friday was unusually ruthless. "I can't believe they attacked a mosque," a Muslim cleric in Bir al-Abd said by phone, requesting anonymity for fear he could also be attacked. 'This is insane' No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but in the past year a local affiliate of the Islamic State has killed a number of Sufis in the area and singled out the district where the attack took place as a potential target. The attack started midday during Friday prayers when a bomb - probably set off by a suicide bomber, security officials said - ripped through Al Rawda mosque in Bir al-Abd, 125 miles northeast of Cairo. As worshippers fled, they were confronted by masked gunmen who, witnesses said, had pulled up outside in several four-wheel-drive vehicles. The gunmen set fire to cars parked outside the mosque to hinder escape, and opened fire on ambulances as they arrived on the scene, a government official said on state television. Mayna Nasser, 40, who was shot twice in the shoulder, drifted in and out of consciousness as he was rushed to a hospital. "My children were there; my children were there," he said, according to Samy, a volunteer emergency worker who drove him there and who declined to give his last name. Local emergency services were so overwhelmed that some of the wounded had to be transported to the hospital in the back of a cattle truck, he said. Many were taken to the general hospital in the main northern Sinai town of El Arish, where medics described chaotic scenes as staff struggled to deal with a flood of dead and wounded, many with extensive burns or severed limbs. "We are swamped," said one medical official, speaking by phone on condition of anonymity. "We don't know what to say. This is insane." Other victims, like Mohammed Abdel Salam, a 22-year-old construction worker, ended up in a hospital in the nearby city of Ismailia. "I wish I never stopped to pray," he said. "I'm not even a Sufi. I was just there by accident." El-Sissi convened an emergency meeting of top security officials, including the interior minister, spy chief and defense minister. "The military and the police will take revenge," he said in a televised speech. Until a spate of attacks on Christian churches this year, Egyptian militants had avoided large-scale assaults on Egyptian civilians, perhaps because such attacks tend to backfire. Many residents of Bir al-Abd, on the main road through northern Sinai, are Bedouins from the Abu Greir tribe, which is predominantly Sufi. Residents said that despite recent Islamic State threats, the town had been largely peaceful. 'Criminal explosion' The Islamic State, a Sunni movement, has long considered Sufis, along with Shiite Muslims, apostates, and has a history of attacking their mosques in other countries. Sufis may be Sunni or Shiite but most are Sunni. Since 2016, when the militant group released a video describing Sufism as a "disease," it has claimed attacks that have killed at least 130 worshippers at Sufi shrines, most of them in Pakistan. Elsewhere, the Islamic State has made a spectacle of bulldozing Sufi shrines, describing their removal as a form of purifying the faith. Egyptian security forces have closely monitored Islamic State fighters returning from Syria and Iraq, amid worries that an influx of battle-hardened jihadis could insert a volatile new element into Egypt's militant mix. Friday's attack was a blow to Egypt's hopes that it could stem the tide of Islamic violence in Sinai through the government's sponsorship of a Palestinian peace initiative involving Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Islamic State militants have previously used tunnels into Gaza to obtain weapons and get medical treatment for wounded fighters. One benefit for Egypt of the peace initiative, which Egypt's General Intelligence Directorate has mediated, is greater control over those tunnels. In a statement, Hamas denounced the attack as a "criminal explosion" that "violates all heavenly commandments and human values" because it attacked a mosque. "It is a grave challenge to Muslims worldwide," the group said. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. The Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Michael Creed TD has initiated a number of steps to help farmers in this region cope with the fodder crisis. IFA President Joe Healy said the fodder problems were worsening and the onus was on the Government Department to address the matter. At a recent IFA Executive Council meeting it was agreed that urgent action is needed to assist farmers in affected areas, mainly in the north-west and west of the country. The difficult weather conditions since August have left many farmers facing a severe fodder crisis during the winter and spring months. Farmers under extreme pressure because of the challenges facing them expect a strong response from the Minister and the Government, said Mr Healy before pointing to a meeting that has been scheduled for December 1. Minister Creed has indicated he can not attend on that date due to a prior engagement, so I have now written to him to ask when he would be available, as it is crucial that he hears directly from the farmers affected. The IFA president went on to say that he visited Co Leitrim - where the fodder crisis is at its worst - recently and it was clear that many farmers were unable to get a second cut of silage; and had to house their animals earlier, using up fodder they need for the winter. We have to address this now rather than waiting until the New Year, he continued. IFA has also met with Teagasc and a survey is underway to identify those farmers who are likely to have a problem this winter. Discussions have also taken place with local co-ops and merchants to provide a feed mix for those farmers. You may also like to read: Longford farmers brace themselves for fodder crisis Sinn Fein welcomes Fertiliser Report and calls for EU agri commissioner to take action A man who drove the getaway car in a late night robbery at a Co Longford post office in August has been sentenced to six months in prison. Kean Doherty, with an address at 52 Cherry Orchard Court, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 pleaded guilty to stealing almost 500 in cash from Bells Shop, Newtownforbes, Co Longford on August 8 2017. The 19-year-old Dubliner will, however, only spend the next two months in prison as he has been in custody since the beginning of August. His date for release, the court was told, is January 18 2018, when his sentence in connection to an unrelated incident is due to expire. He is the fourth and final member of a Dublin based gang who have been successfully charged and convicted over the incident. Inspector Blaithin Moran said gardai were alerted to an incident at the Newtownforbes outlet shortly after 11pm. When they arrived, gardai found the front door had been forced in and two tills removed. A car, later identified to be a silver Honda Civic was eventually identified and intercepted with Mr Doherty being found at the wheel. Inspector Moran said the total damage to the cash drawers amounted to 2,000 with 800 to its front door. Mr Doherty, stood patiently at the side of the courtroom as details of his 34 previous convictions were relayed to Judge Seamus Hughes. His solicitor Frank Gearty said in spite of that lengthy record, his client had already spent the past two months in prison waiting for the case to be decided. I acknowledge it was a serious matter and to be fair to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) it (case) was kept in the District Court he (Mr Doherty) has spent the past while on remand, he said. Mr Gearty added it was his representatives addiction to drugs which brought about the terrible offending capped off by the Bells break-in. Despite those claims, Judge Hughes said he was alarmed by the extent of Mr Dohertys offending for someone so young. You have spent most of your adult life in prison and as sure as night follows day you will be spending the rest of your life in prison if you continue down this path, he told Mr Doherty. The Dubliner, who asked to be remanded back to Wheatfield Prison to continue a drugs rehabilitation programme, admitted he had taken cocaine and benzo tablets on the night of the incident. It was also revealed through his solicitor that Mr Doherty was also learning to read and write. Judge Hughes advised him to continue down that path and to steer clear of the dependencies which had brought about his predilection to commit crime. If your brain is damaged there is no operation that can bring it back, said the Judge. That said, he indicated that the message needed to go out that such an incident as the one in Newtownforbes could not go unpunished. In sentencing Mr Doherty to six months behind bars, Judge Hughes said: Breaking into a post office in rural Ireland is a serious matter and cant be tolerated. The six month term was consequently backdated to August 4 when Mr Doherty first went into custody. Politicians will have to face subzero weather on top of an icy reception on the doorsteps if they decide to have a General Election before Christmas. Met Eireann has issued a 24 hour status yellow warning for snow and ice across the country as temperatures plummet below zero. The warning is valid from 10 am Saturday, November 25 to 10am Sunday, November 26. You may also be interested in reading: A Christmas general election? Troy insists Fianna Fail have no confidence in Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald The forecaster warns of scattered snow showers across the country today, becoming mainly confined to Western and Northern parts tonight and for tomorrow. Icy patches can be expected on roads nationwide. Tonight will be mostly dry but a few wintry showers will continue to affect northern parts of Leinster. Lowest temperatures of +1 to -1 degrees in moderate or fresh northwest winds. Sunday will be another cold day with bright spells and scattered showers. The showers will occur mainly in northern parts of the province and some may be wintry especially on high ground. Highest temperatures of 4 to 6 degrees in fresh west to northwest winds. Driving conditions will be more difficult and drivers are warned to slow down, increase braking distances and be wary of black ice. Sunday night will be mostly cloudy with rain in all areas. The rain will clear southeastwards overnight. Clear spells will follow and showers will develop in the west and north. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees. Monday will bring a mix of sunshine and showers, mainly in the west and north for a time, becoming widespread and heavier later in the day and into the early night. Some may be thundery. Highest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees with moderate westerly breezes, coldest in Ulster. On Monday night, showers will mostly clear southwards Winds will become northerly and it will become cold with clear spells and frost developing in many areas. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 2 degrees. You may also be interested in: Longford weather update: Black ice warning for motorists as Met Eireann extend snow-ice alert Met Eireann says Tuesday, Wednesday will each be cold, bright days with sunny spells and scattered showers, these mainly in Ulster and in coastal areas. Some of the showers will be wintry, especially at night and on high ground. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees with mostly moderate north to northwest winds. Thursday will be even colder with wintry showers becoming more widespread and a greater risk of snow. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees. Friday will bring sunshine and showers also. But it is not expected to be quite as cold. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees. Through the week, the nights will be cold with frost and icy patches in many areas. You may also be interested in: Gardai appealing for witnesses to fatal car crash in Cavan Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Thanksgiving Day brought record high temperatures across the region. The high in Billings reached 68 by early afternoon on Thursday, besting the previous record of 65 degrees set on Nov. 23, 1942. The record warmest Thanksgiving Day in Billings was 66 degrees on Nov. 26, 1998. The night before Thanksgiving Day set records for the warmest minimum temperature in Billings as well. It got down to only 45 degrees overnight, according to the National Weather Service. NWS also reported Glasgow, Jordan and Miles City all reached a record 73 degrees on Thursday. It was 72 in Wolf Point and 71 in Billings and Malta. Lewistown's high of 67 on Thursday beat the old mark of 65 degrees set in 1922. Sheridan beat a previous record high by reaching into the low 70s on Thursday. Poplar topped out at 70. Meteorologist Jim Brusda told the Great Falls Tribune that warm air from California, Nevada and other areas of the southwest was funneled into Montana on Thursday, creating record high temperatures, mostly east of the Continental Divide. Even the high of 58 in Kalispell on Thursday was a record, breaking the old mark of 57 set in 98 years ago. Brusda said a cold front is predicted to move into the area Sunday night. Argentina Alleged impeded investigation Diego Maradona's daughter Giannina could go to jail for allegedly impeding the former player's case of fraud against his ex-wife Claudio Villfane who he claimed stole 80 million pesos (3.8 million euros) between 2000 and 2015. The lawyer representing Maradona suggested that a trip she made to Uruguay showed that she was a risk to a fair hearing and so could be held in prison. "Do you think it is logical that one of the daughters travelled during the court case," said Matias Morla. "Custody takes place when it is found that an impediment has taken place or there is a risk of fleeing. In the middle of the court case for fraud, Giannina Maradona left Argentina on Monday, August 31st and returned a few hours later. "What was she doing that Monday in Uruguay? Tourism? I say to you that she has an account in Uruguay, her child takes the money and puts it into another. If that is the case, if there is money there like we think, then there is no option other than to be put in custody." Giannina Maradona responded in a tweet: "they know where I live and they can come when they want. "Thanks for all the warm messages. I am fine with myself inside, I have forgiven worse from him and I will do the same now." STUART-A number of groups want to see Pioneer Hospital reopen in Stuart. The problem is there are several challenges in the way right now, involving both finances and state deadlines. Pioneer Community Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 30, 2016 and over the next 18 months, Pioneer Health Services tried to sell the hospital to keep it open. When that didn't happen, the Stuart hospital closed its doors to new patients in September. Now the doors are closed at the hospital, which had been one of Patrick County's largest private employers. That closure also leaves the county without a hospital, meaning that rescue squads have to drive residents outside of Patrick County to receive treatment. Depending on what part of the county they live in, that trip could be to SOVAH Health Martinsville or Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital. The trip to Martinsville, at best, is 35 minutes. The trip to Rocky Mount can be as long as 45 to 50. Its not just a problem for the patient being taken for treatment, but it also increases the rescue squads response time to other incidents. Local officials say they recognize the problems caused by not having a hospital in Patrick County. In the months since Pioneer shut down, county officials have made phone calls, sent emails and worked to find a company to buy the building and reopen it. Recently, Virginia Community Capital announced the start of foreclosure proceedings against Pioneer. While that might seem to be a challenge for some, county officials say they see it as an opportunity for someone to come in and purchase the hospital, providing a clean slate. Lock Boyce, Mayo River District supervisor and vice chair of the board, said Friday that during a session this week, the Patrick County Board of Supervisors met with a couple of members of the Patrick County Economic Development Authority, Patrick County Administrator Tom Rose, Patrick County Economic Development Director Debbie Foley, financial consultant Robert Diesel and Jeanette Filpi, who was administrator of Pioneer Community Hospital before it closed and now is a consultant for the county in the effort to reopen the hospital. Boyce said no decisions were made in that Tuesday night session other than to continue on the path were currently on, adding that he couldn't comment on details because it was a closed session. Boyce did say however that he's optimistic the effort under way will lead to the hospital reopening. Now as far as when that would happen, he couldn't say. Things are farther along than people think, Boyce said, adding that a lot of work already has been done by such people as Rose, Diesel, Filpi and Foley. Steps are being taken to get the hospital up and running as soon as possible. He noted that Diesel, who retired to Patrick County, is a financial consultant with an advanced degree from State University of New York. Diesel has a specialty in forensic financial review and has been chief financial officer and financial consultant for some of the largest corporations in the world, Boyce said. Were very fortunate to have Diesel as a consultant, Boyce said. He added that Diesel went through the finances of the hospital. Filpi was able to answer very good questions concerning operational aspects of our hospital, Boyce said. It was the consensus of the board to continue with Diesel and Filpi as consultants. Peters Creek District Supervisor Rickie Fulcher said he is cautiously optimistic about the effort to reopen the hospital, adding that I do think we have some viable prospects. Fulcher said its difficult to find anyone to purchase the hospital because of its level of debt, which is $7 million. The majority of that is held by Virginia Community Capital. However, he hopes if it goes to foreclosure, the bankruptcy court will erase or at least reduce that debt, which would make the hospital more appealing to a potential buyer. I dont think all hope is gone, Fulcher said. The challenges ahead Aside from the foreclosure, there are several other challenges for Pioneer Hospital. First, as it is no longer in operation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services removed Pioneer's designation as a Critical Access Hospital. In rural areas like Patrick County, it can be expensive to operate a hospital. In 1997, Congress tried to help fix that problem by creating the Critical Access Hospitals designation. There are currently 1,332 hospitals with the designation in the United States and each of those receive extra funding from Medicare. That means when a patient's bill qualifies for Medicare reimbursement, the hospital receives the full cost repaid, plus an additional 1 percent. The designation also gives hospitals access to grant funding and technical assistance. It's not as simple as reopening to get the designation back. Even if the hospital does reopen, it will have to meet several requirements before being considered. First, it must show it can maintain an average length of stay of 96 hours or less for acute care patients. Second, it must show that it can provide 24/7 emergency care services. The third part is that the facility must be more than 35 miles from another hospital. In addition to losing its CAH designation, the facility's acute care hospital license will expire on Dec. 31, 2017. The license, issued by the Virginia Department of Health, is required to operate the hospital. Without it, the facility would be unable to provide diagnostic X-ray services, offer treatment facilities for surgery, any type of clinical lab services or other medical treatment. Patrick County officials are asking the General Assembly to extend the license for six months or simply renew it, in order to give time to find a buyer for the facility. The Department of Health would still have to come and inspect, before it could reopen, but it simply speeds up the process. Otherwise, even if the facility is purchased, it would have to reapply to even be considered for a license and that might take up to a year. To do that, however, the General Assembly would have to return for a special session in December. That would require either an order by the governor or a petition by two-thirds of the members elected to both the House and Senate. Neither of those are close to happening. So far, Boyce said, Patrick County officials feel that the General Assembly isn't paying attention to them. We dont appreciate inaction so far from legislative representatives, Boyce said, adding that their help is needed. To help with that, Boyce, Fulcher and other officials are asking Patrick County residents to take part in a letter-writing campaign, focusing on the local delegation. That includes both Sen. Bill Stanley and Del. Charles Poindexter. The letter request was sent out Wednesday in an email by Patrick County Economic Development Director Debbie Foley, who wrote that we are concerned that the license for the hospital will expire at the end of the year, before a new owner will be in place. We are hoping for your help in lobbying our state representatives for a legislative extension and/or renewal of the license. The letter, which includes contact information for both Sen. Stanley and Del. Poindexter, asks them to support a six month legislative extension of the Acute Care Hospital License for Pioneer Community Hospital of Patrick. Politicians respond Del. Poindexter said he is trying to help, but sees some ethical challenges. Poindexter said he has contacted a number of hospital systems, administrators and chief financial officers, in an effort to try to help reopen the hospital in Stuart. He said he gets the same answer: that the cost of operating such a small acute care hospital is difficult to sustain, if not impossible. Ethically, Poindexter said, a legislator probably should not get involved in a private business. How would other private businesses in Patrick County feel if a legislator got involved in their businesses, he asked. Poindexter said he has been concerned since the hospital entered bankruptcy more than a year ago and pointed out the hospital's situation is right now under the control of bankruptcy court. Much like the Patrick County officials, he does hope a hospital system or group of doctors will step in to reopen the facility. Instead of a full-blown hospital, however, he suggested one option might be to have a micro hospital with emergency room and such other services as imaging and urgent care to stabilize patients. Once stabilized, then they could be flown or driven to another facility for longer term treatment, if needed. As for the county's request for a license extension, Poindexter didn't see how he could help. Because the Virginia General Assembly does not go back in session until Jan. 10, 2018, he said there is no remedy legislatively to prevent Pioneers acute care hospital license from expiring on Dec. 31. Sen. Stanley, meanwhile, has drafted emergency legislation to meet the request of Patrick County officials. His bill would extend Pioneer's acute care hospital license for 12 months past Dec. 31, 2017. Stanley hopes the General Assembly will act quickly on his emergency legislation. If approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, it would go into effect immediately, not July 1, when new laws generally go into effect, back dated to be effective Dec. 31, 2017. Stanley said he has been talking with different state agencies, as well as Virginia Community Capital, trying to get the debt matters resolved. He's also spoken with the Virginia Hospital Association and worked with U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, to try and address the hospitals loss of Critical Access designation. Were not going to rest until the hospital reopens, Stanley said. BUTTE Heres Rob ONeill, looking every bit the rock star he has become, snakeskin boots and custom-made jacket, and every bit the Butte kid he has always been, blue jeans, ball cap and mischievous grin that could melt St. Brigids heart. Every one of those bits hard-earned, in 400 combat missions. The man who killed Osama bin Laden is home for a Thanksgiving stop sandwiched into a grueling 300-speeches-a-year schedule. Hes freshly married, fresh from a private dinner with the President, fresh from the best-seller lists with his book The Operator, and just plain fresh. Always good to be back in Butte, he said Monday after a lunch stop at Pork Chop Johns. I had to figure out how many pork chops I could have and still save room for The Derby tonight. Quickly, conversation in an interview with The Montana Standard turned to his favorite topic: his charity, Your Grateful Nation, which transitions special operations personnel veterans like himself from elite units into civilian life and jobs in corporate America. The battlefield to boardroom charity grew out of his own experience. After more than 16 years in the Navy Seals, ONeill elected to retire from the military before he got his 20 the 20 years necessary for a military pension. He says a lot of special forces personnel leave early needing the change for a host of reasons. These guys often dont think they have anything to offer, ONeill said. They think they just know how to go kill Taliban. But thats definitely not the case, he said. They know how to manage. They know team-building, problem-solving, stress management. And they are incredibly loyal employees. Your Grateful Nation focuses on giving customized, one-on-one transition support to exiting special-forces veterans, and then after the specific aptitudes, interests and needs are clear, it works on matching the veteran with a corporation. He said the program has been tremendously successful. Weve got about a 98 percent promotion rate, he said. I think we placed six guys just last week. He wants it to keep growing. Some of his speeches are fundraisers for the program. Weve also brought in Dakota Meyer, a Marine who won the Medal of Honor, ONeill said, to help raise money for the organization. Eventually, he said, Your Grateful Nation may be big enough to offer services to non-special forces veterans. ONeill remembers Butte in his charitable endeavors. He spoke Tuesday at a fundraiser for Mariahs Challenge, a favorite charity that hes helped a lot previously. He cited Buttes culture of drinking, and added, Everybody screws up. When they do, theyve got to stand up, own it, and learn from it. He capped the Mariah's Challenge speech by giving $10,000 to the charity. He says hed also like to do something for local law enforcement. I dont know what they want yet. Ill find out, he said. But lets not pretend, they let me out of a lot of st when I was a kid. He also finds time to be a frequent contributor on Fox News, which recently signed him to a contract. He has appeared repeatedly on Fox & Friends he just introduced friend and fellow Butte rat Tim Montana on the show last week and has spoken on foreign policy, terrorism and other military topics. Oh, yeah and hes a friend of President Donald Trumps. I got to know him because one of the things I've been asked to do is judge the Miss USA pageant," he said. "Then during the campaign he asked me to endorse him. We (O'Neill and his dad, Tom O'Neill) went and talked to him at Trump Tower. I never did endorse him, but I like him a lot. Believe it or not, hes a really nice guy. ONeill and his wife Jessica had a private dinner in the East Wing of the White House last month with Trump, his friend Pete Hegseth from Fox News, and Hegseths friend Jennifer Rauchet. O'Neill met Jessica Halpin when she booked him to speak at a get-together for her company. They married on Cape Cod in August, with Tim Montana and Kid Rock in attendance, and honeymooned in Bora Bora. Monday at The Montana Standard, he wore the custom-made suit jacket he was married in, complete with American flag lining a fashion trend the men's magazine GQ featured last week as the latest power-suit look in Washington. ONeill and former Press Secretary Sean Spicer were among the first to sport the suits as made by custom clothier Knot Standard. ONeill has homes in Manhattan, Dallas (its an air-travel hub) and Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was home-based during his Navy career. Where does he live most? In airport terminals, he said. People always say to me, You must have lots of (frequent-flyer) miles. I say, Yeah, you want em? Im spending my next vacation on my couch. But no matter how hectic the jet-to-jet lifestyle gets, ONeill said, he never forgets his Mining City roots. Im not one of those guys who leaves here and then says hes from Northern California or someplace. Im from Butte, and Im proud of it. NORTHAMPTON - Former Central Intelligence Agency officer Valerie Plame Wilson, who was once called "America's best known ex-spy," will speak Dec. 11 at 5 p.m., in Wright Hall's Weinstein Auditorium at Smith College, as part of a panel on "Social Media and U.S. Foreign Policy." Wilson, who is visiting as a guest of the college's Kahn Liberal Arts Institute and its yearlong research project looking at war across multiple disciplines, will be on the panel with Paul Musgrave, assistant professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts. Wilson's outing as a CIA operative by a syndicated political columnist turned her into a headline celebrity in 2003, ended her undercover career of 15 years and led to a criminal investigation that involved the Bush-Cheney White House. Her 2010 book, "Fair Game: How a Top CIA Agent Was Betrayed by Her Own Government," along with her husband's memoir, "The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies," were turned into the movie "Fair Game" starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts." Wilson's identity as an undercover operative specializing in weapons of mass destruction was revealed in a July 14, 2003 piece by columnist Robert Novak, who said he got that information from senior administration officials. His column appeared days after Wilson's husband, Joseph C. Wilson IV, raised the issue in a New York Times opinion piece of whether the "Bush administration manipulate intelligence about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs to justify an invasion of Iraq?" Joseph Wilson, a former career foreign service officer who had once met with Hussein, had been asked by the CIA in February 2002 to investigate claims that Iraq bought weapons grade uranium from Niger in the late 1990's, something Wilson said he reported back to the White House as highly doubtful, but a claim that he felt was used by the administration to justify war with Iraq. Wilson regarded Novak's public identification of his wife as a CIA agent as retaliation by the White House for his criticism, and his wife later testified on Capitol Hill that the disclosure meant her undercover career was "over in an instant." Federal law is said to prohibit the disclosure in certain circumstances of the identities of CIA officers. Patrick Fitzgerald, an Amherst College and Harvard Law graduate, was appointed special prosecutor to investigate whether White House officials broke the 1982 law. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Richard Cheney, was convicted in 2007 with perjury, for lying about his conversations with reporters about Valerie Plame Wilson, and obstruction of justice. President Bush later commuted his 30-month prison term. Other reporters besides Novak were said to be aware of Wilson's role with the CIA and the investigation into them highlighted the lack of protection for reporters who use confidential sources, an issue that continues to resonate in the press and hark back to Wilson's outing. Judith Miller, then a reporter for The New York Times, went to jail for 85 days before agreeing, with Libby's permission, to testify before a grand jury about her conversations with him. Novak's sources were later reported to be Richard L. Armitage, a former deputy secretary of state, and Karl Rove, the longtime political adviser to President George W. Bush. In recent years, Valerie Wilson Plame has also written a pair of spy novels with Sarah Lovett, become a public speaker represented by the Greater Talent Network and has been active with the Ploughshares Fund, a nonprofit that advocates for nuclear disarmament, but resigned from their board recently after her controversial tweet of an anti-Semitic article, "America's Jews Are Driving America's Wars," on the Unz Review website. Wilson, whose paternal grandfather is said to have been Jewish, issued an apology statement in regard to the tweet. She also made headlines recently for her effort to crowdfund enough money to buy Twitter and ban President Donald Trump from using it. She has written that Trump's use of "this huge global platform has major consequences in the real world" and that he has "already brought us closer to nuclear war than any time since the Cuban Missile Crisis." The state Ethics Commission is investigating why the former State Police colonel allowed the arrest report of a judge's daughter to be altered, according to The Boston Globe. That scrubbed report led to the early retirements for the top two commanders of the State Police, as well as lawsuits filed by the two troopers who were asked to redact comments from the document. The head of the State Police union confirmed the Ethics Commission investigation to The Globe, the newspaper reported. Troopers Ryan Sceviour and Ali Rei were apparently interviewed by investigators this week. However, an Ethics Commission spokesman told The Globe that he could neither confirm nor deny if an investigation was underway. Alli Bibaud, the 30-year-old daughter of Dudley District Court Judge Timothy Bibaud, was arrested in October for drunken driving and possession of heroin. She allegedly made comments about her father being a judge and also about trading sexual favors for drugs, which were ordered to be removed from the report. Gov. Charlie Baker maintains that the order to redact the report came from former Col. Richard McKeon and that the troopers involved did nothing wrong. Attorney General Maura Healey has launched an investigation into the actions involving the report, as has new State Police Col. Kerry Gilpin. "There are a lot of unanswered questions and that's part of what our investigation is going to get to the bottom of," Healey said during an appearance on WGBH's "Boston Public Radio" show earlier this week. "People want and deserve answers. There are obviously serious allegations raised here." Gilpin will also review applicable policies and regulations regarding police report alterations, a State Police spokesman said. Officials are also investigating communications between State Police and the Worcester County District Attorney's office regarding the report. McKeon and Lt. Col. Francis Hughes resigned in the wake of the scandal. Bibaud pleaded guilty to operating under the influence of liquor and several motor vehicle violations in Framingham District Court earlier this month. A motorcyclist was left with serious injuries Friday night after being struck by a hit-and-run driver who ditched the car nearby, according to reports. The motorcyclist was struck near the intersection of Western Avenue and Park Street, according to WCVB News. The car that struck the driver was found nearby with major front-end damage. Lynn police did not return a call seeking more information Saturday morning. The motorcyclist suffered a bad leg injury and was lying on the street in a pool of his blood, Boston 25 News reported. He was taken to the hospital. Witnesses told the news stations that the driver went right through a stop sign at the intersection. Photos from the scene show the motorcycle near the sidewalk, the bumper of the car nearby and debris scattered around. A 26-person medical team from Massachusetts General Hospital is heading to Puerto Rico to help with continued disaster assistance in the wake of two hurricanes that devastated the island. The team left Saturday and included 15 nurses, four nurse practitioners, five doctors, one physician assistant, and one logistics/security staff member, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. The team will be providing medical care at the request of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the national emergency management mutual aid system that facilitates state-to-state disaster assistance. "These medical personnel from Massachusetts will provide residents of Puerto Rico with necessary medical care," Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said in the statement. "We continue to take steps to help those impacted by recent natural disasters and urge everyone who wants to help support disaster relief operations do so through cash donations to organizations listed on the state's website." The team will be in Puerto Rico for 16 days. "We are honored by this opportunity to partner with the Commonwealth, and to work with MEMA and DPH on this very important mission," said Dr. Paul Biddinger, director of the Center for Disaster Medicine at MGH. "Our nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians are eager for the opportunity to assist Puerto Rico as it continues to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria, and we are so proud of their willingness to help all of those in need." Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm, hit two months ago and was among the worst the island had seen. More than 50 people were killed. Hurricane Irma, a Category 5, tore through the area just before Maria. Gov. Charlie Baker said he is proud of MGH for stepping up to help Puerto Rico. "Puerto Rico has many public health needs since Hurricane Maria, and MGH has volunteered a well-prepared cadre of medical professionals to support and treat a host of complicated medical needs under challenging conditions," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel. At least 113 new students have joined Worcester Public Schools after fleeing the devastation in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean Islands. In Springfield, 383 Puerto Rican students have been enrolled in the public schools. Massachusetts State Police have issued a silver alert for a 69-year-old man who reportedly went missing after his vehicle is believed to have become stuck on East New Lenox Road in Pittsfield. Police said Frederick Oliver, of Washington, Mass., last spoke with his wife via cell phone at around 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Oliver, at the time, said he was on East New Lenox Road and his white Chevrolet van had become stuck, according to state police. Cell phone data indicated that Oliver's phone hit off the Richmond tower, state police added. State Police noted that Oliver "has suffered some mental incapacity, has diabetes and is on oxygen." SILVER ALERT issued for Frederick Oliver of the Town of Washington in western Mass. If you see him or his white Chevy van please call 911 immediately. pic.twitter.com/zAVvzLaDLZ Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) November 25, 2017 Anyone with information on Oliver's whereabouts is asked to contact the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Lee at 413-243-0600. File photo / The Republican Massachusetts House and Senate lawmakers cast ballots on issues ranging from detention of immigrants living in the country illegally to expanded use of wiretapping as they met for various legislative sessions this week. Here's how members from the Western part of the state voted on those proposals: Don't Edit HOUSE: Don't Edit Charles Reed Prohibit consideration of detaining illegal immigrants The House, by a 119-to-34 margin, upheld the ruling of Acting House Speaker Patricia Haddad, D-Somerset, that prohibited consideration of an amendment that would authorize police officers, court officers and other law enforcement officers to detain a person under certain circumstances, at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the grounds that there is probable cause that such person is a removable illegal alien. This would apply only in those cases where an individual has already been arrested and is about to be released from custody or is deemed to pose a threat to public safety because he or she has engaged in terrorism or has been convicted of a serious crime such as a felony, human trafficking or drug trafficking. The amendment also restricts the amount of time an individual can be detained to no more than 12 hours. The amendment was filed in response to a July decision by the states highest court which ruled that state local law enforcement officials do not have the authority to detain a person based solely on a request from ICE. Haddad ruled that the amendment is not properly before the House because it was not included in any earlier versions of the bill and introduction of this new subject-matter would expand upon the bill and violate House rules. Supporters of the ruling said the ruling is appropriate and follows the rules of the House. Opponents of the ruling said clearly the issue of arresting and holding illegal immigrants is related to a bill making changes in the criminal justice system. Voting "Yes," or for the ruling:, Rep. Brian Ashe, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Rep. Michael Finn, Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, Rep. Peter Kocot, Rep. Stephen Kulik, Rep. Paul Mark, Rep. Thomas Petrolati, Rep. William Pignatelli, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Rep. John Scibak, Rep. Jose Tosado, Rep. Aaron Vega, Rep. John Velis, Rep. Joseph Wagner, Rep. Bud Williams. Voting "No," or against it: Rep. Donald Berthiaume, Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, Rep. Todd Smola and Rep. Susannah Whipps. Don't Edit Staff-Shot Prohibit more wiretapping to be considered The House, on a 123-to-34 vote, upheld the ruling by Acting House Speaker Paul Donato, D-Medford, that prohibited consideration of an amendment that would allow law enforcement to request the authority from the courts to use wiretapping in cases of murder, manslaughter, rape, human trafficking, drug trafficking, the manufacturing or distribution of drugs, weapons trafficking, witness intimidation and use or possession of explosives or chemical weapons. Current law, which has not changed since 1968, allows wiretapping to be used only when the crime is committed in connection with organized crime. Donato ruled that the amendment is not properly before the House because it was not included in any earlier versions of the bill and introduction of this new subject-matter would expand upon the bill and violate House rules. "Such new subject-matter in the form of an amendment from the floor of the House and thereby by-passing the deliberative steps required under our rules for the passage of a bill," said the ruling. "That would violate the essence of the legislative process." Supporters of the ruling said the ruling is right on target and follows the rules of the House. Opponents of the ruling said the issue of using wiretaps to help convict criminals is related to a bill making changes in the criminal justice system. Voting "Yes," for the ruling: Rep. Brian Ashe, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Rep. Michael Finn, Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, Rep. Peter Kocot, Rep. Stephen Kulik, Rep. Paul Mark, Rep. Thomas Petrolati, Rep. William Pignatelli, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Rep. John Scibak, Rep. Jose Tosado, Rep. Aaron Vega, Rep. John Velis, Rep. Joseph Wagner, Rep. Susannah Whipps, Rep. Bud Williams. Voting "No," or against them: Rep. Donald Berthiaume, Rep. Nicholas Boldyga and Rep. Todd Smola. Don't Edit Michael S. Gordon Expunge juvenile records A section of a proposed criminal justice bill would have allowed offenders who committed a crime before their 21st birthday to apply for expungement of certain records after 10 years for a felony or a misdemeanor if the individual has met all other qualifying criteria. The House, on a 127-to-26 vote, approved an amendment that reduced that waiting period to seven years for a felony and three years for a misdemeanor. Amendment supporters said research shows states with shorter expungement periods have reduced recidivism rates. They noted that the amendment will create earlier possibilities for these offenders to turn their lives around while still ensuring public safety. They argued that the amendment will reduce barriers to employment, housing and educational opportunities. Amendment opponents said the reduction is excessive and argued that the original ten-year waiting period for both felonies and misdemeanors is fair to offenders and also in the best interest of public safety. They noted that allowing an offender who is convicted of breaking and entering and larceny under $1,000 to apply to have his or her record expunged after three years is too lenient. Voting "Yes" vote, or for the reductions: Rep. Brian Ashe, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, Rep. Peter Kocot, Rep. Stephen Kulik, Rep. Paul Mark, Rep. Thomas Petrolati, Rep. William Pignatelli, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Rep. John Scibak, Rep. Jose Tosado, Rep. Aaron Vega, Rep. John Velis, Rep. Joseph Wagner, Rep. Susannah Whipps, Rep. Bud Williams. Voting "No," or against the reductions: Rep. Donald Berthiaume, Rep. Nicholas Boldyga and Rep. Todd Smola. Don't Edit Don't Edit SENATE: Don't Edit Staff-Shot Cut entire $60,000 for teaching financial literacy The Senate, on a 30-to-7 vote, overrode Gov. Charlie Bakers veto of the entire $60,000 for a program that mentors and teaches financial literacy to low-income women. Voting "Yes," or for funding the $60,000: Sen. Anne Gobi, Sen. Adam Hinds, Sen. Eric Lesser, Sen. James Welch. Voting "No," or against funding it: Sen. Donald Humason. Don't Edit Mark M.Murray Cut $122,274 for prisoners' legal services The Senate , on 30-to-6 vote, overrode a reduction of $122,274 (from $1,609,465 to $1,487,191) in funding for Prisoners' Legal Services, a program that provides legal representation for indigent and disadvantaged defendants. Voting "Yes," or for funding the $122,274: Sen. Anne Gobi, Sen. Adam Hinds, Sen. Eric Lesser, Sen. James Welch. Voting "No," or against funding it: Sen. Donald Humason. Don't Edit HOUSE & SENATE: Don't Edit John Suchocki Cut $550,000 for various health-related programs The House, on a 125-to-28 vote, and the Senate by a 35-to-2 margin, overrode Bakers reduction of $150,000 for programs for the promotion of health and disease prevention including prevention of breast cancer, hepatitis C and colorectal cancer; and screening for prostate cancer, diabetes, ovarian cancer, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis. The $150,000 is not earmarked for any specific program. The governor also vetoed another $400,000 for specific programs including $100,000 for macular degeneration research into prevention and treatment of the disease; $25,000 for a diabetes prevention program; $25,000 for a program that provides peer support and education, home independence training and adaptive aids to people who are learning to cope and function safely and independently with the loss of sight; $100,000 for research to provide solid scientific evidence for the cranberry's role in health and nutrition; and $100,000 for providing medically tailored meals to persons battling chronic illnesses and providing workforce training programs to people recovering from addiction. Voting "Yes," or for funding the $550,000: (HOUSE:) Rep. Brian Ashe, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Rep. Michael Finn, Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, Rep. Peter Kocot, Rep. Stephen Kulik, Rep. Paul Mark, Rep. Thomas Petrolati, Rep. William Pignatelli, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Rep. John Scibak, Rep. Jose Tosado, Rep. Aaron Vega, Rep. John Velis, Rep. Joseph Wagner, Rep. Susannah Whipps, Rep. Bud Williams. (SENATE:) Sen. Anne Gobi, Sen. Adam Hinds, Sen. Donald Humason, Sen. Eric Lesser, Sen. James Welch. Voting "No," or against the funding: (HOUSE:) Rep. Donald Berthiaume, Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, Rep. Todd Smola. (SENATE:) None. Don't Edit Don't Edit LAST WEEK'S VOTES: How they voted: Western Mass. lawmakers weigh in on criminal justice issues, overriding governor's vetoes Use the drop down menu below to jump to a specific section. A fine orator can make the world dance to his tune. With quick wit, a persuasive voice, and sharp twist to his words he can shift a rooms point of view. Think about how some of worlds greatest (and worst) leaders have swayed entire nations with their words. JFK convincing people that they could indeed would go to the moon. Winston Churchill entreating his countrymen to never retreat, never give up, and fight until the end. Abraham Lincoln declaring that all men and women deserve freedom. More than seven months after a Whitefish woman initially sued the publisher of a neo-Nazi website who called for a troll storm against her, the case is beginning to move forward. In April, attorneys with the South Poverty Law Center filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Tanya Gersh of Whitefish against Andrew Anglin, who on his website The Daily Stormer called for readers to harass Gersh and her family over her dealings with the mother of white nationalist Richard Spencer. The suit, filed in the Missoula branch of U.S. District Court, alleges that Anglin instigated a series of hateful and anti-Semitic messages, voicemails, emails and letters against Gersh, her husband and her son. "Hickory dickory dock, the (anti-Semitic slur) ran up the clock. The clock struck three and Internet Nazi trolls gassed the rest of them," read one comment Gersh received on social media, according to the complaint. Gershs lawsuit said the verbal attacks started by Anglin who called for a troll storm against her are an invasion of her privacy, have inflicted emotional distress that has caused her to go to therapy, and violate Montanas Anti-Intimidation Act. In a story he published on his site in December, Anglin included Gershs contact information along with allegations that she tried to extort money from the mother of white nationalist Richard Spencer, who is a part-time Whitefish resident. Anglin also attempted to organize an armed march through the town on Martin Luther King Jr. Day an event he planned to call the "James Earl Ray Day Extravaganza after King's assassin but the march never occurred. Spencers mother Sherry, who owns a commercial building in Whitefish, called Gersh a real estate agent in November last year after locals became angry with her sons connections to the white nationalist movement. According to the lawsuit, Gersh encouraged Sherry Spencer to consider selling the building. But weeks later Sherry Spencer wrote a blog post accusing Gersh of having threatened to extort her and force her to sell the property and donate the proceeds. Since Anglins post, Gersh has received threats that include Thanks for demonstrating why your race needs to be collectively ovened, and You will be driven to the brink of suicide & We will be there to take pleasure in your pain & eventual end, according to the suit. Anglin also "urged his followers to seek Ms. Gersh out in person: 'And hey if you're in the area, maybe you should stop by and tell her in person what you think of her actions.' " Throughout the summer, The Daily Stormer ran into issues staying online, with multiple domain registrars refusing to host the site. Most recently, the site is registered by a Hong Kong registrar, and links to it appear in Google search results. The website includes a link for readers to donate to Anglins legal defense, saying The Daily Stormer is being sued by Jewish terrorists. *** For months after filing the lawsuit, Gersh and her attorneys attempted to locate Anglin to serve him with a copy without success, and have written in court documents that Las Vegas attorney Marc Randazza who told the Associated Press this summer he is representing Anglin in the case has not returned their letters or voicemails. Certified mail sent to several addresses in Franklin County, Ohio, that are believed to be related to Anglin came back as undelivered. Gershs attorneys eventually met the court criteria for serving the lawsuit by publishing a notice in the local newspaper for six weeks. Since that time, Randazza has filed court paperwork that he, in addition to another attorney at his firm, are officially representing Anglin. In addition, Missoula attorney Mat Stevenson has filed a court notice of representation that says he has been hired by Anglin. The case has deadlines set for December for attorneys from both sides to work out details of sharing discovery and dates for filing further paperwork. Gov. Steve Bullock gave approval Friday to six bills passed during last weeks special legislative session, which will most of the states $227 million budget gap. The Democratic governor also vetoed two Republican-backed bills, including one that would have saved $15 million by requiring certain state employees to take furloughs. The other vetoed bill would have authorized the insurance commissioner to apply for health-care innovation waivers. By Jonathan Ambarian MTN News http://www.kpax.com/story/36921205/bullock-approves-six-bills-to-cover-227-million-gap-in-montana-budget-vetoes-two-others BUTTE -- Although nearly a year has passed since around 3,000 snow geese perished on the Berkeley Pit, the Environmental Protection Agency has not decided on whether to fine the responsible parties, Montana Resources and Atlantic Richfield Company. EPA project manager Nikia Greene confirmed, however, that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has jurisdiction over migratory birds, has decided not to fine the companies responsible for the Berkeley Pit. The wildlife service could have fined the companies as much as $5,000 per dead bird. USFWS spokesperson Jennifer Strickland said "no comment" when asked about the decision not to fine the companies. The U.S. District Attorneys Office for Montana, in Billings, is in charge of enforcement for USFWS. Its spokesperson Leif Johnson would not comment on the matter. But EPA is still investigating whether Montana Resources and Atlantic Richfield adhered to the 1996 plan intended to keep migratory birds off the pits waters. The companies and agencies devised that plan consisting primarily of wailers making loud sounds and gunfire in 1996 in response to 342 snow geese dying on the pit water ahead of a snowstorm. Those efforts were largely successful for 21 years but proved ineffective the night of Nov. 28, 2016, when somewhere around 10,000 geese landed. The pit, which is more than a square mile in size, was white with birds. But while EPA's investigation continues, the companies have created a robust, comprehensive approach to keeping migrating birds off the Berkeley Pit going forward, Greene said. So far during this fall migratory season, nine birds have died one coot and eight snow geese. Last week four snow geese landed on the pit and looked unhealthy, Greene said. The mine called the agencies, and a decision was made to rescue the birds and take them to a veterinarian. Montana Resources vice president of environmental affairs Mark Thompson said the birds wandered up onto a ramp that leads to the pits waters. That enabled MR employees to capture the birds. After given fresh water at a veterinarians office, the birds recovered and were released, Greene said. It seems they were just tired from migrating, Greene said. It appears they didnt have a lot of exposure (to Berkeley Pit water). Thompson said most snow geese flew over Montana on their way from their Arctic breeding grounds to various points south the weekend of Nov. 4. When the birds landed last year, they left their summer home two weeks late due to abnormally warm fall weather. Local bird experts blamed climate change for the reason the birds mistakenly landed on the pit in such overwhelming numbers last year. When snow geese head south each fall, their first landing spot to rest along the way is Freezout Lake in northern Montana. But last fall, Freezout Lake was frozen by the time the birds came through. Warm Springs Ponds, west of Butte, were frozen, too. That left the exhausted birds with virtually nowhere to rest except the Berkeley Pit. In response to the incident, MR and Atlantic Richfield put together a bird advisory council filled with local ornithological experts who could advise the companies on how better to plan for such an event. Greene said the companies, the agencies, and the bird advisory group are still considering the various technologies, which now include a machine called a VRAD that produces a sonic boom. MR tested the machine last spring. The companies have bought $6,000 spotting scopes so the mining crew can identify the bird species that land on the pit. That helps the workers know how to respond to get the birds to leave. Overall, the companies have spent maybe as much as $500,000 on the new hazing technologies, Thompson said. One boat is still being built. It will travel up to 30 mph and will be powered remotely. Another boat built by Montana Tech researchers in 2016 was tested and launched in the pits waters last spring to sample the metal-laden water via remote control. That boat now has a propane cannon added to it to scare birds. Propane cannons, as well as wailers, sit at strategic points along the pits walls. The companies also employ laser technology and new drones. One drone can also sample pit water. One drone looks like an eagle. Some of the lasers simulate a predators eyes to scare the birds from landing on the pit water. There are also fireworks to keep the birds from landing. But Greene said that perhaps the most effective tool is communication. Thompson said the mine now communicates with the bird advisers, who communicate with points in Canada and Freezout Lake as well as with a meteorologist, who can advise on weather patterns that affect where the birds might land. When large flocks are headed this way, the bird advisers put MR on alert, Thompson said. One of the most important things is the effort Montana Resources made to put together the advisory committee with experts and create communication with the northern migratory sites," Greene said. "Its one of the biggest, one of the most important things to understand, is where these birds are going and what theyre doing and be prepared early." The effort appears to be working. Thompson said that with nine bird mortalities this fall, that translates into a 99-percent hazing effectiveness. We were ready (this fall) and prepared, Thompson said. Greene said he expects to see a finalized waterfowl mitigation plan with a definite list of effective bird hazing technologies fully in place by fall 2018. Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. I joined other protesters at the Helena office of Rep. Greg Gianforte on Monday to object to the House tax bill. It is a cynical and sinful act that will ultimately hurt the most vulnerable among us. If enacted this is my prediction: [1] unfair and reckless tax cuts right away [2] soaring deficits [3] dismay and outcry over those deficits [4] a call to reduce spending, especially for social programs [5] the most vulnerable among us get hammered. Sunday's Gospel reading in most churches, by the way, concludes with these words: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." There you are, Mr. Gianforte. When you cheat the vulnerable you are stiff-arming the Lord. DECATUR The financial pundits who say online retail sites like Amazon are spelling doom for traditional department stores like Sears and J.C. Penney are also giving some local governments heartburn. The fear, along with lost jobs and vacant buildings, is a slide in sales taxes, which for cities like Decatur is a major revenue source. "It's killing cities all over the place," Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe said at a recent city council meeting. The city's sales tax revenue has mostly stayed flat for a decade, even fallen slightly. The attention is especially acute during the busy holiday season, which long had been a critical source of municipal tax revenues through purchases at large department stores, downtown retailers and other brick and mortar stores. Falling sales tax revenue is not uncommon among Central Illinois cities. Recently, Springfield reported a similar dip, and Peoria officials voted to increase the city's sales tax a percentage point to boost slumping revenue. Bloomington's city council recently heard stagnant retail sales tax and rising costs are projected to create a revenue gap in its fiscal 2019 budget. "You need to pass that (sales tax) on down to the municipalities based on the ZIP codes of the people that bought (online)," said Decatur City Councilman Pat McDaniel. In the city of Decatur, about a quarter of its annual revenues come from state and local sales taxes. Some online sellers do not have to hand over sales tax collections to where the purchaser lives. Amazon does collect sales tax, for instance, but any third-party sellers on the site do not have to and states and cities worry that's a disadvantage for local stores, and hurting local revenue as a result. "The people who live here still buy clothes and shoes, and if they're doing it online, that revenue needs to be coming back to us," Moore Wolfe said at the most recent council meeting. There's no doubt local governments have to be losing some revenue to online sales, but it's difficult to track accurate figures, given that sites like Amazon and eBay include so many small purveyors all over the country. But it is a different story in the adjacent villages of Forsyth and Mount Zion, where officials say sales tax figures are holding steady, even growing. So far, sales tax receipts in Forsyth are about even with 2016, said Andrew Zupkoff, the village's community and economic development coordinator, "But that's not taking into effect all the business that have opened up literally in the next four months," he said. In 2016, Forsyth ended up with $4.2 million in local sales tax receipts, and Zupkoff counts 10 new businesses that set up shot in Forsyth in the past year, including a number of stores that have filled some of the vacancies in Hickory Point Mall. "We've had a very successful two months," said A.J. Miller, store manager of Hibbett Sports, which opened in the mall in September. "We are trending above new store expectations for (the company)." Zupkoff, who started at his position in Forsyth this year, said promoting the village's high median income is helping attract more national chains. "A lot of the time, when we bring up the Decatur market to a group of brokers and the company (representatives), they'll even say, 'If you want to be in the Decatur market, Forsyth is where you want to be," Zupkoff said. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Forsyth's median household income is $95,000, versus $50,500 in Decatur, and $93,000 in Mount Zion. "Our sales tax (receipts) over the last several years have been very stable," said Julie Miller, Mount Zion village administrator. Mount Zion's local sales tax has dipped slightly over the last three years, from $340,000 in 2014, to $331,000 last year. "The village doesn't have any of the major retailers. We have lots of small businesses, so it's very stable," Miller said. Mount Zion's reliance on property taxes to fund local schools and government services is also much less of a guessing game when sales taxes can ebb and flow based on any range of economic factors. "The economy doesn't affect us as much as say, Forsyth or Decatur," Miller said. Decatur officials, including McDaniel and Moore Wolfe, say the city's slumping sales tax figures could be boosted if state lawmakers, or even Congress, established measures to ensure all online purchases see sales tax collections go to where the consumer is. Zupkoff said the strip of national retail stores on U.S. 51 near the mall sees some of the highest car traffic in the area, and even though online shopping has grown, it's still only 10 percent to 15 percent of total sales in the country. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce sales brought in $394.9 billion in 2016. The Commerce Department said online sales grew 15.1 percent in 2016 and accounted for 8.1 percent of total retail sales for the year. "I don't know if news of the retail apocalypse is overblown, or we're insulated from it, but people are still going out and shopping," Zupkoff said. "There's still nothing better than going to the store and getting that item on that day," Miller said. "Amazon is great, but you still have to wait; and everybody still likes going to the store to get something new, and there's nothing quite like that feeling." Hometown: Decatur Family: I have been married 34 years to Jack. Jack is from Decatur. We have two children, Jillian Lee and Wyatt Hayden. Work experience: I have 25 years of experience in adult education. I was specifically engaged with professional development, BRIDGE programs, career pathways and short-term vocational programs. I have spent most of my career developing programs that help individuals obtain the skills needed to become employed. Education: I graduated from Stephen Decatur High School. I have an associates degree from Lincoln College; bachelors degree in speech communications from Eastern Illinois University; masters degree in human services from the University of Illinois. My Id rather be bumper sticker would read: Id rather be spending time with family and friends. I enjoy a lot of activities, but my favorite way to spend time is with my family and friends. Hobbies/interests: Swimming, dancing and country music. My first job: De-tasseling corn. I was 14 and was required to get a work permit. My parents told me if I started the job there would be NO quitting. No matter how hot it got, or how long of a day, or even if my friends quit. Once, I made a commitment I was required to follow it through. That lesson has stayed with me. Why I do what I do: I have always been a cheerleader at heart. I am always pulling for the ones that need the most time and attention. I believe that if given a chance, most people want to excel and do a good job. Now, on the other hand, I am realistic. People have to WANT to go to work and they must WANT to improve. I have been fortunate to see many students/customers learn skill sets and complete programs that lead to better opportunities and a better quality of life. Personal approaches to challenges: My personal approach is a perseverance to live each day to the best of my ability. I learned early in life that things only get better if you work hard to make them better. I understand barriers and conflicts, and try to develop pathways for people to overcome them. I've had a lot of good examples in my personal and professional life. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in my sister and I, and never let us settle for less. My professional life was always full of strong women who accepted challenges straight on. There is always a solution, and successful people work until they find the right one. Community involvement: I have served on several boards. I served on the local Workforce board for many years, as well as the Catholic Charities board. I was active with the Illinois Association of Adult Educators, and the Illinois Advisory Board for Adult Education. My husband is an auto auctioneer and we donate our time to the community by raising money (auction style) for local charitable organizations. We work together to raise money for our community. What is Workforce Investment Solutions? It is a federally-funded program through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The state of Illinois, through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, administers and allocates the funding. Macon County is the grant recipient and the chairman of the county board, Jay Dunn, is designated as the chief elected official. All funds are administered through Macon County. Workforce is comprised of dedicated professionals committed to meeting the needs of a growing workforce in Macon and DeWitt counties. It is our mission to provide businesses with qualified employees by enhancing their skills and abilities through training and education. What are the primary challenges facing our workforce development? The primary challenges include; job seekers who lack skill-sets for available jobs and lack of knowledge of where/how to access services. Macon and DeWitt Counties are rich with resources. The main concern is the lack of awareness of what services and/or resources are available in our community. Workforce has developed a Business Services Team, comprised of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services, Economic Development Corporation for Decatur and Macon County, the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Richland Community College and the city of Decatur. This team understands the services/resources available and is committed to addressing the needs and concerns of our local employers. We understand there is a community need for workers in health care, manufacturing and transportation and logistics. We also see a need to increase the awareness of apprenticeships and careers in the building/construction trades. The goal is to grow these occupational areas so that we can have a pool of applicants for the future needs of local employers. What steps are being taken to address these challenges? Workforce, and the partners at the Illinois workNet Center, provide an array of services for job seekers and businesses. Staff at the center can assist job seekers with resume development, interviewing skills, on-line applications and job search. Workforce may be able to assist the job seeker with skill upgrades such as; tuition, fees, books, transportation, child care, etc. Workforce can assist businesses with recruitment, candidate screening and skill assessments. Workforce also has resources to offer on-the-job training incentives to employers for a hire first/train later strategy. This incentive can reimburse an employer 50 percent of the wages of a new hire for up to 6 months. What is the Richland/Workforce Consortium? It is a partnership between Workforce Investment Solutions and Richland Community College. The Consortium is funded by an Adult Education and Family Literacy grant through the Illinois Community College Board. The Consortium will hold adult education classes downtown at the Decatur Public Library. Classes include free High School Equivalency (HSE), GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL) and BRIDGE programs to provide students with basic skills before transitioning to college and/or employment. What is the role of Workforce Investment Solutions in the Consortium? Workforce will provide BRIDGE programs in three occupational areas health care, manufacturing and hospitality. Students will enroll in a two-week session of essential/soft skills course before moving into the occupational-specific BRIDGE program. BRIDGE programs are designed to offer students the opportunity to increase their basic math and reading literacy while learning skills in occupational-specific sectors. Programs will begin in 2018. Workforce will also be involved with the recruitment, assessment and selection of candidates for the program. In addition, Workforce will provide students with case management, resume development, interview techniques, job search and job placement. What is the role of Richland Community College in the consortium? Richland Community College Adult Education Department will provide GED, English as a Second Language and Certified Nursing Assistant classes. They will assist students to transition into post-secondary education by helping them through the process of registration, academic advising and financial aid. Richland will also allow us to better align a partnership with Project Read, who is already located in the Decatur Public Library. Adult education has always connected with Project Read, but it will be easier for our customers/students by being located in the same building. Its a win-win. What is the role of city of Decatur/Decatur Public Library in the consortium? The library provides an excellent location to base the consortium and its classes. It is downtown and very easy to access. How can job seekers get involved? We would like to invite anyone who is looking for a job or employment services to come to the Illinois workNet center and take advantage of the resources. Whether its to develop a resume, gain interview skills, look for employment or talk to a career planner, we want them to know we are here to help. They can call (217) 875-8750, ext. 231. Or just come in, we are located at 757 W. Pershing Road in Decatur. How can employers get involved? Employers looking for assistance with hiring and/or training can contact me at (217) 875-8720. They can also contact anyone with the Business Services Team. The team wants to help in any way we can. We'd be remiss if we didn't ask about your name. My parents were watching a movie and there was a little girl with blonde hair named Rocki. My dad told my mom that is what they are going to name their daughter. My real name is Rockanne, but Rocki has stuck with me even before I was born. Every day as we watch the national news, it seems there is a major problem. Not a week slips by without someone complaining about our president being involved in a big controversy. Two themes that never seem to be resolved are his involvement with Russia and how he prejudiced the election. The one-year anniversary of President Trumps election just passed, and according to all reports, he has turned our country upside down and inside out. Many claims are made that he is not following up on his campaign promises. When he makes attempts to do so, political blocks are placed in his way. As I see it, the president has made mistakes, but he has also made some positive advances. According to all reports, his promises to increase employment have brought good results. Every time he tries to make a move to change the status quo, however, his opponents, in both parties, rise up in opposition. There are members of his party very unhappy with his election who refuse to support him and constant resistance exists. The people are watching as the political friction continues and a demonstration of dissatisfaction was evident in the recent elections nationwide. Proof that the Democratic Party is alive and in a recovery phase was evident. Political pundits are spinning lots of optimistic forecasts of sweeping victories to come, but the fall of the Republican Party is not likely. Its time for younger voters to express their opinions about where our country is headed. It would be wise for them to observe how long many of the congressional representatives have held office. Isnt it time to look for fresh, new ideas? A recent report regarding the age of many of those serving in government was shocking. Our current congressional congress is one of the oldest in history. The Democrats are leading the old-age race. According to the online blog, Quorum, Democratic leaders in the house are two decades older than their Republican counterparts, and some of them are double the age of their constituents. It just cant be possible a person in their mid-80s is capable of guiding our nation. President Trump has been beating the drum for term limits, but it would take a constitutional amendment and a vote of two-thirds of the entire congress to accomplish. With so many old-timers serving in the present assembly, there is little hope of any proposal succeeding. I have beat my own drum for many years. We need new people in office with new ideas to move our country forward. We are mired down in past policies that just dont fit into the worlds evolving environment. A new political party would be a breath of fresh air that could sweep away all the old, stale ideas that never work. We need people who will support changes that will make our country stronger. If the elected officials seated are not advancing our communities, counties, state and nation, can we really afford to leave them in office? Capt. Fred Davis is a retired charter captain and nationally published author of boating articles. His "As I See It" columns appear Saturday in the Huron Daily Tribune. BAD AXE Although it was a short meeting, this week's Huron County Board of Commissioners Committee Meeting of the Whole generated some productive discussion. Here are some of the highlights: Safety Committee: Chairman John L. Bodis reported that Dr. Russell L. Bush, medical director for the Huron County Health Department, may retire from that position. However, Bush will remain the countys medical examiner. While Bush oversees numerous counties in his role as director, Bodis added the state would like each county to have its own medical director. Sharing the service with other counties, Bodis said, saves Huron $100,000. Legislative Committee: Chairman John A. Nugent said the project to equip the Huron County Nature Center with electricity is ago, following successful negotiations between the Huron County Road Commission and DTE Energy. The $14,000 project is fully funded thanks to donations, but Nugent said additional costs might come from retrofitting the building for heat. Nugent also reported on a website operated and maintained with private funds by Huron County Prosecutor Timothy J. Rutkowski. Either hes paying out of pocket, or someone else is paying on his behalf, Nugent said. Nugent also noted that there is no county policy regarding employees maintaining personal websites. Regarding Rutkowski's private website, it appears to be the official website of the Huron County Prosecutor's Office, including having the seal of that office on that site. Finance Committee: Chairman Ron Wruble said the county treasurer and county clerk are tweaking the 2018 budget to accommodate the numbers for steps and grade increases, as well as benefits and legacy costs. Unknowns remain, however, with ongoing contract negotiations. Contracts expire in December. Wruble said that in early December, he hopes to publish and post the budget, and present it to the board for approval by the end of the year. Agencies Committee: Committee Chairman Steve Vaughan touched on several issues, including the effects of opioid addiction on county residents. He also reported that Friday morning, he will be picking up potatoes from Walther Farms for distribution to food pantries. Vaughan added that someone broke into the Kinde Food Pantry this past weekend. Properties Committee: Chairman Todd Talaski said H&H Roofing has reported that half of the roof on the County Building complete. H&H would like half of the pay, and will complete the project in the spring due to recent inclement weather. Chairmans Report: Chairman Sami Khoury reported on the Michigan Association of Counties Region VII meeting Monday at Bay Shore Camp. Featured speakers were camp Director Jeff Parsons and Huron County Circuit Court Judge Gerald M. Prill. Parsons provided an overview of the camp, and Prill spoke about the countys recently-formed Families Against Narcotics chapter. Personnel Committee: Chairman David G. Peruski reported there would be a Personnel Committee meeting after the Committee of the Whole meeting. UPPER THUMB -- The focus of wind development is blowing in a different direction in Tuscola County and on into Huron County as well. NextEra Energy Resources LLC is applying for special land use permits for wind development in Juniata Township as part of their Pegasus Wind Energy Center. The township board will review the applications during a special public hearing 7 p.m. Monday, at the township hall. "The plan for that project is 63 turbines with 31 in Juniata Township and 32 in Fairgrove Township," said Bryan Garner, manager of communications for NextEra Energy Resources. "It is a $200 million investment, and would generate about 150 million megawatts of power. There would be 350 construction jobs during the project, and then seven to 12 full-time jobs when completed." If all goes according to plan, completion of that project is expected by the end of 2018. "Over the life of the project -- 30 years -- it would generate about $35 million in property taxes and for the landowners," Garner said. Although townships around Juniata have been receptive to wind development, there are concerns turbine construction in Juniata would be too close to the Tuscola Area Airport. "The total height of the turbines to the tip of the blade is just under 500 feet," he said. "We understand the concerns about the airport and we will be working with the airport and the township. The Pegasus Energy Center will tie in with our Tuscola Wind I and Tuscola Wind II in Tuscola County, and with our Pheasant Run (wind) farm in Huron County." Even though NextEra is working on the Pegasus Wind Energy Center, it doesn't mean then have given up on the proposed Tuscola Wind III project in Almer and Ellington townships. Earlier this month, U.S. Federal District Court Judge Thomas Ludington sided with Almer Township officials against NextEra Energy Resources LLC in lawsuit filed by the energy company. Tuscola Wind III LLC, which is a subsidiary of NextEra, filed a lawsuit against Almer Township and the township board alleging there was an effort to stop the energy company from developing a wind farm of 55 turbines in those two townships. Despite the decision the issues between Almer Township and NextEra's Tuscola Wind are not over, according to Garner noting NextEra has not given up on developing Tuscola Wind III. "Only part of the lawsuit was decided on," he said. "There are still other issues." Tuscola Wind III has a similar lawsuit pending against Ellington Township that is still pending in court. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CASS CITY Cass City is learning that it takes a village's children to feed everyone. About 100 kids from 4-H, FFA and Cass City High School's agriscience program donate their time, hard work and fundraising skills to making sure that healthy protein is available to residents of this food desert. Fresh meat and produce cannot be purchased affordably within a 15-mile radius. Having endured years without a grocery store, the area's needy families are especially grateful this holiday season for a local food pantry that makes healthy eating possible. By spring, students from Cass City's Meating the Need for our Village Hunger Project will have raised and donated nearly 7,000 pounds of fresh protein to the Revive Ministries Food Pantry over three years, as well as 500 gallons of milk. This month alone, the program donated 98 chickens to the pantry. Another donation of 215 gallons of milk came last week via Joe Bixler and Trey Smith of Port Huron, also knows as Salt and Pepper on their Facebook show. Revive purchases fruits and vegetables from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, from which it receives 50 to 60 percent of its food for distribution to some 75 local families. Gail Tuckey, administrator for Revive, said there is currently no need to purchase meat from the food bank because of the donations from the hunger project. Addy Battel, 15, of Cass City, helps out by raising poultry on her familys farm, alongside her sister, Dori, 11. Addy Battel and her friends started working with Revive three years ago following the closure of Cass Citys grocery store. Of her friends that help in the effort to provide food to the community, Battel said: We cant drive yet. We dont have a lot of money. But we do know how to raise meat, and talk to farmers and get funds for milk our focus is high-quality protein. The hunger program has raised $15,000 so far for the project in grant funds and donations. Even if the town gets a grocery store, Battel said, the youth dont plan to let up on donations to food pantries. We will keep donating. If having a grocery store in town allows us to expand the project to other food pantries, that would be great, she said. Bixler told the Tribune that Battel and other youth who help feed the community are an inspiration. Its heartwarming, he said. It also gives me a lot of hope. His hope springs from the fact that first, these kids see a need. Secondly, they take action. They dont just sit around and complain, he said. They do something about it. The 75 low-income families monthly that Revive serves could increase, especially over the holidays, Tuckey said. Theres a lot of people who cant make it on a Saturday morning, she added. So were trying to offer more hours. The pantry will continue to serve the community from 10 to 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of the month. Hours have been added the following Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. and Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. The food pantry serves those in the Cass City School district, which includes residents from Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties. The food pantrys monthly income limits, according to Revives website, are as follows: Single-person household: $1,945 Two-person: $2,622 Three-person: $3,299 Four-person: $3,976 Five-person: $4,653 Six-person: $5,330 Seven-person: $6,007 Eight-person: $6,684 (Add $667 for each additional family member.) Personal identification and proof of income are required. For more information, call Revive at 989-551-7803. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FAIRFIELD Its just another early evening rush at the Stag, Fairfield Universitys on-campus eatery as student pile in to see what looks good. Just a snack, CJ Enwright tells himself out loud, looking up at the menu. Ana Hall goes for the sushi. For Caroline Maffei, its chips and a soda. Others line up at the register wallets in hand, or scout out a booth. More Information Autism Facts The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism's prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. Each year, an estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults - and lose school-based autism services. By 2020, the number of American adults on the autism spectrum is expected to reach 3 million. In June 2014, only 19.3 percent of people with disabilities in the U.S. were participating in the labor force - working or seeking work. See More Collapse For these dozen students who are all on the autism spectrum, this isnt a break from class, this is part of class. This is two-fold for us, Alyson Martin, an assistant professor and co-director of special education at Fairfield U. It addresses issues of transition for students with autism, helping them prepare for post high school life, and brings autism awareness to campus. The Transition Opportunities for Post-secondary Success course, or TOPS, is a collaboration between the universitys Graduate School of Education and the Kennedy Center, a Trumbull-based provider of services for individuals with disabilities. Many students with autism spectrum disorder are highly capable of succeeding at a university academically but often are challenged due to the lack of critical social and life skills, Kennedy Center President Martin Schwartz said. For graduate students in Martins Introduction to Autism class, it offers field experience as they act as assistants in the class. This is really my first time working with special education adults, said Peter Watson, a special education classroom aide in Darien. Its really interesting to go to everyday activities with them. Watson is working toward a special education certificate. Learning soft skills Autism encompasses a variety of conditions that can include challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication and sometimes unique strengths. There are many types, including Aspergers Syndrome, or high-functioning autism. More high-functioning young adults with autism are going to college. How many is uncertain. There are 60 colleges with specialized programs and the number of students with autism at all colleges is drastically increasing, said Jane Thierfeld Brown, a clinical professor at Yale and director of Yales College Autism Spectrum program. We do not have good numbers, as most college students do not identify to the school as having autism. The Fairfield program is not for students currently attending the university but rather participants ages 18-21 who found out about it through the Kennedy Center. Over the span of 10 weeks, the class will have visited the campus RecPlex, library, art gallery and book store to work on communication skills, problem-solving and practice spatial awareness. The transition to adulthood is difficult for all young people, particularly for those with autism, Wendy Bloch, an administrator of therapeutic services at the Kennedy Center, said. Often, they fail not academically, but socially. TOPS helps work on the soft skills. When it started this fall, officials hoped to attract six to eight students. A dozen signed up. For many, a good chunk of the $300 tuition fee is subsidized by grants. Participants come from Fairfield, Newtown, Ansonia, Shelton, Stratford and Bridgeport. Some are already taking post high-school courses. Hall, of Bridgeport, is taking a class at Gateway Community College in New Haven. On Mondays, Isabel Shaw said she attends RISE (Reaching Independence through Supported Education), a collaboration between Sacred Heart University and Cooperative Education Services of Trumbull. That program also helps students develop vocational, social and personal management skills through a variety of university campus- and community-based activities. On a recent nights TOPS class, students signed in and picked up small white boards to doodle on until everyone arrived. Before the visit to the snack bar, they prepared. Hands shot up when asked if they brought money. They were asked to think about what they might want to order. Do we leave our stuff here? one student asked. All but your purse, jacket and phone, Jen Narcisco, a Kennedy Center art therapist who assists with the class, told them. After the visit, the class returned to their third-floor classroom at Canisius Hall to talk about what they liked and something they learned. Enright, from Stratford, said he liked hanging out with his friends and learned that a campus snack bar is pretty much like a diner. Charlie Eagleson of Newtown said he learned the student center where the snack bar is located has a service elevator across from the bookstore that only employees can use. After students left, Martin remained with members of her graduate-level Autism Spectrum Course. Jessica Grabowski, a Westport second-grade teacher working on a special education certification, called the experience amazing. This is nothing you can get out of a textbook. Its hands on, she said. The Fairfield U program is still evolving but will continue into the spring and perhaps the summer. This program comes at a crucial time for college-ready students with ASD due to recent state budget cuts for such transitional services, Martin said. Its much needed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Courtesy of Connecticut State Police Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Courtesy of Connecticut State Police Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Courtesy of Connecticut State Police Show More Show Less 5 of 5 CROMWELL Michael Rogers, of Wethersfield, died here early Saturday in a single-car crash off Interstate 91, and a second driver also crashed his car near that spot a few hours later, hitting the back of a Connecticut State Police cruiser, according to a press release from Trooper Kelly Grant. The accident took place at about 1:35 a.m., the release said, when Rogers Hyundai Genesis was traveling north on I-91, veered off the roadway to the right, through the soft shoulder, across an entrance ramp and into some trees. SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Supreme Court has denied Alan's Beaman's appeal in his claim that three former Normal police officers urged prosecutors to charge him in the death of his former girlfriend. Beaman, now 45, was released from prison in 2008 after the high court reversed his murder conviction in the 1993 strangling death of Jennifer Lockmiller, an Illinois State University student from Decatur who was Beaman's former girlfriend. In a Facebook posting after the court decision Wednesday denying his appeal, Beaman said "while I am grateful that the same court released me over nine years ago, they still had an obligation to follow through in seeking complete justice for the 13 years I spent wrongfully convicted." The Supreme Court ruling was issued without comment. Beaman, who now lives in Rockford with his wife and two children, received a certificate of innocence from the state and a pardon from former Gov. Pat Quinn. An earlier appellate court ruling stated there was no evidence of pressure or undue influence by the officers on former McLean County prosecutor James Souk to file the murder charges against Beaman. David Shapiro, one of lawyers who handled the unsuccessful lawsuits filed in federal and state court since Beaman's release, also expressed disappointment with the ruling that ends Beaman's legal options against the police and prosecutors involved in the Lockmiller investigation. "Alan is an American hero massively wronged and denied the justice and recompense he deserves," Shapiro said. The alleged misconduct by former Normal officers Tim Freesmeyer, Dave Warner and Frank Zayas should not taint the public's view of all law enforcement and prosecutors, Beaman said in his social media post. "In order to properly back the badge, it is essential to protect our mostly good cops from the bad attitudes and now glorified entitlement of a few of their properly trained peers. Police misconduct has become an epidemic and while our courts look the other way, it will only get worse," wrote Beaman. On Friday, Beaman told The (Bloomington) Pantagraph he supports a Conviction Integrity Unit in McLean County to review previous murder convictions. State's Attorney Jason Chambers said previously that he could consider such a unit if the county saw a high volume of potential exoneration cases. Beaman also supports better police training to prevent the use of what the Supreme Court termed tenuous evidence in his case and greater awareness of the potential harm of wrongful convictions. "American deserves better than a polarized and willful ignorance of the potential fallibility of our public officials," Beaman said. In September, Normal police said the Lockmiller investigation is considered inactive, but could be reopened if new information is obtained. No forensic testing or investigative work is pending in the case, according to Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner. Officials say the device was known as an "unexploded ordnance," or an explosive weapon that did not explode and still posed a... MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, MI - About 40 minutes southwest of Ann Arbor, escapees, former laboratory research subjects and neglect survivors happily wander the verdant vista of SASHA Farm. One tenant waddled through the dust, past a towering neighbor, to attract the attention of Bob Harvie, who promptly scooped the feathered familiar up during a tour earlier this year. "This is my friend Duck Duck," said Harvie, a tour guide and member of the farm's Board of Directors, laughing as the goose poked his beak toward Bhima, a type of Indian-bred cattle called a Gyr. Duck Duck and Bhima are just a few the fluctuating, but roughly 200 animals that live at the sanctuary, Harvie said as Duck Duck followed along on the tour. There's Miles, a suspected American bulldog-pitbull mix, who survived Hurricane Katrina, but broke his leg jumping off a porch roof to get to a companion dog, Harvie said, and Jefferson, named for his escape from a slaughterhouse down Jefferson Avenue in Detroit in 2003. Dozing on bales of hay was Jordan, pig that was used as a backup in case other pigs were killed in a study at research facility, Harvie said, and not too far away was Flopsy and Frankie, goats that were taken from a hoarding case in Calhoun County. The sanctuary was started almost by accident by Monte Jackson and Dorothy Davies in 1981, the way Jackson explains it. The two wanted to get out of the suburbs, he said, and got some goats and chickens. They then slowly started to take in animals in need, and, as Jackson said it, "one thing led to another." SASHA Farm, named both after a beloved dog of the couple and used as an acronym for Sanctuary And Safe Haven for Animals, officially became a non-profit in 2001. "A lot of animals come here from desperate need from neglect and abuse," he said. "We've tried to provide a very peaceful and relaxing atmosphere for them." The goal, Harvie said, is to give the animals a permanent, safe place to live. But the mission goes a bit deeper than that. Though Jackson said the sanctuary isn't attempting to take on the meat industry, the operation, donation and primarily volunteer based, is also vegan, down to the clothes volunteers wear and the food they serve the animals. "What we do with animals in this county is not good," Jackson said. "We just try to educate people, give them an option by teaching through example." The farm hopes to do just that at a number of their regular events throughout the year, including a Thanksgiving for Animals event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26 at 17901 Mahrle Road in Manchester Township. The event will pay tribute to the turkeys killed this year and turkeys at the farm will eat a pumpkin pie memorial feast. Human guests will be served free coffee and cider, and a vegan bake sale also will be available. Proceeds from the event, donations of $20 for adults and $10 for children older than 5 years old, will be used for winter farm expenses and veterinary bills. "We want people to know that each one of these animals are deserving of having a life and not to be stuck in a feed lot or not to be stuck in a bad situation where people aren't taking care of them ..." Harvie said. "I mean, we want them to not eat animal products, we'd prefer that they didn't, but at least to come out and maybe make a connection during one of our events." For more information on the Thanksgiving for Animals event or to donate to the farm, click here. Flint Northwestern graduate, Betty Davis, 18, celebrates after receiving her diploma alongside more than 235 other graduates from Flint Community Schools at the annual joint commencement ceremony on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at Dort Federal Event Center in Flint. More than three months later, she is struggling to make her dream become a reality. To leave her challenging childhood behind, join the military, move to Texas and later attend college to study criminal justice. "A lot of my classmates are all going through the same thing as me this summer. They keep telling me the same things that I have been thinking, 'ah man this is hard, I want to go back to high school, I want to try to start over and make it better for myself,'" Betty said. Don't Edit STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHANNON MILLARD FLINT, MI -- Sitting on the floor gazing into an oversized, smudged mirror resting against the wall, Betty Davis applies makeup as her nieces and nephews run around the house completing their chores. The large room features a speaker system pointing out the window, a television playing Sponge Bob to no one in particular and bedding piled into a corner creating a makeshift couch. Bar stools from the dining area are slid onto the soiled carpet as Aniyla Green, 4, and Byron Green, 6, Betty's sister's children, fight over the broom. Betty settles the fight and sprinkles carpet deodorizer powder across the floor as she slams off the television. Today, Betty was getting her senior photos taken, three months after her graduation. For her, this was normal, doing things her own way, out of order but getting them done. "I am going through a bunch of stuff right now, but I am going to get through it like I always do," said the 18-year-old Betty as she clipped extensions into her hair. Don't Edit Betty chops tomatoes for dinner alongside her cousins as they snack on bananas in their home on the 2000 block of Cadillac Street in Flint on July 2. "With graduating high school I feel like I have accomplished what people didn't think I could. It feels so good to me because I know now I can do anything. If I can overcome my past and everything I have been through than being an adult shouldn't be as hard. It is going to be very challenging but I know am going to eventually get through it, like I do everything else," Betty said. Don't Edit "I don't really like Flint, I am not going to lie, I really don't like Flint," Betty said. "If it was my choice, I wouldn't be here. Flint does have potential. I am proud to wear Flint on my back because I also have a lot of potential myself that I would like to share with the world. But, because I am labeled as a Flint girl, it is hard for people to see the potential in us and in Flint at all." Betty said teen are labeled as young and pregnant, being in jail, prostitutes and high school dropouts, not being able to graduate college or afford it. "I have been labeled as a lot of things but I don't let that define who I am, I don't let that get to me," she said. "I try to show that I am different. When people don't live here or see it for themselves they go by the media or what the majority see and I am not the majority. I try on my end to make a change here, as much as I can." Don't Edit On the floor of her sister Mary Cassel's home, Betty straightens her hair while babysitting Mary's children on Aug. 16, 2017 in Flint. "Graduating high school has opened my eyes," Betty said. "Now I am doing everything alone, well not alone but on my own. Usually, I would have people to ask questions to, my family and friends, I had them to fall back on but now I am doing things on my own. I am adapting, it is not going to happen overnight." Don't Edit Don't Edit As told by Betty and her father, L.C. Davis, 62, and mother, Laura Davis, Betty was born a crack baby. Her mother has struggled with drug addiction. L.C. favored drink. Betty grew up in and out of foster care due to the unsafe environment of her home. "It is hard for me to remember that time, it is fuzzy for me," said L.C. I believe they were put in foster care in 2002 before my youngest son was born. I don't struggle with alcoholism. I drank heavily in my younger days, when my kids were taken away. I went through parenting classes and treatment centers. I was the most stable parent there was for them. I was doing everything I could to get my kids back, but you know, I didn't have a stable home for them. The things the agency wants you to have," he continued. "I left Flint about three years ago because of the domestic violence." Don't Edit Sitting in a chair outside her home, Mary Cassel, 33, watches her children play basketball in the street as Betty Davis drinks water from a gallon jug on Aug. 15, 2017 in Flint. Cassel shares the home with her mother Laura Daivs, 53, and sister Betty. "I was five when I moved to Flint," Betty said. "Growing up here was hard because we didn't have anything to come to when we moved from Milwaukee in 2002. It was a fresh start. I was in and out of foster care my whole life. I had to hold up a certain type of profile when I got to school but I knew what I was going home to. It was difficult for me because I had to play so many different roles." Don't Edit "Flint has its flaws, the school systems, the poverty rate and murders are at an all time high," Betty said. "You have to get through the mess and then you can see that there are some things that you can get from Flint that you can't find anywhere else. The struggle of growing up here has pushed me to be the person I am today. With that said, my time in Flint is up, I can't be here any longer. It's not that it is so bad here, it is just that it is my time. I need to go explore life without my past. There is so much here that I can't get past, so I just need to go." Don't Edit Betty recalls being told at a young age she would never graduate high school. But she can proudly say she proved them all wrong. On June 6, 2017, she walked across a scaffold stage dressed in a bright-yellow gown with white flowers glued to her cap. Betty and 234 other graduates from Flint Community Schools celebrated their commencement that day, all proving they are not part of a statistic. "I feel like I have accomplished what people didn't think I could," said Betty. "It feels so good to me because I know now I can do anything. If I can overcome my past and everything I have been thought, then being an adult shouldn't be as hard. It is going to be very challenging but I know am going to eventually get through it, like I do everything else. I am very happy. I really want to go back to graduation day, like it felt so good to say I made it." Don't Edit Michigan National Guard Staff Sgt. Keith Palka measures Betty Davis' height during a meeting to take the practice Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), test and gauge her readiness to join the military on July 11, 2017. "To join the Army you need to score a 31 or higher, Navy 35, Marines 31, Air Force 36, and Coast Guard 45 on the ASVAB," Palka said. "Betty can take the real test if she scores over 15 but if she is under she can study and try again or we may end up telling her the National Guard is not for her." Don't Edit Don't Edit Betty reacts as she learns she scored a 29 on her practice test but did not pass the physical requirements needed to sign up in the Flint Michigan National Guard recruiters office on July 11, 2017. "I am going to start classes for college online," said Betty a month after the meeting while mapping out her plan. "I am still going into the Army, but I am planning to do active for 3 years. If I do not get into to that, I will go into the reserves or guard, then transfer to Texas." Don't Edit Betty Davis, 18, lifts up her sweatshirt for Staff Sgt. Keith Palka to measure her waist, hips and neck. Standing her tallest at 5 feet, 5 inches and weighing 204 pounds, Betty did not meet the physical requirements to join the military. She needs to lose 40 pounds based on the Army body fat calculator to be at 30% body fat. "The military is my way of getting out of Flint. I can't just up and leave. Outside of Flint, I just want to explore life without family, without being comfortable and the Army is kind of my starting point," Betty said. Don't Edit Holding a high school diploma opens doors but it does not provide a clear map of how to succeed. Betty graduated from Flint Northwestern High School with a precise plan. Join the Army, move to Texas, attend Wiley College to study criminal justice. "(Joining the military) is my way of getting out. Getting out of Flint, I can't just up and leave. Outside of Flint, I just want to explore life without family, without being comfortable, and the Army is kind of my starting point," said Betty. Bettys plans changed when she met with the recruiting officer, Staff Sgt. Keith Palka. She busted tape, as the army calls it, when she weighed in at 204 pounds and a height of 5 feet 5 inches. The Army standards are 30 percent body fat, meaning she would have to lose over 40 pounds before she could join according to Staff Sgt. Palka. Don't Edit Claude Monet-Wilson, 20, trains with Betty Davis, 18, as she works out to drop weight to join the Army on the track at Flint Northwestern High School on July 3, 2017, on the city's north side. Claude is in the National Guard and has been Betty's best friend since early in high school. "I already dropped 10 pounds," said Betty, one month into training. "I am on my way. I am doing the military diet as I speak. I already scored well on my practice test, so I just need to go to Corunna and take the real test. I run the block like four times, they told me to stay focused on running because that is not my foray." Don't Edit Claude Monet-Wilson, with the Michigan National Guard, pushes Betty Davis during a workout and challenges her to not give up, during a stretch and water break on July 3, 2017 on Flint's north side. "Knowing Claude has been through everything in the Army kept the fear part out of my head. I thought I was going to die going into the military. I know I will be home sick so knowing people that are in the Army keep me uplifted and focused on what is important," Betty said. Don't Edit Don't Edit She instantly enlisted her best friend and boyfriend Claude Monet-Wilson, 20, who was serving in the National Guard, to help her drop the weight. In one month, Betty dropped 10 pounds but still has a way to go - making it evident her plans were going to have to change. New plan: Stick it out in Flint. Don't Edit Lea'Monai Cassel, Betty's niece, grabs at the dog tags wrapped around her neck on June 2, 2017 as her family gathers in the front yard in Flint. Betty wears her the dog tags of Claude Monet-Wilson, her best friend who became her boyfriend. Don't Edit Laura Davis, right, Aniyla Green, 4, Byron Green, 6, Erik Cassel Jr., 3, Elijah Green, 2, and Betty Davis, 18, make s'mores on Aug. 15, 2017. Don't Edit "I wanted to be the President of the United States as a kid," Betty said as she looks at photos of her as a child on Aug. 25. "I swear I did. When I saw Obama win, I was in fourth grade and we were watching the news in class. And I was like, 'Oh my god! If he can do it, then I can do it.' So then I was going around like, 'Yeah, I am going to be the President.' Then I just thought about it and I was like, 'I'm not going to be the President, I don't like taking control all the time.'" As Betty reached seventh grade, she changed her mind to becoming a lawyer, which led to her path to study criminology and forensic psychology. Don't Edit On her first attempt, Betty was not admitted to Olivet College, a private liberal arts college 87 miles southwest of Flint. She wrote an appeals letter and they reversed their decision. She is looking for a job after quitting her last job when she said an employee would not stop making advances on her. She is homeless, jobless and spending her days babysitting her sister's children. "Graduating high school opened my eyes to that fact that, now I am doing everything alone, well not alone but on my own. Usually, I would have people to ask, my family being one of them, my friends, I had them to fall back on, but now I am doing things on my own to get a better outcome moving away. I am adapting, it is not going to happen overnight. I planned to be gone by the end of summer but I am still here," said Betty on the front porch of her sister's house, sitting in a white plastic lawn chair drinking from a gallon jug of water. Don't Edit Don't Edit Betty stands in the living room looking at a family photo with her father, mother and siblings hanging on the wall explaining the relationship she has with them on Aug. 25, 2017 at her sister's home. "Being the youngest girl is hard. Everybody is not ready for me to grow up," she said. Her mother, Laura Davis, 53 responded, "They aren't really sure that you are ready for what this world has to offer." Betty said she believes there is a lot of stuff she could learn from her family, but is ready for the next chapter in her life. "They had 18 years, if they could not invest in me during those years, then I'm going to have to figure it out on my own," Betty said. "If that means I have to be hit with everything, then I will get hit with everything and I don't expect for my family to be there to pick me up. I gotta pick myself up and dust myself off. I love my family dearly and I would do anything for them, but I have a certain tolerance for them." Don't Edit Betty, center, is surrounded by her mother, siblings, cousins and nieces and nephews for a family photo. Siblings were visiting Flint from Milwaukee for the Fourth of July. "I can't stand my family sometimes. I love them but I can't stand them. There are a lot of us. It is hard because you never know what to expect when we all meet up because they all have their crazy parts," Betty said. She is the youngest girl out of twelve children. Her mother and father have six children together and each had three before their marriage. Don't Edit Standing outside of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in Flint, Betty texts her family to check in on her cousins that she was babysitting before going to a Michigan youth opportunities initiative meeting. "It is a foster care-based group for children that are in the system to give them independent living skills and help them through the process by giving them a voice," she said. Don't Edit From the time Betty was a freshman in April 2014, the Flint water crisis was taking shape. Flint was again making national news. "I don't really like Flint, I am not going to lie, I really don't like Flint. If it was my choice I wouldn't be here. But, Flint does have potential, I am proud to wear Flint on my back because I also have a lot of potential myself that I would like to share with the world. But, because I am labeled as a Flint girl it is hard for people to see the potential in us and in Flint at all. I kind of like wearing the Flint name but then again sometimes I am like 'come on, y'all, we can we can do better. We are giving them the reason to say what they say about Flint." Labels Betty has noticed being placed on Flint are people being young and pregnant, prostitutes, being in jail, high school dropouts and not being able to graduate college or afford it. "Because of my mother's actions, we don't have a typical mother-daughter relationship. I have to keep my distance. Our relationship is more like a foster mother, Betty said. I don't get too close to a foster mother, but she does show points where she cares but I wouldn't trust her with anything. It is all because of her, and the fact that she can't apologize and own up to what she did is why we will forever be the way we are now. I told myself when I left here I am done with her. Don't Edit Betty Davis, 18, teaches her dance team a move to the song "The Water Dance," by Chris Porter featuring Pitbull at a park near downtown Flint on the corner of West Fifth Street and Church Street. The co-ed group, calls Perfect Devine, is made up of friends and her 16-year-old brother Corey Davis. "I started Perfect Devine because a lot of my friends dealt with a depression and issues. I wanted to save kids my age from doing stuff they don't have any business doing, (like) smoking, drinking and partying. There is more out there than just being crazy," Betty said. The group would also spend time outside of practice together. Perfect Devine stopped practicing and split up the group in late August. "The group ended because members grew up and grew out of it. Some people are going to college or training and others are going back to high school," Betty said. Don't Edit Don't Edit Betty laughs surrounded by friends and family as music comes blaring out of the speakers set up at her graduation party in a park in downtown Flint. "Being a teenager in Flint, it is really easy and people make it seem as if it is hard. It is not hard to say no to weed. It is not hard to say no to drinking and partying. It is a choice. You choose to do that. Now, if you use your time wisely with working and just setting out your goals and writing them out and saying this is what I want to do, then you will do it. You just have to believe you can do it and not listen to the people who say you can't. Your neighbor doesn't dictate what happens in your life," Betty said. Don't Edit Betty Davis, 18, plays ring "Ring Around the Rosie" with her nephews and nieces in the front yard as the sun sets on Aug. 15 in Flint. "I would tell freshman Betty, 'Don't mess up, stay focused.' Your freshman year helps you throughout your high school career," she said. Don't Edit Bettys mother has 12 children, and she is the youngest of the dozen. Her mother and father have six children together and each had three before they were together. "Being the youngest girl is hard, everybody is not ready for me to grow up," said Betty. Her mother, Laura Davis, responded, "They aren't really sure that you are ready for what this world has to offer." Betty took a moment to think and then told her mother, "I know there is a lot of stuff I could learn from them but they had 18 years, if they could not invest in me during those years, then I'm going have to figure it out on my own," said Betty. "If that means I have to be hit with everything then I will get hit with everything and I don't expect for my family to be there to pick me up, I gotta pick myself up and dust myself off. I love my family dearly and I would do anything for them but I have a certain tolerance for them." Don't Edit Betty Davis, 18, is still struggling to find the right path for her after high school at Flint Northwestern. "I don't want to become just another statistic of Flint," Betty said. Don't Edit Today, Bettys life is still not set in stone. Her plans change periodically, but always keep the same tone. She currently works at Art Van Furniture, and is set to move into her own apartment mid-December. Then, she starts classes at Olivet College on campus and online starting in January 2018. Her dreams of joining the military are still at the top of her list and one day she hopes to make them come true. "I feel blessed that I have had all the struggles that I had growing up, said Betty on a late September day. "They taught me to persevere. Don't Edit Don't Edit "I don't have a normal relationship with my mom. My mother put me through so much, said Betty Davis. She was born a crack baby. Her mother, Laura Davis, 53, pictured holding her granddaughter, Lea'Monai Cassel, struggled with drug addiction and her father with alcoholism. "I don't know if she even knows half the stuff I had to do because of her ... (to get the) lights turned back on in our house, or the water or put food in the house. I had to do that to make sure my little brothers were living the proper way," Betty said. "Because of her, we don't have a typical mother daughter relationship. I have to keep my distance. Our relationship is more like a foster mother. I don't get too close to a foster mother but she does show points where she cares, but I wouldn't trust her with anything. It is all because of her, and the fact that she can't apologize and own up to what she did, is why we will forever be the way we are now. I told myself, when I leave here I am done with her." HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, MI -- A report of a flashlight inside of a closed business led police to the arrest a 48-year-old man and 16-year-old boy early Friday, Nov. 24. The two were inside of a vehicle seen leaving the 200 block of Douglas Avenue as police arrived at the scene. Deputies were dispatched there after someone called 911 about 4 a.m. to report a person with a flashlight inside of a closed business. Deputies stopped a vehicle leaving the area and found cash and property inside the vehicle. Police found evidence of two business break-ins in the area. The adult was taken to the Ottawa County Jail and the 16-year-old to the Ottawa County youth home. They area expected to be charged with breaking and entering and possession of burglary tools. Police also are investigating whether the pair could be responsible for other similar break-ins. Name: Michael Kehoe Age: 29 Occupation: Executive director of Johego City of residency: St. Louis, by way of Decatur Your company, Johego, was recently awarded a contract with the Missouri Foundation for Health. What does this mean for the company's future going forward? Johego is a nonprofit that develops software to connect people in need with essential services: overnight shelter, substance abuse treatment, and more. In the short term, this $270,000 award means that Johego will be able to expand our geographic coverage to 18 additional counties throughout Northeastern, Central, and Southwestern Missouri, which will allow nearly 1.1 million Missourians to find medical and social services using our software. In the long term, our work with Missouri Foundation for Health will position Johego favorably for additional expansion throughout Missouri and beyond. You've mentioned that you want to expand Johego's reach into Illinois someday. What inspires you to continue working to build your company? If I wanted to watch a particular movie at the theater, I could pull out my smartphone, go online, and purchase a ticket for a time and place that works with my schedule -- all within a matter of minutes. If, instead, I wanted to connect someone with mental health treatment, legal assistance, or other essential services, I might need hours or days to do so. It is my belief that connecting a friend or family member with essential services should be just as easy as buying tickets for movies, and I want as many people as possible to have that opportunity, no matter who and where they are. How did you celebrate Thanksgiving this year? I spent Thanksgiving with my parents in Decatur, enjoying classic family recipes and taking advantage of the good weather to walk some of it off. What are some things that you are most thankful for? I try to be thankful for as much as I can, but I am most thankful for the unconditional love and support of my parents and brother throughout my life. In your opinion, what's the best side dish to eat during the holidays? By far, my favorite side dish is stuffing, in almost any of its forms, since I almost never eat it outside of the holidays. For a well-educated 34-year-old, Dustin Kincaid doesn't earn much: His salary is in the "mid-20s," part of the price of being a doctoral student. Kincaid, who is finishing up his PhD in aquatic biology at Michigan State University, earns the money as a graduate assistant who teaches MSU classes and conducts research. Worth just as much as his salary is a MSU tuition waiver that allows him to take his graduate classes for free. He makes it all work, he says. But Kincaid's fragile finances could take a big hit under the House version of tax reform that would treat his tuition waiver as taxable income. The bill approved by the House would apply to all tuition waivers, including those offer to family members of university and college employees. It also would end the ability of other employers to offer tuition reimbursement as a tax-free benefit. About 145,000 graduate students and 27,000 undergraduates at U.S. colleges get such waivers, according to a 2012 survey. About half of employers offer some sort of tuition reimbursement, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. While the implications are broad, this particular change in the tax bill would hit graduate students particularly hard because the value of the tuition waivers typically is far greater than their income. "Everybody is riled up," Kincaid said about the graduate students at Michigan State. "There are lots of social media posts about it. This would have a big impact on us." The proposed change could double or even triple the taxable income of graduate students, especially those attending an out-of-state school. Kincaid, for instance, is from Wisconsin, which means his tuition waiver is worth twice that of a Michigan resident. In the same boat is Joy Johnson, a 33-year-old getting her PhD in education policy and math education at the University of Michigan. Her stipend for the regular school year is about $19,000 and her tuition waiver as an out-of-state student is worth about $40,000, she said. The proposed change would push her federal tax bill from $860 to $5,640. And that doesn't include the impact of two other provisions in the House bill: Taxpayers would not longer be able to deduct the student loan interest and graduate students would lose access to education tax credits. While he isn't borrowing money for graduate school, Kincaid said, he's a first-generation college student who took out loans to finance his undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin in Madison. The ability to deduct the interest payments has been a big help, he said. U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, voted for the GOP House tax bill and was touting the legislation this week in Lansing when he was asked about the proposed changes for college students. Bishop, whose House district includes MSU and Oakland University, said that "skyrocketing tuition rates" are "an issue for all us." "And how we resolved this issue was to remove the special credits and reductions ... and reduce rates for everybody," he said. "Every parent, every student who will incur debt in their education will benefit by this plan if you look at it as a whole and how it applies to each and every one of them," Bishop said. "If you focus on one deduction, one credit, you'll be disappointed because those are going, for the most part. What you're going to see though is if you apply this to the average family, the average student, it will be a benefit to them and to all," Bishop said. But Daniel Soleimani, a tax attorney with Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss in Southfield, said the House bill would "absolutely hava profound impact on the taxes of graduate students." "A very large chunk" of their income would go towards paying taxes on their tuition benefits, he said. What makes it particularly irksome for that group is that tuition waivers are a "cashless benefit," Soleimani said: Graduate students would be paying taxes on money they never see. If the House bill is approved by Congress, Kincaid said, "I'd probably have to borrow money from my dad" to pay his federal taxes. Both Kincaid and Johnson said they don't know they would have gone to graduate school if the House bill had been law when they made their decision. "There's already an opportunity cost to going to graduate school," in that she's foregoing a higher salary for the five or six years it takes to get a doctorate, Johnson said. "I think I would have chosen something else." The change also could hurt the ability of universities to attract international students. "I don't think it would make it viable for us," said Fernando Leme, a Brazilian getting his PhD in classical literature at University of Michigan. "It happens, I'll have to reconsider" staying at U-M, he said about the House tax bill. MSU sent an email this week to graduate students from Thomas D. Jeitschko, it assistant provost for graduate education. He said the bill could create "tremendous immediate hardship and have further adverse implications for us in years to come," he said. But Jeitschko also told the students there is "broad pushback" on the House bill's provisions targeting higher education and noted those provisions are not included in the Senate bill. Moreover, the email said, the Senate has "not shown any interest" in taxing tuition waivers and "key members of Congress who wrote the tax bill have publicly stated they will work to remove the provision once the bill comes back to them from the Senate." Johnson said she's among those hoping the House will reconsider its proposed changes involving higher education. "I just don't understand it," Johnson said. "If the point is trickle-down economics, why wouldn't you invest in research and development? Why would you hurt your best and brightest?" DECATUR As they say in show business, the fat lady has not yet sung for the Lincoln Square Theatre. The century-old fixture of downtown Decatur closed in May after the resignation of several board members, including President Adam White and Vice President Jake Bonnett. Now, remaining board members hope to reorganize and start raising money again in 2018 to restore the historic theater at 141 N. Main St. to its former glory. Every organization goes through a time where you have to pull back, reset and move forward again, said Greg Sullivan, one of 10 current board members. The theaters bylaws call for at least 12 members, Sullivan said, which means the current members are operating as a committee with no officers. Sullivan said new members will be appointed sometime in the coming months. Then, theyll set to work at the same task that has consumed those trying to revive the Lincoln over the past decade: raising money. Right now, the Lincoln just has enough money to cover its bills. The theater, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in October 2016, has played host to a number of high-profile acts throughout the citys history, including Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Al Jolson, Chico Marx, Louis Armstrong, Davy Jones and Alabama. Although it has been open off and on since the mid-2000s, and a number of renovations have been undertaken since then, a laundry list of problems remain. The main boiler stopped working last year, Sullivan said, and both interior and exterior work are still needed. As a board, weve got to sit down and piece together a multiphase budget plan as far as the renovations are concerned, he said. We need to start doing our capital campaign in pieces. Sullivan said the theater has been winterized to protect its pipes in the coming months. While its need are undeniable, Sullivan said the building overall is in decent shape, and he believes the board will transform it again into a viable part of downtown Decatur. For theater supporters and those who pass by and reflect sadly on its vacant state, Sullivan has a message: Stand by, he said. The old girl is coming back. She will be back. Breaking News At least five people, including a child, were killed and 19 others injured today in a suicide attack on security forces in the restive Balochistan province of Pakistan, police said. The attackers targeted the convoy of security forces on the Sariab road in the provincial capital Quetta, they said. The police confirmed that it was a suicide bomb attack on security forces convoy, the Geo News reported, adding five people were killed in the incident. "The target was the vehicle of the Frontier Corps commander, but he was not present in the vehicle when the bomb attack took place," a government official said. Earlier today, Civil Hospital Quetta Spokesperson Wasim Baig said they had received four dead bodies while 19 persons, including a child, were injured in the bomb explosion. The fifth person is believed to have died later at the hospital. "Some of the injured are still in critical condition as they were hit by shrapnels in the attack," Baig said. The attack came a day after senior police official of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ashraf Noor was killed in a suicide attack on his vehicle in the upscale Hayatabad neighbourhood of Peshawar. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban militants and Baloch nationalists often target security forces in the area. A senior Pakistani police officer and his three family members were killed by unidentified, motorcycle-borne militants in Balochistan on November 15. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Illyas who was on his way to market when he was killed in a targeted attack along with his wife, son and five-year-old granddaughter. A suspected suicide bomber killed Additional Inspector General Telecommunications Hamid Shakeel and three other police officers in a targeted attack in Quetta on November 9. Balochistan has been rocked by a series of attacks which raised concerns about a growing militant presence, including those affiliated with Islamic State, which has claimed several bombings in the restive province. The unrest has raised security concerns for projects in the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link from western China to Pakistan's southern Gwadar port. At least six police commandos and a civilian were killed last month when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a security force's convoy on the Quetta-Sibi Highway. In August this year, a massive suicide explosion, targeting Pakistan Army personnel in Quetta, left 15 people dead including seven civilians and injured at least 20 people. In June this year, 14 people, including seven policemen, were killed and 21 others were injured in a suicide car bombing on Gulistan Road in Balochistan. Air India Air India plans to introduce two non-stop flights per week between Birmingham and Amritsar in the new year to meet the increasing consumer demand from the Midlands region to Punjab, Birmingham Airport said in a statement on Friday. The airport's aviation director, William Pearson, said the new non-stop connection will add to the existing daily direct flight to Delhi. "With over 200,000 British-Indian people who travel to India to visit friends and relatives, and for tourism and business interests, this additional destination shows the large demand within the region for non-stop Amritsar services from the Midlands," he said. "Air India has been a successful partner for over four years and offers great connections to India with services operated by the new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft," he added. Pankaj Srivastava, director of commercial at Air India, said the new flights are in response to the consumer demand from the Midlands region to Punjab. "Air India is always very sensitive to the needs of the consumer and is pleased to be connecting the two cities, thereby adding a new city pairing for Air India's expanding global network with the only non-stop UK Amritsar service," he said. Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, said the new flights will lead to more business cooperation between the two regions. "These flights will not only make it easier for Punjabis in the area to travel to Amritsar, but also provides a great opportunity for local and regional businesses to both deepen existing ties and create new ones," said Gill, who is also the councillor for the UK borough of Sandwell which is paired with the city of Amritsar. Air India officials in New Delhi did not respond immediately. Founder - Matrimony.com Pvt Ltd live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More By Durba Ghosh The only extravagant thing your roving eyes can catch from the 10th floor office of Murugavel Janakiraman, founder CEO of Matrimony.com is a mesmerizing view of Bay of Bengal. Despite a stellar IPO on the Bombay Stock Exchange this year, success sits lightly on this 43-year old founder. Janakiraman became an entrepreneur accidentally after he got laid off from his job during the 'Y2K' crisis in the year 2000. And the boy from the small fishing harbour of Royapuram, in Tamil Nadu, has weathered quite a storm, literally. From braving a lack of electricity and extreme poverty to building a multi-million dollar company that listed this September on BSE, Janakiraman makes about 200,000 people tie the knot each year. Matrimony Pvt Ltd runs the largest matchmaking service in India, which has 65 percent of its population under 35 years of age. Janakiraman who also found his life partner on his own website, recounts the successes and failures of his journey in a free-wheeling chat with Moneycontrol. Father worked as a coolie on the docks Hailing from Royapuram, a town which boasts of the oldest surviving railway station (built in 1856) in Indian subcontinent, Janakiraman had little exposure to academics. His father offloaded stocks at the towns harbour for a living. My father studied till 5th standard, my mother till 1st. Education was not a priority in our village because we had to earn to live, says Janakiraman. In fact, he went on to become the first person ever in his family to complete graduation, or even high school for that matter. His motivation to study further, at best, was to secure a comfortable job as a lab technician, he reveals to me. But as luck would have it, Janakiraman scored well in mathematics. This led him towards statistics and then on to computer programming. Soon, he was in the US in 1996, working as a consultant. A strong programming skill spurred him to constantly build new things in cyberspace in his spare time. Got laid off from job in Y2K crisis I had a good life in the US. But I as a person am never satisfied. I got to keep doing things, creating things, he says. It was this period of constant engagement with technology that motivated Janakiraman to do something of his own. But money or fame wasnt Janakiramans motivating factor. I wanted to create my identity. I wanted to do something worthwhile, he says. He chose to float a casual information website for the Tamil community in 1997 giving information on regional calendar, festival dates, property listings, and also matrimony. While the website was being used by several users at a given time, matrimony was the only section that attracted constant traffic. We also came to know of several people who got married through the website. The interface was very basic and linear. It was just a 2-page portal one for brides and the other for grooms. It was more like newspaper matrimony listings, he adds. But it was not until 2000, during the Y2K scare, when Janakiraman was laid off from his job in the US that he was forced to launch a full-fledged website for match-making for Tamil community. Moved from the US to India to make people marry One has to always remember that success is a result of several known and unknown factors. One can just play their role as best as they can. We need to have that maturity, humility to enjoy it, says Janakiraman. He moved back permanently to India to concentrate on the venture. In 2000, he went on to launch segmented platforms for each community or class. The dotcom bubble burst actually helped us grow. Most of the Internet companies shut down. We were able to tie up with big Indian players, such as Rediff and Sify. We kept the service paid right from the beginning, Janakiraman says. Matchmaking was one of the key drivers of internet in India in its early days which saw competitors such as Shaadi.come emerge. Most players would give the services for free, and monetise it through advertisements. We on the other hand were able to monetise it with a limited marketing budget, he adds. The crucial factor for the companys success, Janakiraman says, was their frugal nature of doing business. When we started there was hardly any external funding to depend on, unlike todays time. We didnt have any choice but to be bootstrapped. When we started the venture, we invested just US dollar 10 per month as an investment (in marketing), he says. To put things in perspective, Matrimony has raised just about Rs 99 crore in two rounds over the last 17 years from investors such as Yahoo, Mayfield and Canaan Partners. Only in 2017, in a pre-IPO placement it raised USD 35 million (Rs 2275 crore) from investors such as HDFC, Goldman Sachs and Baring Private Equity. Today it has a consortium of over 300 community matrimony websites including ChristianMatrimony, MuslimMatrimony, SikhMatrimony, JainMatrimony and so on. The company has also added several new business streams over the years that include MatrimonyPhotography, MatrimonyBazaar and MatrimonyMandaps. Surviving the 2008 financial crisis The journey has not been smooth. There was a time when the company came on a financial brink. The company had spread itself thin at a time when Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008, which sparked a global financial meltdown. This is how it happened. After tasting success with its community matrimony websites, the company diversified into several ancillary services such as automotive, jobs, and loans among others. It planned to give competition to leaders in their domains such as BankBazaar, 99Acres and Naukri.com. In 2008, the company was burning cash to the tune of Rs 2 crore every month. In fact, the company used ull of its external funding on these ancillary services. In 2006 period we reached a certain leadership position in matchmaking segment. We wanted to go after other verticals. Then we realised that launching a portal is the easiest thing. But for success you need so much more, says Janakiraman. He enumerates his learnings from the failure for future entrepreneurs who wish to diversify their portfolio in internet space. There has to be a dedicated senior management overseeing it. It needs capital and focus. That was a mistake. We also had to let go off people. I had to learn skills beyond being an entrepreneur. I had to function like a CEO, he recounts. Courtesy: Forbes India Janakiraman had to steer the company to safety by consolidating and shutting down some of these ancillary services. The challenge of rebuilding the company was actually a boon, says Janakiraman. It led to innovation in our core business. We created multiple streams under our core business of matchmaking. These include - photography, assisted services, etc, he added. Post the failure to diversify, it took six months for Janakiraman to steer the company back to profitability. He shut down all the segments that were dragging down the companys core business of Shaadi. One of the few internet firms to go for an IPO Matrimony.com, the parent company of Bharat Matrimony, is among very few consumer-facing technology startups to go public in India, which has over 400 million internet users. The companys Initial Public Offering in September was oversubscribed by 4.41 times. Matrimony.com claims to enjoy a 60% market share in the segment ahead of major competitors Shaadi.com, JeevanSaathi.com and others. The company's last extended fundraise was in 2008 when it was valued at USD 80 million. The IPO worth Rs 500 crore this year took the companys valuation to nearly USD 350 million. As of Fridays close the company was valued at nearly USD 300 million (Rs 1,943 crore) Concept of Arranged Marriage has changed in India My goal now is to build a billion-dollar company. I dont know when we will reach there, but we will, he says. But will the future matches be decided by bots? Perhaps so. Matrimony.com adopted artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in around 2015, when the terms were hardly commonplace. The companys platform boasts of an intelligent matchmaking algorithm that sifts through millions of user profiles and sends recommendations to users for their future life partners. Matrimony.com has seen immense success in the children of the 70s and 80s obsessed with marriage. But how about a generation that has grown on Tinder and Instagram? How will it play in an emerging society that is high on dating and doesnt want to settle down in a marriage? Janakiraman would have us believe that there is a misconception about arranged marriage. Arranged marriage concept is misunderstood. Its a collaborative affair. The arranged marriage concept that we know today was a thing of past. Today no one can shove down a decision down your throat in India, he adds. According to Janakiraman, over 60 percent of the postings on Matrimony are by prospective brides and grooms themselves. The rest is posted by family (parents or relatives). The website gets a lot of traction from tier 2 and 3 towns, accounting for nearly 35 percent of total traffic. The company added over 870,000 profiles in the Q2 of 2017 and has already made 52,000 successful matches in the first half of the current financial year. Janakiraman, however, is wary of dating websites. It just doesnt work. We had also dabbled in it for some time. But scaling up the dating market and monetising it is a challenge. Theres no defined outcome to the dating business. It doesnt work for India, he says. According to Janakiraman, there is a huge market to capture in marriages. There are over 60 million potential users of matrimony websites (people of marriageable age). But only 6 million are online across all platforms available today. Marriages are recession proof Marriage is a business that will see growth no matter theres recession or anything else. About 90 percent of marriages happen within ones own community in India. So I think we are well placed, he adds. Now flushed with funds after the IPO, Janakiraman is looking at capturing the rest of the market. Of the Rs 130 crore raised, the company has used up Rs 40 crore for buying land for an exclusive Matrimony.com tower. Another Rs 40 crore was used to clear outstanding debt. With Rs 20 crore more in marketing, the company is hoping to expand its market wider, making people aware of the variety of life partners one can find in the online world unimaginable in the offline world. But splurging is not even an option that Janakiraman puts on the table. We will continue to be frugal with our expenses. Its our DNA, he says, overlooking the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal from his window. Indian-origin businessmen are among 20 people banned from managing a company after they were found to be employing illegal workers in their establishments across the UK. The UK's Insolvency Service said its countrywide crackdown over the past few months had found that all 20 had already been fined for employing illegal workers. Ashim Kumar Saha, a director of Save & Pick Limited in London, was disqualified and fined 10,000 pounds for employing one illegal worker. Manoj Barua and Vipan Kumar Sharma, directors of MV Hospitality Limited which traded as a restaurant known as Cafe India in Glasgow were disqualified for employing four illegal workers and fined 40,000 pounds. Eighteen people have been banned from being company directors or being involved in the management of companies for six years each, whilst two have been disqualified for seven years. Between them, they employed 41 illegal workers and were fined a total of 505,000 pounds by the UK Home Office, none of which was paid. Two of the companies have now entered into liquidation, with a further two having been dissolved. Cheryl Lambert, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said those caught sought an unfair advantage over law abiding competitors by employing people who were not entitled to work legally in the UK. "Employing illegal workers is not consequence free, either for the employer, the employee or the consumer," she said. "By definition this is a set of people who are without the protection of the law and knowledge of the authorities, and thereby extremely vulnerable to exploitation in all its forms. It is bad for business and bad for society as a whole," she added. The businesses caught up in the investigation, which include 11 restaurants, four takeaway/fast food establishments and a shop, are based in London, Sussex, North West, South Wales, Glasgow, Antrim, Frome and High Wycombe and cover South Asian and Chinese cuisines. The Home Office, which carried out the joint investigation, warned that illegal working is not victimless. "It undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the taxpayer. Businesses should be aware that they have a duty to check that their staff have permission to work in the UK," a spokesperson said. The matters leading to all 20 disqualifications are that the directors failed to ensure that the companies complied with statutory obligations under the UK's Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to ensure that relevant immigration checks were completed and copy documents retained, resulting in the employment of illegal workers. Following visits from Home Office Immigration, during which the breaches were discovered, the companies were issued with penalty notices ranging from 10,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds per worker, which remain unpaid. All were directors of the companies at the time of the Home Office visit. Lessons in marketing excellence (LIME) is the country's biggest and most keenly contested B-school challenge. Launched in 2010, every B-schools in India lock-horns in a marketing case study competition for management students. This year students from top 18 B-schools were given a platform to work on real life and live business challenges. Moneycontrol Research Value investing is generally termed as contrarian investing. Not many can withstand the heat of staying aloof when the market is going crazy around them. It needs a cool head, a strong discipline and complete faith in ones abilities to be a contrarian investor. Ace investor Kenneth Andrade is all this and much more. With nearly 27 years of experience in the equity markets, 15 of them in managing money and staying at the top of the table, Andrade surprised the market by quitting his job as the chief fund manager with IDFC Mutual Fund and managing money on his own. With an enviable track record of a compounded return of 22 percent for a period of 10 years, Andrade was bitten by the entrepreneur bug. He decided to launch his own portfolio management scheme (PMS) fund Old Bridge Capital. He has now opened up an Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) with an aim to garner Rs 400 crore. With a passion for investing that can be seen in his constant search for next multi-bagger, Andrade also has an ear for music. He loves reading and likes to go on long drives in his electric car. In a free-wheeling interview with Shishir Asthana and Jitendra Gupta of Moneycontrol Research, Andrade shares his his investment philosophy and the learnings he gained from the journey. Q) How did you enter the investing industry? Andrade: Well, I used to do some small investments in college and post my graduation took up a job with the investing magazine Capital Markets in 1990-91. I took up freelance assignments with a lot of other publications, and a few brokerage houses. In 1997, I also had a stint with television with Nimbus Communications which was the only one with a program on markets then. I moved on the buy side with Kotak Mutual Fund in 2002-03 just after the tech collapse. I took care of a small portfolio called Kotak Energy. Towards the end of 2005, we launched a mid-cap fund for which we raised around Rs 600 crore. This was a sizeable amount in those days. Until that time the entire size of Kotak Mutual Fund was around Rs 800 crore. My stints with Standard Chartered and IDFC Asset Management for nearly a decade helped me streamline my investing process. Thereafter, I started Old Bridge Capital Management in 2016. We made our first investment in September 2016. Today, we have close to Rs 1,500 crore in asset under management (AUM). We are now launching a public market focused alternative investment fund (AIF). Q) Has your investment philosophy changed over the years since the time you started managing funds at an asset management company to the present format? Andrade: There has not been a tremendous change, it has happened in the sub-conscious. In all years of managing money qualitatively, you stop making mistakes. You tick off the wrong ones and everything you do incrementally adds up to your improvement. ALSO READ: Companies with 9% return on equity are good bets: Kenneth Andrade Q) You have been largely a mid-cap fund manager. How come you have an all-cap fund in Old Bridge? Andrade: Back in 2000, we had a tech boom. It was a bubble economy. Any company that had anything to do with technology did well. This also holds true for 2008, everything that had to do with any form of infrastructure did well. We had commodities cement, a contracting company, an engineering company in our portfolio then. We called it diversified, but it was one pipeline of companies that had to do with the capex cycle. To put it differently, I like financial bubbles. But that is the end point of it all. So, we need to identify when it actually starts. Bubbles happen in parts of the economy, they happen in sectors. Technology was one such sector. Tech companies catering to the capex cycle were part of the bubble. It happened briefly in the pharmaceutical sector as well. It happens in a corporate which has a rising profit boom. The challenge is how do you recognise the rising profit boom. If you are early in the cycle you catch the entire cycle because eventually, everyone will participate in the boom. So those are cycles that keep on happening in the market. I believe that if you can capture the cycle in the early stage you gain. Q) How do you identify these companies or sectors in the early stage of the cycles? Andrade: Rather than sectors I prefer to look at industry verticals and try to figure out which will do well. In 2013, it was very simple the small-cap index was hitting its all-time low and companies were available at distress valuation. Around 10 percent of the companies were making profits. Everyone was exiting these companies when the market price showed that the risk was already priced in. That was the time when we launched a fund in the mid-cap or the small-cap space called the IDFC Equity Opportunities Fund. Next three years it performed brilliantly, in fact, we paid back the entire capital as dividends. That is how we narrow down on verticals. It operates at both the extremes. What helped me out in 2008 is we stayed out of infrastructure companies. We had a very conservative portfolio of consumer-specific companies. How we do it? The process is very simple try to look for a company in an industry which is making money while the others are all losing it. So, when the industry comes back you are with the best company. It happens in sugar all the time. Its not easy to find them. I could only find it in sugar. I was also possible to spot them in the fertiliser chain. Q) Are there any companies that are available at distressed valuation, especially as you will be raising money through the new AIF? Andrade: You will find something that is good at all points of time. We have a pipeline of stocks that we like ready to invest at all points of time. We like media companies, but they have not given any returns over the last one year. The underlying structure of the industry itself is deteriorating. The spend by corporate India does not exist. Q) When you buy a company at a low valuation and sell it at fair value, you are essentially playing the valuation arbitrage. How do you decide when to sell? Andrade: You have to give some time for these things to evolve. I have bought a stock at the same price for three years. This was Bosch. Nothing happened to the company between 2007 and 2009. But with every year that passed the company became more attractive because the denominator (earnings of the price to earnings ratio) continued to grow even though the price remained static. So you have to have the patience to go through the entire cycle. Its like one year has gone since I have bought media nothing has happened to them. I dont know if anything will happen to them. But I am willing to take the chance because I know that valuations are in my favour. The environment will expand itself. The derivative of this expansion will come to these companies bottom line. Q) What attracts you to the agriculture space? Andrade: My job as a fund manager is to buy capital efficiency in my fund. So, if I remove the industry from the equation what is my cash flow yield, what is my investing yield. Let me put it little differently. For you, to compound returns you need the price-earnings ratio to expand and at the same time, you need the denominator (earnings) to expand. If I get a stock at a price-earnings multiple of 30 times I would like it to go to 40 times or 50 times. But, I would rather buy them in the range of 10 to 30. I like to buy companies that are making profits. I define companies that are making profits as the ones that are making 9 percent return on equity (RoE). Even if it making 9 percent ROE, it is a good business, especially at a time when the rest are losing with that vertical. Because when the cycle turns they are the first off the block. Q) Is this the only strategy through which you pick up stocks? Andrade: We keep on searching for opportunities. We like to work on this parameter that only if this one does not throw up opportunities, should we look at others. Q) Are banks and technology stocks popping up in your search? Andrade: Banks, not in this cycle. Technology, yes we like a few companies. We have expanded our universe of looking at pharmaceuticals. I want low valuations and I want cash flows. Q) Are you comfortable sitting on cash if there are no opportunities? Andrade: We are comfortable sitting on cash, but we rarely do that. We are lucky to have an environment that offers a large universe to work with. I was invested in consumables during the peak of the 2007-08 run. After the market crashed, they were the first to bounce back. Thats when I learned never to hide behind cash in a bear market. Q) You follow a concentrated portfolio approach of 15-20 stocks. What do you do when you get a new opportunity? Andrade: Yes, we are happy to have 5-7 percent of our portfolio in one stock at the upper end. Any reason that we see to buy and if the converse is happening we exit. We generally give a long rope to the companies to operate in. If the company is operating in an industry where the macros are deteriorating, there is very little that the company can do. It has to just increase its ability to survive by the day because when the cycle turns it will lead the pack. I need to be very focused on seeing that everything is right and the balance sheet is not deteriorating. Balance sheet deterioration is the last thing that I can stand. So, we manage business which we know goes through cycles. But in every cycle, the company has to come out on the top. Thats a good company for us. But if a company is leveraged it cannot come on the top, then it carries a lot of financial risks. Because on the down cycle the leverage hits it. Now if a new company comes up we evaluate the opportunity with the existing basket. Q) ROE is one of the parameters that you look at, but the small-cap index has an ROE between 2 and 3 percent which does not fall into the minimum criteria of 9 percent that you have set for yourself. Is there a strict 9 percent rule you follow or a return above the cost of capital that is necessary? Andrade: That is (Small-cap index) not a fair indicator of the space we operate in. If you look at the BSE 500 the ROE there is between 16-17 percent. In the small-cap index, if you go to their P&L account they have not reached their peak level in net profits. Their all-time high was around Rs 51,000 crore they are still at around Rs 24,000 crore. So, that is where the disconnect in valuations is. Even in the BSE 500 space, the asset turnover ratio is off its peak offering enough headroom. That is the key as capacity utilisation improves cash flow comes in that is when we see the denominator improve. Q) How much importance do you give to meeting company management and studying the market environment? Andrade: So, knowing the business and the company you invest in is very relevant. The thought process of the management and how it behaves with its stakeholders is key. Stakeholders are not shareholders, but the customers. If the customers are happy and your employees are happy, you have a good company. Then there are other stakeholders and bondholders who count. Q) Anything in particular that you look at in the management? Andrade: From the management perspective I like to look at quantitatively. As in management quality is dictated by financial ratios. And if he is not growing with the external capital he is doing a damn good job. So if a company is in an industry which is not growing the management is able to increase market share with the same amount of capital employed, it is a no-brainer. So when the cycle turns and the pricing power comes back this company is going to increase profitability in a bigger turnover and bigger market share. On the other hand, we have seen what happened in the last cycle was businesses were growing at a 15 percent CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) over 4-5 years. And between 2008 and 2010 capacities that came on stream anticipated growth at 30 percent CAGR. So what we have is a very large build-up of capacity and your capital employed. But your profit continued to grow at a 10 percent CAGR which saw your return on capital and RoE nosedive. And all of that (capacities) came in with debt. The problem of leverage is that you are borrowing it from the future. And when you are borrowing it from your future you pay for it with your future. Which is why I stay away from significant leverage. Q) How does gauge that the management will be able to run business cycles well in future? Andrade: You need to work for a 60 percent strike rate (in stock picking) and you will end up with a 55 percent. We all work for a 100 percent strike rate but we never get that. All you need to do is get 50 percent strike rate on businesses that do well. You have to make lesser numbers of mistakes. You cant be aiming for the boundary all the time because then you leave your wickets wide open. You buy companies when the valuations are right. When we looked at Hero Motors (then Hero Honda), it was available at 5 percent dividend yield. The darling of the market was L&T which was at a historically high valuation. L&T is a great company but it was mispriced. Q) What are the valuation parameter you look at for cyclical businesses? Andrade: We generally look at cash flow to market cap or free cash flow to market cap. Q) What has been your best pick? Something where your call played out exactly like you thought Andrade: I think we got the previous cycle correct. We were out of infrastructure and were not trapped like many others. So we got that call right. For me, that was the inflection point. That was a career change move for me. There are many companies that kept on coming. I got Page Industries on the table, because I had a Glaxo SmithKline with me and because of that I bought Asian Paints, and because I had Asian Paints I got Bata. All these companies in the consumable verticals were available at a price to earnings of 15 to 18 times. But that is now history. Q) Any mistakes that you would like to highlight? Andrade: Plenty, so if you work on a 50 percent strike rate you are bound to make many mistakes. I think I was too early in the cycle for public sector companies in 2012 end when I put together a public sector fund. The idea was not wrong, but I executed it terribly. In hindsight, it was one of my larger mistakes or largest mistake. We did not lose money, we managed index-linked returns but that is not what an investor expects from us. Q) Is valuation a sufficient condition to exit? Many fund managers exit based on high valuation but concedes the opportunity to compounding. Andrade: See the largest shareholder with a 10 percent stake in Bajaj Finance exited the company at a price of Rs 2,500 (pre-bonus and pre-split the current unadjusted price will be around Rs 18,000). He was their largest shareholder. I think PE expansion shakes out a lot of people. It shakes me out too. Q) Why are you planning an AIF rather than continue with the PMS (Portfolio management scheme) structure? Andrade: AIF is a simpler instrument. It is an extension of the mutual fund the taxation is the same, its a single entity and documentation is easier. From an investing standpoint, nothing changes in terms of strategy. Q) But will you be able to get new ideas to invest in the current market? There are always opportunities. The challenge is the number of companies will be lower than what it used to be. In 2013 if you had nine companies to invest in you would have made money in eight of them with a success rate of 90-95 percent. In 2017, that ratio has probably come down to 30 percent. November 25, 2017 / 08:35 PM IST 20:28 Delegations meet Centre's special envoy in Jammu Demands ranging from rights of PoK refugees to special financial packages for border residents facing frequent Pakistani shelling were highlighted as the Centre's special envoy on Kashmir, data-scayt-word="Dineshwar" data-scayt-lang="en_US">Dineshwar Sharma, met delegations from different sections of the society here for the second day today. The delegations also highlighted issues like alleged discrimination against Jammu, revocation of Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, and deportation of Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslims. Read the full story here. 20:00 'Unacceptably low' representation of weaker sections in higher judiciary, says President Kovind President Ram Nath Kovind has expressed concern over the low representation of the weaker sections of the society in higher judiciary. "There is unacceptably low representation of traditionally weaker sections such as OBCs, SCs and STs especially in the higher judiciary," Kovind said on Saturday. The President said that one in four judges is a woman and there is need for steps to improve the situation. "Like our other public institutions, our judiciary too has to be judicious in being representative of the diversity of our country, and the depth and breadth of our society," he said. 19:35 Chancellor Angela Merkel set her sights on forthcoming talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) as a path to forming a stable government in Germany and rejected new elections after three-way coalition talks collapsed last weekend. Merkel's fourth term was cast into doubt when the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) walked out of talks with her conservative bloc and the Greens last Sunday, causing a political impasse in Europe's biggest economy. But on Friday, the Social Democrats (SPD) reversed a previous decision and agreed to talk to Merkel, raising the possibility of an extension of the 'grand coalition' which has ruled Germany for the last four years, or a minority government. 19:06 Padmavati stir intensifies as filmmakers call for 15-minute blackout across India As a mark of solidarity with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversy-hit "Padmavati", hundreds of people - from filmmakers to workers - across the country have announced a 15-minute blackout on Sunday. The Indian Films and TV Directors' Association (IFTDA), along with 19 other bodies of the film and television industry from across the country will stop shooting for 15 minutes to protect the right to freedom of expression of those in the creative field. Read the full story here. 18:39 Fortis 'overcharging' fallout: Activists ask regulator to cap prices of more medical devices The country's drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Friday issued notices to Fortis Healthcare, asking the company to provide copies of bills in connection with a case of alleged overcharging by its hospital in Gurugram. NPPA said its notice was based on newspaper reports about Fortis Gurugram charging approximately Rs 16 lakh from Jayant Singh for treating his seven-year-old daughter Adya, who was suffering from dengue and subsequently passed away. Read the full story here. 17:57 Territorial Army jawan killed by militants, bullet-riddled body found A 23-year-old Territorial Army jawan was abducted and killed by militants in Shopian district of south Kashmir while he was on leave, officials said on Saturday. The jawan's bullet-riddled body was recovered from an orchard in Watmullah Keegam area of Shopian, an Army official said. The deceased was identified as Sepoy Irfan Ahmad Dar, a resident of village Senzen in Shopian, the official said. (From PTI) Read the full story here. 17:35 Hyderabad Metro Rail service to partial open for public from November 29 Hyderabad Metro's first 30 km stretch will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on November 28, and will be opened for public from the next day, Telangana minister KT Rama Rao said on Saturday. The 30 km stretch from Nagole to Miyapur will be opened first. Rao also said that 57 coaches are ready and available. Each train would initially have three coaches and 330 people can travel in each coach. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) would start feeder services for metro, he said. Some private organisations are planning to launch services to connect the metro stations. Read the full story here. 17:26 What matters is how many days Parliament functioned not how many days it sat: VP Naidu Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said that it does not matter how many days Parliament sat but what matters is how many days it functioned. His remarks come a day after the dates for Parliament's Winter Session were announced following opposition's criticism of the government for delaying the session. Read the full story here. 17:06 Egypt mosque attack update: The death toll in a devastating militant attack on a mosque on Friday in Egypt's North Sinai has risen to 305 killed, including 27 children, and 128 more people were wounded, MENA state news agency said on Saturday, Reuters has reported. 16:37 Moneycontrol brings to you select pictures that are making headlines across the globe News in Pics: Your daily dose of pictures from around the world I am a Muslim. I want to go with my husband. Nobody forced me to convert: Hadiya, who will be produced before Supreme Court in Kerela 'Love Jihad' case on 27th November in Delhi pic.twitter.com/w9JzcmBw9Z ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 16:24 Tata Motors' SUV Hexa drives into Nepal Tata Motors has announced the launch of its lifestyle SUV - Tata Hexa - in the Nepal market and has delivered the first batch of the vehicle to 11 customers. Available at a price of NPR 77.95 lakh, the Hexa will be available in the XT 4x4 variant across Nepal, Tata Motors has said in a statement. Read more here. 16:05 Steep fare hike will 'kill' Delhi Metro: CM Arvind Kejriwal The steep fare hike will "kill" Delhi Metro, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday, a day after an RTI revealed that the metro lost over three lakh commuters a day due to the fare increase. Kejriwal also asked what purpose the metro serves if people stop using it. Read the story here. 15:52 #Rajasthan: Police baton charged members of Karni Sena while they were taking out protest rallies against #Padmavati film in Bhilwara, markets shut at various places. pic.twitter.com/BeTwMlH0T8 ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 15:37 Pakistan crackdown update: At least one police officer has been killed and more than 150 people have been injured in the crackdown in Faizabad, Islamabad. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have also been banned in Pakistan, according to reports in Pakistani media. However, some users said that they could still able to access these services. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has also instructed all TV channels to be taken off-air. Police have cracked down to disperse 1,000 activists of Tehreek-e-Labaik, a hardline party, who had blocked main routes leading into Islamabad for more than two weeks. 15:25 Black Friday bonanza: Jeff Bezos tops rich list, net worth crosses USD 100 billion-mark Founder and largest shareholder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos has not only become the richest person in the world, but also touched the USD 100 billion-mark for the first time, according to a Bloomberg report. The founder of the world's largest e-commerce company made nearly USD 2.4 billion on Friday alone. Courtesy the flurry in online sales on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, Amazon's stock jumped 18 percent as compared to last year. Read the full story here. 15:10 Over 1,200 flee Myanmar's Arakan to take refuge in Mizoram Over 1,200 people from Myanmar's restive Arakan state have crossed the border and taken shelter in neighbouring Mizoram's Lawngtlai district, officials said today. The people who crossed over yesterday are mostly Buddhists and Christians and speak the same tribal language as the locals. They fled their homes after the Myanmarese Army clashed with the 'Arakan Army' militants recently, they said. PTI When Modi Ji went to France, he changed Rafale contract, without consulting anyone. Instead of giving contract to company which knows to build aircraft, he gave it to his industrialist friend who knows nothing about it. Defence Minister was in Goa then.: Rahul Gandhi in #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/SRBFnTvBsP ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 14:22 Media Blackout in Federal Capital, almost all leading TV channels suspended on order of PEMRA: Pakistan Media ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 14:20 Rahul slams PM Modi for delay in Parliament session, accuses him of silencing criticism Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delay in Parliament's winter session, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Modi's new slogan seemed to be na bolonga, na bolne dunga (Will neither speak, nor allow others to speak). The Congress vice-president alleged that the winter session has been scheduled post-Gujarat assembly election as the prime minister did not want to discuss Rafale deal or Jay Shahs company, the Indian Express reported. Gandhi had played on Modi's famous slogan "Na khaonga, na khane dunga" (will neither take bribe, nor allow others to take it). He was addressing an election rally at Porbandar in Gujarat. 13:55 Militants abducted and killed army jawan in Kashmir, bullet-ridden body found MilitanMilitants abducted and killed a 23-year-old Territorial Army jawan and his bullet-riddled body was found today in Shopian district of south Kashmir, the Army said. The body was recovered from an orchard area in Watmullah Keegam area of Shopian, an Army official said. The deceased was identified as Irfan Ahmad Mir, a resident of Sezan Keegam. Mir was working in the Territorial Army and was abducted by militants and later killed, the official said, adding that further details were awaited. Outcome of last 3 years of successful foreign outreach under PM Modi has succeeded in isolating Pak & today even those nations which were earlier hesitant to accept India's view on Pak-sponsored terror are also agreeing to India's viewpoint: MoS, PMO Jitendra Singh on Hafiz Saeed pic.twitter.com/J6rY697z1S ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 13:10 Delhi metro fare hike: Kejriwal says rising prices will "kill" National Capital's metro rail The steep fare hike will "kill" Delhi Metro, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, a day after an RTI revealed that the metro lost over three lakh commuters a day due to the fare increase. Kejriwal also asked what purpose the metro serves if people stop using it. 13:05 Where is it written that Kashmir is Pakistan's? No agreement says so. This is non-sense & is a propaganda by Muslim Conference & their paid stooges. Even on our bathroom doors they have written 'Kashmir banega Pakistan': PoK leader Tauqeer Gilani in Muzaffarabad, PoK pic.twitter.com/JKjcYp5qUh ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 DMK Working President MK Stalin announces Marudhu Ganesh as candidate for #RKNagar by-elections. pic.twitter.com/nsu2ViYwJp ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 12:38 Violent threats not acceptable in democracy, says Vice President Venkaiah Naidu Amid the Padmavati row, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said today that giving violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm was not acceptable in a democracy. Not directly referring to the controversy, but films and art in general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country. He said while protesting, some people go overboard and announce rewards. "This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and can't give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law," he said. PTI 12:23 Pakistan justifies freeing terror-accused Hafiz Saeed Pakistan has justified the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, claiming that Islamabad was committed to the implementation of UNSC sanctions regime on terrorists. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and Lashkar-e-taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, who has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan yesterday. He is a UN and US-designated terrorist. PTI 12:02 Bhiwandi building collapse: death toll rises to 4, owner booked The death toll in a building collapse in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi has risen to four after the recovery of a woman's body and the police has booked its owner in connection with the case. The unauthorised four-storey 'Tahir Biznor' building, situated in Navi Basti area, had collapsed on Friday. The accused building owner, Mohammad Tahir Rafique Ahmed Ansari (46), was absconding, he said, adding that efforts were on to nab him. PTI 09:15 Oxford Street chaos due to 'altercation' between 2 men: Police An "altercation" between two men at the busy Oxford Circus area late Friday night sparked a "mass evacuation" and left 16 people injured, police said, ruling out a terror attack. The Oxford Circus area, one of the busiest shopping zones in the heart of the London, was placed under temporary lockdown after police received reports of shots being fired. However, Scotland Yard later released CCTV images, saying an altercation between two men led to the chaos in the area. "We are releasing CCTV images of two men we would like to speak with, following the incident at Oxford Circus earlier today," the Metropolitan Police said. The British Transport Police (BTP) said the altercation took place inside the busy Oxford Circus underground train station, "triggering a mass evacuation". PTI 09:30 No place in Dalits, farmers & poor in PM Modi's heart: Rahul Gandhi Slamming Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for reportedly not accepting a giant tricolour made by Dalits citing lack of space, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he would have accepted even a 50,000 km-long national flag even if he had little space to keep it. The Congress Vice-President also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rupani have space in their hearts only for a few industrialists, but not Dalits, farmers and poor. PTI 09:40 Indian-origin UK businessmen among 20 banned for employing illegal workers Indian-origin businessmen are among 20 people banned from managing a company after they were found to be employing illegal workers in their establishments across the UK. The UK's Insolvency Service said its countrywide crackdown over the past few months had found that all 20 had already been fined for employing illegal workers. Ashim Kumar Saha, a director of Save & Pick Limited in London, was disqualified and fined 10,000 pounds for employing one illegal worker. Manoj Barua and Vipan Kumar Sharma, directors of MV Hospitality Limited which traded as a restaurant known as Cafe India in Glasgow were disqualified for employing four illegal workers and fined 40,000. Eighteen people have been banned from being company directors or being involved in the management of companies for six years each, whilst two have been disqualified for seven years. PTI 09:45 Donald Trump appoints Mick Mulvaney new head of financial watchdog CFPB US President Donald Trump Friday appointed White House budget director Mick Mulvaney to head a financial watchdog that the administration has sought to overhaul as part of its deregulation push. Mulvaney, who described the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as a "sick, sad joke" in a 2014 interview, will serve as acting director until a permanent head is nominated and confirmed, according to a White House statement. PTI 10:00 After deadly attack on Egypt mosque, Trump calls Sisi, says can't tolerate 'barbaric terrorist' groups US President Donald Trump today said the international community cannot tolerate "barbaric terrorist" groups as he called his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to offer condolences after militants killed over 200 people in Egypt's North Sinai region. "The international community cannot tolerate barbaric terrorist groups and must strengthen its efforts to defeat terrorism and extremism in all its forms," the White House said after the phone call between the two leaders. During the phone call, Trump offered condolences to the people of Egypt. "Trump condemned the attack and reiterated that the United States will continue to stand with Egypt in the face of terrorism," the White House said. At least 235 worshippers were killed and 109 others injured when heavily-armed militants bombed the al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city and opened fire on people attending Friday prayers. PTI 10:05 Donald Trump claims he rejected 'Person of the Year', TIME says he's wrong Donald Trump could probably have been TIME magazine's "Person of the Year" for the second year in succession, but for "probably" the US President turned down the publication's interview and photo shoot request. "Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named "Man (Person) of the Year", like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!" Trump said in a tweet. Trump was Time magazine's person of the year last year. He is currently spending his Thanksgiving weekend at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. TIME responded on its own Twitter account: "The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6." DECATUR -- Three people were able to escape unharmed Friday afternoon from a fire that did extensive damage to a mobile home in Decatur. One of the occupants discovered a fire burning outside the mobile home and the fire being outside the front door blocked their way out so they had to go out the back door, Decatur Fire Inspector Mike Wigginton said. He said the occupants immediately began alerting neighbors and moving vehicles away from the mobile home. Decatur firefighters were called to the Southwest Mobile Home Community, 1575 S. Fairview Ave. Lot 25, around 5 p.m. and were on the scene for about two hours. Battalion Chief Jeff Hott said the side entrance was on fire when crews arrived and the fire had already made its way into the mobile home. He said firefighters were able to quickly put the fire out, preventing it from spreading to nearby mobile homes. Wigginton said there may have been some minor heat damage to a neighboring mobile home. Wigginton said a preliminary investigation confirmed the fire started outside the door, possibly inside a couch, but the cause is under investigation. He didn't suspect foul play. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Nifty50 has been forming a base near 10300 for the November series. The up move can be extended till 10600. During the week, more than 20 lakh shares were added in 10300 Put strike, which kept downsides limited Call positions are getting added at the 10600 strike, which remains the target for the index. Closure was seen in the Nifty and Nifty Bank futures, which shows the short covering pattern seen in these indices Volatility has seen a spike from 12.5 to 13.5 on account of closure of near the money Call strikes, which means downsides seem to be limited. This momentum should continue amid some range bound sessions. Underperforming heavyweights from various sectors like banking, auto, IT and pharma have recently shown some resilience, which means, on any intermediate profit booking, the Nifty would be supported by these heavyweights. In addition, increase in price ratio of (Nifty Bank/Nifty) to new highs means the performance in Nifty Bank would be supportive for the Nifty. Being an expiry week, an opportunity can be seen in underperforming stocks where a short covering is expected. Nifty Bank: Ongoing rally likely to continue unless index remains above 25650 Post approaching the highest Call base of 26000 last week, the index witnessed profit booking and consolidated in a narrow and tight band amid high volatility. Throughout the week, the index witnessed a decent support near 25,650 whereas a decline in Put option premium of 25,700 strike and additions in the open interest is indicating major writing, which is likely to provide cushion going forward. In this current leg of the rally, private sector banks continued to dominate whereas this time PSUs also supported the overall up move. Stocks like State Bank of India have started moving up from the support level of Rs 310, which is likely to trigger broad-based buying in the PSU pack. Additions continued in 26000 strike Call followed by 26400 strikes. We feel a close above 26000 would open more upside whereas a trigger in volatility can be seen as we approach the expiry week. In case of any major selling, the index is likely to find cushion near 25650-25700 The current price ratio (Nifty Bank/Nifty) has retraced and moved towards 2.48 from 2.50. We feel the outperformance in banking stocks will continue, which is again going to take the ratio higher towards 2.52 levels. Rating upgrade did not generate incremental traction from FIIs in equities: While T-5 data of foreign investors (FIIs) suggests a USD 90 million inflow, if one looks at FII data for the week, they have actually sold USD 150 million. As we approach the end of 2017, FII fresh allocation in EMs seems to be diminishing. A look at FII EM inflow data suggests strong inflows only in South Korea with fund flows in other EMs remaining subdued. A look at FII action in the F&O segment suggests Index consolidation bets placed by them. In the index future segment there was the long creation of USD 290 million but in the stock future segment, they covered short of over USD 458 million each. At the same time, in the index options segment, there was selling of over USD 90 million (to capture higher Index VIX level). Global risk sentiment seemed to be oscillating between risk-on and risk-off mode. In the recent spate of news flows, the Middle East turmoil, coupled with political instability and Zimbabwe & default by Venezuela kept the risk-off sentiment higher. Positive developments like progress in the US on tax reform bill, strong economic data emanating from Europe and Japan kept the risk-on camp alive. In the process, the equity market continued to move higher worldwide (with the exception of China & Hong Kong) and bond yields cooled off post-Fed minutes. This move in equity and debt market suggests the tilt is towards continuance of the risk-on mode is likely Fresh FII inflows from here on could be more tactical in nature, as most global fund houses brainstorm on the allocation strategy for 2018. With the commodity recovery being coupled with a strong macro environment in EMs (higher forex reserves, lower current account deficit), fresh allocation in EMs by FIIs is likely to continue in 2018. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The country's drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Friday issued notices to Fortis Healthcare, asking the company to provide copies of bills in connection with a case of alleged overcharging by its hospital in Gurugram. NPPA said its notice was based on newspaper reports about Fortis Gurugram charging approximately Rs 16 lakh from Jayant Singh for treating his seven-year-old daughter Adya, who was suffering from dengue and subsequently passed away. NPPA shot off a letter the company's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director seeking copies of invoices/bills raised, name of medicines administered along with details of quantity and price charged towards medicines and consumables. NPPA gave Fortis a deadline till December 8 to submit the information it has sought. The Union Health Ministry too has sought details of the case and asked the Haryana government to initiate an "urgent probe". Fortis denied allegations of overcharging and said all the consumables were transparently reflected in the records and charged as per actuals. "Care of ventilated patients in ICU requires a high number of consumables as per globally accepted infection control protocols, it added. The NPPA notice comes at a time when there is a growing demand for regulation of private healthcare and reining in the trade margins that hospitals, distributors and manufacturers enjoying on medical devices and consumables. Welcoming NPPA's notice, public health activists asked the drug price regulator to urgently add 19 additional categories of medical devices classified as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. NPPA has earlier sought pricing data of these devices that consist widely used medical consumables such surgical dressings, hypodermic syringes, IV cannulae, disposable perfusion sets, catheters, heart valves among others. "The prices of consumables used by hospitals are ridiculously inflated," said Malini Aisola of All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) a national network of several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that advocates a rational drug policy. Aisola asked NPPA to put the data collected by the authority on 19 medical devices and consumables in the public domain. AIDAN in its study found that trade margins over high-volume consumables such as disposable syringes, IV Cannula sometimes go as high as 10 times ex-factory prices. In the case of Adya Singh, the Fortis bill suggests it charged for 660 syringes and 2,700 gloves during her 15-day hospital stay. Aisola also expressed concern that hospitals bill consumables which are not directly used on the patient but used by staff for upkeep of the facility. Hospitals were also under criticism for not sufficiently passing the benefit to the patient when the NPPA capped the prices of coronary stents, slashing the prices by around 85 percent. At-least 27 teachers in Maharashtra have been booked for allegedly refusing to do election-related duty, police said on Saturday. The teachers refused the work of updating the Voters' List, a senior police official said. Following complaints from tehsildars of Ralegaon, Babhulgaon and Kalamb tehsil in Ralegaon assembly seat, a case was recently registered at the respective police stations, he said. Officials from district administration said the teachers were appointed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to carry out the work from November 15 to 30. But 27 teachers refused to work saying it was not educational work. Since they did not turn up to work, we decided to lodge complaints at various police stations, they added. Representative image Minister of State Hardeep Singh Puri, in an RTI reply, claimed that the dip in the Delhi Metro's ridership cannot be linked to the fare hike effected in October, which it said was necessary for maintaining "efficiency". MoS (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs told reporters here that despite the increase, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) fares were among the "lowest in the world" and the "lowest in India". "The fare hike has not led to a decline in metro ridership. For example, in 2016, there was a ridership dip by 1.3 lakh from September to October when there was no change in fares," he said. This steep hike in metro fare will kill Delhi Metro. If people stop using it, then what purpose does it serve? https://t.co/xkyae8okRf Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 25, 2017 His comments came hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been opposing the fare hike, tweeted: Puri said that every year, there are a few months that see an increase in ridership and a decline is observed in the others. The ridership after the fare revision for many days was actually higher than the ridership on some days before it was revised, he said. "On previous occasions of fare increase, there were at times temporary dip in ridership which recovered shortly. Ridership in November has shown a rising trend," the union minister said. However, according to the DMRC's records, the fall in October was the steepest ever. The metro has been logging a daily average ridership between 27 lakh and 28 lakh over the recent years, with minor variations. Till May, the Delhi Metro transported around 28 lakh passengers daily. But, after the first phase of the hike in May, it lost nearly 1.5 lakh passengers per day in June as the ridership dropped to 25.7 lakh. However, the ridership picked up from around July. In July and August, the Delhi Metro witnessed a daily average ridership of 26.6 lakh and 27 lakh respectively Last year, in July, August and September, the metro's daily average ridership figures were 26.9 lakh, 28.5 lakh and 28.4 lakh, respectively, reflecting a trajectory of sustained growth. Seeking to defend the fare hike, Puri said that metro fares are neither fixed by the Centre or the Delhi government, both of which hold equal stakes in the DMRC and pointed out that it was after a gap of eight years that the fares had been hiked. Fare Fixation Committee, a statutory body created under an Act of Parliament, determines the metro fares, he said. "When the new fixation committee was formed, they decided that since the fares were not hiked during the last eight years, the increase would happen in two segments, one in May and the other in October," Puri said. He also said that the metro is a capital-intensive project and if it has to be run efficiently, it's "long-term liabilities in terms of loan repayment" need to be discharged timely". "DMRC has a loan of Rs 28,268 crore from JICA. So far, they have only paid Rs 1,507 crore. For the current year, they have to pay Rs 890 crore towards principal and interest liability," he said. According to the RTI query by a PTI correspondent, the metro's daily average ridership came down to 24.2 lakh in October from 27.4 lakh in September, a fall of around 11 percent. The Blue Line which is considered the metro's busiest, lost over 30 lakh commuters, according to data shared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in response to an RTI query. The 50-km corridor connects Dwarka to Noida. The metro currently has a 218-km network across Delhi-NCR. On October 10, the DMRC effected the fare hike, leading to a rise of around Rs 10 for nearly every distance slab. This came barely five months of another hike of up to 100 percent. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the state would be free from the menace of Naxalism by the beginning of next year. He was speaking at the India Today Conclave East. For any state to prosper, peace is the most important thing and any government's priority is to provide security to its masses, the chief minister said. "In last three years, we have taken steps in this regard. More than 70 percent of Naxalism has ended in Jharkhand. The remaining 30 percent will come to an end by the end of December," Das said. "There are some Naxal leaders who are hiding in Buda Pahar. Our police personnel have been countering them and I have full faith in the police that by December end, we will be able to complete the operation and put an end to Naxalite terror. From the beginning of 2018 the state will be free from (Naxal) insurgency and crime," he said. Das said that several Maoists have surrendered after the state introduced an attractive surrender policy. "We have also cracked on Naxal sympathisers in our villages and our cities by attaching their properties," the Jharkhand chief minister said. Das said he is confident about the victory of the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat elections as the people of that state have made up their mind to give a befitting reply to the Congress. The 'Gujarat Model' of development is in a way "a case of jobless growth", eminent political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot said, days before the western state goes to Assembly polls. Speaking at a session, titled "Political Conservatives and the Right in India", at the Times LitFest, the author-researcher said that most opportunities resulting from the Gujarat model created fewer jobs than small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could have. "The Gujarat model has been an interesting case of jobless growth or you can say growth with minimal development. It brought in large investments from multi-nationals, which were given land, cheap labourers and of course tax exemptions. They created factories, refineries, but didn't create as many jobs as SMEs would have done," he said. The reason behind the lack of employment opportunities, according to Jaffrelot, was the industry's heavy dependence on automation and not manual labour. "They are kind of jobs that use automation more than labourers, for example, refineries don't need workers. You are automatised as much as you can when you are a Maruti or a Tata, an area where SMEs cannot compete," he said. Despite the development of the state, the condition of its poor people remained the same, which demands accountability on the BJP's part. "We have seen land taken from the peasants, not just because of the industries but also because of the pollution created by it. And a model that was developed at the expense of SMEs, a record number of SMEs are losing their bank support in Gujarat. "Earlier when at one end there were poor people and the Congress was in Delhi, now the BJP is in Delhi and the poor people are still there. So now is the time of reckoning, this is a time for accountability," Jaffrelot said. The 'Gujarat Model' has remained the BJP's favourite example of success in election campaigns over the years. Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, goes to polls on December 9 and 14. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat for over 12 years till he became the prime minister in 2014. India main opposition Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi speaks during the 'Kisan Akrosh Rally ' at Banswara in Rajasthan on 19th July,2017.(Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Slamming Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for reportedly not accepting a giant tricolour made by Dalits citing lack of space, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he would have accepted even a 50,000 km-long national flag even if he had little space to keep it. The Congress vice president also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rupani have space in their hearts only for a few industrialists, but not Dalits, farmers and poor. Gandhi was addressing a gathering of Dalits at Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK), a vocational training institute near Sanand town in Ahmedabad district, where he accepted a 125 x 83.3 feet tricolour weighing 240 kg. The national flag was earlier meant to be presented to Rupani. In August, the DSK had even carried the tricolour to Gandhinagar. However, officials at the collectorate had allegedly refused to accept it citing lack of space. "This flag is not yours alone, but belongs to the entire country. He (Rupani) said he has no place to keep the flag. Even if you gave me a 15 km or 50,000 km-long flag, and even if I had one inch space to keep it, I would have taken it," Gandhi said. "Like you, I have a huge space in my heart for this flag. It is the mindset of the BJP chief ministers or the prime minister that they have no space for this flag or your hard work. But they have the entire Gujarat for 5-10 industrialists, who can get any amount of space they want in Gujarat or across India," Gandhi said. He said the prime minister or Gujarat chief minister had no space for Dalits, farmers, poor and small businessmen. Gandhi attacked Modi and Rupani over the Una Dalit flogging incident. He also assailed the prime minister over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at the University of Hyderabad (UoH). On the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit organsied by the state government, he said the state is vibrant only for "5-7 industrialists of Modiji" and not farmers, tribals, poor, or Dalits. He said the Congress wants to eradicate untouchability from not just one village, but from the mind of every Indian. Gandhi said that was also the goal of B R Ambedkar. The members of DSK said the tricolour was made by Dalits, who also donated money to raise Rs 54,000 for it. They said Gandhi wants the national flag gifted to him to be kept at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum in New Delhi. There were no significant product launches this week, but plenty of other developments dominated the headlines. Here's a complete wrap: Nitin Gadkari not in favour of battery swapping Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari shot down Niti Aayog's proposal for battery swapping, terming it unviable. The policy think-tank had been in favour of the method used to promote the concept of electric mobility in many overseas markets. The minister said that adopting battery swapping will be a very complicated method to follow in India. Instead, Gadkari said that the government is working on a charging system that can reduce charging time to just 15-20 minutes, which would thus reduce the need to remove and insert a new battery. Mahindra opens plant in US Detroit got its first automotive plant in 25 years following the inauguration of an off-road vehicle manufacturing plant by Mahindra & Mahindra, the leader in tractors. The vehicles, which are high on utility, will cater to personal use but are not meant for highways. The Mumbai-headquartered company has created 250 new jobs at the plant, which will have the capacity to produce 10,000 units of the Roxor, an off-highway vehicle. Mahindra will invest another USD 600 million in the facility by 2020, adding another 400 jobs. Maruti launches Swift limited edition Maruti Suzuki, the countrys largest car maker has launched a limited edition version of the Swift in both petrol and diesel versions. The petrol variant is priced at Rs 5.45 lakh while the diesel version is priced at Rs 6.39 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). While the engines remain the same, the premium hatchback now gets an infotainment system which supports Android Auto and Apple Car Play. In addition, the car gets extra bass, floor mats and alloy wheels. This is the last upgrade for the bestseller before it undergoes a complete revamp expected to be launched in 2018. New Hyundai car spied A new partially masked hatchback made by Hyundai was spotted in testing this week indicating that the Korean car brand could be readying its launch in less than a year. While the company has refused to say anything, speculation is rife about the car being the all-new Santro. Photographs of the vehicle suggest it will feature a tall-boy design, something which Hyundai started with in India with the Santro in 1998. The company, however, has promised to launch a hatchback in 2018 targeted at families. Toyota Etios Liva secures 4-star rating at NCAP Global NCAP and AA South Africa crash-tested two Indian cars Toyota Etios Liva and Datsun GO+. The Toyota hatchback, which is sold as the Etios Sprint in South Africa, landed a four-star safety rating for adult occupancy. The Datsun multi-utility vehicle meanwhile got a 1-star rating for adult occupancy as it had only one driver-side airbag. Both cars were crashed at 64 km/hr. Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to take help from the U.N. refugee agency to safely repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who had fled violence in Myanmar, Bangladesh said on Saturday. More than 600,000 Rohingya sought sanctuary in Bangladesh after the military in mostly Buddhist Myanmar launched a brutal counter-insurgency operation in their villages across the northern parts of Rakhine State following attacks by Rohingya militants on an army base and police posts on Aug 25. Faced with a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, the two governments signed a pact on Thursday agreeing that the return of the Rohingya to Myanmar should start within two months. Uncertainty over whether the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would have a role had prompted rights groups to insist that outside monitors were needed to safeguard the Rohingya's return. Addressing a news conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali gave assurances that the UNHCR would play some part. "Both countries agreed to take help from the UNHCR in the Rohingya repatriation process," Ali said. "Myanmar will take its assistance as per their requirement." The diplomatic breakthrough came just ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to Myanmar and Bangladesh from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 that is aimed at promoting "reconciliation, forgiveness and peace". While the violence in Rakhine has mostly ceased, Rohingya have continued to stream out of Myanmar, saying they have largely lost access to sources of livelihood such as their farms, fisheries and markets. Thousands of Rohingya - old people, women and children - remain stranded on beaches near the border, waiting for a boat to take them to Bangladesh. FROM CAMP TO CAMP Ali said a joint working group, to be formed within three weeks, will fix the final terms to start the repatriation process. After leaving the refugee camps in Bangladesh, Rohingya who opt to be voluntarily repatriated will be moved to camps in Myanmar, the minister said. "Most houses were burnt down. Where will they live after going back? So, it is not possible to physically return to their homes," Ali said. Myanmar officials have said returnees will be moved to camps only temporarily while so-called "model villages" are constructed near their former homes. Win Myat Aye, the minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement who heads a Myanmar government panel on rehabilitation in Rakhine, said India and China had offered to provide "modular houses" for returnees. The U.N. and the United States have described the Myanmar military's actions as "ethnic cleansing", and rights groups have accused the security forces of committing atrocities, including mass rape, arson and killings. The United States also warned it could impose sanctions on individuals responsible for alleged abuses. Led by Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar is in the early stages of a transition to democracy after decades of military rule. But the civilian government is less than two years old and still shares power with the generals, who retain autonomy over matters of defence, security and borders. The commander of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has denied that soldiers committed any atrocities. On Friday he met China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing having been told earlier in the week by a top Chinese general that China wanted stronger ties with Myanmar's military. Under the deal struck with Bangladesh, Myanmar agreed to take measures to see that the returnees will not be settled in temporary places for a long time. Myanmar plans to issue them an identity card on their return, although most Rohingya have so far rejected a scheme to give them "national verification cards". While the agreement says Bangladesh would seek the U.N. refugee agency's assistance on the process, Myanmar - which has largely blocked aid agencies from working in northern Rakhine since August - only agreed "that the services of the UNHCR could be drawn upon as needed and at the appropriate time". Win Myat Aye told Reuters on Saturday that Myanmar would discuss "technical assistance" with the UNHCR, but had not reached a formal agreement with the agency. There were already hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh before the latest exodus, and the Bangladesh minister said they could also be considered for the repatriation, under the terms of the agreement. The agreement, however, says they will be "considered separately on the conclusion of the present agreement.a Some independent estimates suggest there are still a few hundred thousand Rohingya remaining in Rakhine. Dear Dr. Roach: My cousin is having irregular periods. Her last one was three months ago. She was given Provera for 10 days to help, but after she stopped it, she had a very heavy period. Is that normal? -- T.R. A: Provera is a brand of a type of progesterone, a female hormone. This hormone is high in early pregnancy: It promotes retention of the thick lining of the uterus, giving the developing embryo a place to develop, and preventing menstruation, the shedding of the lining of the uterus that normally takes place every month (or so) a woman is not pregnant. Some women have irregular periods, and this isn't necessarily abnormal. One test that women's health specialists do if concerned about irregular periods (after ruling out pregnancy) is to give a patient 10 mg of medroxyprogesterone (Provera) for 10 days, then stop. When levels of progesterone go down, the body "realizes" it isn't pregnant, and will shed the thick lining of the uterus. That is the normal response. This period may be heavy if the lining had been there for three months. If there is no period after stopping the Provera, it suggests there may be a blockage in the uterus. It's also possible the lining of the uterus (which requires estrogen) never built up in the first place, so further evaluation would be required. Osteoporosis Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 55-year-old woman. I have a leg with atrophied muscles due to having meningitis as a child. Consequently, I fall a lot. I fell and broke my wrist recently, and last year I broke my foot. I had a scan done for osteoporosis, and my T-score was -2.5. The doctor suggested I start medication for osteoporosis. I am hesitant to take such medication due to side effects. Does the number warrant taking medication? Is osteoporosis a condition that worsens over time, or will it stay at -2.5, which appears to be not too egregious, without the medication? Are there lifestyle changes that help this condition? -- T.C. A: The T-score is a statistical measure of how a person's bone density compares with a normal, healthy young person of peak bone mass. Someone with higher-than-average bone density will have a positive score: A score of less bone density will be negative. A T-score below -2.5 is defined as osteoporosis, so you are just at the border. However, that still puts you at greater risk for fractures, and a history of wrist fracture (even with a fall) means more risk of future fracture than someone with the same T-score and no previous fracture. Treatment is appropriate for a score this low, but that does not necessarily mean medication is the starting point for all people. Initial treatment should include adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Most people in North America have a hard time getting adequate vitamin D in the winter. There are few good food sources (swordfish is one); vitamin D is mostly made in the skin, and only with adequate sunlight. I often test vitamin D levels for my patients. Another reasonable approach is to give supplemental vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol), such as 1,000 IU daily. Exercise is another important treatment, and having balance problems is a challenge. However, any kind of exercise can be helpful, and some, such as tai chi, have been shown to improve both balance and bone density. If these are not enough, I do recommend treatment with an anti-resorptive agent, such as risedronate (Actonel) for most women in your situation. There are side effects, but these are outweighed by the benefits of reducing fracture risk. A three- to five-year course is appropriate for most women before re-evaluation. * * * Readers: The booklet on macular degeneration explains this common eye ailment. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach, Book No. 701, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. The US accused a Russian woman on Friday of helping oversee the finances of a sweeping, secretive effort to sway American public opinion through social media in the first federal case alleging foreign interference in the 2018 midterm elections. (Image: AP) US President Donald Trump on Saturday called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed implementing a UN Security Council resolution for the peaceful settlement to the Syrian crisis and defeat of the ISIS terror group, the White House said. Trump reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey, particularly in combating terrorism in all its forms and fostering regional stability, it said in a readout of the phone call between the two leaders. On Syria, the two leaders discussed the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 and supporting the United Nations-led Geneva Process to peacefully resolve the civil war in that country, the White House said. It said Trump and Erdogan underscored the need to end the humanitarian crisis, allow displaced Syrians to return home, and ensure the stability of a unified Syria free of malign intervention and terrorist safe havens. "Consistent with our previous policy, President Trump also informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete and we are progressing into a stabilisation phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return," the White House said. It said the two leaders also discussed the purchase of military equipment from the United States. BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 27: Catalan Independence supporters gather outside the Catalan Government building, Palau de la Generalitat, to celebrate their vote on independence from Spain on October 27, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. MPs in the Catalan parliament have today voted following a two days session on how to respond to the Spanish governments enacting of Article 155, which would curtail Catalan autonomy. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Catalonia's former leader challenged Spain and the European Union to respect the result of Catalan regional elections in December, saying Madrid would have to end direct rule if separatists win. Speaking from Belgium where he fled earlier this month, Carles Puigdemont said the vote was the most important in Catalonia's history. "Will you accept the results of December 21 if the pro-independence camp wins?," he asked after supporters chanted "Puigdemont, our president" during a speech to unveil his list of candidates for the vote. "Do you commit to ending (direct rule) if that is the result?" said Puigdemont, the public face of the move for independence who is wanted in Spain for rebellion and sedition. After dissolving Catalonia's parliament and sacking the regional government in response to the region declaring itself independent on Oct. 27, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said a new election would be held in Catalonia and called on Puigdemont to take part. Pro-Catalonia independence parties are expected to win next month although they may fall short of a majority of seats in parliament needed to revive the secession campaign, polls show. "On December 21 we must tell Madrid, the EU and the tripartite support for direct rule that democracy in Catalonia must not be undermined. Never again in Catalonia!" Puigdemont said from the town of Oostkamp near Bruges, part of Belgium's Flemish region that has its own separatist aspirations. EU leaders are extremely wary of Catalonia's search for independence because it has stirred separatist feelings far beyond Spanish borders. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker this month in Madrid called on Europe to reject what he called separatist poison. A Belgian court has granted Puigdemont conditional release but he is barred from leaving Belgium without a judge's consent. Violent protests in Pakistan spilt over to the country's financial hub Karachi after authorities cracked down on protesters belonging to hardline religious parties in the national capital, Islamabad, injuring at least 15 people. Karachi police fired in the air and baton-charged protesters in several areas of the country's biggest city. The protesters had been staging sit-ins in parts of Karachi, demanding law minister Zahid Hamid's resignation for changes made to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, or the finality of the prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017, in September. A bigger protest was underway in Islamabad over the same issue. The protests in Karachi turned violent after reports came in of a crackdown by authorities on protesters in Islamabad, where nearly 200 people, almost half of them security personnel, were injured. The authorities suspended the operation to disperse the protesters in Islamabad after the activists took over the streets in the national capital. In Karachi, the police cracked down on the protesters on M.A. Jinnah Road, where they had been protesting for eight days. This led to clashes between the protesters and the police, triggering panic among the residents and leading to forcible shutdowns of shops, petrol pumps, and entire markets. A group of protesters belonging to the newly-formed Tehreek-e-Labaik converged near the upmarket Clifton area in Karachi and disrupted the movement of traffic and threatened owners to shut their businesses to show their solidarity with those protesting in Islamabad-Rawalpindi twin cities. The protesters also pelted stones at the police. Reports also trickled in of clashes between police and protesters from other parts of the Sindh province, including Umerkot, Mithi, Sujawal, Badin and other towns. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has ordered several private news channels "offair" in Pakistan, including in Karachi. The tensed situation forced vehicles off roads in Karachi. The protesters had also attempted to block roads leading to Hyderabad, according to traffic police officials. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has assured people that no one would be allowed to paralyse Karachi city. He asked the DIG (Traffic) to ensure smooth traffic in the city. One of the great things about going out of your way to help other people, is that from time to time it turns in your favor. This recently happened to me. You see, Im in the middle of a busy semester, helping out with recruiting events, launching a student-run venture and coordinating a national conference taking place in Hollywood, Calif. just to name a few things. So, this article kept getting pushed down on my priority list. That is, until one of my students said, If there is anything I can do you for, let me know. I said, If only you could write this article for me! And he joyfully replied in the affirmative, only to be crushed by me two seconds later. No way, even though he really is the best writer Ive seen come through here. I just didnt feel comfortable asking him to write something FOR me. But, it did give me an idea. What if I devoted the article to some of the regular, every day, amazing students whose lives have been impacted by entrepreneurship education? I crossed my fingers and sent out an email (some of them still use email), and within two hours I had some solid responses. Here are some that spoke to me about entrepreneurship education at Millikin. Sammy Schwartz is a senior entrepreneurship major who has been market testing an idea for a food truck selling mac n cheese burgers with his own homemade recipe. For me, its something that Ive always wanted to study because Ive always wanted to own my own food truck. And for future students with any interest in entrepreneurship he advises be involved in anything and everything because the opportunities are endless. Sammy has learned that the joy of cooking burgers and feeding hungry people is not the same as running a food truck business. Its hard to do both. Mikayla Krieger is a digital media marketing and management double major, and she is on the management team at Blue Brew Coffee Shop as a sophomore. She has this advice to give high school students. I would DEFINITELY recommend entrepreneurship courses. Entrepreneurship teaches you skills that can be applied and used in almost every aspect of the business world. And I can honestly say that learning and participating in entrepreneurship activities has helped me develop into the kind of business student that I am today. Laura Nearing is a junior biology student who went to the innovation competition with all business students in Denmark and gained a lot more from her international entrepreneurship experience than she expected. She fearlessly threw herself into the innovation team and learned the process being used to create new and unique ideas. My favorite quote from Laura had nothing to do with innovation or entrepreneurship, but had everything to do with the brilliance of cultural differences. When we were working on our business idea, one of the students sneezed, and all of the Danish students said prosit, which means, may it help. I was the only person to say bless you. They all looked at me like I was crazy! I guess the students never heard bless you in response to a sneeze, and it started a really funny conversation about weird Danish and English words. Lauras team won the challenge, by the way. Bless you, indeed! November 25, 2017 Trump Wants Peace With Erdogan - The Miltary Wants To Sabotage It President Trump is attempting to calm down the U.S. conflict with Turkey. The military junta in the White House has different plans. It now attempts to circumvent the decision the president communicated to his Turkish counterpart. The result will be more Turkish-U.S. acrimony. Yesterday the Turkish foreign minister surprisingly announced a phone call President Trump had held with President Erdogan of Turkey. United States President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone on Nov. 24 only days after a Russia-Turkey-Iran summit on Syria, with Ankara saying that Washington has pledged not to send weapons to the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) any more. President Trump instructed [his generals] in a very open way that the YPG will no longer be given weapons. He openly said that this absurdity should have ended much earlier, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters after the phone call. Trump had announced the call: Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump Will be speaking to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey this morning about bringing peace to the mess that I inherited in the Middle East. I will get it all done, but what a mistake, in lives and dollars (6 trillion), to be there in the first place! 12:04 PM - 24 Nov 2017 During the phone call Trump must have escaped his minders for a moment and promptly tried to make, as announced, peace with Erdogan. The issue of arming the YPG is really difficult for Turkey to swallow. Ending that would probably make up for the recent NATO blunder of presenting the founder of modern Turkey Kemal Ataturk and Erdogan himself as enemies. The YPG is the Syrian sister organization of the Turkish-Kurdish terror group PKK. Some weapons the U.S. had delivered to the YPK in Syria to fight the Islamic State have been recovered from PKK fighters in Turkey who were out to kill Turkish security personal. Despite that, supply for the YPG continued. In total over 3,500 truckloads were provided to it by the U.S. military. Only recently the YPK received some 120 armored Humvees, mine clearance vehicles and other equipment. The generals in the White House and other parts of the administration were caught flat-footed by the promise Trump has made. The Washington Post writes: Initially, the administrations national security team appeared surprised by the Turks announcement and uncertain what to say about it. The State Department referred questions to the White House, and hours passed with no confirmation from the National Security Council. The White House finally released what the Associated Press called: a cryptic statement about the phone call that said Trump had informed the Turk of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria. Neither a read-out of the call nor the statement AP refers to are currently available on the White House website. The U.S. military uses the YPG as proxy power in Syria to justify and support its occupation of north-east Syria, The intent of the occupation is , for now, to press the Syrian government into agreeing to a U.S. controlled "regime change": U.S. officials have said they plan to keep American troops in northern Syria and continue working with Kurdish fighters to pressure Assad to make concessions during peace talks brokered by the United Nations in Geneva, stalemated for three years now. Were not going to just walk away right now, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week. To solidify its position the U.S. needs to further build up and strengthen its YPG mercenary forces. When in 2014 the U.S. started to use Kurds in Syria as its foot-soldiers, it put the YPG under the mantle of the so called Syrian Democratic Forces and paid some Syrian Arabs to join and keep up the subterfuge. This helped to counter the Turkish argument that the U.S. was arming and supporting terrorists. But in May 2017 the U.S. announced to arm the YPG directly without the cover of the SDF. The alleged purpose was to eliminate the Islamic State from the city of Raqqa. The YPG had been unwilling to fight for the Arab city unless the U.S. would provide it with more money, military supplies and support. All were provided. The U.S. special forces, who control the YPG fighters, directed an immense amount of aerial and artillery ammunition against the city. Any potential enemy position was destroyed by large ammunition and intense bombing before the YPG infantry proceeded. In the end few YPG fighters died in the fight. The Islamic State was let go or eliminated from the city but so was the city of Raqqa. The intensity of the bombardment of the medium size city was at times ten times greater than the bombing in all of Afghanistan. Airwars reported: Since June, an estimated 20,000 munitions were fired in support of Coalition operations at Raqqa. Images captured by journalists in the final days of the assault show a city in ruins. Several thousand civilians were killed in the indiscriminate onslaught. The Islamic State in Syria and Iraq is defeated. It no longer holds any ground. There is no longer any justification to further arm and supply the YPG or the dummy organization SDF. But the generals want to continue to do so to further their larger plans. They are laying grounds to circumvent their president's promise. The Wall Street Journal seems to be the only outlet to pick up on the subterfuge: President Donald Trumps administration is preparing to stop sending weapons directly to Kurdish militants battling Islamic State in Syria, dealing a political blow to the U.S.s most reliable ally in the civil war, officials said Friday. ... The Turkish announcement came as a surprise in Washington, where military and political officials in Mr. Trumps administration appeared to be caught off-guard. U.S. military officials said they had received no new guidance about supplying weapons to the Kurdish forces. But they said there were no immediate plans to deliver any new weapons to the group. And the U.S. can continue to provide the Kurdish forces with arms via the umbrella Syrian militant coalition. The "military officials" talking to the WSJ have found a way to negate Trump's promise. A spokesperson of the SDF, the ethnic Turkman Talaf Silo, recently defected and went over to the Turkish side. The Turkish government is certainly well informed about the SDF and knows that its political and command structure is dominated by the YPK. The whole concept is a sham. But the U.S. needs the YPG to keep control of north-east Syria. It has to continue to provide whatever the YPG demands, or it will have to give up its larger scheme against Syria. The Turkish government will soon find out that the U.S. again tried to pull wool over its eyes. Erdogan will be furious when he discovers that the U.S. continues to supply war material to the YPG, even when those deliveries are covered up as supplies for the SDF. The Turkish government released a photograph showing Erdogan and five of his aids taking Trump's phonecall. Such a release and the announcement of the call by the Turkish foreign minister are very unusual. Erdogan is taking prestige from the call and the public announcement is to make sure that Trump sticks to his promise. This wide publication will also increase Erdogan's wrath when he finds out that he was again deceived. Posted by b on November 25, 2017 at 17:14 UTC | Permalink Comments Although the initial financing document for the new Burke County jail passed at Tuesday nights county commissioners meeting, two commissioners haven't been on board with the project. We have schools from 1910 and 1920, Commissioner Wayne Abele said. We should be talking about schools instead of talking about a darn jail. But despite the concerns expressed by Abele and Commissioner Maynard Taylor, the financing document passed 3-2. The document states that the county has legal authority to enter a resolution to finance the project, said Paul Ijames, finance director for the county. The document lists the estimated cost for the project will not exceed $21 million, but the final amount will be presented to the county in January by the projects manager-at-risk Vannoy Construction. Vannoy will gather all bids from subcontractors to help determine the cost, which will need to be approved by the Local Government Commission in February, Ijames said. Once the cost is determined, Vannoy will agree to complete the project for that cost. If the project ends up costing more, the company assumes the risk. But although the final costs have not been determined, Abele said he is concerned about how the county will pay for the jail. The financing document says the county does not anticipate increasing taxes to pay for the jail. However, Abele said he does not believe that is possible. If we didnt build the jail I dont think we would have a problem with property taxes raising, Abele said. But you cant tell me here, after 20 years, that we're not going to have a property tax (increase), and its going to be because we built the jail. Taylor agreed with Abele. We keep laying out money to treat the evildoers like theyre on vacation, and the good people pay the price, Taylor said. That bothers me. And thats what were doing with this jail. Chairman Jeff Brittain said the current jail has numbers of issues and is outdated. But Abele said county residents need to know what is going to happen with the current facility, which he said is in perfectly good condition. I havent heard any conversation, Abele said. You think we would have some conversation about the old jail. I mean, its a valuable piece of property. Commissioner Scott Mulwee said discussion has already taken place and that residents have decided what they want based on who they voted into office. This was actually made to be a campaign issue, which it was, Mulwee said. And several of us ran for building a jail being responsible, being proactive. And the majority of taxpayers agreed. And the majority of commissioners agreed Tuesday, too. Mulwee, Brittain and Johnnie Carswell all voted to approve the document, while Abele and Taylor voted against it. Fittingly, another topic of discussion at the meeting was a request from the Burke County Sheriffs Office for additional funds to house inmates outside of the county. The request for $250,000 from the countys general fund was made due to high numbers of inmates. Some of the high numbers are due to inmates who cannot post bond and an increase in female inmates, according to information from the county. BCSO expects to house between 20 and 30 inmates outside the county each month for the remainder of the fiscal year, according to the county. It costs $40 to house an inmate outside of the county each day. Sheriff Steve Whisenant said he believes the $250,000 will be enough for the rest of the year. The commissioners voted unanimously to allocate the funds. Also on the items for decision portion of the agenda was a proposal to award a construction bid for an EMS storage building. However, County Manager Bryan Steen suggested voting against the bid so the county can continue searching for lower bids. All of the county commissioners agreed and voted against the bid. The entire consent agenda was approved without discussion. The agenda included multiple appointments and multiple motions to help construct the Fonta Flora State Trail at Lake James State Park. Two people also showed up to speak during the public comment section of the meeting. Attorney Joseph Delk III, who spoke on behalf of the residents of Razors Ridge Road. Multiple residents were in attendance with large photographs of the roads current condition. Delk asked commissioners to consider petitioning the North Carolina Department of Transportation to look at the road. Residents hope the road can be included in the DOT system or be improved. This road has somewhat been forgotten, Delk said. There are potholes out there now big enough to park a Buick in. The road makes it hard for residents to travel safely and for emergency workers to respond to the area, Delk said. Jack Carroll, a former county commissioner, also spoke and asked the board for permission to construct a veterans memorial on the Historic Burke County Courthouse property. Two official public hearings were held during the meeting to discuss building reuse grants for Project Quantam Leap and Project Rampart. Nobody spoke during the public hearing, and the commissioners voted in both cases to approve $12,500 from the general fund to pay for the countys portion of potential building reuse grants. To watch the entire meeting, visit bit.ly/2jkaWbA. The next regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 in the County Board Room at 110 N. Green St. Ryan Wilusz is a staff writer and can be reached at rwilusz@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941. The family of Maltese journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in October, is pressing conflict of interest charges against officials responsible for the murder investigation, Politico reported Wednesday. Galizia's family members believe the investigation into her murder is biased because the police official overseeing her case, Silvio Valetta, is married to a politician Galizia has previously criticized in her writing. Caruana Galizia was a prominent investigative reporter who contributed to the Panama Papers investigation and was a staunch critic of corruption on the island nation. Her blog openly called out Maltese underworld figures and public officials alike for alleged crimes and misdeeds. Valetta's wife, Justyne Caruana (no relation to Galizia) is a senior member of the Maltese government and has recently been appointed as minister of Gozo by Maltese Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, The Independent reported. Galizia has been very critical of Muscat in the past. Galizia's family sees this connection as a conflict of interest regarding the investigation. Additionally, Valetta is on the board of the FIAU, Malta's Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit. Galizia was one of the journalists who uncovered several failings within the unit, the Times of Malta reported. Maltese officials do not believe Valettas involvement in Galizias case is problematic, the Times of Malta reported. As a board member of the FIAU, Mr Valletta does not have an operational role and would not even be informed what investigations the FIAU is carrying out, said a Maltese police commissioner in a statement. He should not lose his job just because his wife was appointed a minister. Galizia has tirelessly reported about crime and corruption throughout her career. "A culture of impunity has been allowed to flourish by the government in Malta. It is of little comfort for the Prime Minister of this country to say that he will not rest until the perpetrators are found, when he heads a government that encouraged that same impunity," said Galizia's son, Matthew Galizia, in a personal facebook post. occrp.org I dont know if I can call it a tradition yet, but the Thanksgiving holiday highlight for me is not the turkey and trimmings Rather, I revel in the retail bonanza that kicks off in the afternoon and lasts into wee, small hours of the morning. For the second straight year, I ventured out among the crowds Thursday evening to get a glimpse at what Midlanders were buying and to use the eye test to gauge just how the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season is changing and there were some big changes. Heres what I found. Toys Were Us: The big shock for me Thursday night was the lack of a crowd at Toys R Us. I arrived earlier this year than last year, at about 7:30 p.m., and, much to my surprise, there werent many people there. Last year, I could barely get in the door. This year, I could probably have been in and out in 15 minutes. Maybe its a sign that the once-dominant toys retailers really is in trouble. Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a few months ago, citing trouble with competition from online options such as Amazon. One employee I spoke with said there was a small line at open, but it wasnt nearly as long as in years past. She attributed the lack of business to the companys heavy discounting online before Black Friday began. At Midlands brick-and-mortar store, however, the air was quiet. Where the action was: An hour earlier, I started the night at Wal-Mart, which began its deals at 6 p.m. Wal-Mart was jammed, so much so that cars nearly filled the parking lots of neighbors Wendys and Chick-fil-A. One look at peoples carts, and it was clear what the hottest items were: TVs and several of them, though I dont mean in variety. Shoppers were snatching up Sharp Aquos 55-inch 4K and Element 39-inch models in bulk. When observing people in line, I saw five shopping carts in a row, each with a pair of Sharp TVs. As for the scene, Wal-Mart was busy but orderly. Shoppers checking out were staged starting in the middle of the store, and, just like last year, there were several police officers working security. I counted five cruisers parked out front. And a shout out to what Ive dubbed the cart corps. Shopping carts go out, and they have to come back in. When I left Wal-Mart, there were many employees in the parking lot retrieving carts, which isnt an easy task with people and traffic everywhere. Happy and calm: I arrived at Target at about 7 p.m. I didnt even get to the front door before I saw people flowing out of the store with TVs. One employee pushed a trolley with three 55-inch TVs a customer had purchased. Target clears out the maternity department and puts TVs on the floor, most of which are purchased in the electronics department in the back of the store. Everything else is paid for at the front of the store. To get there, however, means a long journey from the back wall. I had the bright idea of counting carts. I hit 26 by the time I got to the paper towels aisle when I realized it was an insurmountable task. The line wove up and down aisles 16 by my count toward the cash registers. The long line and long wait didnt leave people downtrodden. The customers I talked with were all smiles, laughing and were very positive. One employee I spoke with, who coordinated the line, said the night was happy and calm. By my estimation, she was right, and it was like that wherever I went, even Best Buy. The science: Last year, Best Buy was the busiest place I had visited. That wasnt the case this year. At 8 p.m., there were many people milling around, but it wasnt madness. A few employees I spoke with told me I had missed the rush at the store open. The line stretched all the way down to Barnes & Noble Booksellers. I think Best Buy has Pre-Black Friday down to a science. The retailer can get early entrants in and out quickly, making the rest of the night easier for everyone else. One last note about Best Buy: I learned just how much people want televisions. As I was leaving, I saw a shopper stuffing one into the back of a taxi. The mall: Midland Park Mall was alive and well Thursday night, except for one store. Sears had customers, but it was mostly guys hanging out in the tools department. It reminds me of mall stores when I was kid, except with far less people. Sears is like stepping back in time, and I cant help but wonder just how long Midland will have one. Odessas Music City Mall lost its Sears this year. The rest of the mall was busy, especially JC Penney Co. and White Barn, where one employee told me the candle store had been packed all night. Here are the businesses that werent open Thursday: Chick-fil-A, Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, Dillards, Family Dentistry, Fuddrucker's, Gordons Jewelers, Hickory Farms, Kay Jewelers, Legacy Harley-Davidson of Midland, Master Cuts, Motherhood Maternity, Pandora, Sno Factory, Visionworks, Vitamin World and Zales. Black Friday itself: The day the shopping holiday is named for just wasnt nearly as busy as Thanksgiving night. Just like last year, Black Friday didnt have any oomph; rather, at least in my experience, Friday morning was just like any other shopping day. Walk into Wal-Mart, and youd never know it was packed the night before. Best Buy was busy, but every other store had what Id consider a normal volume of customers. Also, with a few exceptions, Thanksgiving night wasnt as busy as last year. Is it a sign that more people are shopping online and earlier? Maybe. I finished my holiday shopping last week without stepping foot into a store. From what Ive gathered, a lot of people have done the same. Hart Energy adds 3 new conferences Energy-industry publisher Hart Energy is adding three conferences to its calendar in 2018, according to a press release issued Monday. Were always looking for opportunities to cover oil and gas' most pressing issues, Barry Haest, Hart Energy's vice president of conferences, said. Our new and returning conferences address upstream, midstream and financial businesses and technologies. They position industry leaders where business meets opportunity. The new conferences are: --DUG Haynesville, a conference and exhibition in Shreveport, Louisiana, that is focused on the natural-gas-rich basin that straddles East Texas and Louisiana. It is scheduled for Feb. 20-21. --DUG Executive in Houston is a focused, one-day event where (executives will) share insights and business concerns from strategic and financial perspectives. It is scheduled for Feb. 26. --Midstream Finance, is where midstream business leaders, Wall Street financiers and market analysts will talk about market trends and key drivers for investment in the midstream sector. It is scheduled for Oct. 22-23 in Dallas. Over the past 10 years, Hart Energy has produced more than 110 conferences and exhibitions. It will host two conferences in Midland next year: Midstream Texas on July 5-6 and the Executive Oil Conference on Nov. 5-6. Permian production expected to rise The Energy Information Administration on Monday released its monthly productivity report for November. The report estimated several factors of oil and gas production for November and December. Here are highlights from the Permian Basin: New-well oil production per rig in November was estimated to be 582 barrels per day, with an increase to 586 barrels per day in December. Natural gas production is slated to be 1.035 million cubic feet per day in November and 1.050 million cubic feet per day in December. In total, the Permian as a whole is expected to produce 2.628 million barrels per day in November and 2.686 million barrels per day in December. Natural gas production is estimated at 9.020 billion cubic feet per day in November and 9.19 billion cubic feet in December. Continuing the month-over-month increase trend, drilled-but-uncompleted wells (DUCs) rose from 2,430 in the Permian in September to 2,533 in October. DUCs have risen by 303 percent since December 2013, when 629 were reported. Permian Water acquires assets of Pyote Water Permian Water Solutions announced Wednesday that it had acquired the majority of the assets and operating business of Pyote Water Solutions, a Midland-based provider of commercial salt-water disposal facilities in the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford. Permian Water acquired fee or leasehold interests in 21 salt water disposal wells, three brine stations and three fresh water stations, the company said in a press release. Seventeen of the salt water disposal wells are located in West Texas and New Mexico and serve operators in the Delaware Basin, Central Basin Platform and Midland Basin. The company will have a Midland office. Permian Water is a startup portfolio company of Chambers Energy Capital. It was formed in the summer of 2017. Energy Hunter Resources divests in Midland Basin Energy Hunter Resources on Thursday announced the divestment of its mineral rights in the Midland Basin to an undisclosed company. The mineral rights are in Howard County and were purchased last year for about $300,000, according to a press release. The selling price was $750,000. Three wells were drilled, with three more currently in the permitting stage. The reason to acquire mineral rights in the Permian Basin was always a short-term focused decision designed to leverage our expertise in the sector and obtain a minor ownership position in a core area of the Permian Basin, said Chairman and CEO Gary C. Evans. We watched the value of our mineral rights in the Permian Basin significantly increase as additional wells were drilled and completed on the properties. The decision to sell these assets now will enable us to reinvest the proceeds in our new core region of the San Andres oil play located in the Permian Basin and provide additional working capital to the company. Energy Hunter Resources is an exploration and production company headquartered in Dallas. Houston energy private equity firm closes $600 million fund HOUSTON Post Oak Energy Capital has closed a $600 million fund it plans to pour into North American oil producers, service companies and midstream companies. The Houston private equity firm, a company with investments in more than two dozen oil companies, said its fourth fund closed earlier this month and expects to begin pumping money into companies early next year. Post Oak has invested in seven oil companies this year, including Houston explorers Tri-C Energy Partners and Sierra Resources, which drill in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. --Houston Chronicle CrossFit your thumbs and charge up your mobile device because Cyber Monday is a ticktock away. Forget the sales on chenille socks and pour-over coffee makers. Instead, splurge on a vacation. Here is a roundup of the best Cyber Monday deals this Thanksgiving season. Click the gallery above for a list of deals. A few examples are below. Royal Caribbean is offering savings of 40 percent for the second guest and 25 percent savings for the third and fourth passengers, plus up to $400 onboard credits per stateroom, depending on cruise length. Deal applies to all sailings (except China) departing on or after Dec. 24. Book Nov. 24-27 at royalcaribbean.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Texas Department of Public Safety officer shot and killed in the line of duty Thanksgiving afternoon was a married father of three and 15-year veteran of the force, the department confirmed. The person who police say killed him, meanwhile, had served jail time for assaulting a public servant, and was indicted by a grand jury last month for crashing his car into a police vehicle. Trooper Damon Allen, 41, died after being shot around 4 p.m. on Interstate 45 near Fairfield in Freestone County by a man later identified by police as Dabrett Black, 32, who then fled the scene. The Texas Department of Public Safety said Thursday that "preliminary information" indicated Allen was shot as he returned to his patrol vehicle. The agency is expected to release more details Friday. Black was captured in Waller County, nearly five hours into a massive manhunt for him was announced by Texas authorities. He was charged with capital murder Friday morning, court records show. Now Playing: A manhunt ended late Thursday in Waller County for a suspect officials say shot and killed a Texas Department of Public Safety officer in Freestone County. Video: METRO Video Allen was "the definition of a gentleman," said close friend Brian Bell, Mexia's chief of police. "He was fair and polite with everyone he came in contact with, and he treated everyone like they were a friend." The trooper grew up around Mexia, married his high school sweetheart and settled down near his hometown, said Bell, who'd known him for more than a decade. Allen went into law enforcement because he "liked to be the guy that people turned to when they needed help. That's just the way he was built." Allen is the 221st DPS officer to die in the line of duty since the founding of the Texas State Rangers in 1823, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. Since the 1929 founding of the Highway Patrol division, 88 officers have died in the line of duty. Of those, 26 were deaths from gunfire and seven were from vehicular assault, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. Allen's death comes only a few weeks after DPS Trooper Thomas Nipper was struck and killed during a traffic stop on Interstate 35 in Temple. The Thursday incident was hardly Blacks first violent encounter with law enforcement. Smith County Court records show that the Lindale native was indicted by a Grand Jury there last month for aggravated assault against a public servant and evading arrest, both felonies. He had previously served jail time after pleading guilty to a separate, 2015 assault on a public servant, court records show. His family did not respond to calls for comment Friday. In a statement released Thursday, DPS Director Steven McCraw praised Allen for his "selfless sacrifice on Thanksgiving Day." In a statement released Thursday, DPS Director Steven McCraw praised Allen for his "selfless sacrifice on Thanksgiving Day." "Our DPS family is heartbroken tonight after one of Texas' finest law enforcement officers was killed in the line of duty," McCraw wrote. "Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Damon Allen was a loving husband and father of three, and we ask for your prayers for his entire family and his many friends and colleagues during the difficult days ahead. Trooper Allen's dedication to duty, and his bravery and selfless sacrifice on this Thanksgiving Day, will never be forgotten." Gov. Greg Abbott meanwhile called the killing "callous" and "heinous." "The killer will face justice, and the State of Texas will continue to offer our unwavering support for the men and women in law enforcement who keep our communities safe," Abbott said in a statement. Black apparently fled the shooting in a gray 2012 Chevrolet Malibu with a Texas license plate. Authorities caught up with him in Waller County, where they fired some shots at him. He fled on foot and authorities followed him for more than an hour. Using night goggles, authorities said the suspect was on top of some hay bales and didn't appear to have a long gun. He then crawled along some brush near Wyatt Chapel Road, authorities said. Today, Monte Melkonian, a National Hero of Armenia and Artsakh, would have turned sixty. To mark the occasion, Hetq spoke with Karo Tovmasyan, who served with Monte in Martuni during the Artsakh liberation struggle. Melkonian served as the regional commander of Armenian forces in Martuni. I met Monte on February 22,1992 in the village of Tchartar. We were clearing out the enemy's firing positions. It was the afternoon when we started to advance. I met Monte at the intersection of Martuni-Fizuli-Tchartar. I saw this guy who turned out to be Monte. [Karo laughs]. He was holding a map, trying to get his whereabouts. I approached him and asked what he wanted to know. He turned around and asked me who I was. I told him I was one of the guys from the Tchartar platoon. Thats how we got acquainted. The fact that Monte was a hard taskmaster is backed up by those who traveled the same war road as him, and not only soldiers. He was strict, but just. If he gave you a task, you had to perform it. If you didnt, oh boy, hed show you his strict side. Im not saying hed hit you, but by slowly explaining and getting angry, the person would understand what he meant and not make the same mistake. Once, we had advanced and our tanks had wound up in the enemys minefield. We were caught in a dead-end. I went to assess the situation and reported back to him [Monte]. I told him it would take ten minutes for the guys to get the tanks out of there. He replied- I dont believe it. I told him that if he didnt believe it, lets bet on it. He said If they dont make it out, Ill break your head. We kept time. The tanks slowly made it out in time. Monte turned to me and said You just saved your head. Tovmasyan says that he and the other soldiers learnt much on the battlefield due to Monte military skills and other, human qualities. We were grown men. But he was able to instruct us and convey his values to us. He taught us to be more patriotic, to love ones fellow human being, to appreciate beauty in general. He was always attentive to his surroundings. His glance never overlooked that which was beautiful. It was early spring. We went out to inspect our defensive positions. Before reaching them, he stopped and looked out at the fields. He said What a beautiful position we have. I figured he was talking about our military positions and said Well Avo jan, we try our best. He replied Im not talking about our military position but the fields, the flowers. Tovmasyan didnt want to talk about Montes negative traits. He said the commander didnt have any. He could only think of one thing that came close. Perhaps his negative trait was that he placed the issue of starting a family on the back burner. He didnt think about his personal life all that much. He never asked for anything from his friends who came from overseas. He only wanted what was necessary for a soldier on the battlefield. Tovmasyan assures me that there are those who continue the work of Avo [Montes nickname in Artsakh]. He cites the heroic Armenian soldiers who fought and died in the April 4 Day War in 2016. He points to the former soldiers serving under Avo, who have now become army commanders themselves. Tovmasyan says they all try to be as fair-minded as Monte. In Martuni, the people regard Monte as one of their own, even though he was born thousands of miles away in California. Today, in Martuni, young and old alike will be celebrating Montes birthday. Those that knew him will be reminiscing about the days, terrible and triumphant, they shared. About friends left behind Top photo (from left): Monte and Karo Tovmasyan 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 [] GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. The Florida Highway Patrol is searching the for person involved in a shooting on Florida's Turnpike Saturday morning. 2 people shot on Florida's Turnpike Troopers said shooting prompted by road rage Troopers searching for suspect and vehicle The shooting happened at about 10:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the Turnpike, near mile marker 272. A 37-year-old man and 17-year-old girl, both from Miami, were shot by someone in the a gray Toyota Camry, troopers said. They were driving in a Chevy Impala when the shooting happened. The shooting may have been prompted by road rage, Sgt. Kim Montes said. Both people were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. The driver of the Camry fled the scene. Troopers are still searching for the car. Troopers are collecting evidence and reviewing surveillance video. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477. An interview with International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) Deputy Director Marina Walker-Guevara. The ICIJ recently published The Paradise Papers, a set of 13.4 million confidential electronic documents relating to offshore investments that were leaked to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung. The newspaper shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and a network of more than 380 journalists. The interview with Marina Walker-Guevara was conducted during the Global Investigative Journalism Conference, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Marina Walker was a speaker at several conference panels. A native of Argentina, Walker Guevaras investigations have won or shared more than 40 national and international journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting and Honors from Long Island Universitys George Polk Awards, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Overseas Press Club, Bartlett and Steele Awards, and Columbia Universitys Maria Moors Cabot Award for Distinguished Latin American Reporting (special citation). - Marina, I have noticed that the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has recently started crowdfunding, and you also regularly email your readers to support ICIJ. Does this model of self-financing work for you? - The majority of our funding still comes from foundations and from a few wealthy individuals, but mostly from foundations, traditional foundations like the Ford foundation, OSF-Open Society foundation, etc. But we are increasingly trying to create a membership model, where we can fundraise from just regular citiizens, who value our work. Its a much better model for us, and even though we are very independent from our funders, but its much better to have a million people give you one dollar than one rich organization give you a million dollars. - And do people, I mean ordinary readers, financially support you? - Yes, ordinary people are contributing. For example, in the first few days of the Panama Papers, we raised something like $30,000. Those are like a lot of new individual donors, that before had never contributed to ICIJ and now they have contributed, even if they have contributed five dollars, ten dollars, fifty dollars These are people that are likely to come back and maybe fund us again and give another donation. We are trying to make relationships with them. Sometimes, if we have a trip to New York, we would look at the database and see whoever the donors in New York are, and sometimes we will go and meet them. We would call somebody, not necessarily the ones who have donated the most money, but somebody who donated two or three hundred dollars. We would say welcome to New York, would you like to meet, to have coffee? We would like to tell you more about the ICIJ. We are connecting with those. - And what percentage of your funding comes from ordinary people? - Oh, I think at this point we just have started, and so its probably like maybe 5%. We have some individuals who are wealthy, who have donated significant amounts of money. So, if you count the wealthy, what is called high-net-worth individuals, then you know 12-15%. But if we count just small donations, it would be like 5%, so we are working on that. - After making such a large contribution, don t the high-net worth donors try to influence your work? - No, when they donate to ICIJ they know from the beginning that they will have no access to any knowledge. They are not allowed to influence anybody, we dont talk to them about stories. We dont accept any donation that are directed to something. We only accept donations that we call general support. Basically, money that we can use however we see fit. So, no individual comes to us and says, I will give you money to investigate this hospital in Chicago. If somebody says that, we decline the money. We just say thank you very much, we appreciate that you like ICIJ, but we are not for hire, so if you want to contribute to us, you just give us money and we will use it the way we see fit. Were really transparent in our website, in our stories, in everything about how we spend our money. - Are business corporations interested in your activity? Do they support you, besides the foundations? - No, we are not seeking their support that much. Im not calling Coca Cola to get their money. These are the companies that we are investigating, so why do I want to create a conflict of interest. We are trying to improve our business following, and maybe there are companies that is possible to get their sponsorship for training, for travel, for other things. But so far, we dont have any private corporations giving us money. What we do sometimes is we accept in-kind contributions, for example there is a private company that creates a software that we use for our investigations. And they allow us that software for free, and recently they have funded a fellowship for a technologist to come and work in our team to improve our reporting, our data analysis. So that would be an example of a corporation who is giving us an in-kind contribution without any influence on our work. - Does the support of ordinary readers grow after prominent investigations like the Panama Papers or Paradise Papers? - Yes. We always see an increase in contributions from ordinary citizens. After Panama Papers it was very noticeable, now its again very obvious with the Paradise Papers. And we see people that are also doing very cool things, like they donate and then they even tweet, I just donated to ICIJ, because I believe in their work, follow my example, whatever So you know they share, they are proud you know, these people they feel so disconnected from their elected officials in their communities, they feel like they contrast anybody, and they feel that some media organizations like ICIJ give them hope. We take every contribution very seriously, sometimes I think why do even people bother to go on PayPal and do all the stuff for a dollar, but those are the most valuable ones, these must be some teachers, some bus drivers, who literally can only contribute a dollar. - Do GIJN conferences help ICIJ widen its network? - They are really important, because people here are like four times as big as our partnerships, so we are always finding new partners, learning from others, being invited to join our projects, we never miss this conference, because its really important, a lot of collaborations happen. - Marina, are the leaks you have published legal? If not, how do you avoid prosecution? - We have always been passive recipients of leaks that come to us. Our journalistic responsibility is to never cross that line of breaking any law to obtain any information. We are passive recepients, and the information is in the public interest. It's not for us to judge or investigate how the information was obtained. Most of these disclosures came from people who share data they shouldn't have shared probably, but they did it for a bigger cause, for the public interest. - So, law enforcement has never been interested in where youve got the information? Do they have the right to approach you and demand that you reveal your sources? - No, because they know that we are protected by the First Amendment in the US, and other laws around the world. I think they also know that we are not the ones going and obtaining anything, that we are a trusted organization to which whistle blowers are coming. And it would be completely wrong to focus on ICIJ. And the issues we are reporting of, about national security, I think there might be some provisions that if we are reporting something that is of national security where they can try to take us to court . But this is the extreme situation. I can say in 99% of the cases nobody has the right to come and force you to reveal your source. - And how does that First Amendment protect you? - The First Amendment is the constitutional protection that journalists have in the United States, that allows you to publish information that is in the public interest and to generally conduct their reporting in a safe environment. You are protected as long as you have not broken any laws or crossed any line that you should not have to cross. - And what is that line? - It's breaking the law. It's like if I go and hack somebody. - And if somebody gives you the information, it's ok? Yes, if you are a passive recepient, its like a Watergate. In the old days, sources were talking to you in the garage, in the parking garage and perhaps give you information, documents, and now its large disclosures of digital data given in different ways electronically, because nobody goes to meet you in the parking garage. So, its the same as Watergate, only that its via technology. - Were there any cases when you suspended your cooperation with any media organization in the world, and if yes, what were the reasons? - I dont think we have ever suspended cooperation during the course of an investigation, because that would create a liability. But, what we have done is we have not worked again after we published the project; we have not come back to that partner. One reason is they didnt share their findings. They had access the data and the documents, but the requirement is you dont get access and then go to your corner and dont tell anybody what you found in Armenia. The responsibility is that you go back in the platforms we provide, and you share your findings and your reporting and research. If the partners do that systematically then why are we even cooperating with that partner. We try to train partners and give them an opportunity, and in 98 % of the cases we go back to them, they are great partners, and there are few cases in which we change because the journalists or media organizations are not ready to play high level and its riskier than rewarding to work with them. - And my last question. How can journalists or media organizations cooperate with the ICIJ? Do you have to be a member? - If ICIJ has official members of the network, you dont need to be a member to work with us. All we say is you need to be a trustworthy and an established reporter. If you have a great story or if you found something in the public offshore leaks database and you want to try to continue to follow the money and get access to the documents we have, you can come to us. And if you have a legitimate story, and you are a journalist who is also a good team player then we will be likely to want to work again. They can also e-mail [email protected], they can go to our website and find phone numbers and other e-mails and get in touch with us. Photo:www.mdzol.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Jack Stauffacher, a master printer who taught himself on a mail-order press and ended up with his austere and exquisite typography in the collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley, has died. Mr. Stauffacher died Nov. 16 at his longtime home in Tiburon, said his daughter, Francesca Stauffacher of Corte Madera. He was 96. In a nearly 80-year career that started when he was a teenager, Mr. Stauffacher worked with metal and wood type and printed everything from business cards and tickets to fine art books and museum monographs. Along the way, he was part of the North Beach bohemia that spawned the Beats after World War II. He also was the subject of a solo show, Jack Stauffacher: Selections from the Permanent Collection of Architecture and Design, at SFMOMA in 2002, and a group show, Belles Lettres: the Art of Typography in 2004-05. Jack will be remembered by his passion for the written word and the ability for type to contribute to the emotive quality of text, said Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher, curator of architecture and design at SFMOMA. A third-generation San Franciscan of Swiss descent, Jack Werner Stauffacher was born Dec. 19, 1920, and grew up in San Mateo, where his father owned a plumbing company. As a 13-year-old, he saw an ad in Popular Mechanics advertising a starter press kit for $15. He sent away for it, and once hed taught himself the trade, he opened the Greenwood Press, a printing studio he had his father build behind his familys house on Greenwood Avenue, where he got the name. Ive never looked back since, in terms of my profession, Mr. Stauffacher told The Chronicle in an interview 20 years ago. When he was 20, the Greenwood Press printed its first book, 250 copies of Three Choice Sketches by Geoffrey Crayon Gent by Washington Irving. Next, he published an illustrated guide called Bicycle Polo: Techniques and Fundamentals. No one knows about bicycle polo, he told The Chronicle. I was passionate enough to make a book. The first book about bicycle polo in the world. Drafted into the Army at the outset of World War II, Mr. Stauffacher served as a mapmaker. Discharged after coming down with pleurisy, he returned to San Francisco, then a national printing center with Grabhorn Press, Taylor & Taylor and John Henry Nash, among others. It was like going to Paris, he said. In 1947, Mr. Stauffacher moved the Greenwood Press from San Mateo to Sansome Street in the city. His older brother, Frank, was a well-known avant-garde filmmaker who introduced him to the bohemian scene in North Beach. He met and befriended Dylan Thomas, Henry Miller, Ansel Adams, Alan Watts, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Kenneth Rexroth. It was a very rich moment for us, he recalled. There was the postwar dedication of the artist. Somebody said Oh, youre a Beat, Jack, But Im not. I came out of the earlier period that reflected a different social consciousness. While visiting the old SFMOMA in the Veterans Building, Mr. Stauffacher met Josephine Grimaldi, an Italian immigrant. They married in 1948. In 1955, Mr. Stauffacher closed the Greenwood Press and moved his wife and two children to Florence, Italy. Hed received a Fulbright grant for three years of study under the Italian masters Giovanni Mardersteig and Alberto Tallone. He was hired as an assistant professor of typographic design at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. He returned to San Francisco in 1963, when he was hired as the typographic director at the Stanford University Press. He did dozens and dozens of books and book covers for them, said Dennis Letbetter, a photographer and longtime collaborator with Mr. Stauffacher. He also taught at the San Francisco Art Institute. In 1966, he left Stanford to reopen the Greenwood Press at 300 Broadway. It was a one-man shop he maintained until his death. While raising his family in a variety of rental flats in the Marina, he rode his Italian bicycle to work, always picking a flower along the way for the lapel of his tweed jacket. Later, after moving to Tiburon, he took the ferry to work. In 1974, he was hired by UC Santa Cruz to start the Cowell Press at Cowell College. Many of his students there went on to careers in graphic design, including Les Ferriss, now the master printer at the Bancroft Library. He was a scholar printer, Ferriss said. He was my mentor, my colleague and my friend for over 30 years. Among his greatest honors was when the Book Club of California published A Typographic Journey: The History of the Greenwood Press and Bibliography, 1934-2000. A portfolio entitled Wooden Letters from 300 Broadway was purchased by SFMOMA, which owns nearly 100 of Mr. Stauffachers works, including experimental compositions using wood and metal type. He also designed the lettering for the museums tote bag. In 2011, Mr. Staufachers archive was purchased by the Bancroft. His 1966 Vandercook Cylinder Handpress was also purchased. It has been restored and is being used by the Bancroft Library Press. His last book, Oxen, Plough, Bicycle, a memoir of his years in Tuscany with his own photography and dated journal entries from the 1950s, was published this fall. This man never retired, Letbetter said. He was a visionary in the printing world. As such, he was central to a Friday afternoon guild, where printers, type designers, poets, filmmakers and academics from all over the world would meet at a cafe in North Beach. A year ago, the salon met as usual, with no indication that it would be the last time. But Mr. Stauffacher was 95 and was losing energy. He called to cancel before the next lunch. Rather than continue without him, the salon folded after more than 25 years. Without Jack it would have been unstructured, dissolute and lacking in discipline, Letbetter said. He was the true pillar of a humanist approach to design. Survivors include his wife of nearly 70 years, Josephine Grimaldi Stauffacher of Tiburon; a daughter, Paula Stauffacher of San Francisco; a son, Mario of Tiburon; and a daughter, Francesca Stauffacher, her husband, Christopher Rand, and a granddaughter, Isabella Bertaud, all of Corte Madera. Services are pending. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SamWhitingSF The biggest tobacco companies in the United States will start running prime-time television commercials and full-page ads in national newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle on Sunday - but the campaign is unlikely to spur enthusiasm for their products. "More people," one ad says, "die every year from smoking than murder, AIDS, suicide, drugs, car crashes, and alcohol, combined." Another reads: "Cigarette companies intentionally designed cigarettes with enough nicotine to create and sustain addiction." Each ad starts by noting that Altria, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard and Philip Morris USA were ordered to make the statements by a federal court. The messages stem from a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department in 1999. As part of the 2006 ruling in the suit, which sought to punish cigarette makers for decades of deceiving the public about the dangers of their product, the companies were ordered to disseminate "corrective statements" centered on the health risks and addictive nature of smoking. But until now, they resisted through appeals and by wrangling over wording. "It's both an important victory and a frustrating one," said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, who has worked on the case since 1999. The tobacco companies "have spent millions of dollars and a decade of time resisting a court order that simply requires them to publish truthful facts about their products and their behavior," he said. The initial order came from a 1,600-page civil racketeering judgment from Judge Gladys Kessler that excoriated the tobacco industry for lying about and misrepresenting its products beginning in the 1950s. She said they had sought "to make money with little, if any, regard for individual illness and suffering, soaring health costs or the integrity of the legal system." The corrective statements were meant to appear in places that tobacco companies had "historically used to promulgate false smoking and health messages." In addition to the TV and newspaper ads, there will be messaging on the packs themselves and on the company's websites, though details are still being worked out. Altria, which owns Philip Morris USA, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, declined to comment beyond an Oct. 2 release about the ads, which said it was working to make its business practices more responsible. Murray Garnick, the company's general counsel, said in the statement that "includes communicating openly about the health effects of our products, continuing to support cessation efforts, helping reduce underage tobacco use and developing potentially reduced-risk products." R.J. Reynolds, which is part of British American Tobacco with Lorillard, said in an email that the company was "fully complying with its obligations under the court order." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Carl Icahn has taken a 13.5 percent stake in Sand-Ridge Energy and says he and his affiliates intend to vote against its "nonsensical" agreement to acquire Bonanza Creek Energy for about $746 million. The billionaire investor said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that he may also propose alternative transactions at a later date and might call a special shareholder's meeting to remove the company's board. Sand-Ridge rose 8 percent Friday to $18.90. It's the first activist stake taken by Icahn since December 2015 when he invested in Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack, which was bought by Icahn Enterprises the following year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Representatives of Icahn attempted to reach SandRidge CEO James Bennett Wednesday and will continue trying to meet with him and his management team soon, according to the filing. Icahn and his partners said they looked "forward to hearing what possible justifications management could have for entering into such a seemingly ill-advised, dilutive and value-destructive acquisition and why they believe the transaction is anything more than an entrenchment technique." A representative for the Oklahoma City-based oil and gas producer didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Icahn said he had read other shareholders' opposition to the SandRidge deal, including the views of Fir Tree Partners. Though Icahn said he hasn't spoken directly with anyone at Fir Tree, he said he "could not be more in agreement" with it, especially its conclusion that the Bonanza Creek transaction reminds it of "SandRidge's prior history when this same management team acquired disparate assets and added leverage with reckless abandon." Shares in SandRidge fell as much as 21 percent after it announced its plans earlier this month to acquire Denver-based Bonanza Creek in a cash-and-stock deal. The transaction is expected to be voted on by shareholders in March and to close by the end of the first quarter. Icahn, who rose to fame in the 1980s as a corporate raider, has since re-branded himself as an activist investor and shareholder advocate. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Schenectady Three new upstate New York casinos have so far failed to generate the big payoffs they projected, meaning less money shared with towns, cities and counties. Slot machine and table game revenue from casinos in the Finger Lakes, the Southern Tier and Schenectady have fallen short of the rosy revenue projections operators produced when applying for licenses. For instance, Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady had gambling revenues of $105 million after nine months, putting it on track to finish short of its minimum $181 million projection. And that has affected Schenectady, where city officials are bracing to bring in hundreds of thousands dollars less than the $2.75 million they budgeted for this year from the revenue. Councilman Vince Riggi likened the situation to a kid at Christmas getting fewer presents than expected. "It's a plus, but it's still a disappointment, that's the way I see it," Riggi said. "We were told to expect much more." State officials and casino owners argue that any revenue from Rivers, del Lago Resort and Casino in the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier's Tioga Downs Casino and Resort represents a stream of money for localities that didn't exist before. And they say the casinos have delivered on the state's main goal of creating jobs and new economic activity in struggling areas. "It's been a huge success. Whatever has been promised from an economic development standpoint has been delivered by the casinos," said Tioga owner Jeff Gural. "The real losers, frankly, are the owners of the three casinos." The casinos' slots and table games have raised $88.8 million. Eighty percent of the money goes to public schools, which have set levels of aid unaffected by casino revenue fluctuations. The rest goes to county and municipal governments. That comes in addition to gambling revenue from horse tracks and five Indian casinos. The Indian casino payments are down steeply this year because the Senecas stopped making payments for their three western New York casinos. The tribe and the state are headed to arbitration in the dispute over compact terms. Analysts blame a crowded market for the disappointing new casino revenues. Aside from the five full-scale Indian casinos, New York is home to 10 "racino" horse tracks with video lottery terminals. The Oneidas, who operate the Turning Stone casino in central New York, also run a mini-casino in a strip mall near Syracuse. "Obviously there is a pie that is divided up too much," said Alan Woinski, president of Gaming USA Corp., a New Jersey-based gambling consultancy. A spokesman for the state Gaming Commission said it will be more accurate to analyze third-year revenues, where the casinos are more established. Del Lago spokesman Steven Greenberg noted that their hotel only opened this summer and that they are confident about growth in 2018. "They're new entities," he said. "You've got to give this some time to build their businesses." Del Lago Resort and Casino generated $113 million in gambling revenue in its first nine months, putting it on track to finish short of its projected $263 million. Woinski noted that competition will only increase next year. A fourth $1.2 billion casino resort selected by state officials is set to open in March in the Catskills, about 90 miles northwest of New York City. Another casino less than an hour from the New York border in Springfield, Mass., is set to open later in 2018. And the Oneidas are set to open a second mini-casino near Syracuse in the spring. "It's very hard to see a situation where things improve," Woinski said. The Trump administration is preparing to stop supplying weapons to ethnic Kurdish fighters in Syria, the White House acknowledged Friday, a move reflecting renewed focus on furthering a political settlement to the civil war there and countering Iranian influence now that the Islamic State caliphate is largely vanquished. Word of the policy change long sought by neighboring Turkey came Friday, not from Washington but from Ankara. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters at a news conference that President Donald Trump had pledged to stop arming the fighters, known as the YPG, during a phone call between Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Mr. Trump clearly stated that he had given clear instructions, and that the YPG won't be given arms and that this nonsense should have ended a long time ago," the Associated Press quoted Cavusoglu as saying to reporters following the call. Initially, the administration's national security team appeared surprised by the Turks' announcement and uncertain what to say about it. The State Department referred questions to the White House, and hours passed with no confirmation from the National Security Council. In late afternoon, the White House confirmed the weapons cutoff would happen, though it provided no details on timing. "Consistent with our previous policy, President Trump also informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete and we are progressing into a stabilization phase to ensure that ISIS cannot return," the White House statement said, referring to the recent liberation of the Syrian city that had served as the Islamic State's de facto capital. The decision to stop arming the Kurds will remove a major source of tension between the United States and Turkey, a NATO ally. But it is likely to further anger the Kurds, who already feel betrayed since the United States told them to hand over hard-won territory to the Syrian government. Turkey has pointed to the YPG's affiliation with the Kurdistan Workers' Party - a Kurdish rebel group that has fought the Turkish state for decades - as evidence of its terrorist ties. The YPG, which formed amid the chaos of the Syrian civil war, has worked with U.S. forces to oust the Islamic State from key areas there. The Obama administration began arming the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is dominated by the Kurdish YPG militia, because they were considered the most effective fighters against Islamic State militants. The phone call between Trump and Erdogan followed a summit on Syria held this week in Sochi, Russia. It was attended by Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Russia and Iran backed the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and helped Syrian forces to rout the Islamic State. The two powers, along with Turkey, have forged an alliance that is advancing its own peace plan, in which the United States would play little role beyond being an observer. They have said U.S. troops should leave Syria now that the Islamic State's defeat appears imminent. But a U.S. withdrawal without a peace plan well on its way would be victory for Assad, and by extension, Iran and Russia. So U.S. officials have said they plan to keep American troops in northern Syria - and continue working with Kurdish fighters - to pressure Assad to make concessions during peace talks brokered by the United Nations in Geneva, stalemated for three years now. "We're not going to just walk away right now," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week. James Jeffrey, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey from 2008 to 2010, said the decision to cease supplying weapons to the Kurds appears to reflect an evolving strategy to keep playing a productive role in Syria and weaken Iranian-backed militias and Hezbollah, both of which fought alongside Syrian forces to regain territory from the militants. "Fighting ISIS was such a priority, we had to focus on that before other things," he said, using a common acronym for the Islamic State. "Now as the conventional fight is over, we're trying to come up with a bigger policy. We can't do it without Turkey. It's pure geography. We have to mend fences with the Turks if we want to remain in Syria." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As darkness fell at Travis Park on Friday night, Carrie Briseno recalled when she was a little girl and her parents took her to Alamo Plaza for the traditional lighting ceremony of the city tree. Friday night, she was with her daughter, Vanessa Aguilar, and son-in-law, Gilbert Aguilar, who had brought their 2-year-old son, Dominic, who danced to the songs of mariachis at the lit stage. I used to bring my kids when they were little, said Briseno, 55. Now, they bring their kids. Its time for a new tradition, she said, both for her family and the city. For the first time, the giant 55-foot fir tree stood at the heart of Travis Park instead of in front of the Alamo, as it had for more than 30 years. Briseno and the Aguilars joined in the whooping and hollering as the crowd watched the bright red lights of the tree and 200,000 white ones throughout the park flicker on, kicking off the citys yuletide season and the 33rd Annual H-E-B Tree Lighting Ceremony. City officials said future construction linked to Alamo master plan development led to combining the lighting of the tree with Centro San Antonios Annual Lighting of Travis Park. With the controversial Confederate memorial gone, there was room at the much larger park with easier access for the public, officials said. The tree and lights will be on display through Jan. 7. Lori Houston, assistant city manager, said visitors to Alamo Plaza would still be able to snap holiday photos of a tree in front of the historic structure: an 18-foot-tall decorated one also provided by H-E-B. Theres a contingent of San Antonians who arent happy about the move and are leaving a tangible statement at the old site in the form of small Christmas trees. Local resident Steve Monreal told mySA.com that he set up his tiny tree to protest the break with the traditional ceremony. Opponents plan a ceremony of their own at 1 p.m. Dec. 2 to light up more than 100 trees at Alamo Plaza that are all less than 3 feet tall, Gina Castaneda said. For his part, Gilbert Aguilar didnt mind the change of venue. I like it, he said. Its more open here. Over there, its more crammed in. For the past three decades, numerous grocery chains have sponsored the trees that became a yuletide icon outside the Alamo. H-E-B has provided the Christmas tree since the mid-1990s. Before the lights turned on across the grounds at Travis Park, Mayor Ron Nirenberg welcomed the crowd and noted that the event has always been about tradition and celebrating the holidays together. Nirenberg also said the hearts and prayers of San Antonians go out to neighboring cities that have suffered hard times this past year. Throughout the evening, Santa Claus wandered through the crowd, stopping to pose for photos and hand out candy to the little ones. The lights and music drew Diane and Rich Weyer and their friends, Jim and Donna Franklin, on vacation from central New Jersey. Jim Franklin, in his mid-50s, said they didnt have any idea about the tree lighting ceremony when they made plans to visit San Antonio. As they walked beyond the towering bright-red tree, Diane Weyer, 64, said the ceremony was a bonus to their holiday trip. We just started walking and saw the lights, she said. Its very festive. Tradition continued as San Antonians and visitors head to the River Walk and the bridges to watch the 36th annual Ford Holiday River Parade. A crowd estimate was not provided, but last year 50,000 people attended the parade, according to the Paseo Del Rio Association. This years theme was Christmas at the Movies, and each of the 28 floats had movie themes, including A Christmas Story, The Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Cheryl Ladd of Charlies Angels fame was the grand marshal. Christmas music heralded the approach of many of the floats. One played Lets All Go to The Lobby and released a buttery popcorn scent. Carla Rodgers, 44, and her two daughters hadnt attended the parade in at least four years, but this year Rodgers in-laws from Cibolo wanted to buy tickets, so the family went. This is awesome because last time it was freezing cold, said Rodgers at about 8 p.m. as temperatures hovered around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The family also paid for a better spot this year, on the River Walk between the Shops at Rivercenter mall and the Convention Center. Emily Rodgers, 12, said she liked the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer float, which featured several frisky dogs. Julia Aguilar, 43, of San Antonio, and her family watched nearby, eating a Chinese dinner from the malls food court. Aguilar and her sons, aged 19 and 7, come to the parade every year. The kids get to enjoy the night, Aguilar said. Her friend Maria Lopez, 42, begged to differ as she waited for the float from her daughters alma mater, the University of the Incarnate Word, depicting the movie A Christmas Carol. Im enjoying myself more than the kids, Lopez said. I love to see the kinds of designs they show. A Star Wars float was a big hit with the crowd, who cheered as Storm Troopers waved. Oh my gosh, is it Star Wars? called Brandy Flores, 33, from her perch on a 4-foot wall outside Range, a steakhouse on the river near Houston and St. Marys streets. Boba Fett! Princess Leia! Flores and her mother, 54-year-old Sheila Melnick, come to the parade every year, but Flores husband, Albert Flores, said this was his first time at the parade despite his lifelong residence in San Antonio. The family said they enjoyed the lights, festive atmosphere and easy access to the parade after seeing retired Spurs player Matt Bonner at the tree lighting in Travis Park. All you had to do was walk right down the road, Melnick said. I love San Antonio. I think its a fantastic city. A court in South Africa on Friday more than doubled the prison sentence for Oscar Pistorius to 13 years and five months for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, who gained fame as a double-amputee runner who competed in the 2012 Olympics, fatally shot Steenkamp four times through a closed bathroom door at his home in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013. Pistorius claimed he thought Steenkamp was an intruder. Under a 2015 murder conviction, Pistorius was originally sentenced to six years in prison. On Friday, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal called that sentence "shockingly lenient," and more than doubled it after unanimously upholding an appeal by prosecutors, the Associated Press reported. Under the new sentence, the earliest Pistorius will be eligible for parole is 2023, according to the AP. The lengthened sentence was another twist in a protracted legal battle over the case. Conviction changed Pistorius, 31, was originally convicted in September 2014 of culpable homicide, or manslaughter in the United States, and later sentenced to five years in prison. "I am of the view that a noncustodial sentence would send the wrong message to the community, but a long sentence would not be appropriate because it would lack the elements of mercy," Judge Thokozile Masipa said at the sentencing. Steenkamp's family said at the time they were "satisfied" with the five-year sentence, even if it wasn't what they were hoping for. In 2015, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal overturned Masipa's culpable homicide conviction and instead found Pistorius guilty of murder, a more severe charge that, under South African law, carries a minimum sentence of 15 years. "He is a person well-trained in the use of firearms and was holding his weapon at the ready in order to shoot," the court's decision read. "He paused at the entrance to the bathroom and when he became aware that there was a person in the toilet cubicle, he fired four shots through the door. And he never offered an acceptable explanation for having done so." Dramatic downfall The decision sent Pistorius back to court for resentencing. Masipa, the trial judge, sentenced Pistorius to six years in prison for murder, effectively only adding a year to his culpable homicide sentence. The decision shocked many who had expected a sentence of between 10 and 15 years, with credit for time already served. He remains, Masipa said, "a good candidate" for rehabilitation. In addition, she said, "he has already spent some time," 12 months, serving his original sentence. It remains to be seen if Friday's decision by South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal will mean the end of Pistorius's legal saga. According to the AP, his lawyers can still challenge the new, lengthened sentence with South Africa's Constitutional Court, the country's highest court. The decision marked another step in the dramatic downfall of Pistorius, who became known as the "Blade Runner" and "the fastest man on no legs" for running on two blade-like prosthetics. He was one of the few athletes to compete in both the Paralympic Games and the Olympic Games after qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. When I was in elementary school, my mom declared that Charles Manson was the devil. Shed been reading Helter Skelter. The dog-eared paperback was creepy; the cover was black with red letters. The words Helter Skelter were made to look as if theyd been scrawled on the top half of the cover. The subtitle, The True Story of the Manson Murders, floated underneath. My mom caught me thumbing through the book and told me to leave it alone. The book was written way over my head, but being told to put it down made me want to read all about the true story that was being kept from me. I got the main idea. Helter, Skelter, True Story and Murders were big, scary words in our bilingual home. My parents, aware that their daughter was always eavesdropping, were careful to keep ugliness away. We watched El Chavo and Happy Days and everything aired with the CBS special presentation lead-in, especially the Christmas stop-animation specials about Rudolph. When Eyewitness News at 10 came on, it was time for me to leave the room and get ready for bed, and if I wasnt snoring by the time the newsreel came on, there was trouble. But people were talking about the Manson Family. A made-for-TV movie based on the book aired everywhere but our house. Pictures of a wild-eyed Manson and the people who did his bidding were all over The Weekly World News and other supermarket tabloids. The neighbor kids with lesser media restrictions were considerably freaked out. At the time, Manson was the ultimate boogeyman, much worse than El Cucuy or La Llorona. Manson swayed a group of fair-haired, middle-class young people to do things so terrible they could only be fully revealed within the pages of Vincent Bugliosis creepy little paperback. Nobody could understand how he did it or why they listened. Who but the devil himself could be more crafty? Over the years, Manson made the news every time he and his family members were denied parole. He shook his permanently disheveled hair as he ranted, he stuck his tongue out at the camera, and the swastika on his forehead seemed the least bizarre thing about him. He became Americas most notorious criminal. But symbolism is funny. Goth rocker Marilyn Manson took the surname to up his creepy factor. U2, Aerosmith, Motley Crue and Siouxie and the Banshees all covered the Beatles song Helter Skelter despite the fact that it had become synonymous with Mansons crimes although if theyd re-recorded Yesterday, it wouldnt have been more than a throwback to the 60s. Maybe this took some of the chill off the name Manson. Or maybe its because America grew up. We called Manson the devil, but have since met criminals far creepier. Today, we have prime-time series that focus on criminal atrocities uglier than those featured last season. We have drills designed to protect elementary school pupils from live shooter situations. And we have internet profiles on the evil that humans have been inflicting on one another for centuries before anybody ever heard of Charles Manson. Manson died in prison last week, having lived a long life locked away but not far from the public eye. Good riddance; he was a terrible person who really did embody evil. But was he the devil? Hardly. Mariaanglinwrites@yahoo.com For a while now, Ive been telling friends, family and classes, Dont fear the robots. Theyll only make our lives easier, I say. If we dont have jobs and income, robot-made products will have no customers. Some folks have taken Skynet from the Terminator movies too literally. After some thought, though, maybe some caution is in order. Perhaps we should be wary of the robots that create misleading headlines and flimsy stories. Those programmed to manufacture self-righteousness warrant suspicion as well. Worst of all are the cyborgs empowered by their masters to create burdensome taxing and spending policy. As if on cue, the politically cynical concern about the federal budget deficit is back in vogue. Who is concerned at the moment depends on who is in power. These days, its Democrats who feign such anxiety since Republicans hold all levers of federal control. A few years back, Republicans were the worrywarts, and a few years before that it was Democrats. Republicans problem is that they cant be taken seriously when it comes to curtailing spending, the real issue. Not only do some of them favor more (defense, propping up Obamacare, building a border wall), but theyre not even willing to rein in the bloated leviathan thats been built up over the past century. Never mind President Donald Trumps campaign pledge not to touch or reform the entitlement state. As for Democrats, no one who seriously thinks the rich can fund the vast majority of government or who characterizes slowing the growth rate of spending as a cut could possibly know enough to care about budget deficits. Watching these two parties compete to show the most concern about the deficit is like watching a Democrat leech and a Republican leech attached to the American citizen as they argue whos responsible for the patients deficit of blood. Meanwhile, youre probably aware of the positions staked out by these parties and their respective sympathizers in the punditocracy regarding tax reform: Leftists think we shouldnt enact tax cuts for the rich at the expense of vital federal government programs, while the right wing generally supports reform as a way to kick-start the economy that will pay for itself. But before congressional leaders even released detailed plans, the media had all they needed with the presidents nine-page framework. MarketWatch put out a tentative tax reform-effect calculator (based partially on Republican proposals of prior years). The story that grabbed my attention, however, was on National Public Radios website. It had the click-bait headline cautioning Americans not to pin their hopes on the promised $4,000 raise from the GOP tax plan. It reinforced this persistent notion that we live in a static society. Its that concept, after all, that informs the Congressional Budget Offices predictions of the effects of legislation; $1 of tax cuts equals $1 of tax revenue lost by the government. CBO analyses assume little ripple effect, few changes in behavior. In this case, a report by the presidents Council of Economic Advisers regarding the proposed reduction of corporate income taxes was implied to predict an exact effect on individuals. Nothing can be forecast perfectly in a relatively free, dynamic economy, especially with so many other exogenous influences: new discoveries or inventions, business creation/closure, the regulatory state, trade policy, events near and far. Most productive members of society arent gullible enough to think that as soon as any such reform passes, they can expect a raise soon thereafter. They know raises will continue to be based on the same core principles: work ethic, value added to the company, company/industry/economic conditions. These kinds of things arent as easy to predict as a government handout. Another headline that jumped out at me came from ABC News website and reported 60% of Americans say Trump tax plan will benefit wealthy. Well, duh. It stands to reason that those who pay progressively more would subsequently realize more after-tax income. However, some wealthy folks not only want no part of it, but think none of their cohort should experience it either. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet, who once famously claimed that his secretary pays a higher rate of tax than he does, recently said, I dont think I need a tax cut. Former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer piped in, pleading, Im a billionaire. Please raise my taxes. And Morris Pearl, head of an outfit called Patriotic Millionaires, said that only the poorest among us should have tax cuts. Buffetts secretary claim was sufficiently debunked by none other than Politifact, citing reasons that are apparently lost on Pearl; not only do most folks at such income levels fall into lower tax brackets, but they end up paying little to no net income taxes, thanks to deductions and various loopholes. Yet according to Steyer, it has been at the expense of working families that upper-income people in the United States have done disproportionately well. I dont know about you, dear reader, but Im struggling to remember the last time I felt taken advantage of by the richest Americans. Political science degree from Yale in hand, surely Steyer isnt referring to cuts in the size of government. After consulting USDebtClock.org, I see that Uncle Sam is spending more than $4 trillion, is in a $20 trillion hole, and has $109 trillion in unfunded liabilities. Regardless of the extra-constitutional functions Steyer fears will be deprived of funds, it appears Uncle Sams operations continue apace. And certainly having earned an economics degree, hes familiar with the concept of deadweight loss. As John Stossel recently pointed out, we devote the equivalent of 3.7 million people working 40-hour weeks to filing our taxes. If they are so eager to pay more taxes, I bet they could chip away at that deadweight loss by refraining from exploiting the legal loopholes available to us all. Failing that, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service is happy to accept gifts and unconditional donations on behalf of the federal government (whether such a donation is tax-deductible is unclear). Whether such folks feel a little guilty for skillfully navigating the system as it is set up, or would perhaps prefer to maintain their perch atop the same for which they might have lobbied, or whether they just dont understand the problem here is anyones guess. The core principle of this debate is a sensible one: The tax burden on laborers and wealth-creating entities should be as minuscule and simple as possible. In a recent essay in the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Christoph Koch, chief scientist and president of the Allen Institute of Brain Science, explained the research that hes been leading to create technologies to enhance the processing and learning capabilities of the human brain in response to artificial intelligence (i.e., robots). Such work, he hopes, could turn anyone into a programmer who could create a precise and error-free piece of digital code at the speed of thought. Hopefully, the general public figures out how to use such technology to better decode the nonsense fed to us by the automatons disguised as public policy-makers and spinners. Christopher E. Baecker manages fixed assets for Pioneer Energy Services and is an adjunct lecturer at Northwest Vista College. Its not often that President Donald Trumps Twitter feed is the voice of reason and compassion, but on the issue of trophy hunting it makes more sense than his own Department of Interior. Trump put on hold the departments initial decision to reverse an Obama-era ban and allow the importation of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia. In a tweet, Trump referred to trophy hunting as a horror show. He said he would be very hard-pressed to conclude that such hunting advances the cause of conservation, the justification for the decision. Trump, who has publicly dissented in the past from the notorious trophy hunting of his own sons, is right. In this case, government by tweet is better than the alternative, and more in keeping with the interests of the most majestic creatures on this Earth. The African elephant population is in historic decline, driven by the loss of habitat and poaching. Early in the 20th century, there were more than 10 million elephants. Now there are about 350,000. The killing still proceeds apace. A 2014 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that 100,000 elephants had been killed by poachers in a three-year period from 2010 to 2012, and the Central African population had declined by 64 percent over a decade. In one orgy of destruction in 2012, poachers killed more than 300 elephants in a national park in Cameroon with AK-47s and grenades. Trophy hunting, which is licensed and regulated, is not illegal poaching. It also isnt a reputable practice. Or it shouldnt be. Elephants are highly intelligent and social creatures. They really do have extraordinary memories. They have families. They mourn their dead. They arent simply walking tusks waiting to be mounted on someones office wall. Gunning them down for bragging rights, or to cross an item off a bucket list, or to post a photo with a carcass on Instagram or Facebook is thoughtless and cruel. The argument that trophy hunting is a boon to conservation is hard to credit, and a little too convenient. Why did the hunter pay tens of thousands of dollars to travel halfway around the world to kill an elephant and chop off its head? Why, for the good of elephants, of course. To have any chance of aiding in conservation and not fueling corruption, trophy hunting has to be carefully managed. It beggars belief that the government of Zimbabwe long ruled by a monstrous dictator, Robert Mugabe, who was forced recently to step down will be a responsible steward of program in behalf of animals. The government of Zimbabwe has never managed to be a responsible steward of programs related to human beings. Trophy hunting runs counter to the global campaign against the ivory trade, which is at the root of the poaching. We have finally prevailed on the Chinese, long the worst offender on ivory, to begin to shut down its markets. It would be bizarre to turn around and say that any schmuck with money to burn and no better way to entertain himself can waltz into the U.S. with elephant tusks. Trophy hunting is now the exception rather than rule in African countries. Botswana, with the largest population of elephants, banned hunting in 2014; Kenya prohibited it back in the 1970s. Hunting bans are hardly a magical solution to the devastation in elephant populations. Yet wildlife tourism that doesnt involve destroying a scarce and endangered resource seems a better long-term economic bet. After the initial decision to lift the trophy ban was announced, Trump may have been moved to speak out by heart-rending images on TV of elephants getting slaughtered. If so, it was an admirable reaction. When an elephant a creature that means no harm and is deeply affected by trauma and loss is poisoned or gunned down for fun or profit, its worth asking, Whos really the animal? comments.lowry@nationalreview.com The city of San Antonio has been fervently digging itself out of a police staffing hole, but the question we have been wondering is, how did the city end up in such an unenviable position? The short answer is that the city severely limited cadet academies during intense contract negotiations with the San Antonio Police Officers Association just as a wave of retirements hit the department. The city had a net loss of more than 100 officers between fiscal years 2014 and 2016. There was only one police academy class in fiscal 2014, for example. Thats unfathomable for the nations seventh-largest city. That class graduated 22 cadets, but the city lost 56 officers, mostly due to retirement. It was even worse in fiscal 2015. The city hosted two police academy classes, graduating 43 cadets. But it lost 101 officers. The trend finally reversed in fiscal 2017 when the city graduated 126 cadets and the department lost 95 officers. Of course, by then, the staffing hole was pretty deep. At one point it had ballooned to 227 positions. On top of this, the citys population grew by 81,000 people between 2013 and 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. San Antonios population in 2016 was 1.493 million, the census has estimated. Vacancies have been getting filled, and in an interview months ago, City Manager Sheryl Sculley and Police Chief William McManus expressed confidence the department will be fully staffed by spring or summer as the city aggressively recruits cadets and holds more academy classes. The shortage is tied directly to the protracted contract dispute over public safety health care costs. As contract negotiations dragged on, city staff recommended limiting cadet classes as a way to control those costs. There were other options, but in the end, City Council chose this route. The choice was given: Cut back on the budgeted street improvements. Cut back on public safety. Or raise taxes, said Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who at that time was the District 8 councilman. Of the three, we chose to do a little bit of one and two. He said the shortage hasnt compromised public safety, and there is some evidence to support this. To bridge the gap, officers have filled in with overtime. City staff also provided statistics showing arrests are up and response times are down. Still, this is hardly an ideal situation. The manager put herself in a huge deficit, said Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association. In mid-August, Express-News reporter Emilie Eaton outlined the citys efforts to improve police staffing, but she noted the city hasnt kept up with growth. The officer-resident ratio was at one of the lowest points in the past 15 years. There is no proper police-citizen ratio, numerous experts have said, so its hard to say if this is a big deal. But the inability to keep up with growth in San Antonio is striking. In fiscal 2011, the city had 2,314 officers. In fiscal 2017, the city had 2,279 officers. During a time when the citys population grew, it had fewer officers. I know we need more (officers), Sculley told us. We are a growing community. We have more calls for service, but it has to be affordable. This reliance on overtime has led Helle to worry about officer fatigue. As much as the officers might like the overtime they are receiving, Helle said he is concerned too much overtime could lead to poor decision-making and less proactive policing. Low amount of staffing means our guys work twice as hard to keep up with the call loads, he said. Then there is the question of crime. In mid-October, Eaton reported that San Antonio ranked first in serious crimes murder, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, rape, robbery, burglary, larceny-theft and arson for all cities in 2016, according to FBI data. Its a distinction the city disputes because there are a number of ways to measure crime and compare cities. But between 2015 and 2016, violent and property crimes increased by 8 percent. Even if staffing levels have nothing to do with these crimes there are so many variables, its hard to say the increase speaks to the need for more police officers. To better get a handle on these dynamics, we spoke with Larry Hoover, a professor with Sam Houston State Universitys College of Criminal Justice. We showed him the citys improved response times of more than six minutes for emergency calls and just under 18 minutes for nonemergency calls. The benchmarks, he said, are five minutes and 15 minutes, respectively. Its not enough to cause grave concern, he said. But its not at a level where it would really be desirable. More important, he said, is the question of whether officers are rushing through calls due to the staffing shortage. So, we checked it out. In a bit of good news, officers have been generally consistent in the time they spend on calls, city data show. In recent years, they appear, on average, to have spent more time handling calls. All this suggests that Sculley and McManus are correct in saying the staffing shortage hasnt undermined service. But, again, its not an ideal situation and has the feel of playing with fire. Hoover noted that some consequences of police staffing shortages are hard to measure: Leads might not be pursued, special units could go dormant or carry vacancies, there can be less proactive policing. There are some backstories at play as well. All of this occurred during a moment of heightened national tension around police tactics and use of force. Departments across the country have struggled with police-community tensions, and police have also been the targets of attacks, including a mass shooting in Dallas. All of this has hurt recruiting. And the citys police contract dispute was a bruiser, hurting morale. These issues arent necessarily going anywhere. Our concern is that when the next contract is up for negotiation, the fight will be just as protracted and ugly. The best policy prescription then is for SAPOA and city staff to set aside animosity and begin talking ideas. We know health care costs will be on the table again. We know the city will continue to grow. And we know more officers are needed. Thats a difficult conversation to have. But its not one that should compromise staffing. Never again. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, TD, has announced that 85% advance payments under new Sheep Welfare Scheme are commencing on time this week to all eligible farmers. The Scheme is co-funded by the European Union as part of Irelands Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020. Minister Creed indicated that: A total of 16 million will now issue to some 20,000 farmers, providing a significant financial boost to the individual farmers and the sheep sector in general. The Minister added: the scheme, which was a key commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government, reflects the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland, and will make an important contribution to the sustainability of the sheep sector. Minister Creed urged any farmers with outstanding queries to respond to the Department immediately in order to facilitate payment. Advance payments will continue to issue in November as eligibility is confirmed for farmers with outstanding queries, and balancing payments are due to issue in 2018. The Minister concluded: Year two of the Scheme will be opening in the coming weeks and my Department will be in contact with farmers shortly to advise them of this. At that stage, there will also be an opportunity for new entrants to the sector to join the scheme. PHOENIX -- Thinking of wearing a Trump mask to a political demonstration? A chicken suit to a protest? Or even fake nose and glasses to a public event? A proposed new law could send you to prison for a year -- and a dozen times longer if you or someone else at the event was involved in property damage. Legislation crafted by Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, would make it a felony to wear any sort of disguise to evade recognition or identification in the commission of any public offense. But HB 2007 goes even farther. Masks and costumes also would be illegal at civil protests, political events or even any "public event.'' The only exceptions would be for those wearing a disguise "for a business-related purpose'' or anywhere "a disguise may generally be viewed as part of acceptable attire.'' Lawrence said he began crafting the legislation following TV news reports this past summer. "We've seen masked, hooded people breaking windows, hitting people, fighting with police,'' he said. The first-term lawmaker acknowledged that has not occurred in Arizona, saying only there have been threats. "This legislation says those threats, if carried out, have penalties,'' Lawrence said. But Will Gaona, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, said the legislation as crafted is not designed to protect the public but instead chill the First Amendment rights of those who protest. "It's important to keep in mind that the 'disguise' that a person may wear, that disguise itself may be expressive,'' he said. "Imagine a person wearing some kind of Donald Trump costume to a protest,'' Gaona said. And on the other side of the political spectrum, he said someone dressed up in white wigs and colonial garb at a Tea Party event could be considered in partial disguise. Lawrence insists that's not the kind of thing his proposal is designed to stop. "That type of disguise would not be the same as Antifa and others who wear masks and hoods to hide their identity,'' he said, referring to the self-named anti-fascist movement. So, for example, he said it would be "perfectly acceptable'' if someone protesting his views or his legislation shows up at a rally wearing a chicken suit. Anyway, Lawrence said he believes his measure has an escape clause of sorts to prevent prosecution of those who have no ill intent: It allows a police officer to detain someone wearing a disguise to verify that person's identity "and to determine if the person has committed a public offense.'' Gaona, however, said none of that will keep the person who the police unmask from getting arrested. That's because the bill itself makes it a public offense just to wear a mask at a public event. "So by the nature of the way it's written, you've already committed a public offense'' even before a police officer asks for ID. That isn't the only problem Gaona has with HB 2007. He said it unconstitutionally vague because it is impossible for a reasonable person to know what conduct will get him or her in trouble. "For example, the bill refers to a partial or a complete disguise,'' he said. "Well, what does that mean?'' Gaona continued. "If I wear glasses and a fake mustache to a protest, am I guilty of a felony?'' There are various laws across the nation dealing with the use of masks and disguises. But Gaona said that, in general, they are nowhere near as broad and encompassing as what Lawrence is proposing. For example, Massachusetts provides for a one-year prison term for wearing a mask. But that law is broken only in situations where there is intent to obstruct execution of the law or to intimidate, hinder or interrupt an officer or other person exercising his or her rights. By contrast, there is an Alabama law, with a version dating to 1949, which makes it a misdemeanor to appear in public wearing a mask. That broad-based legislation was originally enacted to deal with Ku Klux Klan members. In general, courts have upheld similar laws, For example, a federal appeals court in 2004, looking at a New York statute, said there is a First Amendment right to anonymous speech, saying that covers things like having to disclose an organization's members or the names of people who produce political leaflets. "In contrast, the Supreme Court has never held that freedom of association or the right to engage in anonymous speech entails a right to conceal one's appearance in a public demonstration,'' the court concluded. But a California state court struck down an anti-mask law there in 1979, ruling it was overly broad. That state's law now prohibits disguises in public -- but only in commission of public offense unrelated to wearing the mask itself. Even if a basic anti-mask law is legal, Gaona said there are other provisions in what Lawrence wants that he believes are not. He pointed out that while the legislation provides for a year in state prison simply for wearing a mask at public events, there is an enhanced penalty "if the person who is wearing the disguise has direct or indirect involvement in an offense involving property damage, injury or death.'' What that includes, Gaona said, is someone in a mask spray painting graffiti on a wall during a demonstration. The penalty, he said, is in the same category as rape or manslaughter: 12.5 years for a first offense "which incredibly punitive.'' Worse yet, he said, is that part about "indirect involvement.'' "If I'm at a protest and I happen to be wearing some kind of disguise, and somewhere in the course of that protest there's property damage, am I indirectly involved in that offense?'' he asked. Lawrence suggested that the kind of questions being asked were based on an overly "literal'' reading of the law versus the intent. Still, he conceded there are questions that may need to be addressed if and when the measure gets a hearing. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. By PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two well-known Southern film actors have been booked for allegedly forging documents and getting their vehicles registered in the union territory of Puducherry to evade motor vehicle tax in Kerala. Police said actors Fahadh Faasil and Amala Paul used fake documents to register their cars in Puducherry to evade the 20 per cent tax in Kerala on luxury cars costing Rs 20 lakh and above. READ | After alleged tax evasion by Amala Paul and Fahadh Fazil, Kiran Bedi says vehicles registration in Puducherry only for permanent citizens They said the actors, residents of Kerala, had availed of vehicle loans from Kerala and got their vehicles registered in Puducherry. They forged documents to show that they were residents of the union territory and registered the vehicles there to evade a motor tax of vehicles above Rs 20 lakh, police said. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two well-known Southern film actors have been booked for allegedly forging documents and getting their vehicles registered in the union territory of Puducherry to evade motor vehicle tax in Kerala. Police said actors Fahadh Faasil and Amala Paul used fake documents to register their cars in Puducherry to evade the 20 per cent tax in Kerala on luxury cars costing Rs 20 lakh and above. READ | After alleged tax evasion by Amala Paul and Fahadh Fazil, Kiran Bedi says vehicles registration in Puducherry only for permanent citizens They said the actors, residents of Kerala, had availed of vehicle loans from Kerala and got their vehicles registered in Puducherry. They forged documents to show that they were residents of the union territory and registered the vehicles there to evade a motor tax of vehicles above Rs 20 lakh, police said. After a drive-by shooting in front of bars on University Avenue near the UW-Madison campus in 2012, some feared gangs were beginning to invade an area dominated by college students. Five years later, it has become clear to Madison police and city officials that gang members some of whom are carrying guns now consider the 600 block of University Avenue, with its dense collection of bars and restaurants, part of their turf. Adding to the volatility: A bar in the middle of the block that showcases hip-hop music that also caters to people under 21 for some events. Fights that started inside the bar turned into brawls involving hundreds of people that spilled onto University Avenue on three successive weekends in late September and early October. Police used large tanks of pepper gas to stop each of them as well as an additional brawl that broke out a few weeks later that started in another bar. Nobody has been shot in the area this year, although one of those late-night brawls may have led to the shooting death of a Madison man on the Far East Side earlier this year, police say. Weve had a couple of incidents that were bad but could have been much worse. Eventually you run out of that kind of luck, said Madison police Central District Capt. Jason Freedman. Were going to assume that next year is going to be very challenging. Ald. Mike Verveer, whose district includes the area, said hes so on edge about what might happen that many weekends he doesnt go to bed until 4 a.m. Its not UW students that are causing the problem. The issue is not underage drinking in the bars, Verveer said. Im nervous about this very small area of the Downtown and the fact that its a magnet for people who have criminal histories involving use of weapons. In the first 10 months of this year, police calls to the 600 block of University Avenue resulted in 173 criminal cases, a 65 percent jump compared to the same period last year, according to Madison police records. Most of the cases (151) occurred between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., a 78 percent jump for that time frame compared to 2016. The cases accounted for more than one in three of all of the Central Districts cases and included increases for disorderly conduct and underage drinking as well as for aggravated battery and simple assaults, credit card fraud and weapons violations, the data showed. The city has made some changes that have helped reduce the problem, Freedman said. Congestion at bar time that had fueled fights and other incidents has been limited by moving food carts and taxi stands away from the block, he said. Quickie drug deals and other crimes in parking ramps have been reduced since the ramps eliminated free parking for short visits; now, late-night drivers are required to pay as they enter. Bar owners and managers also have worked with the city to make the environment safer, Freedman and Verveer said. For example, the music venue Liquid made several changes after the three fights that broke out there earlier this fall. The changes allowed the bar to maintain its license, which allows it to open its doors to underage patrons for some events, Verveer said. He said he hoped the effort marked a turning point for hip-hop in Madison, which some say has been too quick to crack down on such venues when problems crop up instead of helping them succeed. It is fair to say that Liquid is the latest example of being, in a way, victimized by the genre of (hip-hop) music and being victims of their own success, Verveer said. Freedman said Liquids owners and managers are people of good faith and good will who want a place for 18- to 20-year-olds to hang out at night. Im absolutely in favor of that. But he said he also wonders why the nightclub is located in the middle of an alcohol zone. Earlier this year, the Church Key also made changes after police said a huge brawl that started inside the bar contributed to the shooting death of Jameel Easter, 25, of Madison, on June 10. Easter was shot multiple times in a parking lot in the 900 block of Vernon Avenue around 3:25 a.m., police said. Loitering gang members What city and police officials cant control are the hundreds of people who loiter outside the bars, either while theyre open or after they close, Verveer said. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the state Department of Corrections and the citys gang unit have all done periodic surveillance work in the area on weekend nights and have spotted a number of people with a history of criminal activity and gang affiliations in the crowds, he said, including some with weapons. Freedman, in his first year as district captain, expressed frustration that few of those people have been arrested or their weapons recovered. Clearly there are groups around the city that dont get along with each other and sometimes they end up meeting each other Downtown. Thats certainly a driver for the increase in violence, he said. Sometimes the loiterers appear to choose places like food cart lines at bar-time to pick fights with drunken students, said Sonny Torres, the longtime bar manager at the Vintage bar, which is located kitty-corner to the troubled block of bars. The situation has gotten so bad that the Fluno Center, a nonprofit conference center with guest rooms affiliated with UW-Madison that is located across the street from the bars, has added extra security and patrols, general manager Andy Abelman said. Abelman said its just a matter of time before the fist fights turn into gunfights. I think theres going to be one or multiple fatalities, he said. Patrols come at a cost Overtime pay and other expenses to cover the additional police officers needed to patrol the area on Friday and Saturday nights this summer and fall could rise as much as 50 percent higher than last year, Freedman said. There were times during weekends this year when all but a handful of the 28 police officers patrolling the entire city in the early morning hours were in a four-block area Downtown, he said. But it still wasnt sufficient to keep people from engaging in disturbances, aggravated batteries, weapons offenses, you name it, Freedman said. Sometimes, its even difficult to find officers to work the overtime shifts because its becoming too dangerous. During one of the September brawls that spilled onto University Avenue, two officers suffered minor injuries, he said. Freedman has told his officers not to put themselves in danger by entering big fights to arrest somebody. If people ask, You had five people fighting, you pepper-sprayed them, why didnt you arrest anybody? Well, (for) what is going to end up being a disorderly conduct or maybe a battery ticket, were not going to have our officers risk getting injured or possibly escalate and then we have a serious incident. But Torres said the gangs see that as a green light to fight, recalling one brawl that happened in front of dozens of police officers, some of them on horseback. Youd think with the bigger police presence that these people would be discouraged from fighting like they do, he said. But, nope, they dont care. By Online Desk Lawyer Tanveer Ahmed Mir, who successfully defended dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in their daughter Aarushi's murder, has now been hired by the family of the Class XI student, an accused in the Ryan schoolboy murder case, according to a Hindustan Times report. The similarities between the Aarushi and Ryan murder cases don't end here. READ | Three shocking similarities between the Ryan Murder and Aarushi Talwar Case The lawyer confirmed to HT that he will defend the juvenile, accused by the CBI of slitting seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur's throat on the morning of September 8 near the toilet at Gurgaon's Ryan International School, within an hour of the child's father dropping him off at school. The report quotes Mir as saying, Preliminary discussions have taken place with the father of the juvenile accused. Once the terms and conditions are formally finalised, I will be defending the boy." The Class 11 student was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board after his custody ended on Wednesday on November 11. The CBI had also taken him to the school to recreate the crime scene. He is now in an observational home in Faridabad. On November 22, Ashok Kumar, the bus conductor who was accused by the Haryana Police for murdering Pradyamn walked free from Bhondsi Jail on November 22. His wife recently alleged that he was tortured and forced to confess. READ | Bus conductor Ashok was tortured, sedated to confess, alleges wife Pradyuman's family had opposed the bail given to Kumar, stating that the investigation was not over yet. The CBI has stated that it has not given a clean chit to anyone in the case. The juvenile accused's father told HT that he was hiring the best team of lawyers to defend his child. If my son had killed a boy would he be able to behave normally. After all he is also a child. On the day of the murder, he attended his tuition classes that evening and was absolutely normal, he said. He said that Gurgaon police were treating his son as a witness, but the CBI accused him of murder. He had also alleged that the CBI was torturing his son which has been strongly refuted by the agency. In a sensational twist to the case, the CBI recently announced that it had apprehended the senior student in connection with Pradyuman's murder rejecting the Gurgaon Police's theory that the killing was the handiwork of school bus conductor Ashok Kumar. According to the agency, the Class 11 student, believed to be weak in studies, allegedly slit Pradyuman's throat to get the school to declare a holiday in order to defer a scheduled parent-teacher meeting (PTM) and an examination. (With agency inputs) Lawyer Tanveer Ahmed Mir, who successfully defended dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar in their daughter Aarushi's murder, has now been hired by the family of the Class XI student, an accused in the Ryan schoolboy murder case, according to a Hindustan Times report. The similarities between the Aarushi and Ryan murder cases don't end here. READ | Three shocking similarities between the Ryan Murder and Aarushi Talwar Case The lawyer confirmed to HT that he will defend the juvenile, accused by the CBI of slitting seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur's throat on the morning of September 8 near the toilet at Gurgaon's Ryan International School, within an hour of the child's father dropping him off at school. The report quotes Mir as saying, Preliminary discussions have taken place with the father of the juvenile accused. Once the terms and conditions are formally finalised, I will be defending the boy." The Class 11 student was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board after his custody ended on Wednesday on November 11. The CBI had also taken him to the school to recreate the crime scene. He is now in an observational home in Faridabad. On November 22, Ashok Kumar, the bus conductor who was accused by the Haryana Police for murdering Pradyamn walked free from Bhondsi Jail on November 22. His wife recently alleged that he was tortured and forced to confess. READ | Bus conductor Ashok was tortured, sedated to confess, alleges wife Pradyuman's family had opposed the bail given to Kumar, stating that the investigation was not over yet. The CBI has stated that it has not given a clean chit to anyone in the case. The juvenile accused's father told HT that he was hiring the best team of lawyers to defend his child. If my son had killed a boy would he be able to behave normally. After all he is also a child. On the day of the murder, he attended his tuition classes that evening and was absolutely normal, he said. He said that Gurgaon police were treating his son as a witness, but the CBI accused him of murder. He had also alleged that the CBI was torturing his son which has been strongly refuted by the agency. In a sensational twist to the case, the CBI recently announced that it had apprehended the senior student in connection with Pradyuman's murder rejecting the Gurgaon Police's theory that the killing was the handiwork of school bus conductor Ashok Kumar. According to the agency, the Class 11 student, believed to be weak in studies, allegedly slit Pradyuman's throat to get the school to declare a holiday in order to defer a scheduled parent-teacher meeting (PTM) and an examination. (With agency inputs) Audi is continuing its drive towards becoming a premium mobility solutions provider and away from simply being a premium carmaker with the launch of Audi on-Demand in Hong Kong. The service, which enables clients to order practically any type of Audi at the touch of a button for short- or long-term use is already live in San Francisco, Munich, and Beijing. And now, following a pilot scheme where the company provided a pool of Audis for personal use exclusively for the residents of the "Dragons Range" luxury apartment complex, Audi on Demand is being offered to the Hong Kong public at large, via two Audi showrooms. News18.com Presents Tech and Auto Awards 2017 | Vote For Your Favourite Smartphone, Car, Two-Wheeler And More! Customers can book the type of Audi they need for as long as they need it via a smartphone app and usage is billed at an all-inclusive hourly rate that factors in the cost of insurance fuel and 24-hour customer service. News18.com Presents Tech and Auto Awards 2017 | Car of The Year: Jeep Compass or Maruti Suzuki Dzire? Vote and Win "Beginning immediately, customers in Hong Kong can enjoy using the Audi model of their choice, with great flexibility and at the push of a button. Whenever they desire, and regardless of the destination they have in mind," said Lothar Korn, Managing Director of Audi Hong Kong. In recent years, Audi has made bigger and bigger inroads into the mobility sector, testing ways of helping consumers overcome the negative aspects of car ownership. For instance, in Hong Kong parking is at a premium in every sense of the word. A lack of parking spaces is one of the main reasons why Hong Kong inhabitants choose not to go down the car ownership route. Therefore, Audi has tweaked it's On Demand service to tailor it to this specific need. News18.com Presents Tech and Auto Awards 2017 | Two-Wheeler of The Year: Bajaj Dominar or KTM RS 390? Vote And Win In San Francisco where the service has been running since April 2015, clients can reserve a car which is then delivered to them at the location of their choice and with the optional equipment of their choice. Users can even ask for a car with child seats already installed in the back or for a roof rack for their skis. News18.com Presents Tech and Auto Awards 2017 | Hatchback of The Year: Tata Tiago or Hyundai Grand i10? Vote And Win This move into premium mobility services is also why Audi recently acquired US start-up Silvercar. It's a company that develops and runs app-based car rental and mobility services and has been providing the background technological know-how for Audi's current services. Also Watch: Maruti Suzuki's Senior Executive Director, RS Kalsi Asks #PehniKya? Srinagar: The bullet-ridden body of a Territorial Army jawan, who was abducted by militants while on vacation, was found near his home in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Saturday morning. The soldier who had been posted in Gurez sector of north Kashmir was identified as Irfan Dar, a resident of Sensen village of Shopian district in south Kashmir. He had been on leave for 10 days and was visiting home. Media reports said the soldiers body was found in an orchard area in Wothmula Nad area of Keegam by locals who immediately informed the police. We got to know about the incident at 10am. He is a Kashmiri. He was found 2-3 km from his house. He was on vacation. We suspecting terror activity. He was suspected to have been kidnapped by militants. His car was also found near the spot, Shopian SP Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar told CNN-News18. I strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed, a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian. Such henous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace and normalcy in the Valley, CM Mehbooba Mufti said. Strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed ,a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian. Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace and normalcy in the valley. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 25, 2017 Former chief minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the Territorial Army jawan's killing. "The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family," he tweeted. The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family. https://t.co/fzwlInBjtg Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 25, 2017 More details awaited Srinagar: The bullet-ridden body of a Territorial Army jawan, who was abducted by militants while on vacation, was found near his home in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday morning. The jawan was identified as Irfan Dar, a resident of Senzil village of Shopian. He had been on leave for 10 days and was visiting home. As the casket carrying the body of 23-year-old Dar was taken for burial, his village descended into deep shock and anger. While locals turned up in good numbers for the funeral service, politician gave it a miss. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and opposition leader Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to express condolences, but none of them or their partymen turned up to sympathise with Dar's family. Strongly condemn the brutal killing of Irfan Ahmed ,a brave Territorial Army soldier at Shopian. Such heinous acts will not weaken our resolve to establish peace and normalcy in the valley. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 25, 2017 The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family. https://t.co/fzwlInBjtg Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 25, 2017 Mufti was only few kilometres away from Dar's village, holding a day-long public durbar in Kulgam. A soldier of Territorial Army posted in the Gurez area, Dar's bullet-riddled body was recovered from an orchard near Wothmula Nad village of Shopian district, barely 3 to 4 km away from his home. He had come 10 days ago on a vacation to spend time with his family and was to report back to his unit in Gurez on Sunday. Family members told CNN-News18 that he received a call last night from someone and he immediately went out. "His phone was working till 11 pm but after that it was turned off. Early in the morning we came to know his body was lying near an orchard," said Nissar Ahmad, a relative. Shopian SP Sriram Ambarkar blamed militants for the killings. He said militants killed Dar to show their presence in the area. "He was perhaps kidnapped by militants. And then shot. Our investigations have started, he said. Dar's killing is not a first time that when soldiers on vacation have been targeted. Young army lieutenant Umar Fayyaz and a BSF jawan were killed by suspected militants early this year. Both were home on leave. Police even claimed to have killed their assassins. The Army accorded Dar a formal funeral with soldier offering gun salutes on Dars grave. Senior police and Army officers were also present and placed floral wreaths. New Delhi: The Gorakhpur Police on Saturday dropped charges of corruption and private practice against Dr. Kafeel Khan, one of the nine people accused in the deaths of 33 children on August 10 and 11 at Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College. Dr. Khan, the head of the encephalitis ward and an assistant professor at the Pediatrics department, was removed from the post of the nodal officer at the National Health Mission in the wake of several deaths that occurred at this Medical college. On the intervening night of August 10 and 11, Dr. Khan had spent his own money, running pillar-to-post to procure oxygen for dying children. The doctor and his team wept after they failed to children. The basic charge levelled against Dr. Khan by the office of DG Medical Education was that he collected oxygen cylinders from his private hospital. Dr. Khan is charged under Sections 120-B, 308 and 409 of the IPC. Washington: Mumbai attacks mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has "blood on his hands", and wants to bring extremism into the mainstream politics of Pakistan, a former American spymaster said on Saturday. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder, who has a $10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan on Friday. "Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with the LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaeda on attacks," Michael Morell, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deputy director, who has also served twice as its acting director, said in a tweet. Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaida on attacks. He has blood on his hands. Now wants to bring extremism into the political mainstream in Pakistan. https://t.co/0RhjyQ3NkW Michael Morell (@MichaelJMorell) November 24, 2017 "He has blood on his hands. Now wants to bring extremism into the political mainstream in Pakistan," he said after Saeed, a UN and US-designated terrorist, was released from house arrest in Lahore. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. A deeply concerned US has asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. It also asked Pakistan to ensure that the LeT leader is behind bars. "NO! JuD is NOT tied to Islamic State. What a rookie... Seriously. Hafiz Saeed's Release Completes the Political Mainstreaming of Jihadists in Pakistan," tweeted Christine Fair, a well-known South Asian expert on terrorist groups. NO! JuD is NOT tied to Islamic State. What a rookie....Seriously. Hafiz Saeeds Release Completes the Political Mainstreaming of Jihadists in Pakistan @Diplomat_APAC https://t.co/Lc1kkcWygF (((Christine Fair))) (@CChristineFair) November 25, 2017 NBC news said Saeed's release could once again sour US relations with Pakistan. The New York Times said, for decades, Pakistan has cast a benign eye on groups like LeT which is perceived as an asset because its attacks target Indian soldiers in Kashmir even as the government battles jihadist groups like the Pakistan Taliban that directly threatens the country. "But despite its pressure on Pakistan to move against militants like Saeed, the United States has also sent mixed messages. Just a month ago, the United States Senate struck down a provision tying American government funding to Pakistan to the country's efforts to curb Lashkar-e-Taiba's operations. "The provision, part of a broader Pentagon-funding legislation that Congress introduced this past summer, would have forced the secretary of defence to certify that Islamabad was thwarting Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities inside Pakistan or risk $350 million in American assistance," the Times wrote. Meanwhile, in an op-ed, The Washington Examiner said the Trump administration "should work with India" to "capture or kill" Saeed. "Trump should call Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and offer to work with him to capture or kill Saeed," the daily said, adding that Saeed intends to lead a new Muslim theocratic political bloc in next year's parliamentary polls. "Although Pakistan's electoral commission has refused to certify the bloc, Saeed's populist power should not be understated. Charismatic and determined, if left unchecked in his political party or terrorist activities, Saeed could destabilise the region," the daily added. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the banned LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attack. While Dane Countys two largest police agencies have shied away from equipping officers with body-worn cameras, most other area departments are embracing the technology, which they say increases transparency and is useful for prosecutors and defense attorneys, officer training and resolving citizen complaints. Information from the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association and interviews with its members show 10 of the countys 25 police departments equip regular patrol officers with cameras, and seven are in various stages of researching them or have purchased the cameras, or plan to do so, and intend to deploy them soon. Eight agencies including Madison Police and the Dane County Sheriffs Office are not currently pursuing them or did not report any plans to do so. Belleville Police Chief William Eichelkraut said his seven-officer department is just trying to keep up with the technology. The village has been purchasing a couple of cameras a year for the last few years, he said, and will roll them out pending a server upgrade, review of a department policy on their use and legislation now making its way through the Legislature that would set rules for how long footage has to be retained and when it can be released publicly. The Waunakee Police Department purchased cameras in 2016 and began using them in June of this year. They go a lot of places squad video does not, chief Kevin Plendl said. I think theyre becoming much more standard, he said, and predicted that in five years, the vast majority of departments would have them. Town of Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory said his department, which covers areas south of the city of Madison, mostly uses body cam footage to check the performance of newly hired officers. Prosecutors and defense attorneys who request it as evidence are the second-most common users, he said. Now you can pretty much not go into court with no video, said Monona Police Chief Walter Ostrenga. His department adopted body cams more than a year ago. Madison, Dane County Its been a different story in the 311-officer Madison Police Department where only SWAT team members use the cameras and in the 101-patrol-deputy Dane County Sheriffs Office. Madison created a citizens commission in 2015 to study the use of body cameras. It recommended holding off on their adoption in favor of efforts to build trust between police and the community, especially communities of color. This month, the City Council voted 17-3 to remove an amendment to the 2018 budget that would have provided $123,000 for a body camera pilot project, with many council members saying they prefer to wait for the results of a $400,000 consultants study of the department, expected in coming weeks. Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said money was placed in the county budget several years ago to buy the cameras, but a sheriffs office study committee that began meeting in 2016 has put the brakes on completing the purchase. What we determined at this point is that although there is a desire by both line deputies and myself to begin a pilot program, we are waiting for pending legislation regarding open records, storage timelines, best practices on use (and) development of the technology that will allow for inter-operability between in-car cameras and body cameras, Mahoney said. Having servers large enough to store the data and staff to handle them are also considerations, he said. Some Madison City Council members and local activists have worried the cameras could be used to identify domestic abuse victims or people living in the country illegally, and they question whether being on camera affects police behavior for the better. In fact, a working paper released in October on the use of body cams by the Washington, D.C., police department found the cameras dont affect the amount of force used by police or the number of citizen complaints. Little opposition from residents Clarifying how long footage needed to be retained and the cost of equipment were among the concerns of departments that are using the cameras, but opposition from citizens to the technology was not. Gregory, of the town of Madison, said the town has a comparatively large Latino population, and while hes heard some concerns about the cameras from social service workers, he hasnt heard any complaints from residents themselves. Andy Russell, director of the Catholic Multicultural Center on Madisons South Side, said his staff hasnt heard concerns about body cameras. I did ask around and no one has heard any concerns about body cameras being used to out undocumented residents, he said. There are plenty of other fears that we hear about but that hasnt been one of them. The executive director of Centro Hispano of Dane County, also on Madisons South Side, did not respond to requests for comment. Body cam footage has been used to substantiate parts of complaints about police behavior, including department-initiated complaints, but it protects the officer more than anything else, Gregory said. Youth have complained about police behavior that, when shown to their parents by way of body cam footage, turns out to have been appropriate, he said. Andrew Rose, chief of police in the Village of Blue Mounds and the president of the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association, similarly hasnt heard of residents complaining about the cameras in other jurisdictions. Immigration status isnt something police in Dane County ask about, he said. It only becomes an issue when foreign-born suspects are brought into the Dane County Jail and cant provide proof of legal residency. The sheriffs office then contacts Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and it has the option of taking action if the suspect is in the country illegally. I think were all in the same boat except for Madison maybe being the exception, Rose said. Aaron Chapin said hes pushing for the cameras in his new role as Shorewood Hills Police chief after having worked for UW-Madison Police, which two years ago became one of the first agencies in Dane County to adopt the cameras. Theyre beneficial from an evidentiary purpose and for officer training and mentoring, he said, but he doesnt believe their purpose is to change behavior. Bill passed to regulate footage In response to the increasing use of body cameras, the state Assembly this month passed a Republican-authored bill that would generally require departments to preserve their footage for 120 days while setting a more restrictive standard for releasing it than the states open records law sets for releasing other kinds of government records. Particularly problematic for open records advocates is a provision that would require police to reject requests for footage taken inside a residence or some other place where "an individual may have a reasonable expectation of privacy" if any of the victims or witnesses present fail to return a signed waiver to police within a specified number of days authorizing its release. Dane County police chiefs expressed support for parts of the bill that would set guidelines for records retention but varied on whether they thought something more stringent than the state open records law balancing test was needed when deciding whether to release body cam footage. They also noted the cost and hassle of redacting footage that could come with applying the balancing test. The bill is not perfect by any means, but a more reasonable starting point, said Verona Police Chief Bernard Coughlin, who serves on the legislative committee of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association and worked with Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, to craft the bill. With squad car dash cam video, Verona uses the balancing test when considering open records requests, Couglin said, but officers go into more private places than cars can. Chapin, of Shorewood Hills, cited hospitals as one place where there might be a greater expectation of privacy. And to redact video is very cumbersome, said Gregory, of the town of Madison. We dont have the software to, say, block out a juveniles face, said Waunkakees Chief Plendl. So far, Dane County police departments report getting very few, if any, open records requests for body cam footage. That could change if the technology is adopted in Madison, which has seen a string of controversial officer-involved fatal shootings in the last five years and has a vocal contingent of police-reform and Black Lives Matter activists. If I were the city of Madison, I would really be concerned because you know theyre going to get hundreds of requests, Gregory said, due to a large population of outspoken people who are against the police or not pro-police. [Editor's note: This story has been amended to more accurately describe the bill adopted by the Assembly that would limit public access to footage captured by police body cameras. Among other provisions, the bill would require police to reject requests for footage taken inside a residence or some other place where "an individual may have a reasonable expectation of privacy" if any of the victims or witnesses present fail to return a signed waiver to police within a specified number of days authorizing its release.] Udupi (Karnataka): A senior Hindu seer on Saturday said Hindus must bear at least four children till the Uniform Civil Code is implemented to check "demographic imbalance". Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj of Bharat Mata Mandirin Haridwar said the two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone, noting that India had lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. He was speaking to reporters on the second day of the three-day Dharma Sansad organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in the temple town of Udupi of coastal Karnataka. The Swami said the government was insisting on a maximum of two children, but till the time the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, Hindus should have at least four children. India lost many of its territories wherever Hindu population reduces, he said. "We have seen that India lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. The two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone." On cow-vigilantism, the seer said some criminals were settling personal scores under the guise of 'Gau Rakshaks'. "Gau Rakshaks are peace loving people. They havebeen defamed by some vested interests. Some criminals aresettling scores under the guise of Gau Rakshaks," said GirijiMaharaj. The mega religious event is being attended by over 2,000 Hindu seers, matt heads and VHP leaders from all over the country. London: Indian-origin businessmen are among 20 people banned from managing a company after they were found to be employing illegal workers in their establishments across the UK. The UK's Insolvency Service said its countrywide crackdown over the past few months had found that all 20 had already been fined for employing illegal workers. Ashim Kumar Saha, a director of Save & Pick Limited in London, was disqualified and fined 10,000 pounds for employing one illegal worker. Manoj Barua and Vipan Kumar Sharma, directors of MV Hospitality Limited which traded as a restaurant known as Caf India in Glasgow were disqualified for employing four illegal workers and fined 40,000 pounds. Eighteen people have been banned from being company directors or being involved in the management of companies for six years each, whilst two have been disqualified for seven years. Between them, they employed 41 illegal workers and were fined a total of 505,000 pounds by the UK Home Office, none of which was paid. Two of the companies have now entered into liquidation, with a further two having been dissolved. Cheryl Lambert, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said those caught sought an unfair advantage over law abiding competitors by employing people who were not entitled to work legally in the UK. "Employing illegal workers is not consequence free, either for the employer, the employee or the consumer," she said. "By definition this is a set of people who are without the protection of the law and knowledge of the authorities, and thereby extremely vulnerable to exploitation in all its forms. It is bad for business and bad for society as a whole," she added. The businesses caught up in the investigation, which include 11 restaurants, four takeaway/fast food establishments and a shop, are based in London, Sussex, North West, South Wales, Glasgow, Antrim, Frome and High Wycombe and cover South Asian and Chinese cuisines. The Home Office, which carried out the joint investigation, warned that illegal working is not victimless. "It undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the taxpayer. Businesses should be aware that they have a duty to check that their staff have permission to work in the UK," a spokesperson said. The matters leading to all 20 disqualifications are that the directors failed to ensure that the companies complied with statutory obligations under the UK's Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to ensure that relevant immigration checks were completed and copy documents retained, resulting in the employment of illegal workers. Following visits from Home Office Immigration, during which the breaches were discovered, the companies were issued with penalty notices ranging from 10,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds per worker, which remain unpaid. All were directors of the companies at the time of the Home Office visit. Agartala: Two more Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel were arrested in connection with the killing of journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmick at the para-military force's 2nd battalion headquarters in Agartala, the police said on Saturday. Nayek Amit Debbarma and Rifleman Dharmendra Kumar Singh were arrested last night on the charge of criminal conspiracy for killing journalist Datta Bhowmick at the battalion's headquarters in R K Nagar, DIG (Southern Range) Arindam Nath told PTI. They were produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sharmishtha Mukherjee and remanded to police custody for seven days. Datta Bhowmick, a senior crime reporter of local Bengali newspaper 'Syandan Patrika', was allegedly shot dead on Tuesday inside the battalion's headquarters, around 15 km from Agartala, when he had gone there to meet TSR commandant Tapan Debbarma, who was arrested on Wednesday. The journalist's mobile phone was recovered from the possession of the commandant. Tapan Debbarma's personal bodyguard Nandalal Reang was arrested on Tuesday after the killing. Editor of 'Syandan Patrika' Subal Kumar Dey had on Friday alleged that Dutta Bhowmik, who had written 11 news items about the Tapan Debbarma's misdeeds, was called by the commandant and shot inside the battalion's headquarters. Tripura Journalist Union (TJU) secretary Pranab Sarkar had said that the Press Council of India (PCI) had taken cognisance of the killing. Datta Bhowmik is the second journalist to have been killed in the state in two months. In September, TV journalist Shantanu Bhowmick was killed when he had gone to Mandai in West Tripura district, about 20 km from here, to cover a political event organised by the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT). Kochi: Hadiya, earlier known as Akhila, the woman at the centre of the Kerala Love Jihad Case, has said that she is a Muslim and nobody forced her to convert to Islam. Speaking to reporters at the Kochi Airport, Hadiya said that she wants to go back to her husband, two days before the Supreme Court hearing in the crucial case. Hadiya, escorted by a heavy police presence, left for New Delhi on Saturday. She is being accompanied by her parents, too. Hadiya's husband, Shafin Jahan, had on Friday complained that attempts were being made to reconvert her to Hinduism. The Supreme Court has agreed to examine Hadiya in an open court, turning down her fathers plea for in-camera proceedings. Hadiyas case is at the centre of the love jihad controversy in Kerala, which is now being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Twenty-four-year-old Akila Asokan converted to Islam and later married Shafin Jahan last year. Soon, Hadiyas father approached the Kerala High Court linking her daughters conversion to a larger terror conspiracy. The HC stepped in to annul the marriage, however, the order was challenged in the Supreme Court by her husband Shafin Jahan. Jahan, in his petition, claims Hadiya, a homeopathy student in Kerala, converted to Islam of her own volition two years prior to their marriage and sought direction to Hadiya's father to present her in court. Hadiya's father, however, said she was a "helpless victim" trapped by a "well-oiled racket", which used "psychological measures" to indoctrinate people and convert them to Islam. New Delhi: The woman in the Kerala Love Jihad Case, Hadiya, earlier known as Akhila, has told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that she married Shafin Jahan of her own accord. The NIA, in its report to the Supreme Court, is likely to maintain that Islamic indoctrination leading to marriages is a pattern in Kerala. The NIA has submitted a status report to the apex court ahead of Hadiya's testimony on Monday. Officials, in the know of the report, told CNN-News18 that NIA will stick to its stand. "Mental kidnapping is happening in these cases," an official said. The investigation agency has questioned at least 6 girls who married Muslim men. Based on their testimonies and other evidence, the NIA is likely to tell the court that indoctrination is a reality. "Indoctrinated person may be incapable of giving free consent to marriage," the NIA has told the court. The agency has also quizzed Hadiya, her husband Shafin Jahan, Athira Nambiar, and one more girl called Athira, over the last few days. Popular Front of India's Sainaba was questioned this week after it emerged that in both Hadiya and Athira Nambiar's cases, Sainaba played a role. Ninety cases of interfaith marriages were referred to the NIA by the state police to examine if "love jihad" was the reason behind these marriages. Of these 90 couples, at least 23 were closely examined. Sources said that the PFI's role and a pattern to convert were found in 11 cases. The Supreme Court on October 30 had directed Hadiya's father to produce her on next date of hearing (on 27th November) in Delhi. New Delhi: The Madras High Court on Friday sought fingerprint details of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa on documents relating to a bypoll last year to be compared with those available with Parappana Agrahara jail at Bengaluru. the court also asked for her thumb print details to be furnished by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The superintendent of central prison at Parappana Agrahara and UIDAI regional officer, who handles Aadhaar, should give fingerprints' details to the court by December 8, the judge said, as repoted by PTI. The matter relates to a petition filed by P Saravanan, DMK candidate for the November 2016 Thirupparankundram Assembly bypoll, challenging the election of AIADMK's A K Bose. During the pendency of the case, Saravanan had filed an additional affidavit, questioning the validity of the election documents. He contended that the thumb impression of Jayalalithaa was obtained without her consent and knowledge while she was unconscious, with the "connivance" of the doctors who attended to the former chief minister and others. Jayalalithaa was lodged in the jail after her conviction in the Rs 65.66 crore disproportionate assets case in 2014. She subsequently secured bail from the Supreme Court and was released on October 18, 2014, after spending 21 days in prison. The Karnataka High Court later acquitted her and three of her associates of all charges, but the Supreme Court on February 14 this year set aside the order. However, since Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5 last year, the apex court abated the proceedings against her. The apex court convicted Sasikala, deposed AIADMK general secretary, and her two relatives in the case and had restored the trial court's order awarding four year jail term to them. She is at present in the jail. In his petition, Saravanan had also questioned the EC's decision to accept the left-thumb impression of Jayalalithaa affixed on the documents filed in support of Bose's nomination papers. He further submitted that following the attestation, the AIADMK candidate (Bose) was allowed to contest on the 'two leaves' symbol under the "defective form A and form B" of the documents, which had materially "affected the outcome of the election". The Election Commission (EC) had last month submitted that it had accepted the left-thumb impression of the late leader, affixed on documents relating to the bypoll, based on a letter from AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan. The letter stated that Jayalalithaa was not in a position to sign as she was unwell and hence, her left-thumb impression attested by the doctor could be taken on file, K F Wilfred, Principal Secretary of the EC, said. The court had summoned the official for giving evidence on the election plea. (With PTI inputs) Mumbai: Former Mumbai Police commissioner M N Singh on Friday said the minorities in the country are feeling a "bit uneasy" and this issue needs to be addressed. He said the current narrative on cow slaughter ban should change and the focus should be on improving internal security. The retired IPS officer was speaking on the topic, 'How Safe is Mumbai?', at a function, organised by think tank Observer Research Foundation. "The minorities in the country are a bit uneasy and it needs to be addressed. The (current) national narrative, the debate is creating some anxiety. It has to be changed," he said. "The issue of Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir has to be solved amicably," Singh said. "This Babri Masjid issue has to be amicably settled between the two communities. It is not an easy solution. Any decision coming from the top or court will be half-accepted. It (the issue) will never end," said the former top cop. "There are some private groups that are talking sensible things, going and meeting so many Muslim groups. I think that is what should be encouraged," he said. There have been some 12 terror attacks in Mumbai, of which three have been very deadly. The first was in March 1993 (serial bomb blasts), but security measures improved only after the November 2008 carnage, he said. V Balendran, a former special secretary in the central government, said, "It is sad our police and anti-terror squads had no night vision cameras; hence the terror attack continued for three days in Hotel Taj (during 26/11). The situation has slightly improved since then." New Delhi: Veteran actor Kamal Haasan on Saturday again voiced his support for filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavati" which is facing nation-wide protests, saying people are being "oversensitive" about the film. Citing his film, "Vishwaroopam's" example, the 63-year-old actor said it was wrong of people to demand a ban on the period drama before even watching it. "I haven't seen the film (Padmavati). Nobody saw 'Vishwaroopam' still they wanted me banned. It's wrong... It should come out (release) and if then there is something then I can understand. "I think we are being oversensitive. I'm not talking as a filmmaker but as an Indian," Haasan said. The actor was speaking at a discussion at the Times Delhi LitFest today. "Padmavati" has been facing troubles with various Rajput groups and political leaders, who have accused Bhansali of "distorting historical facts" and depicting queen Padmavati in the wrong light. It was rumoured that there is a romantic dream sequence in the film between Padmavati (Deepika Padukone) and Sultan Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh), a claim which the director has time and again rejected. Haasan said he has faced such protests with a lot of his films in the past. He said the people in the country have become cynical and believe every negative thought when they hear it. "What happened with 'Hey Ram'? Some Congress leader, just by looking at the poster, thought there is something wrong in it. They don't know what I'm making and they are saying that it should be banned. They judged a film without even seeing it. "We are ready to believe the negativity. We have become cynical," he said. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday expressed concern over the "unacceptably low" representation of women, OBCs, SC/STs in the higher judiciary and called for steps to remedy the situation. "There is unacceptably low representation of traditionally weaker sections such as OBCs, SCs and STs especially in the higher judiciary," President Kovind said, adding that one in four judges is a woman. Asking the judiciary to walk in pace with other public institutions in being truly representatives of society's diversity, the President said: "Like our other public institutions, our judiciary too has to be judicious in being representative of the diversity of our country, and the depth and breadth of our society. "Of the 17,000 judges in our subordinate courts, High Courts and the Supreme Court, only about 4,700 - roughly one in four - are women," he said. Telling the higher judiciary that it was its "sacred duty" to "groom" district and sessions judges and raise their skill so that more and more of them can be elevated to High Courts, President Kovind said "We need to take long-term measures to remedy this situation." "This will also enhance trust in our lower courts and their judgments and serve to declog our High Courts," the President said. However, in a caveat, he made it clear that the long-term solutions would be "without in any manner compromising on quality" of the judges and the judicial system. The President was speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day meet organised jointly by the Law Commission of India and NITI Aayog on the National Law Day. After getting back in shape in less than a year post Taimur's delivery, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has been on a slaying spree, looking splendid in each outfit and turning heads at every public appearance she has made of late. From turning airports into runways to lighting up the red carpet with her presence, Kareena has done it all with ease and perfection. Considered one of the hottest mommies of tinsel town, Kareena's dressing sense is not just admired by the fashion folks, but is also looked up to for inspiration by thousands of girls who appreciate the diva's sartorial choices. And like each time, this time too, Kareena impressed one and all with her lovely fashion selection as she turned up in a printed shirt tucked in tailored black trousers. The diva teamed the outfit with a black neck warmer, oversized heavy-duty sunglasses and her favourite Hermes Birkin handbag. Bold red lips and a low bun rounded off the actress's look for the day, as she arrived at the airport looking like a complete boss lady. Now, that's some power dressing there! Take a look. (Photo: Kareena Kapoor KHan at Mumbai airport/Yogen Shah) Reportedly, Kareena was leaving for Kenya, where the star will be seen walking the ramp at a fashion showcase for close friend and designer Manish Malhotra. Kareena will be next seen in the film Veere Di Wedding, slated for release next year. Dairy creates more than 215,000 jobs in Wisconsin and nearly 3 million across the country, according to a new economic impact study. Thats a lot of jobs. But with global demand for products such as cheese and whey protein expected to increase in the future, its only the beginning. U.S. dairy exports have more than quadrupled in 16 years, from less than $1 billion to nearly $5 billion last year. Thats a success story, but a fragile one. Seemingly small actions giving global competitors an edge can take away jobs in Wisconsin. We saw that in April, when one of the nations largest makers of butter and milk ingredients, Grassland Dairy, shocked dozens of Wisconsin dairy farmers. Long-term sale of milk products into the Canadian market has been eliminated, the Grassland letter said, due to Canadas new Class 7 pricing policy. The policy tilted the playing field north by pulling the rug out from under ultrafiltered milk from the United States. It also set up Canada to offload excess milk powder onto global markets at bargain-basement prices. Modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement has the potential to remedy this problem. On the other hand, walking away from NAFTA could deliver a body blow to a dairy industry that is 7.5 percent of Wisconsins GDP. Those numbers come from that new economic impact study, Dairy Delivers, by the International Dairy Foods Association. It shows the Wisconsin dairy industry directly creates more than 41,000 full-time jobs. The study also factors in the ripple effect counting nearly 174,000 additional jobs supported by dairy in related sectors such as transportation, retail and real estate. That lifts the total to 215,000. To visualize 215,000 full-time Wisconsin jobs, imagine Lambeau Field, Camp Randall Stadium and Miller Park filled at the same time, thanks to dairy. Or, if you prefer, think what $2 billion in state and local tax revenues spread across Wisconsin looks like. Thats the amount dairy has brought to Wisconsin, according to the IDFA study. It wasnt long ago we kept almost all U.S. milk in this country. Today, nearly one out of seven gallons end up in products overseas. In the next three to five years, we want to increase that to one out of five. How dependent is the Wisconsin dairy industry on growing exports? Consider Sartori Cheese Company of Plymouth, recently named exporter of the year by Dairy Foods magazine, for building a multi-channel global strategy and customer-first philosophy that sends SarVecchio Parmesan and other award-winning cheeses to dozens of countries. Sartori and other Wisconsin cheesemakers see enormous potential to expand their global reach, boosting the states economy in the process. Our global sales represent about 5 percent of total sales, and we would like that to reach about 15 percent of total sales in the next five years, says Sartori global markets manager Sam Allison. Realistically what that means is that 25 (percent) to 50 percent of our overall growth is going to have to come from our global markets. We have a big task ahead of us, for sure, but we believe there is a tremendous amount of opportunity out there. To seize that opportunity, we need open markets to go head-to-head against the European Union and other aggressive competitors. Thats where free-trade agreements come into play, none more important than NAFTA, the deal that made Mexico our top customer, at $1.2 billion in sales. U.S. dairy exports to Mexico have soared under NAFTA, increasing 885 percent. Exports to Canada have been less spectacular. A new NAFTA should end Canadas protectionist dairy pricing policy and open the border for more Wisconsin dairy exports. Its not time to end NAFTA. Its time to mend it. Wisconsin jobs are at stake. After Kerala High Court refused to stay a single-judge order to screen S Durga at the ongoing International Festival of India (IFFI), festival director has asked the movies director Sanal Sasidharan to provide the censored version of the film to IFFI, Goa. In its appeal against the single judge order, the government argued that the film though selected by the jury had not secured the exemption as required by the Panorama regulation in the absence of any certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). It also said the inclusion will upset arrangements at IFFI 2017 which ends on November 28. However, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Antony Dominic and Justice A Muhamed Mustaque gave the order, which stated, The certified version of the film S Durga will be viewed by the jury and on that basis, the film will be exhibited in the Indian Panorama of the IFFI. In the latest development, Sasidharan, who is on his way to Goa, has confirmed to News18 that the films screening "will be happening" at the festival. Sasidharan has also posted on Facebook a copy of the the letter from festival director Sunit Tandon which said: You are requested to kindly provide the censored version of the film S Durga in 35mm Print/DCP along with two DVD copies to IFFI, Goa. The festival director also asked him to submit a copy of the censor certificate. Sasidharan had moved the court after the film was dropped from the Indian Panorama section of the festival along with the Marathi film Nude. Both films were dropped by the ministry even though they were included in the Panorama list by a 13-member jury, prompting jury chief Sujoy Ghosh and members Apurva Asrani and Gyan Correa to resign in protest The film narrates the horrifying experience of a hitchhiking couple and has won critical acclaim at film festivals abroad. Meanwhile, the lead actor of the movie, Kannan Nayar, told News18 Friday night that he had sent the link of the film to all the remaining 10 jury members. He also alleged the festival authorities were rude to him when he went to them after the High Court verdict and that he was even ordered out by a top official saying it was the ministry and not the director which would take the decision." Nayar added the festival authorities were taking everything too personally. "We don't have any personal vengeance against them. It's about the art scenario in the country. I don't understand why they are behaving like this with us." Kolkata: Critically acclaimed actor Adil Hussain says role models are slowly emerging from the northeast states but it would take time. He drew attention to the absence of awareness about filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar's special mention at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for the Manipuri movie Lady of the Lake. "He (Kumar) got it, but we don't know about it. But we know about Rajkummar Rao's win," Adil pointed out during a session at the India Today Conclave East. India's Oscar entry Newton secured two wins at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane on Thursday, with Rajkummar Rao winning the best actor and Mayank Tewari and Amit V. Masurkar claiming the best screenplay honour. Manipuri movie Lady of the Lake won a special mention. Asked about role models emerging from the northeast states, the "Parched" actor responded positively, citing examples. "It's happening with Papon from Assam. He is becoming famous across India for singing in Hindi films. I come from a small town called Goalpara in Assam... When they see Adil is doing films across the globe, (people feel) if he can do it, then we can do it... There is amazing amount of talent in the region," he said. "The discourse has just started a few years ago... (the Look East and Act East policy). It will take a few generations, but with the help of information technology, it will go faster," added Adil, who has acted in English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Norwegian and French films. He added that the "narrative" of reverse racism needs to change and in today's day and age, he sees that evolving in the northeastern states with more exposure. "When people from this part of the country go to northeast, when they go they can be asked 'Oh, you have come from India'... I have experienced that, but it was long back. I haven't faced that recently," said Adil. He also said dark actors always being typified as villains also needs to change. "We need to find ways to evolve from this narrative of reverse racism. A dark actor will always get to play negative characters," the 54-year-old added. Assamese author Mitra Phukan urged the authorities to help develop infrastructure in the northeastern states so that more people can visit and tourism is enhanced. "Everybody wants to go to the northeast. But the problem is infrastructure. The roads are not good enough. Except larger towns, there aren't enough good hotels. There is a threat of insurgency. Who will want to go like that?" she questioned. The writer of "The Collector's Wife" added food bridges barriers and the fact that 'momo' is so popular across the country shows that. She also informed, conversely, that South Indian delicacy 'idli' is a favourite of many Meghalayans. "Naga food is becoming very popular, Assamese food is also very popular and there is, of course, momo everywhere. Conversely, idli is becoming more popular in Meghalaya for instance," she said. Meiyang Chang, who is of Chinese descent, born in Dhanbad, said he takes the catcalls of "Chinki" in his stride, and added that the situation has improved recently. "I am not called a 'Chinki', but an assortment of sounds which sound like many things. I get offended when I hear that. I reply with a smile. Only when it gets beyond a limit, I react. "For the longest time, I didn't think I was different. I had a Bihari accent as I am from Dhanbad. I used to tell people I look like you. I started realising later I look different after people asked me out of curiosity and not some malice. It's not always out of malice that people call you stuff," said the 35-year-old singing reality show "Indian Idol" contestant. Ahmedabad: With Hardik Patel raising the banner of revolt against the BJP-run state government in Gujarat, there is speculation over whether Patidars, the community the young leader claims to represent, will switch from being BJP voters to Congress supporters. Patel recently declared support for the Congress after the partys proposal for reservations was found to be acceptable by his Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). But if theres one district which will be a litmus test for both political parties, its Surat. OBCs and Patidars will be the deciding voters in the districts 16 Vidhan Sabha seats. And tempers in Surat have certainly not been calm. So intense has been the battle for Patidar support that BJP and PAAS workers even came to blows as the battle spilled out onto the streets of Surat. The drama unfolded in Varacchha area of Surat on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday as a protest by PAAS turned ugly. PAAS workers, who were protesting at the local BJP office, clashed with policemen and had to be carted away in police vehicles. This has been a recurring pattern in Surat with Patidar youth interrupting BJP events. In September this year, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abes visit to the Diamond City, Patidar activists had clashed with BJP workers. The clashes resulted in buses being torched and Patidar activists being detained. In another incident in November last year, a BJP event being addressed by party chief Amit Shah was disrupted when a few Patidar men flung chairs at the venue. Thursday nights protests began around 11:30 pm when PAAS workers gathered outside a newly-inaugurated BJP office. According to reports, PAAS workers even pelted stones at the BJP office, which led to an altercation with BJP workers present at the office. This was followed by more anti-BJP sloganeering by PAAS workers and soon, the police came and took five PAAS workers into custody. They were taken to the Varachcha police station. The protesters then marched to Varachcha police station and held demonstrations against the police for detaining their colleagues. PAAS workers then proceeded to pelt stones at the police station, which prompted the police to retaliate. Policemen responded with lathicharge, leading to clashes. Police detained a total of 45 people, including Congress candidates Dinesh Kachadiya (Surat North), Dhirubhai Gajera (Varachcha Road) and Bhavesh Rabari (Karanj), and PAAS Surat district convener Alpesh Katheria. Surat district has over 60.79 lakh voters, spread across 16 Assembly constituencies. Patidars form a substantial chunk of the electorate in the district and are, in many seats, the deciding bloc. This is, perhaps, most evident in Varachha Road constituency. A largely urban seat, it has nearly 1.96 lakh voters, with 1.11 lakh men and over 85,000 women. Over 1.5 lakh voters here are Patidars. The community forms over 77% of the entire electorate and no candidate can hope to win without their support. The election in Varachha will boil down to this will Patidars vote as a single united bloc this time? If yes, who will they pick? As one would expect, both BJP and Congress have fielded Patidar candidates from the Varachha Road seat. The Congress has fielded Patidar activist Dhirubhai Gajera, a former two-time BJP MLA who had been a vocal critic of then chief minister Narendra Modi even when he was in the BJP. This led to Gajeras expulsion from the party and he has been fighting on a Congress ticket ever since. The BJP has fielded another Patidar, Kumarbhai Kanani. The Varachha Road assembly seat was created following the delimitation exercise in 2008. In the 2012 elections, BJP candidate Kishorbhai Kanani defeated Gajera by a massive margin. The vote share difference between the two was nearly 16%, with the BJP polling 53.78% of the votes and Congress securing just 37.80%. This indicates that local Patidars in 2012 had reposed their faith in the BJP. This time, the BJP would hope that the equation in Varachha Road remains unchanged. On Monday, as Kumarbhai Kanani made his way to the election office to file his nomination papers, he was accompanied by hundreds of Patidar youth on motorcycles and in cars, waving the BJP flag. The demonstration of strength, Kanani later told the press, was proof that Patidars were very much with the BJP and would not support his Congress rival. But the violent events of Thursday night, have once again cast doubts over whether Patidars would remain steadfastly behind the BJP. Both parties have been reaching out to the community. In October, barely two months before the elections, the state government and the district administration withdrew cases against over 600 Patidar youth from Surat district. Meanwhile, Congress V-P Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Surat in early November, had lashed out at the Modi government for destroying the textile and diamond industry, both of which employ Patidars in large numbers. Owing to their large presence here, the Patidars of Varachha are being seen as a test for the larger debate over which way the community would lean in the rest of the state. Ahmedabad: BJP MP from Gujarats Panchmahal Lok Sabha constituency Prabhatsinh Chauhan has chosen to side with his wife after the partys fifth candidates list for upcoming Assembly polls triggered a family feud by picking their daughter-in-law for the Kalol seat. Chauhan on Saturday wrote a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah, urging him to change the partys official candidate and accused his son Pravinsinh Chauhan of being a bootlegger who sold illegal alcohol in the dry state of Gujarat. Chauhan went so far as to tell Shah that if the candidate was not changed, he would not be able to guarantee a win for the party from Kalol, an assembly segment which falls in his Lok Sabha constituency. The BJP on Friday released its fifth list of candidates for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls. The list, which features the names of 13 candidates, pertains to seats that go to the polls in the second phase of elections on December 14. While Chauhan had been lobbying hard for a ticket for his wife Rangeshwari Chauhan, the party surprised him and the family by nominating his daughter-in-law Suman Chauhan instead. Writing to Amit Shah in Gujarati, Prabhatsinh Chauhan said, Praveen is a bootlegger and he still carries out his illegal liquor business. Both Pravin and Suman have also been to jail. If the current situation persists, I will not be able to win the Kalol and Godhra seats for the party. Ever since I have joined BJP, the party has won both municipal and Lok Sabha elections. I am a senior leader and yet, I have not been given any position in the party organisation. Hours after the first list came out, the MPs wife Rangeshwari Chauhan wrote a scathing Facebook post in Gujarati against her husband Prabhatsinh and stepson Pravinsinh. Prabhatsinh, if you have ever had your mothers milk then try and campaign in Kalol, I challenge you! she wrote. Speaking to Network 18 after her Facebook post, Rangeshwari Chauhan said, Prabhatsinhs son Pravin is a bootlegger who sells alcohol. Both father and son are known to put undue pressure on innocent people in the area. As far as Suman is concerned, she is a candidate who has been parachuted onto this constituency. She was earlier with the Congress and has joined BJP only recently. New Delhi: Actor Prakash Raj, who has shown no reluctance in criticising the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, self-proclaimed cow vigilantes, and internet trolls, on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi "why the Winter Session was not happening." The National Award-winning actor took a swipe at Modi asking if he was busy somewhere else. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are currently campaigning in Gujarat ahead of the assembly elections. Furthermore, Prakash also asked if the PM was avoiding the session because it might get "too hot or embarrassing to answer before elections", alluding to mounting criticism over a number of issues, including the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Opposition had frequently targetted the government over the delay in the winter session, with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accusing the Prime Minister of "destroying" the temple of democracy for Gujarat election. "Modi is Brahma. He is the creator... only he knows when parliament will be convened," Kharge had said. Prakash had on Thursday said that he had sent a legal notice to BJP MP Pratap Simha seeking an apology for "trolling" him on social media. The actor had come out in support of Padmavati questioning the "silence" of the Centre after a plethora of threats against Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and other actors. He also added that such targetting had become recurrent now. "How can a person from the ruling party issue such threats?" Raj said referring to the BJP's chief media coordinator in Haryana, Surajpal Amu, offering a bounty on the heads of actor Deepika Padukone and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "Why is the Central government silent? We have given you a big mandate, won't you stop all these threats...If you can't handle law and order then get out," the actor had told CNN-News18. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held "solely responsible" for creating a "mess" of the economy by the Congress on Friday. The comment came after Standard & Poor kept its sovereign rating for the country unchanged. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma the government was taking shelter under these "dubious" certificates from rating agencies. Rating agency Moody's had on last Friday raised India's sovereign rating from the lowest investment grade of Baa3 to Baa2 - the first upgrade in almost 14 years. Sharma accused Modi of being solely responsible for creating a "mess" of the economy and charged him with being in "arrogant denial". "Mr Prime Minister, the ground is shaking, and people feel betrayed. People have downgraded the government on its economic performance, these dubious upgrades don't matter," Sharma tweeted. Mr Prime Minister, the ground is shaking, and people feel betrayed. People have downgraded the government on its economic performance, these dubious upgrades dont matter. Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) November 24, 2017 He said that a "sudden flurry" of certificates from credit rating agencies is the "only fall back" of a government which has derailed India's economy. Sharma alleged that GDP has sharply fallen, jobs have been "destroyed" in millions and business have shut down. The leader also further raised questions over the ratings agencies waking up when all the parameters of the Indian economy are "in the red". "About 3.72 crore jobs have been lost in the MSME/unorganised sector. Investment rate has plunged by 7%, credit offtake falling to a 65-year low. This calls into question the very credibility of these rating agencies," he said on the micro-blogging site. About 3.72 crore jobs have been lost in the MSME/unorganised sector. Investment rate has plunged by 7%, credit offtake falling to a 65-year low. This calls into question the very credibility of these rating agencies. Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) November 24, 2017 Declining to follow Moody's recent India rating upgrade, Standard & Poor's today kept its sovereign rating for the country unchanged at the lowest investment grade of 'BBB- minus' citing high government debt and low-income levels. Lauding it, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the rating is a reflection of the agency's appreciation of the steps taken by the government to keep the economy stable and ensure a high growth trajectory. "The S&P had inferred that over the next two years, growth in India will remain strong and the country will maintain its sound external accounts position," Sitharaman said. Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi lauded it, saying "After Moody's, S&P gives Narendra Modi govt thumbs up, keeps India's outlook stable." (With PTI Inputs) New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his hugplomacy with US President Donald Trump had failed in keeping 26/11 terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed under arrest in Pakistan. Narendrabhai, . Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed, the Congress leader tweeted in the run-up to Gujarat Assembly elections next months. Narendrabhai, . Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed.https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 25, 2017 His tweet comes a day after Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed was freed from house arrest in Pakistan. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. The US has asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. Saeeds release, however, has given the Congress ammo to attack the BJP-led Centre ahead of Gujarat Assembly elections next month. This is the second time that Rahul Gandhi has mocked Modis bonhomie with Donald Trump. In October, the Gandhi scion had posted a snapshot of Trumps tweet on improving ties with Pakistan, and the US President needed another hug. Ahmedabad: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for questioning the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, saying unlike during Congress regimes when middlemen ruled the roost, there was no "Quattrocchi" in the contract for the fighter jet. Jaitley, who is the BJP's election in-charge for Gujarat, was referring to Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian businessman believed to be involved in the Bofors scam which came to light when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister. "It (Rafale deal) was a government-to-government transaction, between two governments. It wasn't like what used to happen during Congress governments, when middlemen used to be there in every transaction. There wasn't any Quattrocchi in this transaction," Jaitley told reporters here. The Rafale deal was made to boost the combat ability of the Indian Air Force, he said. "I wonder why the Congress leader is raising this issue now, as the transaction was done almost two-and-a-half years back. The very fact that it is being raised after two-and-a-half years indicates it is a motivated campaign linked to the election," Jaitley said. Responding to Gandhi's allegation that a certain industrialist was favoured and due procedures were not followed, Jaitley implied that Gandhi may not understand such issues because he has no experience. "Since it was a government-to-government transaction, the procedure was different. Another procedure is of tendering. He (Rahul Gandhi) is not having any experience of running a government. And, it is up to the company (Rafale) to choose its partner (in India). Government of India does not decide that," Jaitley said. Rahul Gandhi today alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want the "truth" behind the multi-crore Rafale deal to come out before the Assembly election, therefore delayed the winter session of Parliament. "I would ask Modiji three questions. First, is there a difference in the cost of planes in the first and the second contracts (signed with the French firm) and did India pay more or less money as per the second contract? And, has the industrialist (whose company has formed a joint venture with the French firm), who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?" Gandhi asked while addressing a rally in Gandhinagar district in the morning. "And a more important question, did you follow the due government procedure? Why the (then) defence minister was seen catching fish in Goa? And, was an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security taken (for the mega deal)?," he asked. Meanwhile, responding to the Congress vice president's Twitter jibe at Modi over the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan, Jaitley advised Gandhi to refrain from such "immature behaviour". "He is a big leader and such immature behaviour and use of such immature words do not suit him," Jaitley said. Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying that Pawar 'served' Sonia Gandhi for 15 years despite being kicked out by the Congress president from her party in 1999. Thackeray addressed a rally at Sangli in western Maharashtra, ahead of the Sangli Miraj Kupwad municipal corporation election. "Today Pawar said he had not seen a coalition government such as ours (Sena-BJP) where we criticise the BJP but stay in power. He should know that both the parties are separate since inception. It was you, who back-stabbed then Congress chief minister Vasantdada Patil to become chief minister of Maharashtra. I haven't seen a leader like you. "Shiv Sena criticises BJP if there is a mistake and we both are capable of sorting it out. Pawar should not worry about it. Pawar did not leave the party, in fact he was kicked out of the Congress by Sonia Gandhi, still he served her for (the next) 15 years," the Shiv Sena leader said, in reference to NCP's subsequent alliance with the Congress. Pawar, while paying tributes to the first chief minister of Maharashtra late Yashvantrao Chavan at Karad this morning, took potshots at the Sena. "Shiv Sena is stuck to the power as if by adhesive. I have not seen such coalition government where one party continues to criticise another," he said. Portugal's retail-focused conglomerate Sonae plans to buy more cybersecurity firms as it builds a portfolio in Portugal, Spain, the United States and Germany, a company official said. Carlos Silva, executive board member of the conglomerate's corporate venture arm Sonae IM, told Reuters it was looking for more companies to integrate with its Spain-based cybersecurity business S21Sec, acquired in 2014 and dealing with web fraud protection, data-leak detection and cyber threat alerts. Sonae, which runs a stable of Continente-brand hypermarkets, electronic appliances stores Worten and other outlets, has a growing online retail business that needs cybersecurity. Sonae IM also offers these services to clients and had sales of 123 million euros ($147 million) in the first nine months of 2017. Sonae IM has recently announced its entry into the capital of German startup Secucloud which specialises in cloud-based security solutions for mobile networks, and U.S. firm Arctic Wolf, providing concierge security engineering services. "We are looking for 'buy and build' opportunities to integrate with S21Sec ... There are also other segments for us to bet on like those where Arctic Wolf and Secucloud operate," Silva said. Tech And Auto Show | EP21 | Apple iPhone X, Suzuki Intruder 150 & More . 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. Islamabad: As 200 armed men surrounded their house on a hot August night in 2005, Nazo Dharejo and her sisters grabbed their Kalashnikov and puny stock of ammunition and climbed to the roof. The gunfight which followed earned her the moniker "Pakistan's toughest woman", and became the subject of a film which has been entered in next year's Academy Awards, vying for glory alongside heavy-hitters such as Angelina Jolie's First They Killed My Father and Joachim Trier's Thelma. A world away from Hollywood's red carpet, at the ancestral home Dharejo fought for in Pakistan's rural Sindh province, she described the night which could lead to Oscar glory. "I will kill them or die here but never retreat," Dharejo, now in her late 40s, recalled saying as assailants attacked her home. Her husband begged her to stand down but she refused, facing down her own relatives who were armed and had long sought to take her family's property after her father died leaving no male heir, she said. Her grandfather had several wives, and the male heirs in other branches of his family were laying claim to her inheritance. But her family had defied rural Pakistani cultural norms of the time to educate their daughters and teach them they were as good as boys, and the sisters were willing to give their lives to prove it. From their position on the roof their tiny army the three sisters, Dharejo's husband, and some loyal friends and neighbours held off the onslaught, with household staff making daring runs for more ammunition until daylight broke. A five-year legal battle over the land eventually saw her foes pay half a million rupees ($4,800) in compensation and offer a public apology an act of utmost disgrace in rural Pakistan. The Waderi Born in a conservative feudal family, Dharejo was entitled to learn the Koran at home and that was all. She persuaded her father to allow her and her sisters to study English, which paved the way for her to gain her Bachelor of Arts in economics at Sindh University, where she could study at home and appear in public only for the exams. But the modern justice system has made few inroads into rural Sindh, where little has changed for centuries in a society dominated by feudalism, and the bloody years-long fight over her family's land threatened many times to derail her progress. "It kept intensifying. Five, six murders took place and in 1992 my brother was also murdered," she explained. When her father died that same year, the women who visited to pay condolences taunted her mother and sisters that their family line had ended. But Dharejo's determination particularly her defiant stand over her family's property years later slowly turned the tide. Soon neighbours began to speak of her as "Waderi", a new feminine version of the male honorific "Wadera" meaning something akin to a feudal "Lady". "She has become such a huge tree spreading soothing shade to the people around her," commented Zulfiqar Dharejo as his wife, draped in a traditional printed Sindhi shawl, rocked gently on a nearby swing bed in their sparse drawing room, hung with more guns. Heat, hospitals and gunfire In 2013 Dharejo's story came to the attention of a British-born Pakistani filmmaker, Sarmad Masud. Fascinated, he got in touch. The result is My Pure Land, the 98-minute Urdu-language film version of Dharejo's story starring Suhaee Abro, which became the UK's official entry in the Oscar's foreign language category. It faces tough competition: a record 92 countries have entered this year. Other contenders include Jolie's film on the Cambodian genocide. Nominations will be announced in January, with the ceremony held in March. Masud told AFP: "I was immediately inspired by (Dharejo's) courage and heroism." But he conceded making the movie, filmed in some 30 days around Lahore, had been tough. Temperatures touched 40 degrees during filming; both he and his wife, the production designer on the film, were briefly hospitalised; and the set was attacked. Much to his frustration, they also never met their heroine in person, though they spoke often. Despite its labelling by some critics as a "feminist Western", My Pure Land has only a few action scenes in it, Masud said. Ultimately it is a drama about a father's loving relationship with his daughters, he explained. "It was important to shine a light on characters and a part of the world which is very rarely accurately represented on screen," he added. Dharejo said she was "very happy" with the the final film, adding that the triumphant story belongs to Sindh and Pakistan". She said: "That is an honour for me." Karachi: At least five people, including a child, were killed and 19 others injured on Saturday in a suicide attack on security forces in the restive Balochistan province of Pakistan, police said. The attackers targeted the convoy of security forces on the Sariab road in the provincial capital Quetta, they said. The police confirmed that it was a suicide bomb attack on security forces convoy, the Geo News reported, adding five people were killed in the incident. "The target was the vehicle of the Frontier Corps commander, but he was not present in the vehicle when the bomb attack took place," a government official said. Earlier Saturday, Civil Hospital Quetta Spokesperson Wasim Baig said they had received four dead bodies while 19 persons, including a child, were injured in the bomb explosion. The fifth person is believed to have died later at the hospital. "Some of the injured are still in critical condition as they were hit by shrapnels in the attack," Baig said. The attack came a day after senior police official of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ashraf Noor was killed in a suicide attack on his vehicle in the upscale Hayatabad neighbourhood of Peshawar. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban militants and Baloch nationalists often target security forces in the area. A senior Pakistani police officer and his three family members were killed by unidentified, motorcycle-borne militants in Balochistan on November 15. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Illyas who was on his way to market when he was killed in a targeted attack along with his wife, son and five-year-old granddaughter. A suspected suicide bomber killed Additional Inspector General Telecommunications Hamid Shakeel and three other police officers in a targeted attack in Quetta on November 9. Balochistan has been rocked by a series of attacks which raised concerns about a growing militant presence, including those affiliated with Islamic State, which has claimed several bombings in the restive province. The unrest has raised security concerns for projects in the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a transport and energy link from western China to Pakistan's southern Gwadar port. At least six police commandos and a civilian were killed last month when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a security force's convoy on the Quetta-Sibi Highway. In August this year, a massive suicide explosion, targeting Pakistan Army personnel in Quetta, left 15 people dead including seven civilians and injured at least 20 people. In June this year, 14 people, including seven policemen, were killed and 21 others were injured in a suicide car bombing on Gulistan Road in Balochistan. Dhaka: Bangladesh police said on Saturday they had arrested an Islamist militant wanted in connection with the 2015 killing of a U.S. blogger critical of religious extremism. Deputy police commissioner Masudur Rahman said the man, identified as Arafat Rahman, 24, a member of al Qaeda-inspired militant group Ansar Ullah Bangla Team, was suspected of taking part in the killing of writer Avijit Roy. Roy, a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin, was hacked to death by machete-wielding assailants in February 2015 while returning home with his wife from a Dhaka book fair. Roy's widow, Rafida Ahmed, was seriously injured. Police official Rahman said the detainee, who was identified after analysing CCTV footage, was arrested by the counter-terrorism police unit on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, on Friday night. "In the primary interrogation, he confessed his involvement in the killing of four other secular activists," he told Reuters. It was not possible to contact the detainee to comment as he was in police custody. Muslim-majority Bangladesh of 160 million people has had a string of deadly attacks targeting bloggers, foreigners and religious minorities. The most serious recent attack came in July 2016, when gunmen stormed a cafe in the diplomatic quarter of Dhaka and killed 22 people, most of them foreigners. Police say the Ansar Ullah Bangla Team militant group is behind the murders of more than a dozen secular bloggers and gay rights activists. They believe a sacked army major, who is still at large, was the leader of the group and masterminded the killings. Al Qaeda and Islamic State have also claimed responsibility for a series of killings over the past few years, including that of Roy. The government has denied the presence of such groups, blaming domestic militants instead. But security experts say the scale and sophistication of the cafe attack suggested links to a wider network. Police and army commandos have killed more than 60 suspected militants and arrested hundreds since the cafe attack. Dhaka: Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to take assistance from the UN refugee agency for the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said on Saturday. The two governments signed a pact on Thursday settling the terms for the repatriation process, and the return of the Rohingya to Myanmar is expected to start in two months. Uncertainty over whether the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would have a role had prompted rights groups to insist that outside monitors were needed to safeguard the Rohingya's return. More than 600,000 Rohingya sought sanctuary in Bangladesh after Myanmar's military launched a brutal counter-insurgency in their villages across the northern parts of Rakhine State following attacks by Rohingya militants on an army base and police posts on August 25. The signing of the deal is a first step. The two countries will now have to work on more steps, Ali told a news conference. "Both countries agreed to take assistance from the UNHCR in the Rohingya repatriation process," he said. "Myanmar will take its assistance as per their requirement." A joint working group of the three parties will be formed within three weeks and the group will fix the final terms to start the repatriation process, said Ali. "Our priority is to ensure their safe return to their homeland with honour," the minister said. After repatriation, Rohingya Muslims will be kept at makeshift camps near to their abandoned homes, he said. "Homes have been burnt to the ground in Rakhine, that need to be rebuilt. We have proposed Myanmar to take help from India and China for building camps for them," the minister said. The UN and United States have described the military's actions as "ethnic cleansing", and rights groups have accused Myanmar's security forces of atrocities, including mass rape, arson and killings. Under the deal, Myanmar will take measures to see that the returnees will not be settled in temporary places for a long time and Myanmar will issue them an identity card for national verification immediately on their return. Berli: Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday welcomed the prospect of talks on a "grand coalition" with her Social Democrat (SPD) rivals and defended the record of the previous such government, saying it had worked well. Merkel's fourth term was cast into doubt when the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) walked out of three-way coalition talks with her conservative bloc and the Greens last Sunday, causing a political impasse in Europe's biggest economy. But on Friday, the SPD reversed a previous decision and agreed to talk to Merkel, raising the possibilities of a new "grand coalition" which has ruled Germany for the last four years, or of a minority government. Addressing party members on Saturday, Merkel argued voters had given her conservatives a mandate to rule in the Sept. 24 election which handed her party the most parliamentary seats but limited coalition options. Her conservatives bled support to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). "Europe needs a strong Germany, it is desirable to get a government in place quickly," Merkel told a regional party meeting in northern Germany, adding, however, that her acting government could carry on day to day business. "Asking voters to go to the polls again would, I think be totally wrong," she said. On Monday, Merkel had said she would prefer new elections to a minority government in which her party would be only held in power by others. Without even mentioning the option of a minority government, Merkel said she wanted to look ahead after the setbacks of the last week. Sounding self-assured and drawing applause during her speech, she turned her attention fully to the SPD. Welcoming the prospect of talks with her former partner, she defended the record of the last coalition. "We worked well together," she said, adding under the grand coalition, Germany enjoyed the strongest labour market for decades, a balanced budget and pensioners and families had benefited, she argued. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is to host Merkel, SPD leader Martin Schulz and the leader of her conservative CSU sister party for a meeting on Thursday. Steinmeier had exerted considerable pressure on Schulz to change course for the sake of stability in Germany. SUBSTANCE However, no one is saying things will be easy and the two former partners are already jostling over policy. Merkel said her aims are to maintain Germany's solid finances, cut some taxes and expand the digital infrastructure. In a nod to her CSU conservative allies, she also said she aims to limit the number of migrants entering Germany to 200,000 per year. This, however, may be hard for the SPD to swallow. "A cap, which may not be called that, breaches the constitution and the Geneva Convention. With the SPD there will be no limit put on family members who want to join asylum seekers," SPD deputy leader Ralf Stegner told the Funke media group. Schulz, who had until Friday rejected any deal with Merkel, said there was nothing automatic about the outcome and promised party members a vote on talks. The SPD is split as many members fear that renewing a grand coalition would be political suicide. It scored its worst result since 1933 in the September election. Several other leading SPD members have called for other commitments, such as investment in education and homes. Some senior SPD members have made clear that they will not let Merkel hold them hostage. "Mrs Merkel is not in a position to be setting conditions," Malu Dreyer, premier of the state of Rhineland Palatinate, told the Trierscher Volksfreund. Washington: Lawyers for former national security adviser Michael Flynn have halted communications with US President Donald Trump's legal team, a potentially critical step in the probe into contacts between Trump's election campaign and Russia, sources familiar with the investigation said on Friday. Flynn's lawyer, Robert Kelner, called John Dowd, Trump's private lawyer, on Wednesday to say the matter had reached a point where the two could no longer could discuss it, two people familiar with the call told Reuters on Friday. The New York Times first reported that the two sets of lawyers had stopped communicating. Flynn, a retired Army general, is a central figure in a federal investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into whether Trump aides colluded with alleged Russian efforts to boost his 2016 presidential campaign. It was not clear whether Kelner made the call because he had negotiated a plea agreement with Mueller for Flynn to cooperate in the probe, or because Flynn had decided to engage with Mueller, said two other sources. "No one should draw the conclusion that this means anything about General Flynn cooperating against the president," Jay Sekulow, another attorney for Trump, said on Thursday. Dowd on Friday declined to comment on the matter, as did Peter Carr, Mueller's spokesman. Kelner also declined to comment. White House officials also have declined to comment. The cooperation of Flynn, who was a top campaign adviser before becoming Trump's national security adviser in the White House, would be a major asset in Mueller's investigation. In March, as he unsuccessfully sought immunity for his client to testify to House and Senate investigations into the issue, Kelner said, "Mr. Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and he certainly wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit." Two sources familiar with Mueller's investigation said Flynn may be able to provide insight into three major areas of inquiry. These are: any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 campaign; money laundering and other possible financial crimes by Trump aides; and whether Trump sought to obstruct justice when he fired former FBI Director James Comey in May, as Comey was probing the Trump campaign's dealings with Russia. Russia has denied interfering in the election. Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia by his campaign and has called the inquiry a witch hunt. QUESTIONS FOR FLYNN Two congressional officials involved in separate probes into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia said one key area of investigation is whether Flynn or other advisers to Trump ever suggested US economic sanctions on Russia could be lifted in exchange for favorable business deals. Possible deals include a proposed commercial nuclear power project involving Russian firms that Flynn in recent years worked to promote to potential clients in the Middle East, sources familiar with the project told Reuters. "At this point, there is no evidence of an effort to negotiate that kind of deal, but Flynn is near the top of the list of people who probably would know if there was any such effort," said one of the congressional officials, also speaking on the condition of anonymity. Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 13, after disclosures that Flynn had discussed US sanctions on Russia with then Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in December, the month before Trump took office, and later misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Flynn has acknowledged contacts with Kislyak dating back to 2013, but beyond saying they covered a variety of subjects has said nothing about the content of their conversations during Trump's campaign and after his election. Flynn has been under scrutiny by the special counsel in a number of areas, sources familiar with the investigation have said. Mueller has been investigating whether Flynn knowingly made false statements to the government about his foreign travels, income, and contacts on his security clearance form. Flynn also has come under scrutiny for work on behalf of Russian clients, and over whether his work for a businessman with ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was lawful. Mueller has been investigating Flynn's son, Michael Flynn, Jr.'s, involvement in some of his father's business dealings in Russia, Turkey, and elsewhere, the sources said, and that could provide a potent additional incentive for Flynn to cooperate. Barry Coburn, a lawyer for Flynn's son, declined to comment. Brussels: British Prime Minister Theresa May failed on Friday to make any breakthrough in Brexit talks with the European Union, as time runs out to move the negotiations into a critical second phase before the end of the year. At a summit in Brussels, May met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leaders of Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania and European Council President Donald Tusk, seeking to move the talks onto future relations between Britain and the EU, especially their trade ties. "There are still issues across the various matters that we are negotiating on," May told reporters after her meetings. "But there has been a very positive atmosphere in the talks and a genuine feeling that we want to move forward together," she added. Britain is set to leave the bloc on March 29, 2019, but the negotiations must be wrapped up in less than a year to leave parliaments time to ratify the agreement. EU leaders are set to decide in three weeks if the negotiations have made "sufficient progress" on Britain's financial settlement, the status of Irish borders and the rights of citizens hit by Brexit for the talks to be expanded. Currently, it seems unlikely that will happen. After his meeting with May, Tusk tweeted that "sufficient progress" by the December 14-15 EU summit could yet be made, "but still a huge challenge. We need to see progress from UK within 10 days on all issues, including on Ireland." May refused to say how much progress was made on the future of the border between EU member state Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, or on the size of the divorce bill. On the latter she said only: "we have been talking about how we can progress the issue in relation to the financial settlement." Britain has suggested that it would be willing to pay around 20 billion euros (USD 24 billion) to settle the divorce bill, while the Europeans are seeking anywhere from 60-100 billion euros (USD 72-120 billion) to clear London's tab. Asked by British reporters whether their country should pay more, Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said: "Yes, of course, you should, it's an easy answer." More generally, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said "there is still some work to do to bring us closer on certain points" by the next EU summit in Brussels. The big sticking point for Ireland is to ensure that no barriers to trade are set up after Brexit between it and Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, especially given the sectarian tensions that have long simmered in the region. "We are not going to allow a border to remerge on the island of Ireland, and we have a shared responsibility with Britain to make sure that doesn't happen," said Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney. "If progress isn't made in terms of more clarity, and more credibility in terms of how these issues can be resolved in a way that prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland, well then we cannot move on to phase 2," he said. Coveney said that Ireland has the firm backing of its 26 EU partners. "We have seen no suggestion that other countries are moving away from that position of solidarity, absolutely not," he added. After the meetings, May said only: "we have the same desire. We want to ensure that the movement of people and trade across that border can carry no as now and that we don't create any new barriers." On the eve of the biennial Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Myanmar, Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, made a short trip to Bangladesh to discuss the Rohingya crisis. At the time, his objectives were unclear; in recent months China has largely supported Myanmar's hardliner stance that the Rohingyas are illegal immigrants and pose a national security threat. On Monday, as diplomats from over fifty Asian and European nations descended upon Naypyidaw for the start of ASEM, they received some clarity on the visit Wang announced a Chinese-led plan to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Guidelines for Reconciliation China's proposed framework consists of three distinct stages for the repatriation and long-term safety of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. First, in an attempt to address the immediate issue, China has demanded an end to the violence in the Rakhine State. Minister Wang has indicated that a ceasefire is in place. Second, China has encouraged bilateral negotiations between Bangladesh and Myanmar over the repatriation of the refugees. In this regard, the two sides have signed a tentative agreement. Third, China has called for global investment in the Rakhine State, the Rohingyas' home, in order to foster a safe, prosperous environment for their return. The broad proposal clearly recognises the violence in the Rakhine State as the initial obstacle to the Rohingya's return. It also emphasizes the need for major investment in the region. While the attacks against the Rohingya have been especially virulent since August, in reality, they have been ongoing for years and have devastated the local communities in the Rakhine State While cognizant of the issue, China's plan does not contain any particularly novel propositions. It doesn't, for example, recommend how the repatriation process would work, or suggest specific policies for Myanmar to adopt to ensure the safety of the Rohingya once they return. It largely places the burden on Myanmar and Bangladesh to resolve these matters bilaterally. Despite this lack of specificity, China has managed to establish itself as a vital mediator in what has often seemed to be an irresolvable humanitarian disaster. While other stakeholders have tried to facilitate peace, China has emerged as the only entity to bring Bangladesh and Myanmar together on this divisive issue. China has a vested interest in the Rakhine State since it serves as a geographical gateway to the Bay of Bengal, a coveted resource hub. Beijing has already established itself as the infrastructure and economic provider in the region, and through this intervention, it also assumes the role as the primary broker of peace. China's Emerging Soft Power The viability of Chinas proposition rests on Beijing's relationship and influence with the involved parties, particularly with Myanmar. China serves as Myanmar's primary trading partner and weapons supplier, which has led to a strong relationship between Beijing and Myanmar's influential military. Where other international actors like the U.N. have struggled to sway Myanmar's outlook on the crisis, China has a unique advantage. For Bangladesh, China's involvement lends an air of credibility to the talks and instills confidence in a sustainable resolution. While China's intervention is a valuable boost to the resolution of the crisis, larger geostrategic interests are also at play. Through its involvement, China is making a strategic decision to gain moral authority in the region, while other powers, such as India, are sidelined. As China has built up its economic and security capacity in the Bay of Bengal, its strategies have often been perceived as expansionist. Now, as an arbiter in this crisis, China also asserts itself as the primary norm maker and peacekeeper in the Bay of Bengal. By designing its own peace proposal, it is clear that China wants to determine the conditions of stability in the region, as well as influence the dynamics of regional relationships. The timing of the announcement is also worth noting. Instead of introducing this proposal at the APEC or ASEAN summits, China waited until other potential mediators, like the United States, had tried and failed to resolve the conflict. Minister Wang's visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar come on the heels of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's trip to the region last week. While Secretary Tillerson exercised significant pressure on the peaceful resolution to the conflict, he was unable to secure a commitment from Myanmar on the future of the Rakhine State and the Rohingya. Within just a week of its involvement, China has brought both sides to the table to agree on an end to the crisis. This is a stark contrast of diplomatic authority. Through its role in the crisis, China's interests in the Bay of Bengal are clear it is determined to consolidate its soft power in the region and establish itself as the unilateral voice not only for security and development but also for peace and stability. The practicality of the proposal will play out in the coming months, but if successful, it would prove to be a master class in diplomacy where every stakeholder, particularly the arbitrator, benefits. The author works with The Observer Research Foundation Harare: Former Zimbabwe finance minister Ignatius Chombo, among those detained by the military before Robert Mugabe resigned as president, was charged on Saturday with corruption, including trying to defraud the central bank in 2004. The court appearance was the first time Chombo had been seen in public since being detained after the military seized power in "Operation Restore Legacy", which it said was meant to remove the "criminals" around Mugabe. Chombo, a Mugabe ally who had been promoted to finance minister in October, told the court that he was kept blindfolded for nine days after being arrested at his home on Nov. 15. His lawyer has said he was beaten in detention, although Chombo made no mention of that and had no injuries visible as he stood before magistrates in Harare. Several members of a group allied to Mugabe and his wife Grace were detained and expelled from the ruling party, including Chombo, the ousted head of the influential ZANU-PF youth league Kudzanai Chipanga and a deposed leader in the party's youth wing, Innocent Hamandishe. Some supporters of the new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, have been calling for unspecified action against the so-called G40 group that backed Mugabe and his wife. Chombo, Chipanga and Hamandishe were allied to the G40. Before his inauguration, Mnangagwa on Thursday urged citizens not to undertake any form of "vengeful retribution". The state prosecutor said Chombo was charged three counts of corruption, including attempting to defraud the Zimbabwean central bank in 2004, when he was local government minister. He was not asked to enter a plea by the state. Chombo showed no emotion while the charges were read. The court ordered Chombo detained until Monday when his bail application will be heard. Describing his arrest, when his wife had also been present, Chombo told the court: "While we stood in the room, there rushed in between five and six people wearing masks and all of them had guns. The guns were pointing at us." He said he suffered lacerations on his left side when he fell as the soldiers led him out of his house to a car. Chombo's lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, said on Friday Chombo was admitted to hospital with injuries sustained from beatings he received in military custody. Chombo had no visible injuries and appeared calm, chatting with the police guarding him when the court took a break. Chombo was handed over to the police by the military. The police said they had no information on Chombo's injuries when asked to comment. A former university lecturer and Mugabe's ally, Chombo was promoted in an October cabinet reshuffle from the interior ministry to the finance portfolio, against the backdrop of a severe shortage of the U.S. dollar used by Zimbabwe. In his main act as new finance minister, Chombo told parliament on Nov. 9 that Zimbabwe's budget deficit would soar to $1.82 billion or 11.2 percent of gross domestic product this year from an initial target of $400 million. In the same court, Chipanga faced charges of making statements aimed at undermining public confidence in the defence forces and was also detained until Monday when his bail application will be heard. Hamandishe faced six counts of kidnapping and one of publishing falsehoods and was detained in custody until Dec. 8. MDC DEMANDS ACTION Mugabe's fall after 37 years in power was triggered by a battle to succeed him that pitted Mnangagwa against Mugabe's much younger wife Grace, who is 52. Mnangagwa, 75, the former vice president sacked by Mugabe this month, was sworn in as president on Friday. The 93-year-old Mugabe, who had led Zimbabwe from independence in 1980, stepped down on Tuesday after the army seized power and the ruling party turned against him. On Friday, Zimbabwe's Judge President George Chiweshe nullified Mugabe's decision to fire Mnangagwa as his deputy - a move that triggered the military intervention. In his inauguration speech, Mnangagwa laid out a grand vision to revitalise Zimbabwe's ravaged economy and vowed to rule on behalf of all the country's citizens. The main opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said Mnangagwa's speech "sounded like he was reading from the MDC policy documents", it said in a statement. "As a party, we are flattered to note that President Mnangagwa seems to have radically departed from the usual ZANU-PF drivel such as hate-filled language, empty sloganeering and the rabid promotion of racism and retribution against perceived political foes, both domestically and internationally," it said. The MDC demanded concrete action to investigate human rights abuses, steps to tackle corruption, plans for free and fair elections next year and assurances that the military would return to their barracks and stay out of politics. In the early hours of Saturday, armoured vehicles and soldiers that had been stationed outside government buildings, parliament and the courts returned to Inkomo Barracks outside Harare, one of the soldiers manning the vehicles said. Islamabad: Pakistan's government called on the powerful military to deploy in the capital Islamabad Saturday after deadly unrest broke out when police moved to dislodge an Islamist protest that has brought the city to a near-standstill. At least one person was killed and and 190 injured -- some 137 of whom were security personnel -- when police moved in to disperse the demonstration earlier Saturday, sparking fierce clashes. Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets but the demonstrators blocked roads and burned police vehicles around the site of the sit-in. As the violence intensified, protests sprouted in the major cities of Lahore and Karachi, as well as smaller towns across the country. Authorities had been attempting to clear a small protest by the little-known hardline group called Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLYRAP) that has blocked a main highway into Islamabad since November 6, causing hours-long traffic snarls and enraging citizens. It was not clear how many protesters remained in the streets of the capital late Saturday. There had been roughly 2,000 as the operation began, but AFP reporters said dozens more were arriving throughout the day. Police and paramilitary forces retreated following the clashes, with the Islamabad Capital Territory authorities making the request for the army to step in soon after. An interior ministry order said the federal government had authorised the deployment of "sufficient troops" to "control law and order" in the city until further notice. There was no immediate comment from military officials. The demonstrations have threatened the beleaguered Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government ahead of a general election due to be held next year. Analysts and critics accused it of bungling its response, which authorities hesitating for days over fears of violence as the city's commuters seethed in the traffic choked streets. The TLYRAP are demanding that Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid resign over a hastily-abandoned amendment to the oath that election candidates must swear. Demonstrators have linked it to blasphemy -- a highly contentious issue in Muslim Pakistan -- and claim the oath was softened to enable the participation of Ahmadis, a long-persecuted Islamic minority sect. Alarmed residents Earlier, police in Karachi said some 200 protesters had blockaded a major road in the southern port, with at least nine people injured -- including three with gunshot wounds -- brought to hospital, according to doctors. Markets and shops were closing in the megacity, Pakistan's commercial hub, as alarmed residents stayed inside while hardline clerics urged more people to take to the streets. An AFP journalist in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, said Mall Road, the main artery in the eastern city, had been closed by police due to protests, while a deployment of paramilitary rangers was being sought by city officials. Smaller rallies were reported in other towns across the country. Earlier in the day Pakistan's powerful military chief phoned the prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to urge the situation be handled "peacefully". General Qamar Javed Bajwa called for both sides to avoid violence "as it is not in national interest", army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said on Twitter. Pakistan's media regulator barred local TV channels from broadcasting live images from the scene, though protesters were still using Facebook Live and other social media to galvanise support across the country. 'Explosive' situation The protesters come from the Barelvi sect of Islam that has strong ties to Sufism, a mystical branch of the religion that is seen as moderate. However the execution in 2016 of Barelvi follower Mumtaz Qadri -- who assassinated liberal Punjab governor Salman Taseer over his stance on the country's blasphemy laws -- led members of the group to take a more hardline stance against any moves to reform the legislation. "These people already had a grudge against the government and the government just provided them the opportunity to vent out their anger," said political analyst Hasan Askari. The demonstrators had vowed to die for their cause. But weeks of inaction from authorities sparked the wrath of Pakistan's judiciary, with the Supreme Court issuing a blistering statement earlier in the week and the Islamabad High Court threatening to hold government officials in contempt over the official response. The chaos in the capital comes as the government is facing severe challenges. The Supreme Court had already dealt a blow to the PML-N by ousting its leader, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, over a graft investigation in the summer. Finance minister Ishaq Dar, also embroiled in corruption allegations, has taken indefinite medical leave. Analysts said the government had allowed a minor issue to grow into a headline-grabbing and potentially dangerous situation. Even before Saturday's clashes the sit-in had cost the life of an eight-year-old child whose ambulance could not reach a hospital in time due to the blocked roads. "Politically driven procrastination has its own costs and this is what the government is paying," analyst Imtiaz Gul told AFP, adding that the situation was "explosive" Oostkamp (Belgium): Catalonia's deposed leader Carles Puigdemont Saturday launched his campaign for regional elections from Belgium by calling on Catalans to make known their desire for independence. "We Catalans demonstrated to the world that we have the capacity and the will to become an independent state. And on (December) 21, we must ratify this," he said in Oostkamp in Belgium, where he fled to after the Catalan parliament declared unilateral independence. Puigdemont was sacked as Catalan president after that declaration on October 27 as was his entire regional government, and Madrid imposed direct rule on the once semi-autonomous region to stop the independence drive. At the time, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also dissolved the Catalan parliament and called regional elections for December 21 in a bid to "restore normality" to the region. The crisis began in earnest on October 1 when separatist leaders held an independence referendum despite a court ban, in which they said 90 per cent opted to break from Spain even if less than half of eligible voters turned out in the deeply divided region. Puigdemont, who is awaiting possible extradition to Spain, is running at the head of the Junts per Catalunya ("All for Catalonia" in Catalan) grouping. It is unclear whether he will still be in Belgium when the elections take place. But if Belgium decides to extradite him to Spain where he is wanted on charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, he faces jail pending the probe. Washington: Days ahead of what should be a major moment for Ivanka Trump on the world stage, CNN has learned Secretary of State Rex Tillerson isn't sending a high-level delegation to support her amid reports of tensions between Tillerson and the White House. Multiple State Department officials, as well as a source close to the White House, have told CNN Tillerson's decision not to send senior State Department officials to this year's Global Entrepreneurship Summit, being held in India next week, is not related to his key project of slashing the Department's budget, and is more to do with the fact Ivanka Trump is leading the US delegation this year. Trump was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, and this year's theme is supporting women entrepreneurs. The State Department puts on the large yearly event, which Secretary of State John Kerry and even President Obama attended multiple times. But this year, according to one senior State Department official: "No one higher than the deputy assistant secretary is allowed to participate. The secretary and his top staff have insisted on approving all travel-- even the most minute details." "They (Tillerson and his staff) won't send someone senior because they don't want to bolster Ivanka. It's now another rift between the White House and State at a time when Rex Tillerson doesn't need any more problems with the President," the official added. A source close to the White House speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the thinner-than-past-years State Department delegation was absolutely being perceived and felt -- by several key people there -- as a snub, and that Tillerson's management style and extremely tight inner circle have rubbed some in the administration the wrong way. The source said the feeling among some within the White House, is that Tillerson and his team are far from eager to throw the support of the State Department behind Ivanka Trump on this trip, which will be her highest-profile appearance yet representing the United States. "Rex doesn't like the fact that he's supposed to be our nation's top diplomat, and Jared and now Ivanka have stepped all over Rex Tillerson for a long time," the source said. "So now, he's not sending senior people from the State Department to support this issue. He's not supporting Ivanka Trump." State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told CNN that: "The Department is committed to supporting women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, and the Summit is a prime opportunity to showcase the importance of these themes." Last year's summit, which was held in California's Silicon Valley and made travel easier, included Secretary of State Kerry, a State Department undersecretary, two assistant secretaries, and other staff. President Obama attended with a large delegation when it was held in Kenya in 2015, as did Kerry when it was in Malaysia in 2013. This year's event, though, falls just as the White House has directed Secretary Tillerson to slash his agency's budget. There is currently no permanent Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs. Also, the Entrepreneurship Summit was an Obama-era creation that started in 2010, so some change in approach would have surely been expected. Still, State Department leadership has lately emphasized a commitment to forging a stronger relationship with India. And the President's daughter is going, being billed in the Indian press as the "star attraction." The Acting Assistant Secretary for the central Asia region, Alice Wells, was originally slated to be at the Summit -- but has since been pulled off by Tillerson's team, according to a source. Another official did say there are many State Department staffers involved and who will attend, but didn't have an explanation for why no higher-level people will be going this year. The official added that he was unaware of tensions or the internal chatter over supporting the first daughter, who serves as a senior White House advisor. A spokesperson for the State Department who provided a list of senior government officials attending did not include any senior State Department officials. He did include US Treasurer Jovita Carranza, USAID Administrator Mark Green and Neomi Rao, the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The US Ambassador to India will join the delegation in Hyderabad. Ivanka Trump's spokesman declined to comment on the story. London: Britain has officially abandoned its claim to be the world's fifth largest economy. Treasury chief Philip Hammond acknowledged the slide on Wednesday, noting the new ranking in a series of statements meant to highlight the economy's strength. "Britain is the world's sixth largest economy," Hammond said in his closely-watched budget speech. While there are several ways to measure the size of an economy, the UK Treasury pointed to GDP forecasts published by the International Monetary Fund in October to back up his statement. The numbers show that France will narrowly squeak ahead of Britain in the group's 2017 ranking of global economies, with its advantage predicted to widen considerably in 2018. This year will be the first time since 2013 that France has topped the UK in the ranking, according to the IMF. The slide reflects a sharp deceleration in Britain's economic growth since it voted to leave the European Union in June 2016. The pound has weakened dramatically, consumer spending has slowed and prices have spiked. On Wednesday, the Office of Budget Responsibility slashed its UK growth forecasts for 2017 from 2% to 1.5%. It expects a 1.4% expansion next year, followed by 1.3% in 2019 and 2020. The loss of its top five spot to an EU rival is more bad news for politicians who argue that Britain will be stronger outside the bloc. David Davis, Britain's lead negotiator in Brexit talks, mentioned as recently as September that his country's economy was the fifth largest in the world. The UK is expected to slide further. India is forecast to power past both Britain and France in 2019. The world's top seven economies, according to the 2017 IMF forecast are US ($19.4 trillion), China ($11.9 trillion), Japan ($4.9 trillion), Germany ($3.7 trillion), France ($2.575 trillion), UK ($2.565 trillion) and India ($2.4 trillion). Washington: The White House has said there would be repercussions for US-Pakistan relations unless Islamabad took action to detain and charge Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. "(Hafiz) Saeeds release, after Pakistans failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistans commitment to (combating) international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil," the White House said in a statement. "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistans global reputation," it added. The JuD head, who carries a bounty of $10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities, was set free after a Judicial Review Board of Pakistan released him for the lack of evidence. He had been under detention since January this year. The Judicial Review Board of Punjab province comprising judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday unanimously ordered Saeed's release on the completion of his 30-day house arrest which expired at night. Saeed, after his release, said he was detained when he announced a month of solidarity for Kashmiris this January. He used the release order to buttress his claims of "innocence". "I am very happy that none of the allegations against me proved as three judges of the LHC ordered my release ...India had levelled baseless allegations against me. The LHC's review board decision has proved that I am innocent," Saeed said. More than 50 vendors and 500 people piled into Centertown in Bedford on Saturday for the third annual Christmas Market. The market, hosted by the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, is meant to bring awareness and business to local shops, artisans and crafters, BACC President and CEO Susan Martin said. The small businesses are the heart of our community and the heart of our economy, Martin said, adding that supporting small businesses has a positive cyclical impact that creates a vibrant community. The market offered more than just vendors, bringing together food trucks, carriage rides, a free hot cocoa stand and opportunities to pose with Santa for photos. It used to be held at the Bedford County Country Club, BACC Chair Patti Jurkus said. But we outgrew the space, she said. So we thought by bringing it into Bedford, we would be able to showcase small business owners as well as create more business in the small town. The event itself takes about a year to plan and the BACC normally starts planning for the next one as soon as the event ends, Martin said. It costs about $5,000 to $8,000 to throw the event, but a large portion of the costs are offset by sponsors, Martin said. HumanKind social worker Nadine Dunton has set up shop at the market for the past two years, she said. She sells pieces from Crafts by Nadine, a home-based winter decor shop that sells snowmen, signs and more. Throughout the year, Dunton crafts after her children are asleep or at night while shes watching TV. Dunton only sells her crafts during the winter months, attending craft shows and area events like the market, she said. I did really well last year and Im doing well today, she said. Its something enjoyable for me It gives me an avenue [to reach customers]. Sally Hutslar owns 10 alpacas and the Forest-based business Alpaca By Jaca, which has been featured at the market for the past two years and sells items such as socks, hats and childrens sweaters made from Alpaca fleece. Its a chance to showcase locally-owned businesses which are [important], you know, were a mom-and-pop store, she said. Its just a way to get people to think about instead of always going to a big box store like Target to think about the mom-and-pop places that have unique stuff. Hutslar, a member of the BACC, said she didnt expect to make a huge amount of money Saturday, but the market gave her the opportunity to increase business awareness. Seven-month-old Noah stood in line to meet Santa with his aunt Giffen Walters, grandmother Tina Walters and great-grandmother Barbara Dowdy. Giffen Walters, who is sophomore on break from Concordia University in Nebraska, posed Noah on Santas lap before she said it was nice to be in her small hometown and at the event. Tina Walters, of Bedford, said she came out because she wanted to support her community and because its Noahs first Christmas. It supports the whole community, she said. Its good for them and its good for us. By supporting small businesses, you support the community as a whole cause if they prosper, it just keeps growing. Like so many women in recent days, Ive discovered a renewed interest in who and what I was at age 14. My freshman portrait in my high school yearbook is smaller than most forever postage stamps. What a skinny, wide-eyed scaredy-cat I was back then. You could fit everything I knew about the world in one of the cups of my starter bra. That was 1973. Six years later, it was Leigh Corfmans turn to be 14. She says thats when Roy Moore sexually assaulted her. Moore was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney in Alabama at the time. Corfman says Moore pursued her stalked strikes me as a better word for it just days after meeting her with her mother. From The Washington Post, which broke this story: He picked her up around the corner from her house in Gadsen, drove her about 30 minutes to his home in the woods, told her how pretty she was and kissed her. On a second visit, she says, he took off her shirt and pants and removed his clothes. He touched her over her bra and underpants, she says, and guided her hand to touch him over his underwear. I wanted it over with I wanted out, she remembers thinking. Please just get this over with. Whatever this is, just get it over. Whatever this is. Anyone even tempted to suggest she was a consenting child needs to absorb the meaning of those words. At 14, she didnt even know how to make sense of what this man, who was more than twice her age, was trying to do to her. You and I know. Look away all you want. You and I, we know. That same Washington Post story chronicled the accounts of three other women. They told the Post that Moore pursued them when they were between the ages of 16 and 18. One of them, Wendy Miller, says she was a 14-year-old Santas helper when she first caught his eye. She was 16 when he tried to date her. Moore is now 70 and Alabamas Republican nominee in the Dec. 12 special election for U.S. Senate. He is hoppin mad at these women. From his initial written statement: These allegations are completely false and are a desperate political attack by the National Democrat Party and the Washington Post on this campaign. Dont you love it when they try to swap out me with this campaign? Yeah, neither do I. Besides, his campaign said in a later statement, if hed really gone after these minors, this would have come out years ago. Fake news, he added. A reminder: If its news, it isnt fake. If its fake, it isnt news. Just the other week, another woman Beverly Young Nelson came forward to say that she, too, was a 16-year-old victim of Roy Moores. In an emotional televised statement, Nelson described how Moore offered her a ride home from her waitressing job but then pulled his car to the back of the restaurant. I was alarmed, and I immediately asked him what he was doing, she said. Instead of answering my questions, Mr. Moore reached over and began groping me and putting his hands on my breast. I tried to open my car door to leave, but he reached over and he locked it. She added this: I thought he was going to rape me. I was twisting and I was struggling and I was begging him to stop. Moore finally gave up with a warning. He was an important man in Etowah County, and she was just a child. He told me, he said, Youre just a child, and he said, I am the district attorney of Etowah County, and if you tell anyone about this, no one will ever believe you. Nelson revealed her decades-old secret after Moore mocked his other accusers. She added that she voted for Donald Trump, to make clear that she was not politically motivated in going public now. Im bone-weary of those fellow liberals attacking her for that. I dont know why she supported an admitted sexual predator for president, but I dont need to know. I hate what happened to her when she was only 16 years old. The national Republican machine is finally pulling out of Moores race. Many GOP leaders now call for him to step aside. Quite a sight, that one, watching those Republican members of Congress discover their spines. Without anesthesia, even. So far, Moore refuses to budge. And so we turn to you, voters of Alabama. Your country needs you. Imagine the message for every girl in America if Roy Moore is elected to the U.S. Senate. You know the right thing to do here. You and I, we know. Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and professional in residence at Kent State Universitys school of journalism. Email her at con.schultz@yahoo.com. IMPLEMENTATION of consistent policies, which has been the glaring missing link in the past, is required if plans set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa are to succeed. President Mnangagwa, who took office last Friday, said the countrys economic turnaround would be anchored on high agricultural production and foreign direct investment (FDI). Since Government embarked on the land reform programme in 2000, yields, mainly for the staple maize and tobacco, have been plummeting due to lack of experience by the beneficiaries and absence of massive and consistent funding. Maize output only rose exponentially in the last cropping season after Government instituted an import substitution programme, Command Agriculture, and yields are expected to surpass two million metric tonnes this season. Tobacco has also been doing well, averaging 170 million kgs, especially since 2009. However, President Mnangagwa, who is under no illusion of the task confronting him, announced that there will be more agriculture facilities to support farmers going forward, if economic turnaround is to be achieved. I have to hit the ground running to make sure that I lead in stupendous efforts we all need to summon and unleash in concert, towards taking this great nation beyond where our immediate past President left it. The task at hand is that of rebuilding our great country. It principally lies with none but ourselves. Therefore, I exhort beneficiaries of the land reform programme to show their deservedness by demonstrating commitment to the utilisation of the land now available to them for national food security and for the recovery of our economy. They must take advantage of programmes that my Government shall continue to avail to ensure that all land is utilised optimally. Our economic policy will be predicated on our agriculture, which is the mainstay and on creating conditions for an investment led economic recovery that puts premium on job-creation, said President Mnangagwa. With indications that agriculture can be revived, predicated on the resounding success of Command Agriculture last season, the new dispensation has to also focus on creating a conducive environment for foreign direct investment. President Mnangagwa said key choices would have to be made to attract FDI so as to tackle high levels of unemployment while transforming the economy, which has been in the doldrums for almost two decades now. FDI has been coming down in recent years, plunging 30 percent last year to US$294,66 million from US$421,2 million in the year earlier, against a target of US$2 billion in 2020. In 2014, the countrys FDI peaked at US$545 million with the energy and mining sectors being the biggest magnets. While Zimbabwe is struggling for FDI, mainly because of alleged bad investment policies dramatised by the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, and high cost of registering and doing business, other regional countries such as Mozambique and Zambia have been doing fairly well. In 2015, Zambia and Mozambique attracted FDI worth US$1,6 billion and US$3,7 billion driven by friendly investment laws and implementation. Market watchers have urged Government to expedite the ease of doing business reforms, which were kick-started in August 2015. Government, through the Office of the President and Cabinet, has been engaged in efforts to transform the doing business environment. Eight laws out of 14, including the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act and the Movable Property Securities Interests Act, have so far been gazetted as part of addressing the doing business environment. Despite the milestones achieved so far, the country has not significantly moved on the doing business standings. It only gained two places to 159 out of 190 on the World Banks 2018 ease of doing business global rankings, suggesting that a lot still needs to be done by the incoming regime to convince foreign investors that Zimbabwe is ready to do business. Analysts also praised President Mnangagwas declaration of war against corruption, which is also contributing to the foreign investors difficulties in doing business in the country. Corruption has been blamed for weighing economic growth in the last 20 years as politically connected individuals abused their positions to enrich themselves. Major General Sibusiso Moyo also recently slammed corruption in high places when he addressed the nation on the day the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) begun Operation Restore Legacy. President Mnangagwa warned corrupt elements to brace for tough times ahead if they continue prejudicing the nation. As we focus on recovering our economy, we must shed misbehaviours and acts of indiscipline, which have characterised the past. Acts of corruption must stop forthwith. Where these occur, swift justice must be served to show each and all that crime and other acts of economic sabotage can only guarantee ruin to perpetrators. We have to aspire for a clean nation, one sworn to high moral standards and deserved rewards. On these ideals, my administration declares full commitment, warning that grief awaits those who depart from the path of virtue and clean business, he said. The President also promised to tackle cash shortages, financial sector viability, and to re-engage the international community. Sunday Mail Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. A tiny village in Switzerland just asked the Italian town of Bormida to hold its beer. Earlier this year, Bormida was offering $2,175 to people willing to move there in an effort to stave off its extinction. Facing the prospect of a similar future, little Albinen may soon significantly up the ante. The Local reports the village of 240 people that overlooks the Rhone valley from an altitude of 4,200 feet will vote Nov. 30 on whether or not to pay more than $25,500 per adult and $10,200 per child to families willing to relocate there. With a lack of jobs, residentsespecially young familieshave been leaving Albinen, according to Euronews. In fact, the village's school was forced to close recently when three families moved away and took their eight children with them. Should Albinen residents approve the proposal, the money would come with some stipulations: new residents must be under the age of 45, they must agree to live in Albinen for 10 years (or repay the money), they must buy or build property worth at least $204,000, and the property must be their primary residence. The community newsletter calls it "an investment in the village's future." Albinen authorities believe the proposal will make them money in the long run through new taxpayers, new construction, and increased shopping. And while there aren't many jobs in Albinen, there are a few villages nearby. Plus, as Curbed notes, it's on the "sunny side" of the Rhone valley. And Travel and Leisure adds that Albinen "is quite beautiful, clean, and theres even a nice spa nearby." (Read more Switzerland stories.) A man sentenced to more than seven years in jail after he was spotted holding hands with his sister at the Muscoda Mushroom Fest two years ago won't be released early after a Wisconsin court rejected his appeal Wednesday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Because Christian Bisbach was on extended supervision in 2015 for the sexual assault of a child, his hand-holding with a young woman earned him an interview with a sheriff's deputy and his parole officer. Bisbach told them the woman was his biological sister but that he had been adopted prior to her birth and they were raised apart. He said he moved back in with his biological parents in 2015 when he 29 and started a sexual relationship with his sister, who was 18. Bisbach was convicted of incest and sentenced to 7.5 years in prison. He has argued that the state didn't do enough to prove the woman was actually his sister and that they had a sexual relationship. Bisbach said it wasn't enough to take him at his word and that the state should have gotten a DNA test or birth certificate or had his family testify. An appeals court upheld Bisbach's conviction Wednesday, stating it's enough that he himself admitted to having a sexual relationship with his sister, that he was seen holding her hand in public, that sexually suggestive phone calls between the two were recorded while he was in jail, and that the woman told the deputy they were "in a relationship." The woman was also found guilty of incest and sentenced to three years probation. (Read more incest stories.) A western New York woman was shot and killed while walking her dogs Wednesday nightby a hunter, police say. Deputies say Thomas Jadlowski, 34, thought he spotted a deer in a field in the Town of Sherman and fired; he told authorities he then heard a scream and went to investigate, WKBW reports. In the field, about 200 yards away, he found 43-year-old Rosemary Billquist with a gunshot wound; he called 911 and applied pressure to the wound until emergency personnel arrived, but Billquist died at a nearby hospital. Jadlowski appeared to have fired the shot after sunset, Buffalo News reports; the call came in at 5:24pm and the sun set at 4:46pm. That's after the legal limit for deer-hunting hours; it's unclear whether charges will be filed. "Hunters have to understand there are other people using trails, using parks in areas where we as sportsmen hunt," says an instructor for the state's hunter education program. "In this case, it appears from what I gathered this was after sunset, and he shouldn't have been out there hunting after sunset. You're done. That's the law." Billquist's husband tells the Buffalo News his wife was behind their house, just 100 yards or so away, when she was shot. "There's rules. You should abide by them. ... It's disturbing. It's a two-second decision that he'll regret for the rest of his life," he says of the hunter, who lived nearby. "Supposedly it was 200 yards away. He thought it was a deer, which is hard for me to believe," he adds, per the Washington Post. "If you dont know what it is, why shoot?" (Read more shooting death stories.) Malia Obama is now a 19-year-old freshman at Harvard, and the former first daughter is getting some high-profile support from people pleading for her privacy. Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump separately tweeted for media sites to back off after video surfaced online of Malia, gasp, blowing smoke rings, reports USA Today. "Malia Obamas private life, as a young woman, a college student, a private citizen, should not be your clickbait," tweeted Clinton. "Be better." Trump voiced a similar sentiment. "Malia Obama should be allowed the same privacy as her school aged peers," wrote Trump. "She is a young adult and private citizen, and should be OFF limits." Rapper-actor Common put things more succinctly: "Let Malia live." Newsweek rounds up more reaction, which includes people hoping Malia surrounds herself with people who respect her privacy more, and those impressed by her smoke rings. The video was posted, then deleted, by Barstool Sports. (Read more Malia Obama stories.) A common narrative has emerged in the wake of Robert Mugabe's ouster in Zimbabwe: His undoing can be blamed on wife Grace's greedy grab for power. Actually, this narrative is being cast as a "tale of two wives," writes Zimbabwe-born novelist Panashe Chigumadzi in a Washington Post op-ed. The idea is that if Mugabe's first wife, Sally, hadn't died in 1992, she would have kept Robert Mugabe's abuses in check. Instead, the narrative goes, Sally was replaced by Grace, who has been manipulating the now 93-year-old Mugabe for decades toward her own ends. It's a convenient tale for Mugabe's own Zanu-PF party as it seeks to rebrand itself while "sweeping all that went wrong into a Grace Mugabe-sized hole." For one thing, the idea that Sally would have restrained her husband is a stretch. She was by his side, after all, during some horrible abuses in the 1980s, writes Chigumadzi. As for Grace, she is clearly "no saint. But she has also done nothing without Robert Mugabes endorsement (and indeed that of many others in the party)." If she went too far in trying to solidify herself as her husband's successor, that's more on him than her. No, the one true villain in Zimbabwe's tale is Robert Mugabe, who ruled by the gun and was ultimately ousted by it. To say otherwise "is at best simplistic and at worst misogynistic," writes Chigumadzi. Click for the full column. (Read more Grace Mugabe stories.) While consumers were fighting over fancy televisions on Black Friday, the US government was fighting over consumers. The New York Times reports Richard Cordray suddenly left his position as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Fridaya week ahead of schedule. One of his final moves before heading out the door was to name his chief of staff, Leandra English, as deputy director. Cordray says that would legally make her acting director until such a time as President Trump nominates a new director and gets that nominee approved by the Senate. Instead, Trump immediately named budget director Mick Mulvaney as acting director of the CFPB, which regulates companies that lend money to consumers. It's now completely unclear which acting director will be in charge of the bureau come Monday morning. Citing the 1998 Federal Vacancies Reform Act, administration officials tell Reuters that Trump has the power to install his own acting director and that the administration expects Mulvaney to be in charge with English working under him next week. But in a Facebook post, Sen. Elizabeth Warrenwho was responsible for the creation of the CFPBsays Trump "can't override" the Dodd-Frank Act, which states the CFPB deputy director becomes acting director until a permanent replacement is approved. The battle of who controls the CFPB has real stakes, as Trump has been on a mission to mold financial regulators to his liking and Republicans have been trying to kill the CFPB since its formation. In fact, Mulvaney once called the bureauwhich has punished banks, student lenders, and others over predatory lending practicesa "sad, sick joke." (Read more Consumer Financial Protection Bureau stories.) Egypt on Saturday said an attack on a mosque by militants in the country's troubled region of northern Sinai has killed 305 worshipers, including 27 children, a dramatic increase in the death toll previously announced, which was 235. A statement by the country's chief prosecutor, Nabil Sadeq, said the attack Friday left another 128 people wounded, per the AP. It said the attackers, estimated at between 25 and 30, arrived at the mosque close to the small town of Bir al-Abd in five all-terrain vehicles and positioned themselves at the main door and the facility's 12 windows before opening fire. They also torched seven cars parked outside the mosque, which belonged to worshipers inside. Witnesses said some of the attackers were masked. Those who were not sported heavy beards and long hair. The militants wore camouflaged pants and black T-shirts. The chief prosecutor's statement was the most detailed by authorities on the attack, the deadliest by Islamic extremists in Egypt's modern history. The account it gave generally agreed with what witnesses told the AP on Saturday in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, where some of the wounded are hospitalized. They spoke of horrific scenes during the approximately 20 minutes it took the militants to kill and maim worshipers, recalling how some jumped out of windows and children screamed in horror. "Everyone lay down on the floor and kept their heads down," said one witness. "If you raised your head you get shot." Friday's attack targeted a mosque frequented by Sufis, members of a mystic movement within Islam. Islamic militants, including the local affiliate of the Islamic State group, consider Sufis heretics because of their less literal interpretations of the faith. (Read more Egypt stories.) A Virginia youth pastor has been charged in a triple murder after his wife, her daughter, and her daughter's boyfriend were found dead at a home in a Richmond suburb on Thanksgiving, the Washington Post reports. According to WWBT, the bodies of 58-year-old Jeanett Gattis and her 30-year-old daughter, Candice Kunze, were found in a house in Chester on Thanksgiving night. The body of Kunze's boyfriend, 36-year-old Andrew Buthorn, was found in the yard. All three lived at the house and had been fatally shot. Christopher Gattis, 58, was arrested at the scene. He's been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, the New York Daily News reports. Grace Lutheran Church, where Christopher Gattis is a youth pastor, says it's "deeply saddened" by the incident and "asks for the prayers from the community as our congregation begins the process of addressing the grief being experienced by everyone involved." Jeanett Gattis' boss at Napier Realtors remembers her as a "wonderful lady," saying "it's just tragic beyond words." A neighbor of the family tells WTVR he "had no clue that they were having problems that I knew of, but behind closed doors is behind closed doors." No motive for the killings has been identified. (Read more murder stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: In a new development in the Ryan School murder case, Tanveer Ahmed Mir, the lawyer who appeared for the Talwar couple, accused of killing their daughter Aarushi Talwar, will now defend the teenage student accused of killing Pradyuman Thakur. "I have had preliminary discussion with the family of the boy, I will in all probability take his case," Mir told India Today. Mir said the student's father, who is also a lawyer, approached him through his friend, a third lawyer who practices in Gurugram.A "We will first argue on the new amendment whether the accused boy needs to be tried as a juvenile or as an adult?" he asked, adding he would stress on international conventions on trials of underage defendants that India is a signatory to. Pradyuman Thakur, a class 2 student at Gurugramas Ryan International School, was found murdered in the school toilet on September 8. "I am thankful to Tanveer Mirji," the teenage student's father told India Today adding he is hopeful Mir will get justice for his son. "They have beaten him up, he is being framed," he alleged. New Delhi : Pahlaj Nihalani, who was recently sacked from the post of Chairman of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) few days ago, is back in the film industry. Nihlani, often criticised for censoring the content of the films, this time presented the bold, beautiful and blessed sequel to the 2004 Neha Dhupia's erotic film, Julie. Released on November 24, Raai Laxmi-starrer Julie-2 is not performing well at the box-office and sunk untraced. Herere some of the reviews for Julie 2 by some leading daily: Times of India - Director Deepak S Shivdasani must have wanted to make a film that tells the fictional tale of the rise of a female star in cinema, but midway he seems to have changed his mind and turned it into an erotic thriller. The rise to stardom is a path riddled with 'compromise' and though initially Julie (Raai Laxmi) resists, she soon gives in to the casting couch as she realises that it's the only way to go up the ladder. While fame and money come her way, what she looks for constantly, is love from the men who cross her path. She seeks redemption in Christianity but a film offer from a politician to star in his wife's biopic takes her down a dark path. Indian Express - Turns out, Julie 2 takes its description of erotic thriller very seriously indeed. Ms Laxmis wannabe movie star hides no voluptuous curve, freely baring back and legs and other body parts. Because her name is Julie, her ornament of choice has to be a cross. And the name of the lord is taken in vain, several times. A lecherous producer fingers her photos, lingering suggestively over her chest, while he explains the intricacies of the word compromise. Somewhere, in the depths of a mysteriously unnamed country populated by sheikhs, she sways, scantily clad, in front of shifty eyed men. Firstpost - Julie 2 is a film full of scenes involving kissing (and much more), falling bras, and songs which call a woman tandoor garam. Just from watching the trailer of this movie, one may tend to think that Nihalanis talk about sanskaar was nothing but a stinking pile of rubbish. Hindustan Times - When Julie (Raai Laxmi) wakes up in the morning with make-up on and yawns seductively right in the first scene, you understand she believes in the films tagline: Bold, beautiful, blessed. Even then, you dont anticipate whats coming for you till she breaks the fourth wall (doesnt look intentional though) and says, I am the best. Ok then. We still believe you, for the next 20 seconds maybe, because you have already promised a helluva lotta fun. Of course, everybody wants Julies body. Still, to remove any iota of doubt, Julie speaks in public interest, Sabko Julie ka sharir chahiye lekin use sirf pyaar chahiye. I dont think anybody other than her in the entire film actually understands it. Youre in the wrong film, Raai Laxmi. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: As protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansalias ambitious project Padmavati continues to escalate with every passing day, Bollywood actress Dia Mirza has raised questions on the safety of women in our country.A The much-awaited film has been embroiled in controversy ever since the makers started shooting in Jaipur. Karni Sena members had vandalised the set and also allegedly assaulted the aBaajirao Mastania director.A The Rajput organisation had alleged that the makers are distorting the history and are only interested in earning profits. Karni Sena members staged massive protests in different parts of the country demanding a ban against the movieas release.A The controversy surrounding the film took a new turn when some organisations issued threats to the lead actress Deepika Padukone.A A Meerut based leader Abhishek Som had announced a bounty of Rs 5 crore for chopping off the nose of the aPikua actress.A In an oblique reference to the same, Dia took to Twitter to express her concern over the safety of women.A People who make violent threats against one of our women to serve a misplaced idea of honour and pride on national television walk freely. What kind of country have we become? How can we ever hope to make our women feel safe if this the way we continue to treat women? a Dia Mirza (@deespeak) November 25, 2017 Padmavati was earlier slated to be released on December 1 but it was deferred after the makers failed to secure a certificate from CFBC.A The movie also stars Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in the roles of Alauddin Khilji and Ratan Singh. Various other Bollywood celebs have also expressed their concern over the threats that were made to Deepika and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Art has d possibility of creating a climate of sensitivity in which its possible 4 change 2 occur.-only if it has d freedom 2 b expressed! a Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) November 24, 2017 I sincerely hope that condemning those who offer five crore for some as head and Ten crore for some one as nose is yet not considered an anti national activity . a Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) November 24, 2017 For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Beyhadh actor Piyush Sahdev who has recently been seen hitting headlines for his divorce with Akangsha Rawat is under spotlight yet again. According to reports, the popular television actor was arrested by Versova police on Wednesday for reportedly raping a 23-year-old fashion designer with whom he was in a live-in relationship for the last two months. Mumbai police arrested Sahdev after the model lodged a complaint on November 20 and later produced him before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate court on Wednesday. "Sahdev approached me during a fashion show event that was held a few months ago. He befriended me and promised to marry me after promising to teach me acting and also help me get into modeling. He got into a relationship with me and we both stayed together for two months," the 23-year-old lady said in her complaint. Also Read | In pics: 'Meri Aashiqui' actors Smriti Khanna-Gautam Gupta tie knot; Dia Mirza attends wedding reception "I also learned that Sahdev had initiated divorce proceedings against his wife," she added further. However, according to police, Piyush will be kept in custody until November 27 and will be further moved towards the judicial proceedings. "Sahdev has been booked under the Indian Penal Code Section 376(1) for rape," investigating officer Kiran Kale was quoted while talking about the same. On the work front, Piyush Sahdev who was last seen in popular television series Beyhadh as an antagonist has also been part of Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke, Geet, Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai and others. Also Read | Padmavati Row: Mahika Sharma comes out in support of Bhansali New Delhi: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming period drama Padmavati which is happened to be one of the much-anticipated movies of the year has been mired in controversy since inception. It seems like controversies and debates have refused to die down over the release of Deepika Padukone-starrer. Amidst these ongoing protests across the country, the Indian Films and TV Directors Association (IFTDA), along with 20 other bodies of the film and television industry, is planning a 15-minute blackout in support of the film and "to protect the right to freedom of expression of creative individuals". Talking about the same Ashoke Pandit of IFTDA said, "We will keep showing our support for Padmavati and Bhansali because it is the basic right of a creative person to tell a story in his own way. Sanjay is a responsible filmmaker, and making a film on history is not something easy for him but a big responsibility. To express our solidarity (with the film), we are gathering on Sunday for a 15-minute blackout where all shooting units in Mumbai will put off lights and no shootings will take place," reported Hindustan Time. "We strongly protest against the non-institutional bodies who every now and then protest against movies and threaten actors and makers of films. We will keep condemning their actions in a democratic manner. We have faith in our Prime Minister...for justice to Padmavati," Pandit added. Also Read | Padmavati Row: Body found hanging at Jaipur's Nahargarh Fort, written note nearby implies anger over period drama "We as film industry feel hurt every time such groups target our films and try to control our freedom of expression. Unfortunately, we do not get support from any other industry, not even from the government as if we are orphans as a community," he stated. The protestors from the Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena allege that Bhansali has distorted historical facts to sell the film. Sources say that the character of Padmavati has been shown dancing and there is a sequence that shows Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji in intimate moments which is severely objected by Rajput organisations. Protestors have even reached the doorstep of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and lead actress Deepika Padukone following which police tightened security outside their residences. On November 17, CBFC has also sent the periodic drama back to its makers citing some technical reasons after which they deferred the release of the same beyond December 1. Also starring Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in key roles, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial is yet to get a new release date. Also Read | Padmavati row may discourage filmmakers: Prosenjit Chatterjee "We are living in a democracy and I have faith in the government and its judiciary. These protesters have not watched the film, and Sanjay has already made it very clear by releasing a video that it is a tribute to Padmavati and no obscene scenes are there," Pandit stated further. However, the members of film and television industry are gearing up to join the blackout protest, titled 'Main Azaad Hoon', on November 26 at the Film City main entrance starting 3.30 p.m. Shimla: The CBI filed charge sheet against eight police personnel on Saturday, including an IG rank officer, in connection with the custodial death of an accused in the rape-and-murder case of a minor in Kotkhai on July 4. These police officers were a part of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was set up to probe the rape and murder of the girl. They were arrested by the CBI on July 29 in connection with the custodial death of Suraj Singh, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal. In the 500-page charge sheet filed in the designated CBI court, the accused have been charged with murder, conspiracy, wrongful confinement to extort confession, causing grievous hurt, framing incorrect record and destroying evidence, CBI sources said. Judge Rajinder Singh extended the judicial remand of the eight police officials and Superintendent of Police D W Negi, arrested on November 16 by the central probe agency, till December 7. Challan against D W Negi is yet to be presented. Suraj Singh, who was a suspect in the rape-and-murder of a minor school girl in Kotkhai area of Shimla in early July, was among six people arrested by the local police. He was allegedly killed by a co-accused at the Kotkhai police station on the night of July 18, triggering a massive public outrage. The CBI, which was later handed over the probe into the case by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, questioned several people before arresting IGP Zahur Haidar Zaidi and seven other police officials. The Class 10 student had gone missing on July 4 and her naked body was recovered from Haliala forests in Kotkhai on July 6. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal Member of Parliament from Bathinda, has strongly opposed renaming Dyal Singh College to Vande Mataram College. This is unacceptable and shocking. A person who is so keen to change the name of a college must change his own name then he can put all his wealth to create something and give it whatever name he wants. How can you take away the legacy of someone else? asked a furious Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Even in Pakistan, they've recognized contributions of Sardar Deen Dayal Singh Majithia and colleges are being run on his name, she added. The Governing Body of Dyal Singh College (DSC) has renamed the evening college to Vande Mataram College and passed the decision to change evening shift timings to regular college. Amitabh Singh, Chairman of the General Body said, "The General Body passed the decision on making the evening shift as regular college. It has been renamed as Vande Mataram College. This step will help all the students on the evening shift." Pawan Sharma, the principal of the college said, "The name inspired millions during the freedom struggle. It'll also inspire students. There mustn't be controversy on it. People opposing it haven't understood it well. We'll not reconsider it. It's final." For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Kerala woman Hadiya, who has to depose before the Supreme Court on November 27 in an alleged love jihad case, on Friday said she wanted to be with her husband, as she was whisked away by her parents and security personnel to board a flight to Delhi. Chaotic scenes prevailed as mediapersons, who tried to approach her, jostled with the policemen after she reached the airport in Nedumbassery amid tight security. I am a Muslim. I was not forced. I want to be with my husband, the 25-year-old Hadiya, wearing a head scarf, shouted as she was being taken inside the airport. Earlier, the woman, who converted to Islam and married a Muslim man Shafin Jahan, and her parents left from their house in a village near Vaikom in this district, accompanied by a police team which also comprised women personnel, for a two-hour long journey to the airport. The direction by the apex court for producing the woman for an interaction came amid an assertion by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that this was a case in which the woman was indoctrinated and she may be incapable of giving free consent to marriage. A Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, had asked senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing the father of the woman, to ensure she is produced before them to ascertain whether she had married of her own volition. The woman and her parents are likely to stay at Kerala House in New Delhi, sources said. The NIA, represented by Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, had said there was a well-oiled machinery working in Kerala that was indoctrinating and radicalising society in the state. As many as 89 cases of similar nature have been reported from the southern state, the ASG had said. Divan, appearing for womans father K M Ashokan, claimed that Jahan was a radicalised man and several organisations like Popular Front of India were involved in radicalisation of society. Also Read : Kerala Love Jihad case: Hadiyas father denies meeting between daughter and State Women's Commission Chairperson Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, counsel for Shafin Jahan,had opposed NIAs submission and that of the womans father. Hadiya, a Hindu, had converted to Islam and later married Jahan. It was alleged that she was recruited by ISIS mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge. Jahan had on September 20 approached the apex court seeking recall of its August 16 order, directing the NIA to investigate the controversial case of conversion and marriage of a Hindu woman with him. Meanwhile, the Kerala government on October 7 told the Supreme Court that its police conducted a thorough investigation into her conversion and subsequent marriage to Jahan and did not find material warranting the transfer of probe to the National Investigation Agency. Jahan had moved the Supreme Court after the Kerala high court annulled his marriage, saying it was an insult to the independence of women in the country. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Senior inspector Damodar Choudhary, one of the officers who probed the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has been booked for abetment to suicide after a woman allegedly killed herself while naming him in a note. Further, two of his family members were also named in the womans suicide note. The 44-year-old woman, Riya Palande, had allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her residence in Mulund East on November 23. Palande, a widow, was living with her two children and used to run a grocery store, police said.During the investigation, sleuths of Navghar police station found a message written on the wall, which said that she was committing suicide due to harassment by ACP Damodar Choudhary. The message also said that a detailed suicide note was kept in her grocery store, an official said. A police team went to her grocery shop, from where they recovered a note, which mentioned the names of Choudhary, his wife and daughter, the official said. On the basis of the suicide note, Navghar police registered a case of abetment to suicide against Choudhary and his two family members, he said. Choudhary was among the policemen, who probed the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case. He has also been appreciated by his seniors for his work, he said. Choudhary is currently posted as a senior inspector in the Local Arms division in Andheri. As the names of the officer and his family members name were found written in the suicide note, we registered an offence of abetment to suicide against them, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-7), Akhilesh Singh, said. We are investigating the exact reason behind the woman's suicide and the officers role in it. We will take necessary legal action in this case, Singh said. With PTI inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ahmedabad: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Congress in Gujarat has 'failed' to play the role of a responsible opposition. The BJP leader also targeted Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over the alleged stalling of projects in Gujarat during the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and said he needs to answer certain questions related to that. "Instead of replying to these questions, he keeps asking more questions. It is the responsibility of the opposition party to answer questions related to its government when it was in power at the Centre," she told reporters. Sitharaman is here to campaign for the BJP for the next month's polls. Sitharaman said the opposition party's strength in the Gujarat assembly has gone down to 43 as the party has "failed to project an image of a responsible opposition". "From 57 MLAs in 2012, the Congress is down to 43 MLAs on Friday. The party was rejected four times by the people of Gujarat...What have you (the Congress) done as a responsible opposition party?" she asked. Also Read | Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: Congress accuses BJP of circulating Bharatsinh Solanki's fake resignation online Sitharaman rejected the Congress criticism of visits by Union ministers to poll-bound Gujarat to campaign for the BJP, saying no work of the government had been hampered due to their trips. "We are party workers even when we are in the Cabinet.If he (Gandhi) says the work of the central government is hampered (due to our visits), then let him say so. We will say that the work there is going on without any hindrance." She criticised the Congress for taking its MLAs to Bengaluru resort to prevent alleged poaching by the ruling BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha election in July when parts of the state were reeling under floods. She claimed the UPA government prevented a 32 km national highway project in Gujarat on the environmental ground. Sitharaman asked Gandhi to question former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as to why he wrote to the Centre opposing construction of a dam under the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi's pet 'Sujalam Sufalam' project for water harvesting. Gehlot, now the party's Gujarat election in-charge,'worked against the interest of Gujarat,' she said. Also Read: Congress urges President to summon Houses at the earliest for Winter Session The Union minister said a Congress MP from Maharashtra had protested against the Narmada dam. "He (Gandhi) asks questions instead of giving replies. He will ask questions to the entire world but not to his own MLAs, his own UPA government which created hurdles in the construction of dams roads in Gujarat," she said. She attacked Gandhi for allegedly diverting Rs 2,000-crore party fund to the National Herald Trust. On the Dokalam issue, the Congress leader should have met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to get details about the stand-off instead of meeting the Chinese ambassador, Sitharaman maintained. It was an 'irresponsible act' on the part of the opposition party, the defence minister said. Sitharaman said the Congress when in power, did little to curb black money despite a Supreme Court orders on the issue. The BJP leader said the Gujarat government has taken a slew of welfare measures for fishermen. Gandhi earlier had an interaction with fishermen. Also Read | Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: PM Narendra Modi to start campaigning on November 27 The measures include a Rs 11,000-crore 'Sagar Khedut' programme which is going on well, the minister said. She said the NDA government has also announced projects related to marine product processing and export which will benefit the fishermen of Gujarat. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Second of a two-part series Last week, more than 50 families residing in Arrowhead Village Mobile Home Park on Blackbird Roost got notice that they will need to vacate the park within six months. A notice sent to residents said the park had been sold and the new owner wanted to change the use of the park from residential to commercial. Coconino County sales records show the sale was finalized on November 7 from Arrowhead Village LLC, to Kings House Inc., a Flagstaff company listed as the owner of the Travelodge on Route 66 near Ponderosa Parkway. The property sold for $2.25 million, and on the affidavit of property value filed with the county, the property type is listed as commercial or industrial use, even though the parcel does not have zoning to allow commercial or industrial use. In order for the parcel to be used for commercial purposes, the owner would need to get a conditional use permit from the citys Planning and Zoning Commission or a zoning change from the City Council. The letter, which directs residents to contact Keith Hammond, the attorney for the owner, tells residents that owners of a single-wide trailer may be compensated up to $7,500 and owners of a double-wide trailer could receive $12,500 through the states Mobile Home Relocation Fund if they choose to have their trailers relocated to another mobile home park within 50 miles. Owners of mobile homes who choose to abandon their homes can receive up to $1,850 for a single-wide trailer and $3,125 for a double-wide trailer, according to the letter. Arizona law requires landlords to give notice 180 days before residents are required to move out. The park landlord must pay $500 to the relocation fund for each single-section mobile home owner that applies for assistance and $800 for each multi-section mobile home owner that applies, according to Arizona revised statutes. City of Flagstaff spokeswoman Jessica Drum said the city will be looking into what resources can be made available for residents, and said the city is working to distribute information about its affordable housing program to residents who will need to vacate the park. The last time Arrowhead Village residents faced possible eviction was in 2013, when Landmark Properties wanted to buy the park in order to build an apartment and retail complex on it dubbed The Standard. During the negotiations, a representative for the tenants had asked for $35,000 for each relocation, a bid the developers rejected as "extortion." City staff, citing state law that pre-empted municipalities from requiring higher relocation payments, instead offered to recommend more apartments in exchange for voluntary higher payments that would count as affordable housing investments. But other neighbors petitioned against the rezoning regardless of the payments to tenants, a move under city law that required a super-majority vote of the council (6 out of 7 votes) for approval. Landmark lacked sufficient votes and withdrew its rezoning request and dropped Arrowhead Village from its plans. The Standard is now being constructed along West Route 66 without the need for a formal rezoning. So far, no requests to change the zoning have been filed for the parcel, Drum said. Evictions are legally possible, however, even before a new development is approved. Leases in the park are on a month-to-month basis, and a lease agreement a resident showed to The Daily Sun said the landlord has no specific plans to implement a change in use of the mobile home park during the term of these statements. However (the) landlord expects that a change in use of individual spaces within the park or all or a portion of the park could take place at any time. New Delhi : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhis twitter jibe targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at all-time high in an unprecedented manner. On Saturday Rahul Gandhi tweeted, Narendrabhai, aaa aaaa aaa. Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently. Rahul Gandhis tweet was like a spear with two heads. One was directed towards the great mutual relationship between US President Donald Trump and PM Modi. Second, the release of Hafiz Saeed. The brain behind the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The tweet came as a consequence of US Congress passing a bill on Saturday to delink the Haqqani Network from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). On Friday, the bill was sent to President Donald Trump for signing, which will turn it into a law. The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018 provides USD 700 million for reimbursing Pakistan for monitoring the Pak-Afghan border, but withholds half of the amount. Pakistan released Hafiz Saeed on the eve of ninth anniversary of the tragic 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Rahul Gandhis jibe didnt go unanswered. BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao took to twitter in no time and tweeted his way out. Rahul baba, aaaaa aaaa aaaa aaa For once, stand with the country & not with Terrorists as is your habit. You are a known sympathiser of LeT. WikiLeaks & Ishtar Jahan case cover-up exposed your links. BTW, have you congratulated your "Hafeez Saheb's" on his release yet? Veteran Congress leader Anand Sharma said, It is shameful. It deserves to be condemned. The BJP leaders have lost their mental balance in arrogance. Gandhi is the leader of Congress, which has made sacrifices in fighting terrorism and for the integrity of India...for them to say such a thing, I will say it has hit a new low." For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Senior Sangh functionary Krishna Gopal on Friday said that the RSS workers are free to join any political party including the Congress but the opposition party does not accept them. Speaking at a panel discussion on a book on the rise of the BJP in the Northeast, Gopal said that the Congress never bothered the RSS in its works in the region. The leader said, The Congress never bothered us in our work during the time of insurgency in Assam. But at the same time, it failed to stop killing of our workers. He was replying to a question whether there was any understanding between the BJP and the Congress during the time of crisis in Assam. Gopal said that the Sangh never stops its workers from joining the Congress, but the party denies them entry. ALSO READ: Asaduddin Owaisi fumes over Mohan Bhagwat's Ram Temple remark, says RSS playing with fire Our workers are free to join any political party including the Congress, but the party does not accept them and closes its doors for the Sangh workers, Gopal said. He further said the opposition parties not only reject them but criticise and ridicule them for their ideological commitment. This push them towards the like-minded political outfits, he said. Gopal, a joint general secretary of the RSS, was participating in the panel discussion on the book, The Last Battle of Saraighat, written by Rajat Sethi and Shubhrastha, fellows of India Foundation. (With PTI inputs) ALSO READ | Kerala: RSS worker allegedly murdered in Thrissur For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: The daughter of policeman Tukaram Ombale, who was killed while trying to capture terrorist Ajmal Kasab, says her family still awaits his return, nine years after the Mumbai terror attacks. "We feel papa will come home any moment, although deep in our heart we know that he will never be amongst us now," says a teary-eyed Vaishali Ombale, the eldest daughter of the Mumbai terror attacks hero. "We always think that Papa has gone out on duty and will return home. We have kept his belongings at the place they used to be in our home. Our family is proud of his supreme sacrifice," Vaishali Ombale, who has completed her M.Ed. (Masters in education) and aspires to be a lecturer, told PTI. Ombale, an assistant sub-inspector, was killed by Kasab's bullets in the early hours of November 27, 2008. In a daring act, he had pounced on Kasab without thinking much about the consequences. His bravery had made it possible for the police to overpower Kasab, the only 26/11 terrorist to be captured and hanged. "Not a day has gone by in the last nine years that we have not remembered him," said Vaishali Ombale, who stays at the Worli Police Camp with her mother Tara and sister Bharti, who is an officer in the state GST department. "For how long will police or armed forces personnel continue losing their lives in the name of supreme sacrifice," she asked. "This should stop somewhere. There should be a change in this scenario. Every citizen should always be alert and foil incidents in which we are losing our men," she said, ahead of the 26/11 attacks anniversary. Vaishali Ombale said citizens should know their responsibilities and must understand that when policemen or armed forces personnel get killed in the line of duty, it is not only the family's loss but also that of the country. "Satara district in Western Maharashtra from where my family hails has a long history of martyrs. Among the recent ones are CRPF head constable Ravindra Dhanawade, who was killed while fighting terrorists in Kashmir in August and Colonel Santosh Mahadik, who died while fighting terrorists in Kashmir in 2015. The list is unending, which disturbs me a lot," she said. Also Read: After release, 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed vows to fight for 'Kashmir cause' "We treat every member of a martyr's family like our own family and we help them overcome the grief," she said. Vaishali Ombale gives tuitions to students from class 8th to junior college, which keeps her busy and makes her forget the pain of losing her father. Also Read: PM Modi meets 26/11 survivor Baby Moshe in Jerusalem, asks him to visit India with family On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived in Mumbai by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people on different locations, killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey claimed on Saturday that his party is set to win a majority of seats in several urban local bodies' elections in the state. In an official statement issued by the state BJP in Lucknow, he said that the feedback, which the party had received from its workers, after the poll's first phase was "very encouraging". "The BJP is going to bag three-fourth of all the seats in the urban local bodies polls," Pandey said. The party has already come up with its 'Sankalp Patra' to fulfil promises of good governance and transparency, the UPBJP chief said. "The Uttar Pradesh public is extending unprecedented support to the party and reposing its faith in BJP," Pandey said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said functioning of parliament was important not the number of days it sat. The Vice President's remarks come a day after opposition parties criticized the modi government for truncating the winter session of parliament. The government had on Friday announced it's intention to hold winter session of parliament from December 15 to Jan 5 after a volley of criticism from the opposition which accused the government of avoiding winter session of parliament. Hitting out at the opposition, the Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that what matters is how many days the parliament functions and not sat. Naidu said that the philosophy of life should revolve around character, calibre, compassion and conduct and not caste, community and cash. From Kalidasa to Premchand, from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to present day, India has always been blessed with a strong literary lineage of writers, poets, intellectuals and thinkers, who have chronicled times, exemplified our open traditions, he said. Speaking at a literary festival here, Naidu said that the debate on the freedom of speech and expression should go on. He urged the pseudo politicians to leave the three Cs of caste, community and cash and go back to character, caliber, capacity, conduct and compassion as the only yardstick for measuring merit. He said while protesting, some people go overboard and announce rewards. Whether these fellows have that much money or not, I doubt. Everyone is announcing Rs one crore reward. Is it soeasy to have Rs one crore? This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and cant give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law, he said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US space agency NASA, as a part of series of wireless sensor experiments which will be the first self-powered tests, released the Technology Educational Satellite or TechEdSat-6 into low-Earth orbit from the NanoRacks platform on November 20 that aims at expanding the capabilities of sensor networks for future ascent or re-entry systems. This bread loaf-sized satellite was launched to the International Space Station on Orbital ATKs Cygnus spacecraft from agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Novemeber 12 and comes under continuing series to demonstrate the "Exo-Brake" parachute device, advanced communications and wireless sensor networks. This is fourth TechEdSat satellite carrying an updated version of the Exo-Brake that will demonstrate guided controlled re-entry of the small spacecraft to return science practices from space securely. Read more: Mysterious 'Bama Boom' leaves scientists panic-stricken across the globe Michelle Munk, NASAs System Capability Lead for Entry, Descent and Landing, said, "The Exo-Brakes shape can be changed to vary the drag on the satellite. With the help of high-fidelity simulations, we will demonstrate a low-cost, propellant-less method of returning small payloads quickly, and to fairly precise locations, for retrieval". "We are excited about tracking TechEdSat-6 as it re-enters the atmosphere.", he further added. The TechEdSat series is a collaborative activity that involves NASA early-career employees, interns and trainees from various universities. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a first spectacle ever discovered by scientists, new bird species belonging to the 'Big Bird' lineage in the Galapagos Islands have evolved into a new species in just two generations, according to a study. As per the pervious assumptions it was believed that formation of a new species took a very long time, but it is alltogether a new discovery in the case of 'Big Bird' lineage, which today consists of roughly 30 individuals. A group of Darwins finches on the Daphne Major island in the Galapagos Island chain, were observed during field work carried out over the last four decades, developed closed breeding. The observation was made by B Rosemary and Peter Grant, two scientists from the Princeton University in the US. Scientists note that in 1981, a male large cactus finch that is believed to have come from the nearby island of Espanola, mated with a native finch on Daphne Major and produced offspring. "We didn't see him fly in from over the sea, but we noticed him shortly after he arrived. He was so different from the other birds that we knew he did not hatch from an egg on Daphne Major", Peter Grant told Phys.org. Researchers took a blood sample and released the bird, which later bred with a resident medium ground finch of the species Geospiz fortis, initiating a new lineage. This gave rise to a population of finches, about 30 of them. Professors Rosemary and Peter Grant of Princeton University collaborated with Prof Leif Andersson of Sweden's Uppsala University to genetically analyze the mixed-species population, and the findings were published in journal 'Science'. "The novelty of this study is that we can follow the emergence of new species in the wild," said B Rosemary Grant. "Through our work on Daphne Major, we were able to observe the pairing up of two birds from different species and then follow what happened to see how speciation occurred," she said. The various groups of finches in the Galapagos had been aptly named Darwins finches to commemorate Charles Darwin, the famous scientist who developed his theory of evolution by way of natural selection after spending time on the islands, one of the most biologically diverse places in the world. And what makes this discovery even more interesting is that it was published on the eve of the anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwins magnum opus titled "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life", which was released in 1859 and largely inspired by his time on the Galapagos Islands. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The White House on Saturday said there would be repercussions for Pakistans global reputation and bilateral relations with US if it does not take action to detain and charge recently freed Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed for his crimes. "Saeed's release, after Pakistan's failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan's commitment to (combating) international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil," the White House said in a statement. "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistan's global reputation," it added. Hafiz Saeed, Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities. He was under house arrest since January this year but freed by Pakistan this week. Also Read | Pakistan justifies Hafiz Saeed's release, says Indias concern 'self serving India reacted strongly to Saeeds release and said the action has confirmed once again the lack of seriousness by the Pakistan government in bringing to justice perpetrators of terrorism, including individuals and entities designated by the UN. "India, as indeed the entire international community, is outraged that a self-confessed and UN proscribed terrorist is being allowed to walk free and continue with his evil agenda," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday. Pakistan, however, justified the release of UN and US designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed, claiming that Islamabad was committed to the implementation of UNSC sanctions regime on terrorists. Reacting to Indian External Ministrys statement, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said, The (MEA) spokesperson took exception to self-serving insinuations. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: One security personnel was killed and over 150 others injured in Pakistan during clashes which broke out after Frontier Constabulary personnel and other law enforcement agencies launched a crackdown against protesters camped out at the Faizabad Interchange since November 8. The operation was launched after Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notice against Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. The Pakistan government has blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube amidst ongoing operation against protesters. Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Caved Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and urged for peaceful solution to the problem. About 2,000 activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) for more than two weeks have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The protesters were demanding the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. News Channels suspended after Pemra bans live coverage of the clashes: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited private news channels from live coverage of the entire police Operation against protesters. Most of the news channels went of air in Islamabad, Quetta and other parts of the country. A message saying "This channel is suspended on orders of Pemra," was appearing on TV screens in place of news. MEDIA COVERAGE OF SIT-IN AT FAIZ-E-ABAD, ISLAMABAD pic.twitter.com/YqEGTWpFIR a Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) November 25, 2017 (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday claimed that violent protesters, who blocked the countrys capital Islamabad, had contacted India and his government was investigating the matter. However, he didnt give any further details about his claim. In an interview to a leading Pakistani news website, Iqbal said the protesters were not simple people. We can see that they have various resources at their disposal. "Why they did it, we are looking into it. They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state, he added. About 2,000 activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) for more than two weeks have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. They were demanding the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. Earlier in the day, one security personnel killed and over 150 others were injured in the violent clashes which broke out after Frontier Constabulary personnel and other law enforcement agencies launched a crackdown against protesters camped out at the Faizabad Interchange. Also Read | Pakistan: 1 killed, 150 injured in clashes over Prophet, news channels, social media blocked The operation was launched after Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notice against Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. The Pakistan government has blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube amidst ongoing operation against protesters. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited private news channels from live coverage of the entire police Operation against protesters. Most of the news channels went of air in Islamabad, Quetta and other parts of the country. A message saying "This channel is suspended on orders of Pemra," was appearing on TV screens in place of news. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) leader Tauqeer Gilani, who was addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad on Saturday has criticised Pakistan and their year-long protests over their demands on Kashmir. Lambasting the country he said, "Where is it written that Kashmir is Pakistan's? No agreement says so. This is non-sense & is a propaganda by Muslim Conference & their paid stooges. Even on our bathroom doors, they have written 'Kashmir will become Pakistan' (Kashmir banega Pakistan). Gilani further accused the country's terror agencies of masterminding the murder of senior separatist leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. "Pakistan was behind the killing of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Sajjad Lone's fathers, jihadis backed by them have killed over 650 people of Liberation Front," Gilani said. The leader has also slammed India's neighbouring country for paying Rs 30,000 to use its flag to wrap the dead bodies of supposed 'freedom fighters'. Also Read: Complaint against Farooq Abdullah, Rishi Kapoor over PoK remark "Pakistan pays Rs30,000 to put Pakistani flag on bodies of so-called freedom-fighters," Gilani was quoted by the news agency ANI. Where is it written that Kashmir is Pakistan's? No agreement says so. This is non-sense & is a propaganda by Muslim Conference & their paid stooges. Even on our bathroom doors they have written 'Kashmir banega Pakistan': PoK leader Tauqeer Gilani in Muzaffarabad, PoK pic.twitter.com/JKjcYp5qUh ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Japan appeals to different people for different reasons. Some visit for the history or the food. Many stay for the martial arts, while others keep coming back for a dose of manga, anime and video-game culture. Still others come to enjoy the land a the huge span of scenery from the north of Hokkaido to Okinawa in the southwest, and the sharp changes such places undergo with the revolutions of season. Outdoor activities such as hiking and cross-country trekking are popular in the summer and autumn, and often go hand-in-hand with landscape photography, as the scenery tends toward breathtaking. Just over 70 percent of Japan is mountainous, and each of the main islands has at least one range. Most of Japan's mountains are heavily forested, too, which makes for no end of prime hiking trails. The Hida, Kiso and Akaishi mountain ranges --- also known as the northern, central and southern alps, respectively --- are great examples. Each contains peaks, plains and valleys with something to offer hikers of all levels, complete with a wide spectrum of scenic views across the surrounding prefectures. And then there are the 34 national parks spread across the country, each with their own flora and fauna, again great for hiking and full of photographic potential. Japan certainly isn't short of areas good for strapping on a pair of boots, throwing your camera over your shoulder and heading out for a hike, which many people do from spring through autumn. But come the winter months, many of these places, especially in the northern part of Honshu and across Hokkaido, become inaccessible to the average hiker due to heavy snowfalls that can last anywhere from two to five months depending on the area. Many people choose to hang up their boots during these colder months --- assuming their favorite hiking routes are all but inaccessible due to snow and sub-zero temperatures. Imagining themselves cut off from the outdoors, save a few expensive weekends spent at a ski resort, many choose instead to hibernate for the winter in the warmth of their homes, which is a shame, because winter in Japan is full of beautiful landscapes waiting to be rediscovered. One of the keys to unlocking what this side of Japan has to offer is the increasingly popular activity of snowshoe hiking. Railway fans have gathered in western Japan to see a steam locomotive get chugging again for the first time in 44 years. The much-loved D-51 engine got back on track on the JR Yamaguchi Line on Saturday. It will run through Sunday as part of a tourism campaign by the railway operator and the Yamaguchi prefectural government. About 800 people saw the train off at 10:50 AM after a ceremony at Shin-Yamaguchi Station. It was bound for the station of Tsuwano in neighboring Shimane Prefecture. A visitor with a family said the locomotive is big and impressive and they were lucky they were able to get tickets for the event. TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2017 /CNW/ - Protesters from across Ontario gathered at Queen's Park today in an effort to get Schedule 3 removed from Bill 174 - Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017. Schedule 3 incorrectly associates vaping with tobacco use, prohibiting safety demonstrations and promotion of the products in specialty shops to people over the legal smoking age. It also bans all flavours, prohibits use in public spaces and provides unconstitutional search and seizure powers to tobacco enforcement officers. "The Government of Ontario has an outstanding opportunity to dramatically reduce the horrendous health toll caused by cigarette smoking by facilitating rather than trying to prevent the switch to massively less hazardous alternatives," said David Sweanor, Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Health Law, Policy & Ethics at the University of Ottawa, and a longstanding global leader in smoking reduction. "Yet we are seeing an effort to ram through a measure that will protect the cigarette business at huge costs to public health and civil liberties." Vapor Advocates of Ontario spokesman Maria Papaioannoy-Duic, said if this bill is passed as-is, Ontario will be left behind the rest of the world on offering a safer alternative to smokers. "Bill 174, schedule 3, will collapse Ontario's vaping industry, forcing thousands out of work and thousands more back to cigarettes. What exactly were the Liberals smoking when they wrote Schedule 3?" she said. By legislating vaping products like tobacco, they are sending a message to the hundreds of thousands of smokers in this province that vaping is the same as smoking. If Health Minister Eric Hoskins and his team took the time to understand the technology and did the research that has seen tobacco use in other countries reach record lows, this legislation would not be written like prohibition that will undoubtedly wipe out the vape industry in Ontario. "MPP Randy Hillier wasn't wrong when he called the Liberals criminal for these actions," Papaioannoy-Duic said. This legislation dismisses Health Canada's stand on vaping, she said, and is dismissing the research including the Royal College of Physicians' study that showed vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than smoking. "Health Canada identifies smoking as the cause of over 100 deaths every day in Canada," she said, adding that the Ontario government is attempting to sneak through this piece of legislation with an omnibus bill that doesn't allow for the full-scale debate and consultation it deserves. The Wynne government is violating the constitutional rights of Ontarians who use vaping as a smoking cessation strategy as well as shop owners who wish to promote and educate their customers on the safe use of vape-related products. By arbitrarily force-fitting vapor with combustibles like tobacco, the Liberals are stigmatizing a proven harm-reduction strategy for people looking to quit smoking. It is estimated that there are over 1,000 vape-related businesses in this province that are relied upon by more than 900,000 Ontarians currently using vapour technology as their choice to abstain from deadly cigarettes. SOURCE Vapors Advocates of Ontario For further information: Media contact: Maria Papaioannoy-Duic, [email protected], 647-407-7206 Related Links www.vapingisntsmoking.com By PTI: Kolkata, Nov 24 (PTI) The West Bengal government has seized 1.41 crore fake digital ration cards in the last five years, the Assembly was informed today. Food supplies minister Jyotipriyo Mullick said that the department recovered 1.41 crore fake digital ration cards between June 2011 and December 2016. Mullick told the Assembly that the department has terminated licences of 72 distributors and 771 ration shops since they were involved in corruption. advertisement The minister also said that the government has distributed digital ration cards to 8.42 crore people. Around 75,000 digital ration cards were yet to be distributed, he added. PTI SCH SBN --- ENDS --- 9mobile is currently up for sale after the initial saga that led them into changing names from Etisalat to 9mobile. The scramble to acquire 9mobile, Nigerias fourth largest network operator, has advanced to the next stage.10 bidders are left out of the 16 who expressed interest in the purchase. And the highest bidder will acquire 9mobile.Here is a List of The 10 bidders of 9mobile1. Globacom Nigeria Limited, Nigerias second largest network operator2. Airtel Nigeria3. Dangote Groups telecoms business unit4. Alheri Engineering Limited5. Smile Telecoms Holdings6. Centricus Capital and Africell7. Abraaj Capital (Based in Dubai)8. Teleology Holdings Limited9. The Carlyle Group10. Africa Capital Alliance (ACA)The 10 firms above have been pre-qualified to submit their financial bids for the acquisition of 9mobile, this will be the final process through which a winner with the highest bid submitted for 9mobile, will emerge.9mobile, formerly Etisalat Nigeria, was put on the block early this year after it defaulted on a $1.2 billion loan from a consortium of 13 Nigerian banks. Etisalat Group the mother company in Abu Dhabi backed out leaving its Nigeria arm of business to its own fate, to survive on a new name.The question is, who do you think should acquire 9mobile among the 10 bidders? Tony Nwoye and President Muhammadu Buhari campaigning in Anambra If the large victories of the Democratic Party in the United States of America at the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey on the 8th of November, 2017 could be used to estimate the popularity of the Republican Party chieftain, President Donald Trump; then Nigeria can also draw conclusions from the Anambra election.As the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in Anambra State relishes its landslide victory in the recently concluded gubernatorial election; someone is focusing on the bigger picture which has been made clearer through a crystal ball. That person is the 74-year old Nigerian leader, President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress who is surreptitiously eyeing his re-election into office come 2019.Buhari's election upset in the 2015 presidential election which democratically ousted former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party, PDP had its voting strength in the northern region of Nigeria with a fair victory in the South-western part of the country. President Buhari's 'Change' mantra wasn't bought in the South-south and was apparently rejected in the South-east where he only raked 198,248 votes as against Jonathan who swept the region like the Hurricane Harvey with 2, 464,906 votes. Specifically, Buhari recorded a paltry 17,926 votes in Anambra State during the 2015 election while his counterpart, Jonathan excitingly hit 660,762 votes.The 2015 general election voting pattern shows that the APC which is seen as an Islamic party (Senator Uche Ekwunife 2014) within the Igbo nation will be a tough sell. This was further confirmed by a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu when he decamped to the APC in November, 2016.He said;If they see us (himself) in this place, they will know that that APC is not an ethnic or religious party,It is something that we need to be explaining to the Catholic bishops, Anglican bishops, the Pentecostal churches and the rest of them.Between Sunday when I registered at Igbere and now, there are 4,000 new members already registered with the APC in Abia without making it open" Kalu said in a press briefing to announce the move.The disparity in the voting patterns in the 2015 presidential elections appeared to have prompted President Buhari to disregard treating the geopolitical zones in Nigeria equally while speaking in the U.S in 2015."(Going by election results), constituencies that gave me 97% cannot in all honesty be treated, on some issues, with constituencies that gave me 5%. I think these are political realities. While, certainly there will be justice for everybody but the people who voted, and made their votes count, they must feel the government has appreciated the effort they put in putting the government in place. I think this is really fair." Buhari said.This statement alongside Buhari's lopsided federal appointments tilting regularly towards the north according to political analysts spurred the secessionist agitations. Following the principle of politics of prebendalism and patronage, a political leader is realistically bound to compensate his cronies who invested their support in his political ambition. It could have been on this ground that Buhari felt embracing the South-east despite his fatherly role in the country as President will amount to fetching water with a well-weaved basket or compensating a prodigal son unlike the biblical provisions.So the old logic of Buharis assumed political permutations is simple; he could still be President again with a landslide victory in the northern states (setting aside the recent Abubakar Atiku factor), fair victory in the South-west, fair loss in the South-south (Edo State cushioning the effect) and predictably an abysmal performance in the South-east where the 'python had the undesired dance' to cripple a divisive pro-Biafra group, Independent People of Biafra. On the contrary, this calculation might not be necessary for the 2019 presidential election with the present trend of political alignments and re-alignments in the South-east.Gradually, the ruling APC is gaining impressive popularity among the very skeptical Igbos. Political bigwigs of Igbo extraction have continued to take refuge in the party for diverse reasons which might be admittedly far from public interest.Some notable examples are; former Governor of old Anambra State Senator Jim Nwobodo; former Ebonyi Governor Martin Elechi; immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime; Anambra Senator Andy Uba; Senator Uche Ekwunife; former Senate President Ken Nnamani; Chief Emeka Ojukwu Jnr.Others are Mr Eugene Odo, the former Speaker of the Enugu State Assembly; Coordinator of the 2015 Goodluck Jonathans presidential campaign organization in Enugu state, Chief Rex Onyeabor; a former two term commissioner for health in Enugu State, Dr. Simon Idike; the wife of the former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, veteran politician, Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu; former member of the House of Representatives, Uchenna Ekwe amongst other crowd-pulling figures. These eminent individuals have boosted the acceptance of the APC among the Igbos.The APC's superlative performance at the 2016 re-run elections in Imo State is another indication of an increase in its popularity despite the economic uncertainties Nigeria has been plunged into.The All Progressives Congress gallantly won the three available seats in the South-eastern state. Mr Ben Uwajumogu of the APC was declared winner of Imo North Senatorial District rerun election held on July 28, 2016 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Similarly, Mr Nkenna Nzeruo of the APC emerged winner of Oru East State Constituency, while Mr Collins Chiji also of APC was declared winner for Isiala Mbano State Constituency.Back to the subject-matter of this piece, 98,752 votes for the APCs governorship candidate in Anambra State Dr. Tony Nwoye in the face of threats of security breach by the Indigenous People of Biafra, their propaganda, disappearance of secessionist leader, Nnamdi Kanu; Operation Python Dance controversies, formerly potent secessionist claims, allegation of lopsidedness in political appointments and the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu factor as the founder of APGA in Anambra State portends a remarkable progress for the ruling party.The response of the APC to the outcome of the Anambra election which re-produced incumbent leader, Governor Willie Obiano shows that the party never fully anticipated victory maybe aside Dr. Tony Nwoye. The party has set up a team to look at the loopholes not exploited judiciously during the electoral exercise towards winning the hearts of more electorates in future elections.Some excerpts from the party's National Chairman, Chief Odigie John Oyegun stated;I consider that we have made a lot of gains in spite of not winning Anambra state.But it is clear if people interpret properly that the APC given the base from which we were starting, given the kind of intense propaganda that goes out there that the South East is against the APC whether it is religion, ethnic or even historical we have made some progress. But we are not resting on that.For people to join us at this time is a clear indication that they understand what is going on and are ready to put their names, reputation, energies, and resources behind our effort to rebuild the country and be part of this process of change.Even President Buhari strangely congratulated Obiano on his victory promising to work with him for the peace, progress and development of Anambra State. Obiano also made out time for a private meeting with Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa which has been interpreted to be an odious relationship between the lion and the sheep.Obiano's victory in all the 21 LGAs in the state is a confirmation of the slogan that indeed 'Willie is Working'. This is a governor who has embarked on numerous capital projects across the state, invested in sustainable agribusiness, effective management of local economy, maintaining adequate security, securing an airport construction deal and ultimately the prompt payment of salaries of civil servants which is becoming a rarity in Nigeria.In a recent interview, a PDP chieftain, Chris Uba humbly gave Obiano a pass mark; such sincerity is an absurdity in Nigerian politics when the biggest purveyor of untruths, half truths, post-truths and outright fake news rules.A recalcitrant Buhari appears to have woken up from his slumber and has decided to extend the olive branch to the Igbos. He enjoyed a two-day visit to the region where he was joined and celebrated by some South-eastern PDP governors namely Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikeazu; Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi and his core loyalist from Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha (APC). This is beginning to change the narrative that he is a 'sectional President'.Buhari was celebrated like the New Year in the South-east during his short visit. While in Ebonyi State, he bagged the traditional title of 'Enyioma 1 of Ebonyi', meaning 'Trustworthy Friend of Ebonyis' and the the traditional rulers of South-east, as a body named him the 'Ochioha Ndigbo', meaning 'Leader of Igbo People'.According to a presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, Buhari as at May, 2017 has embarked on the rehabilitation/construction of 600 kilometers of roads across the South-east zones five states.Buhari in the budget proposals read at the National Assembly recently listed the strategic Second Niger Bridge as one of the top priority projects of his administration which an allocation of N10 billion expenditure for 2018. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also revealed N2 billion has been released to fund the project by the current administration. The Buhari administration has also set sights on the construction of a new international terminal in Enugu State, a coastal rail line with its route alignment passing through Aba in Abia State and Onitsha in Anambra State. And also, the dredging of the River Niger to facilitate maritime access to the sea by the South-east and the North.These impressive feats will continue to endear the Igbos to Buhari ahead of 2019 regardless of the slow pace. Before his visit to Anambra and Ebonyi States, Governor David Umahi of the main opposition party PDP ostensibly endorsed Buhari for a second term, abandoning political differences.Governor Willie Obiano's recognition of Buhari in his election victory speech for creating a level playing field during the Anambra election has further sold Buhari and the APC in the South-east as a true democrat. Even the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed admitted that Buhari fought off temptations to interfere in the Anambra governorship race with his 'federal might'.Its also worthy of note that Obiano ran to Buhari when his security aides were contentiously withdrawn by the Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim ahead of the election. This is not new in Nigeria politics. Before now, politically motivated attacks of that form were targeted successfully at former Governor Chris Ngige, former Governor Ahmed Tinubu, former speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and others in the past.Buhari's harmony with Obiano, impartiality and transparency in the largely free and fair Anambra elections has fuelled rumours that Obiano could cross-carpet to the APC in the nearest future. All these are positive indicators that would play out well in 2019 if the beacon is left on.In a nutshell, APC had a good outing in Anambra State. Tony Nwoye's support base can be improved upon in favour of Buhari with good governance and selfless leadership ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Obiano is the winner of the gubernatorial election at the moment but posterity is set to unveil Buhari as the bigger winner in the nearest future. Africas richest man, Mr Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that one of his companies, Dangote Cement Plc, has grown its total production capacity across Africa to 45.8 million metric tonnes per annum.The Nigerian businessman said this figure was correct as at the end of May 2017, making the firm one of the biggest cement producers on the continent.Speaking on Thursday at the launch of his 1.5mtpa capacity cement plant in Mfila, Congo Brazzaville,Mr Dangote noted that his aspiration is to rank among the top 10 cement producers in the world by 2020.The new plant estimated at $300 million has potentials for about 1000 direct employment and thousands of several other indirect jobs.Mr Dangote, who is the Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, in his address, said his company was delighted to have completed the plant on schedule, saying the addition of Dangote Cements 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum plant has more than doubled the total cement production capacity of Congo-Brazzaville, which now stands at 2.550 million metric tonnes per annum, far in excess of national demand.It is envisaged that this will contribute substantially to the availability and affordability of cement in the country and the Republic of the Congo will no longer need to depend on imports to bridge the gap between demand and supply.It is our hope that the inauguration of the plant will boost Congos economy, conserve foreign exchange that would otherwise have been spent on imports for the country, and create employment opportunities down the value chain, he stated.Mr Dangote commended the Congolese government noting that the bold economic reform measures put in place by President Denis Sassou Nguesso administration have been quite salutary. The construction industry, which is a major sector of the economy, is a beneficiary of his policies, and has been receiving the attention of investors. We believe that our investment will contribute to Congo-Brazzavilles current economic renaissance under the leadership of the President Nguesso.He pointed out that his organization received tremendous support and encouragement both from the government and the people of Congo-Brazzaville, right from the conceptualisation stage of our project, to its final completion, and commissioning.In appreciation of the good gesture of the government and the people, Dangote disclosed that without waiting to stabilise production, the Cement company had already commenced CSR projects with the construction of a road with a length of 30km around Yamba, which would have cost the local government approximately 240 million CFA to execute.He stated further we have also disbursed scholarships for students and we are also building a school and renovating a hospital within our host communities. Apart from these, we have repaired a dilapidated bridge on a major highway at a cost of $300,000, to enable heavy duty vehicles to cross the bridge. As a policy, we also ensure that we give priority to qualified indigenes from our local host communities in our recruitment drive.Also speaking at the commissioning, President of Congo, Mr Denis Sassou Nguesso, described the investment as an industrial revolution, sort of, within the Economic Community of the Central African States (CEMAC), saying his country was happy to host the investment.According to him, his government has observed the operations of Dangote Cement in other African countries and it has helped buoy their economies by sparking off other allied industries expressing the hope that Congo situation would not be an exception.The Congolese President described the coming on stream of the Dangote cement as timely and encouraging because it is starting operations at a time the total government revenues have plummeted by 31.3 percent and revenues from the oil sector have fallen 65.1 percent since 2015 due to a slide in global crude prices.On his part, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the event by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Kayode Fayemi, commended Mr Dangote and his cement company for championing economic renaissance of Africa with the construction of cement plants across several African countries saying the sterling accomplishment makes the Dangote Cement brand, and indeed Mr Dangote himself, worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.President Buhari said his government has consistently supported and encouraged the Dangote Group in its quest to contribute its quota to the economic emancipation of the African continent, which is blessed with a plethora of natural resources.I believe that it is only home-grown practical solutions that can address the myriad issues plaguing Africa today and one of such challenges that Africa has been grappling with for decades is the infrastructure deficit.I am confident that massive investments in cement production, which is a key driver of infrastructural development, will contribute in no small measure, to addressing this perennial problem, he said.President Buhari recalled with satisfaction that local cement manufacturers such as Dangote Cement, Lafarge and BUA, have exploited one of the solid minerals, limestone which is a basic input for cement production and which Nigeria has in abundance, in different parts of the country to achieve self-sufficiency in local cement production in 2015, and is now a net exporter of the product.The backward integration policy of the Federal Government in the cement sector, which was launched in 2002, has contributed to this success story by successfully substituting imports with local production, we have saved over $2billion spent on cement importation into Nigeria, annually.We have also started using cement for road construction in the country due to its numerous advantages over the more common bituminous road. Again, in this area, Dangote Cement is leading the charge, through AG-Dangote, its joint venture with Andrade-Gutierrez, a construction giant in Brazil, Nigerias President stated.Dangote Cement commissioned its cement plants in four African countries namely: Ethiopia, Zambia, Cameroun and Tanzania.The Congo-Brazzaville plant, which began operations in the third quarter of 2017, will be the fifth cement plant that would be inaugurated in the last two years. A libyan returnee The story has been told of the deep suffering and ultimately inhumane treatment that trafficked victims face in Libyan prisons and detention camps. It is endless tales of deprivations and exploitation by Nigerian trafficked victims, who made their way through Libya to Europe for prostitution. Majority of the victims are Edo State indigenes. Patrick Ochoga writes on the horrible experiences of the returnees in prisons, slave and detention camps. *** In the last three weeks, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, the agency saddled with the responsibility of reintegrating, arresting and prosecuting traffickers had received over 400 returnees from Libya. As the several bus loads of Libyan returnees drove into the venue of a popular hotel in Benin City, the Edo State Capital, tucked away in the government reservation area, G.R.A. The returnee victims came off in their hundreds. They were deported from various prisons, slave and detention camps in Libya through the efforts of United Nations in Libya. Clutched to the chests of many are polythene bags containing just few belongings, which immediately informed onlookers of the sorry condition and experiences of the returnees who had hoped to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Italy in search of green pasture. The sordid tales of suffering, prostitution, drugging, and slavery in Libyan concentration camps from the victims are endless as they recount gruesome ordeals of how unlucky illegal migrants are sold into slavery and prostitution by their traffickers while others are killed in their attempt to cross the desert to Libya. For some of the returnees, it was like a joyous homecoming stepping foots on Nigeria soil as a part of the living having escaped the valley of shadow of death in Libya. They were full of praises to the federal and Edo State government who had shown commitment in curbing the trend and creating opportunities for the unfortunate mass returnees. Onuwa Sunday, 27-years-old, and an indigene of Edo State from Orhiomwon local government area, whose right ankle was amputated after he was hit by a rocket in their camp limped his left leg to the reception of the hotel where officials of the task force received him and others to a hall where they were profiled and documented. He narrated to our correspondent how they were ambushed by some deadly criminal gangs called ( Asma Boys) and taken to different camps where they eventually sold into slavery and prostitution by their captors. He said in an attempt to cross the high sea migrants boats were ambushed by these same gangs and taken a camps where they were forced to call home for ransom ranging between N300, 000 and N700,000. According to Onuwa It was a terrible experience, we were abducted on our way to Saba by some group they called burger boys and taken to a camp. I was charged 4, 000 dina which is about N400, 000 after spending six months in captivity. Few days later, we made attempt crossing to Italy but our boat was intercepted four hours after we departed the shore of Libya in the middle of the sea by Libyan naval patrol ship. They took us to Zaweya Prison where I spent another one month. I had to pay N170,000 before I was released. On released I got a job at a car wash so that I can save some money to pay for my crossing. Unfortunately, after spending two months, fight broke out and that was the beginning of my greater ordeal. The Libyans say they dont want to any black so they started invading camps so I ran to another camp not knowing that the camp was marked to be invaded. When the information got to me I immediately took a cab to escape but I was kidnapped by three men in uniform who shot me on my right hand and leg as I speak I still have bullets lodged in my thigh. I cant sleep at night. Continuing he said, I was locked up and asked to call my family members for money for my freedom. In the camp where I was, we were over 3,000 from different countries but Nigeria are the highest in number. On his part, 30-year-old Marley Ayodo, said he paid N700, 000 to his trafficker but was ambushed and taken to camp where he had to pay ransom for his freedom. Majority of our people are usually kidnapped and asked to pay for ransom. Many Nigerians have spent over one year in detention camps. In Gerrian Prison there are about 1000 Nigerians dying on a daily basis due to torture and starvation. Most of the people I travelled with are dead. They flog us every day, before and after eating; we all lost hope. I want the government to encourage our ambassador so that he can assist our people. A lot of people who have been document to come home in the last one year are in various prisons suffering. Last week, Beauty Okoro, 20, was among the 168 girls deported, out of which 20 of them came back with pregnancy. Amidst weeping she said: I travelled July 4th last year. My sponsor told me that within one week I would be in Italy. But when I got to Libya it was another story. These sponsors always convince you and make it look like it is easy, but I have learnt now. I feel the government should arrest them and execute them. These sponsors are here in Edo State, and they have their links in Libya too. It is an organized trade, and I have seen it all at this my little age of 20. When I got to a place they call Ghetto, I was there with one other girl. They sold us to one man so we can be doing prostitution. The next day another woman came to the Ghetto and bought me as her slave. She bought me for N1,700, and she asked me to pay her N450, 000, that includes my feeding and the water I will be using to bath. I called my dad and explained to him that she said my people should send me the money or I will be prostituting to get the money. Then my father sent me N50,000 and pleaded he would sell his land to get me the remaining. The husband of my madam is in Nigeria; my father wanted to sell the land to him so they can help me. But the man said he does not like the location where the land is so he will not buy. I had no choice than to do what my madam said I should do, and that is prostitution. I was sleeping with different men. I worked with her for over two months. I was not allowed to go out, and always indoors sleeping with customers. I told my dad that I was tired of the situation so he told me he has a friend in Libya that he will contact him to help me. He contacted the man, and the man informed him that he was staying in a different town. The man then told me to ask my madam how he could come to pick me and that he was ready to pay her off. I asked my madam, and she said the man should bring N300,000. But I reminded her that my dad had already sent me N50,000 meaning that it was a balance of N250,000. But the man (my fathers friend) said he had only N200,000 cash to give to the woman. We pleaded with the woman, and she accepted. The man brought N220,000 including taxi money for me to come over to his place. That was how I left that woman. Then when I got to my fathers friends house, it was the same job I was doing with the woman, that he said I should be doing. That is prostitution. And my father did not know that his friend had bought me from the woman to do the same kind of sex job. The man said I would pay him N440,000. I had no choice than to work hard and pay. By December last year I was done with the payment, then started hustling for myself so I could get money to cross the sea for Italy. So, I made about N400,000 and gave the man N300,000 to keep for me. Knowing that I now had some money, I decided to go buy some food stuff that I will use to cross the sea. I met the man to give me my money, and he said he would not give me. I told him that that was wicked because he was sleeping with me, and then I still paid him for keeping me in his house yet he was not satisfied. He started beating me until I fell sick. I called my mum that I want to leave that house. Incidentally, my period was delayed that month, and I told the man that it seemed I was pregnant. He said I should go and do a test but the very day I wanted to go for a test, my period started. Then he started beating me that I had gone to remove the pregnancy but I told him it was not true. He said he would not leave me that I have gone to destroy his baby and threatened to call the bad boys of Libya for me. I was dying in that house and didnt know what to do. Then I met one pastor on Facebook and told him my problem. He said I should buy a white handkerchief and send him the mans picture. The pastor told me that the man, that is Ade a Yoruba man has taken my urine to a native doctor. I was crying, but the pastor said I should not worry. We were eight girls in that house with the man, and we all worked for him. He sleeps with all of us, and we still pay him. So, one of the senior girls in the house advised me on what to do. She told me that any time the man is sleeping with me again and that while he is on top of me, I should ask him when he will free me. She told me that whatever the man says at that moment is what he will do. So when he came to sleep with me, and I asked him when he will free me. He replied that I should not worry that he will free me the next Wednesday. That day he promised me was July 11. So on that day, he called me gave me a battery to charge my phone and a Nokia phone. That night he told me a taxi would come and pick me up. He said my transport fare is N60,000, that is from there to Tripoli from where we were to leave by sea to Italy. So this man claimed that he has paid about N210,000 for my transportation including to help me cross the sea to Italy. But I told him that my money is still with him. Then, I got to the camp. From the camp to Italy is about one hour thirty minutes. We were there suffering no food and no money. I called the man, and he said I should come back to the house. I said I could not go back to him. He was calling me to come back, but I said rather than go back to him, let me die. The camp was very hot. Several times we woke up to the sound of gunshots and people will be running. In Libya, they shoot anyhow and kill people like chicken. There was a night I woke up and was running to nowhere. I fell somewhere and injured my head when a block fell on top of me. People saw me and rescued me, took me to a pharmacy and gave me drugs. One day some people were asked to come and cross over. One of my friends, Anita joined that boat because they move people in batches. But Anita died inside the boat when the boat capsized while they were running from security agents. That day, two boats entered the sea. I was to be in the sixth boat. One of those boats got stranded in the sea because it was leaking. Some people died while some were rescued. One of the boats before our own left around 5 a.m. that morning. It was not up to 30 minutes after they left, they saw Libyan immigration coming, the man piloting the boat jumped into the sea. And I discovered that the problem was that the man collected money from us but he did not settle the Libyan immigration officials in the sea. We heard that the man felt his father is influential in Libya, so he refused to settle those officials even though he had collected money from many people to cross them. They call him Ginabo. So the immigration came, and they knew we were Ginabos people, and they started cursing him that Ginabo is a crook; he is a liar that he has collected our money and abandoned us because he refused to settle them. They were speaking Arabic. These people arrested us and said we should call our people to send us money or else we will be killed. In fact, our men suffered under these people. They will force them to bring money, or they will kill them. They will beat them until some of them will die, and they will throw the persons body into the dustbin. How I came back? What happened was that one man said we should pay N20,000. He controls another camp. We were there when the police came to that place and started pursuing everybody. We started running to nowhere. The man who owns the camp called us to a room and collected all our phones and money. We were about eight girls. The police surrounded everywhere and took us to one prison. That was where the UN people came for us. They gave us one tiny bread, they call oza bread once a day and sometimes half cooked rice that you cannot give to a dog, but we were managing. Sometimes they will lace the food with drugs, and after eating it you will sleep off on the floor, and they will rape you. But the UN people kept us and started deporting us back. They sent back some people, but my name was not among. At a point no water, nothing. We have a lot of Nigerians in that prison. From what I saw in prison, we have thousands of Nigerians in different prisons. Each time you wake up you see five persons dead beside you because the place is tight. Once, when I was very thirsty and no water, but I saw water where somebody died, and I had no choice but to drink the stinking water so I will not die. I closed my eyes and nose to drink the water. These people dont care (sobbing). In fact, I regret embarking on that journey. The orientation we got from my sponsor was that Libya and Italy are close. I did not know that the sea is even dangerous as I later discovered. The person that sponsored me did not tell me all these. My advice to people is that they should not dare go to Europe through that means. I saw hell as a 20-year-old girl. I had my SSCE result before I left. I am begging government to help with any job; I will never pass this route again. And I want to advise our youths not to try it; it is better you work here in Nigeria even though you are suffering here endure it and pray to God for better days. I was not patient in life that was why. Nobody should go to Libya; the place is hell on earth. I saw people die like chicken every day and I wondered if ever I would get out of the trauma. Igbinewo Praise, a 24-year-old lady, said she travelled with her husband. She is among the pregnant returnees. She wept repeatedly as narrates her ordeal. I traveled together with my husband, but he is still there now. Before I traveled, I was a sales girl. I am an orphan. My husband and I paid N900,000 to our sponsor to move us. When we got to Libya, I was lucky to be the first they took to move through the sea, but my husbands set was not ready. We left, but our boat got spoilt in the middle of the sea. We stayed there without any rescue but the UN boat came and rescued us, but we were arrested. My husband now went to pay N250,000 to release me from prison. Somebody now said we should pay another N150,000 to push me across the sea; my husband paid the money. But while we were planning to move, their immigration people came to arrest us and took us to a prison. I spent months in the prison before we were taken to the deportation camp. I was not staying in the same place with my husband, but we see every day. You can imagine I am pregnant but no food. They give you one small bread per day, and you buy water. Water is very expensive there. My husband will be calling his people to send us money. What they told us before was that in two weeks we would be in Italy, but we never knew it was not like that. We spent seven days in the desert, and it was very hot. You can imagine that when we left Agadez, we were 33 in number but by time we got to a camp in Libya, we have 27 persons alive. I was lucky I was listed as one of those coming back. Meanwhile, Edo State government has commenced agro-training for 150 returnees as part of effort to meaningfully engage the returnees in productive ventures. The state government through the Task Force Against Human Trafficking chaired by the states commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of the state, Prof Yinka Omorogbe has been working round the clock to redirect the life of the returnees. The government is working in collaboration with the Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) a non-governmental organization led by Comrade Solomon Okoduwa. *** Culled from Leadership By PTI: convention at Ramlila Maidan New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will celebrate its fifth Foundation Day tomorrow and hold a national convention at the Ramlila Maidan here. The venue is special for the party as it was from this place that it began its political journey. Senior party leader and Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai said the convention will see discussions on various issues, like the work done by the Delhi government and the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by the Assembly, which is awaiting clearance from the Centre. advertisement Apart from the "five years of revolution", farmers distress will also be discussed during the convention, he said, adding current social, economic and political developments will also be discussed. Rai said the AAP is the only party in the Indian history to have established a national footprint within a short span of five years and is expanding rapidly across the country. The journey of the party will be discussed at the event. Around 10,000 AAP volunteers and representatives from 22 states are likely to attend the convention, party leaders said. Besides the partys national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, several top AAP leaders are expected to address the convention. Senior party leader Kumar Vishwas, who has had an uneasy relationship with the party leadership, tweeted that he would be addressing the volunteers during the convention and speak his "heart out". PTI PR NSD --- ENDS --- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday revealed that he has been battling Diabetes Mellitus for the past 30 years. He stated this shortly after a two kilometre awareness walk from the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library through the MKO Abiola way, in Abeokuta. The walk was organized by the Southwest Zone of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria in conjunction with the Library to celebrate the 2017 World Diabetes Day, according to The Tribune. He said that the disease only kills those who are careless with how they manage it. Diabetes is not a disease that should kill. I was diagnosed to be diabetic more than 30 years ago but rather, I am growing strong, if you dont believe I am growing strong and you didnt witness this walk, come and see me at night, you will know I am growing strong, come and see me in the morning, you will know I am growing, even in the afternoon, you will know I am growing strong. What is necessary is the management of diabetes. Some people said some diseases are incurable, but diabetes is manageable. My headmaster in primary school was diagnosed at the age of 50 and died at age 85, you will agree with me that he tried. What to do is that if youre diabetic, dont be nonchalant about it and dont eat carelessly. Three things are important; the food you eat, regular exercise and prescribed medication, those are the three most important things. You can be diabetic and still lives till 100. I dont know when I would die but I am above 80 and many of the youth could not catch up with my pace during the exercise this morning, many of them were running after me. This is my message. Whether youre diabetic or you have a family or friend with diabetic, diabetes is not a killer disease or it should not be a killer disease unless you are careless, Obasanjo said. Robert Mugabe Robert Mugabe's exit as the President of Zimbabwe has been described by analysts as an incident that could set off a chain of similar events in Africa, Gbenro Adeoye writes on the matter. The letter by President Robert Mugabe stating his intention to resign as the President of Zimbabwe with immediate effect was not just a letter; it was one that set off a ripple of excitement through the streets of Harare, the countrys capital city, and beyond. It also promises changes beyond the borders of Zimbabwe. Media reports of how Zimbabweans flooded the streets in wild jubilation have pervaded the airwaves following the exit of the 93-year-old leader from office on Tuesday. They told of how horns hooted and cheers of joy filled the air as Zimbabweans celebrated into the night on the streets of Harare. Such jubilations even extended to the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, which has a large population of Zimbabweans. In their euphoria, some Zimbabweans have declared November 21, 2017, the day Mugabe resigned, their Independence Day, even though the countrys independence falls on April 18. But the logic behind such a declaration can be deduced Mugabe is the only leader Zimbabwe has known since its independence from Britain in 1980 and a blot of allegations of election rigging, repression of dissent and causing the countrys economic collapse on his 37-year reign, made his people welcome his resignation with relief. However, there are signs that Mugabes exit from power will have a ripple effect on other countries, particularly in Africa. Zimbabweans have already begun calling on fellow citizens abroad to return home, particularly those who had fled to South Africa. But beyond issues related to migration and economy, political analysts are of the opinion that the development in Zimbabwe could have far-reaching effects on Africa, particularly in countries with sit-tight leaders, even though, Mugabes exit did not arise from an uprising or a revolution by the people. Rather Mugabes exit was as a result of an internal crisis in government and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front following a feud between the Presidents wife, Grace, and his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The feud led to the sacking of Mnangagwa by Mugabe, paving the way for Grace to succeed the aged leader instead of his vice president, who had been touted as his likely successor. The military later moved in and put Mugabe under house arrest and his eventual resignation soon followed. However, political analysts have described the incident in Zimbabwe as one that could trigger revolution movements in Africa that will be similar to the Arab Spring. Arab Spring is often used to describe a series of anti-government protests, uprisings and armed rebellions that broke out and spread across the Middle East in 2011. For example, a former Nigerias Ambassador to Greece, Prof. Olu Agbi, said Mugabes exit would have sent a message to other African countries with sit-tight leaders. How could Mugabe just feel that he would dismiss his vice president and allow his wife to take over as if it is bedroom democracy? So the other countries where we have leaders who have been in power for so long, a message has been sent to them, their people and their defence forces. It shouldnt be a coup where people get killed, but it can be a situation where you tell such leaders that they have done so much and should leave, he said. Africa is home to a number of sit-tight leaders, many of whom use open rigging and constitutional change to continue to remain in office. For instance, President Paul Biya of Cameroon assumed office on November 6, 1982, following the resignation of President Ahmadou Ahidjo. The countrys parliament in 2008 passed a controversial amendment to the constitution that enabled Biya, 84, to run for a third term and in October 2011, he won another election to remain in power. The election was largely described by observers as marred by irregularities. Only Biya and Ahidjo have served as Presidents of Cameroon since the country got independence from France in 1960. Ugandas President, Yoweri Museveni, 73, got into office in 1986. In 2005, the countrys constitution was amended to allow Museveni extend his time in office. The countrys last presidential election in 2016, which was won by Museveni, was overshadowed by allegations of rigging and arrest of opposition politicians and activists. In 2016, Museveni appointed the first lady as the Minister of Education and Sports. Similarly, Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo, 75, has been the President of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, amid allegations of corruption and rigging, for about four decades. His son, Teodorin, who was named his fathers vice-president in 2016, has been enmeshed in allegations of corruption and money laundering. He has had over $70m worth of his assets seized by the US, including a Malibu mansion, a Gulfstream jet, a Ferrari said to worth more than $500,000. Idriss Deby, 65, has been the President of Chad since 1990 following a coup detat. In 2016, Deby won an election to remain in office for a fifth term. Seventy-three-year-old Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has been in power since his 1989 coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. Subsequently, in 1993, al-Bashir unilaterally increased his powers when he appointed himself President of the country and disbanded the governing body of Sudan, Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation, and all other rival political parties. He, therefore, assumed the executive and legislative powers of the council. Faure Gnassingbe became the President of Togo in 2005 after the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who had been the leader for 38 years. In September, thousands of people marched through the streets of Lome, Togos capital, protesting against Gnassingbes continued stay in power. The protests were organised by a coalition of opposition parties and civil society organisations. Amnesty International estimated that 100,000 people marched in Lome, with many of them wearing the red, orange and pink colours of the opposition parties as they chanted Free Togo and asked Gnassingbe to step down. A professor of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who described the development in Zimbabwe as good, also described it as a lesson to African leaders. He said, It will let African leaders who want to stay in office perpetually know that if they dont leave, that is what will happen. They may be thrown out. Nobody would have believed that Mugabe would be thrown out. Leaders should leave when it is right so that there will be room for others to compete. They should learn not to stay in office beyond when its necessary. What will happen in Africa now is what happened in the Middle East. We can have an African Spring whereby people will move to the streets to force out their leaders. It happened in the North African countries, where leaders were forced to leave and elections were organised, so it is a good development. So there is going to be an African Spring that will force African sit-tight leaders out, not by military coup but through mass mobilisation. Onuoha noted that leaders want to die in government because they are intoxicated by political power. Once you have political power, you are a god and everybody bows to you; not because they like you, but because they have to do so. And once you allow that to get into your head, you are finished. So leaders want to remain in power because they get used to being worshipped and so on. Most leaders find it difficult to leave office and that is why they wait till they get thrown out. Look at Nigerias former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he allegedly plotted to stay for another term. If it were possible for them to stay for so long, they would, he said. Also identifying the reasons why some leaders find it difficult to leave office, Agbi said, It is because of the horrible things they do in government. When they are in government, they expose themselves to the kind of opulence they cannot get elsewhere. The late Obafemi Awolowo (a former Premier of the defunct Western Region) said that a life you cannot live outside government, dont live it in government. But a lot of our leaders have exposed themselves to lifestyles they cannot live outside government and they dont want anyone to know what they have done, so they like to die in that office. And when someone dies in Africa, we say we should not speak ill of the dead and so, we forget about his atrocities. Gabon is an oil-rich country but its money was in its late President, Omar Bongos pockets. He had wives all over the world. How could a leader maintain such a lifestyle if he does not continue to stay in office? Agbi, therefore, expressed hope that with more population of youths who being politically-inclined, there would be positive changes in Africas political system. But Onuoha noted that it was only by building strong institutions that Africa could deal with the problem of leaders wanting to remain in office at all costs. He said, Strong institutions can be built through good governance. There was a time when people had no hope in the Independent National Electoral Commission but with the recent governorship election in Anambra State, it made people believe that their votes counted. That is how to build strong institutions, by not interfering in the affairs of institutions. In the case of Zimbabwe, the institutions were weak, but with the military, Mugabe was forced to leave. However, a professor of Politics and International Relations and a former Ambassador to Belgium, Alaba Ogunsanwo, described the recent development in Zimbabwe as unique, saying it would be wrong to assume that what happened in Zimbabwe would happen elsewhere. He said, What happened in Zimbabwe had nothing to do with the people. The military that initiated it was part of the ZANU-PF. It was a revolution and the armed forces were part of the group that struggled for it. There is no doubt that the countrys military sees itself as a wing of the ZANU-PF. And when they saw things were going wrong in the party that might lead to destruction, they moved in. That was why the sacked vice president said that even while he was in exile in South Africa, he was in touch with the military chief. So they knew what they wanted to do and when the military told the people that they could go out and demonstrate if they wanted Mugabe out, they did so. Initially, the people were not sure if they would be shot at by the police but with the assurance by the military, they went out and demonstrated. And ZANU-PF also told the people that they could join the demonstration. We cannot see it as an example of something that others will want to copy. It was well-managed because the military understood the environment in the Southern African region, which does not tolerate coups. And subsequently, the army was saying that it was not a coup and that was why Mugabe was allowed to go out and still do some of the things he wanted to do. So it is a unique situation and we dont have to generalise and assume that it will happen in other parts of Africa. Ogunsanwo noted that citizens of the countries with sit-tight leaders deserve their leaders, saying: There are situations where people feel what is going on is bad but they will not want to change it because it gives them the opportunity to put the corrupt people in power. Do you think people care about corruption in Nigeria? They dont. It is a joke. If you are rich, people will vote for you; it is straightforward. *** Culled from Saturday Punch The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has declared the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari as the most t... The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has declared the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari as the most transparent and open in the history of Nigeria, saying the President has been open to the extent of allowing Nigerians to make input in almost all his major policy decisions.Speaking Saturday at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Media Dialogue in Abuja, the Minister said unlike President Buharis two predecessors, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, information now pass more freely and speedily from the government to the people. Mohammed, who was represented by Bayo Onanuga, the Managing-Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said: the Ministry of Information under this government has been hyperactive; thereby, making the administration of President Buhari the most open and transparent in the history of Nigeria. Take for instance, a few days ago, the full minute of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting was sent to all media houses to use as content for public consumption. This shows that the federal government is trying to provide as much information as possible to the public.Also, Nigerias recent upward climb on the Ease of Doing Business Index (EDBI) is another indicator of this governments strong resolve and commitment to transparency initiatives. The Minister further encouraged the media to take advantage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to request for more government information that will serve the interest of the public; stressing that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government who fail to provide information requested in compliance with the FOI Act can be sued.Mohammed however cautioned that while the federal government demonstrates its commitment to promoting openness in the affairs of governance, it will not carry on its business on the pages of newspapers. He said that though Press Freedom is guaranteed under Nigerian laws, the media should exercise this freedom with a sense of responsibility.The media must continue to call government and members of the political class to order when they go wrong. However, the media should remain truthful, factual and objective. It should also desist from spreading information from unverified and unverifiable sources. As professionals, try to do your work in compliance with the media laws and codes of ethics which guide the media profession, the Minister advise. The death toll in a bomb attack on a packed mosque in Egypts restive North Sinai province has risen to 235. The death toll in a bomb attack on a packed mosque in Egypts restive North Sinai province has risen to 235.Gunmen attacked set off a bomb, killing at least 235 people in one of the countrys deadliest attacks in recent memory, state media reported.A bomb explosion ripped through the Rawda mosque roughly 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish before gunmen opened fire on the worshippers gathered for weekly Friday prayers, officials said.Witnesses said the assailants had surrounded the mosque with all-terrain vehicles then planted a bomb outside.The gunmen then mowed down the panicked worshippers as they attempted to flee and used the congregants vehicles they had set alight to block routes to the mosque.State television reported at least 184 people were killed and 125 wounded in the attack, which is unprecedented in a four-year insurgency by Islamist extremist groups.Egypts presidency declared three days of mourning, state television reported, as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met his security ministers to follow developments.Ahmed Abul Gheit, head of the Arab League which is based in Cairo, condemned the terrifying crime which again shows that Islam is innocent of those who follow extremist terrorist ideology, his spokesman said in a statement. IS views Sufis as heretics The Islamic State groups Egypt branch has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers, and also civilians accused of working with the authorities, in attacks in the north of the Sinai peninsula.They have also targeted followers of the mystical Sufi branch of Sunni Islam as well as Christians.The victims included civilians and conscripts praying at the mosque.A tribal leader and head of a Bedouin militia that fights IS told AFP that the mosque is known as a place of gathering for Sufis.The Islamic State group shares the puritan Salafi view of Sufis as heretics for seeking the intercession of saints.The jihadists had previously kidnapped and beheaded an elderly Sufi leader, accusing him of practising magic which Islam forbids, and abducted Sufi practitioners later released after repenting.The group has killed more than 100 Christians in church bombings and shootings in Sinai and other parts of Egypt, forcing many to flee the peninsula.The military has struggled to quell the jihadists who pledged allegiance to IS in November 2014.IS regularly conducts attacks against soldiers and policemen in the peninsula bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, although the frequency and scale of such attacks has diminished over the past year.The jihadists have since increasingly turned to civilian targets, attacking not only Christians and Sufis but also Bedouin Sinai inhabitants accused of working with the army.Aside from IS, Egypt also faces a threat from Al-Qaeda-aligned jihadists who operate out of neighbouring Libya.A group calling itself Ansar al-Islam Supporters of Islam in Arabic claimed an October ambush in Egypts Western Desert that killed at least 16 policemen.Many of those killed belonged to the interior ministrys secretive National Security Service.The military later conducted air strikes on the attackers, killing their leader Emad al-Din Abdel Hamid, a most wanted jihadist who was a military officer before joining an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Libyas militant stronghold of Derna.AFP Imo Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, on Friday urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late former Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, to appreciate his peaceful and unifying roles in the countrys political history.Madumere made the call in an interview with the media in Abuja while speaking on why it was imperative to remember the deceased second republic vice-president.He said that Ekwueme was instrumental to the stability of Nigerias democracy with his patriotic and sportsmanship style of politics displayed in 1999 as Nigeria returned to democratic rule.We all know also the pivotal role he played in the formation of G-34 which later metamorphosed into PDP but he did not back out from the party, the deputy governor said.Madumere, who described Ekwueme as a sage, called on other politicians to emulate his style of politics for stability in the nations democracy.He noted also that it was imperative to immortalise the late vice-president for posterity to learn from his style of politics.According to him, Nigeria will not forget in a hurry the fatherly contributions of Ekwueme in the creation of the six geo-political zones, especially the South-South aimed at giving the minorities a sense of belonging.The late Dr Alex Ekwueme died on Nov. 19 in a London hospital after battling with what the family said was chest infection. Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has one more hurdle to cross in his secret deal with some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP... Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has one more hurdle to cross in his secret deal with some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.It was learnt yesterday that Jonathan said Atiku must beg or apologize to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to get the 2019 presidential ticket of the PDP on a platter of gold.Although Obasanjo has quit partisan politics, Jonathan was of the opinion that he is still a strong factor in shaping the future of the nation in 2019 because he is a force among the revered kingmakers.Former President Jonathan had in early November told the publisher of Ovation magazine in an interview that If Atiku gets our party ticket, he would compete well. But he would have to reach out to our boss, Baba OBJ, the boss of all bosses. Weve all learnt at different times that you ignore OBJ at your peril. OBJ has the magic wand. He is respected at home and abroad.It was however unclear if Atiku has either accepted the condition or opted to go it alone in seeking the presidential mandate of the PDP.But some presidential aspirants in PDP were said not to be ready to step down for Atiku, whom Jonathan is working to the answer for.The aspirants said they prefer to slug it out with Atiku during the presidential primaries.The affected aspirants are ex-Governor Sule Lamido, ex-Minister Ibrahim Shekarau, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and a former governor (now a Senator), who is expected to defect from APC to PDP.The fate of the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi on the partys 2019 ticket was hanging in the balance as at press time.Findings by our source revealed that the secret deal, which made Atiku to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), was comprehensive and targeted at the ex-VP securing the PDP presidential slot.It was gathered that the package also borders on hijacking the party structure at the National Convention on December 9 to make Atikus choice as the PDP presidential candidate a reality.Following lobbying by Jonathan, some founding fathers of PDP (including a few retired military officers), have been part of the latest course in PDP.Investigation revealed that most governors of the PDP were said to have bought into the Atiku project in deference to Jonathan.A top source, who was privy to the deal, said: The unfolding script on Atikus return to PDP has the blessing of some founding fathers of PDP who are out to salvage the party. A major component is a likely waiver for the ex-VP to contest the partys presidential primaries.So far, Atiku is complying with the secret accord for his return to PDP. A formal declaration in Yola is being expected either on Wednesday or December 6 as indicated in a tentative timetable.But in one of the negotiation shuttles with Atiku, ex-President Jonathan added a caveat that the former Vice President can comfortably secure PDP ticket and win the 2019 poll if he begs ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.We were all shocked by this condition because Obasanjo is no longer in partisan politics. But Jonathan said Obasanjo is an institution whose action or inaction could make or mar the electoral fortunes of Atiku.The former President also believes that Obasanjo may persuade any of the presidential aspirants to withdraw for Atiku after weighing all the indices. He said if Obasanjo could reconcile with him, he can also forgive Atiku.As a matter of fact, Jonathan cited cases of chairmanship aspirants in PDP travelling to Abeokuta to seek his blessing.We are expecting Atiku to comply with this proviso because we want to begin the media war (based on facts and figures) in earnest.Jonathans position on Obasanjo has been endorsed by some founding fathers of PDP, especially the military class which contrived the existence of the party.Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that some presidential aspirants in the PDP may not step down for Atiku.These include Lamido, Shekarau, Dankwambo and a former governor (now a Senator), who is expected to defect from APC to PDP.It was not clear if the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi will seek the partys 2019 ticket.A governor, who played a significant role in the pact with Atiku, said: As part of the deal, we have been trying to prevail on some of these aspirants to step down but they have chosen to contest the primaries with the ex-Vice President.Some of them queried why a politician will cross from the opposition party and just be given PDP presidential ticket.One of the aspirants said since 1999, he has never defected to any party. He said loyalty to the party and competence should be compensated by PDP.Well, we have looked into PDP Constitution, it is immaterial when you join, you can enjoy the rights and privileges which a Methuselah member enjoys. Go and look at sections 8 and 18 of our constitution.While Section 8(a) and (b) of the PDP Constitution deals with the procedure for rejoining PDP, Section 18 is on the Status of Returnee Members.Section 8 reads: A person who desires to rejoin the party after leaving it shall: (a) apply to his Ward Secretary for readmission; and (b) unless given waiver by the National Working Committee(NWC), be placed on probation for a period of not less than one year.Subject to the provision of Section 8(b), a member on probation shall have the right to attend all meetings of the party but shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings, nor shall he be eligible to contest for elective office on the platform of the party.Section 18 says: A person who has earlier decamped from the party but later decides to return to the party shall lose the seniority and privileges conferred on him by his previous status.But the PDP top shot said: As the opposition party, we are looking at the larger picture of the return of Atiku, we will give him all waivers required to ensure his readmission.Some of our leaders, who were initially opposed to the return of the ex-VP, had shown enough understanding in the past few months.Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan yesterday said the exit of Atiku would not have any significant effect on the fortunes of the party in the 2019 general elections.He said no serving governor, no presiding officer of the National Assembly or key national executive officer of the party was in sync with Atikus defection.Olaosebikan who spoke with journalists in Abuja yesterday said in spite of the defection, President Muhammadu Buhari would win hands down and that the party would perform better in 2019.He added: Going through the resignation letter, I found out that the Turaki did not exercise enough fortitude. He allowed politics and ambition to take control of him. He should have stayed with his avowed position in 2013 that the All Progressives Congress was his last bus stop politically, and leave the rest in the hands of Allah.What the President needs from us, particularly the big political players is love, understanding, support and prayers as already being exhibited by the National Executive of the party and our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who at different fora recently gave us hope and assurances of a better tomorrow.When asked of the declaration of Asiwaju Tinubu that the party would not give automatic ticket to President Buhari for a second term, Olaosebikan told journalists that the position of Tinubu was in the best interest of the President, APC and the country as a whole.Asiwaju, with the declaration of no automatic ticket was merely portraying the President as a genuine democrat who believes in due process. What Asiwaju Tinubu said was in support of strengthening our democracy and our political institution which we need to do with all seriousness.You would recall too, that he stated that all the organs of the party would support him through the processes. In a nutshell, he is in full support of his second term and you know with him, all the APC governors and the presiding officers in the National Assembly, the ticket is already in the pocket of the President.And when it comes to the general election, it is a platitude that you cannot compare the popularity and acceptability of President Muhammadu Buhari with that of any person in the country today. He will win in the North and in the South convincingly. Buhari is not loved for money or any material thing; he is passionately loved for his strong character and piousness. A former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), has told Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to seek dia... A former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), has told Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to seek dialogue with the Nigerian Government rather than calling for secession. Gowon advised Kanu to engage the Federal Government in talks to address issues affecting the South-East, and stop seeking disintegration as it could lead to loss of lives. The former military leader gave the advice while presenting his paper titled, Unity in diversity: Responding to the current challenges of nation-building in Nigeria, at the 2017 Distinguished Annual Lecture of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos, Plateau State. He said, My young friend, Nnamdi Kanu, was not born during the civil war, which was declared no victor, no vanquished. It is sad to recall what happened at that time; the best way to seek redress is through dialogue. Kanu should pursue a healthy conversation on issues he is not comfortable with as it affects his people; this is the only way we can collaborate effectively and have things resolved amicably. Gowon also pointed out that the activities of Fulani herdsmen had posed a threat to nation-building. Ashley Young's first Premier League goal for 18 months, courtesy of a big deflection, saw Manchester United edge battling Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford.Brighton had been the better team up until Young's attempt from the edge of the area hit Lewis Dunk before looping over keeper Mat Ryan and into the net.Earlier, Anthony Knockaert and Pascal Gross both went close after getting behind the United defence.Ryan produced a double save to keep out Romelu Lukaku's header and Paul Pogba's follow-up on the stroke of half-time.United's win cuts Manchester City's lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points ahead of their trip to Huddersfield on Sunday.Credit: BBC President Muhammadu Buhari has described the immediate past Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa 1 as ... President Muhammadu Buhari has described the immediate past Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa 1 as his backbone. Buhari made this known when he met with Oba Ewuare II yesterday at the State House Aso Rock Villa. While receiving the traditional ruler, the President spoke about his relationship with the immediate past Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa I, who is also the father of the visiting traditional ruler. I cannot hold back my emotions, talking about my relationship with your predecessor, President Buhari told the monarch. After General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated, I was moved from the North East as governor to Ministry of Petroleum. Your father was then Permanent Secretary. My relationship with him was very strong. I have lost count of the number of visits to his palace as Oba, Buhari added. The President appreciated the efforts of the late Oba for stabilising the Delta region of the country because of his firmness, as well as the immediate past governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, for stabilising the state. He also commended Oba Ewuare II for following the footsteps of his predecessor while reiterating his support for the traditional institution. I know and respect the traditional institution. I try as much as possible to understand why the authors of our Constitution kept silent about their role that was probably the best thing way to preserve their neutrality, he said. Your Royal Majesty, you are safe where you are, Buhari added. He further commended the stabilising roles that the Eweka Dynasty of Benin Kingdom had been playing in the affairs of the country. According to him, Nigerians have reasons to be proud of the stabilising roles Benin chiefs had played right from the colonial era to the current period, not only in the Delta region but the entire country. In his remarks, the traditional ruler commended President Buhari for the way he has been handling security matters in the country. Police are trying to identify the body of a male, believed to be in his 20s, that was found in the Passaic River late Friday night. A group of four fisherman called the Elmwood Park police at about 11:20 p.m. to report what appeared to be a body floating face-down near the eastern river bank, at River Drive near Linwood Avenue, Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno said in the press release Saturday. The Elmwood Park Fire Department and detectives from the Bergen County Sheriff's Department BCI Unit assisted on the scene. The body was turned over to the Bergen County Medical Examiner's Office. Anyone with information about this case can report it anonymously to the Elmwood Park Police Department at 201-796-0700. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook. By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) Rajiv Bansal has been given a three-month extension as the CMD of disinvestment-bound Air India, according to a senior government official. The tenure extension for Bansal as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) comes at a time when the government is in the process of finalising the modalities for the airlines strategic disinvestment. advertisement A civil aviation ministry official today said Bansal has been given an extension as CMD of Air India for three months. An order in this regard was issued on Thursday. During his three-month tenure, Air India launched services to Copenhagen, among others. He also initiated various steps to reduce costs and improve on-time performance of flights. "We will plan to work on profitability with a missionary zeal, improve our on time performance and ensure customer satisfaction," Bansal had said soon after assuming charge as the CMD in August. He was initially appointed for a period of three months. Bansal, who is also additional secretary and financial adviser at the petroleum ministry, is a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre. He hails from Haryana. The airline, which has a debt burden of over Rs 50,000 crore, managed to eke out operational profit for the first time in a decade in 2015-16. As part of efforts to revive the fortunes of Air India -- which is staying afloat on taxpayers money -- the government has started the disinvestment process for the airline. Under a turnaround plan approved by the previous UPA regime, Air India is to receive up to Rs 30,231 crore from the government subject to meeting certain performance thresholds. The ten-year bailout package began from 2012. So far, the embattled carrier has received around Rs 26,000 crore under the package. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle nod for the strategic disinvestment of the airline in June this year. PTI RAM IAS ABM --- ENDS --- By Kelly Heyboer | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com TRENTON New Jersey's county colleges charged full-time students an average of $4,700 -- or $123 per credit -- in annual tuition and fees last year, according to state statistics. Under a new plan, those tuition bills could all disappear. Gov.-elect Phil Murphy campaigned on a promise to make New Jersey the fifth state in the nation to make county college tuition free for all students. "We can and we must open the doors of opportunity, wide, for all residents," Murphy said in September, weeks before the Democrat easily beat Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to win the governor's seat. Now that Murphy is headed to Trenton, could free county college tuition -- which would cost the state at least $200 million -- become a reality? Lawrence Nespoli, long-time president of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, is optimistic. His group, which represents New Jersey's 19 two-year public colleges, has already had talks with Murphy's team about how a free tuition plan would work. "Not a lot of us have a money tree anywhere, but the governor has a bully pulpit," Nespoli said. "I expect we'll see attention to this important priority." Here are five reasons experts say free county college tuition could work in New Jersey -- and one big reason the idea might be nothing more than a dream: Don't Edit Gov.-elect Phil Murphy has proposed free county college tuition for all New Jersey students. (NJ Advance Media file photo) 1) Murphy has been thinking about a free county college plan for years. Murphy first began discussing the idea of free county college tuition with state education leaders several years ago through New Start New Jersey, the non-profit advocacy group he founded with his wife. He did a podcast about the idea, long before he announced his plan to run for governor. The former Goldman Sachs executive saw free county college tuition as a way to help jump start the state's economy. While ambassador to Germany, he saw first hand how that country's extensive system of technical and vocational training works. His plan calls for free county college tuition for both high school graduates and adults who want to return to school for a two-year degree. Murphy said New Jersey's $200 million free county college tuition plan could be phased in over several years. "This won't be as costly as many critics might have you believe," Murphy said in September. Don't Edit 2) The county colleges are on board. The heads of New Jersey's 19 county colleges are supportive of the free county college plan, which could dramatically increase enrollment, said Nespoli, head of the county college association. Under the preliminary plan, New Jersey's free county college program would be a so-called "last dollar" scholarship open to all of the state's high school graduates, no matter what their grade point average, Nespoli said. That means students would still apply for financial aid. If they qualify for Pell Grants, New Jersey Tuition Aid Grants or other financial aid programs, that money would be applied to their tuition if they attend their county's two-year college. Then, the free county college program would cover only the "last dollars" of the students' remaining county college tuition and fee bills. Students would still have to pay for their own books, transportation and other college costs. They would also have to pay for their own tuition if they transfer to one of the state's four-year colleges to complete a bachelor's degree after attending county college. Don't Edit 3) Other states are doing it. Tennessee, Oregon, and Minnesota all have versions of free county college tuition, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. New York also recently started its Excelsior Scholarship program that offers free tuition at the state's two-year and four-year public colleges for families that make less than $110,000 a year. New Jersey might be able to model its free county college program after the successful Tennessee Promise program that offers free tuition to all high school graduates using state lottery money and other state funds, New Jersey officials said. Tennessee's Republican governor recently signed a bill to expand the program to also offer free county college tuition to a limited number of residents over age 24. Murphy has suggested New Jersey could offer the same program for residents who want to return to county college. Don't Edit 4) New Jersey already has NJ STARS -- a successful, smaller version of free county college tuition. New Jersey has experience running a free county college program. NJ STARS, or the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship, was started in 2004 by Gov. James E. McGreevey in reaction to the rapidly rising tuition at the state's colleges. The program offered free county college tuition to New Jerey students who graduated in the top 20 percent of their high school class. The scholarship was popular because it was one of the only financial aid programs offered to middle-class and wealthier families in New Jersey. In 2006, the NJ STARS II program was added to give additional scholarship money to students to transfer to four-year colleges after finishing their two years at county college. State budget problems forced NJ STARS to scale back so only students in the top 15 percent of their graduating classes were eligible. But, the program remains popular with lawmakers and students. Don't Edit Don't Edit 5) New Jersey's county colleges have room for more students. If county college tuition was free, could New Jersey's two-year colleges handle a surge in enrollment? Yes, county college officials say. New Jersey's 19 county colleges enrolled about 150,500 full- and part-time undergraduate students last year. That is 30,000 less students than in 2010. Unlike four-year colleges, county colleges are designed to be able to easily expand and contract, school officials said. Because they have no dorms and most professors are adjuncts hired on a per-class basis, it is easy to add classes quickly if enrollment climbs. However, there is one big reason free county college might not be coming to New Jersey: Don't Edit 1) Money. When Murphy first introduced the idea of free county college tuition in New Jersey, he said the plan would cost the state $400 million. He later reduced his estimate to $200 million, citing a study by the non-partisan Campaign for Free College Tuition that estimates New Jersey would give up $197.5 million in tuition revenue if it made its two-year colleges free. Murphy said the money could come from several sources, including his plan to raise taxes on the wealthy and generate tax revenue by legalizing recreational marijuana. But, it remains to be seen whether the state Legislature will go along with his plans. It is also unclear whether there will be money left over for county colleges if Murphy follows through on other campaign promises -- including increased spending for K-12 schools, affordable housing, . Some Democrats in the state Legislature already sounded skeptical there would be enough cash for all of Murphy's priorities. "We're not going to be able to raise enough in taxes in the first year, two years, three years, to provide free community college and everything else," state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said the day after Murphy's election. "All of these things are priorities, let's call them goals, to move forward." During the campaign, Repubicans warned there was no such thing as free county college for taxpayers. "There is no such thing as a free lunch, and all of the 'free' stuff Phil Murphy is promising - government-run healthcare, free college - will have to be paid for by New Jersey taxpayers, who will have to work harder and longer to pay for all of the higher taxes Phil Murphy has promised to increase on everyone," Ricky Diaz, Guadagno's spokesman, said shortly after Murphy's plan was introduced. Don't Edit Students wait to receive their degrees at Essex County College's 2017 graduation. (NJ Advance Media for NJ.com file photo) Read more about N.J. college tuition: 7 ways to go to college tuition-free in N.J. Tuition at N.J.'s 27 four-year colleges ranked from least to most expensive Here's how N.J. college students can save $21K in tuition Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. NEWARK -- The city paid $26,500 to a consulting company whose two principal partners were recently embroiled in tax evasion charges for underreporting profits from their marketing and fundraising business. Kiburi Tucker and Linda Jumah, who ran Elite Strategies LLC, both pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges in federal court this month. Tucker also admitted to one count of wire fraud for taking $330,000 from The Centre, Inc., a nonprofit he ran, and using much of the money for gambling and personal expenses. Frank Baraff, a spokesman for the city, said Newark conducted a review and found Elite Strategies provided services to the city three times between Sept. 2014 and Dec. 2015. "Elite Strategies has not received work from the city of Newark since," Baraff said in a statement. "It should also be noted that none of the work performed by Elite Strategies for the city of Newark is related in any way to the pleas entered in federal court by the Elite Strategies principals." Among the work performed by Elite Strategies: $7,549 $2,450 $16,500 Baraff said the work was awarded under open market procedures which allows the purchasing officer to solicit bids and select the lowest responsible bidder. Tucker, 43, is listed as the chief executive officer of Elite Strategies, state corporation records show. His business partner, Jumah, is listed as the president of the company. Attorneys for Tucker and Jumah were not immediately available for comment. Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom last week, Tucker said he let the community down through his actions. "I'm going to try and rectify the situation to the best of my ability, and I accept the consequences and take full responsibility for my actions," he said. Elite Strategies helped plan last year's Mayor's Ball and other events for Mayor Ras Baraka's campaign. Records filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission show the Committee to Re-Elect Ras Baraka paid Elite Strategies $95,000 between April 2015 through April 2017 for consulting services and coordinating a fundraiser. A source close to Baraka's campaign said there was no plan to contract the company for future work. Tucker, however, remains the developer on a South Ward project to erect 42 apartments with ground-floor commercial space. The city said it plans to move forward with the project and "will adjust accordingly" should his unrelated legal issues affect the development. Tucker's late father, Donald Kofi Tucker, served on the state Assembly and on the Newark City Council until he died in 2005. Tucker's mother, Cleopatra Tucker, was elected to the state Assembly in 2008. Tucker was also employed at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission since 1994. He worked as a senior external relations representative earning $113,082, commission spokesman Doug Scancarella told NJ Advance Media. Scancarella said Tucker resigned on Nov. 10. Jumah helped organize the Afro Beat Fest in July that Baraka resurrected and renamed. The city used to hold a festival to celebrate African culture since the 1980s called "Africa Newark;" the festival stopped in 2006 after it lost city support. Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. NEWARK -- Police are searching for a man who burglarized two businesses on Springfield Avenue by breaking in through the roof. Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said the man stole cigarettes and money from K&C Nabaya African Market and the Milly Deli on Nov. 19. Both businesses are located on the 400 block of Springfield Avenue. Th burglar was captured on surveillance camera and had a beard, was wearing gloves and a wool cap, police said. He allegedly entered the building through the roof of K&C Nabaya African Market. Anyone with information can call the Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or leave a tip online www.newarkpd.org or through the Newark Police Division smartphone app. Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. Jose M. Archeval was convicted of sexual assault in 1987 and 1994. He's listed on the New Jersey sex offender registry as a Tier 3 (high risk) offender. The 65-year-old's last known address was in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, but the state database indicates his current whereabouts are unknown. Archeval is one of 85 sex offenders listed as fugitives. These "non-compliant" offenders failed to fulfill registration requirements under Megan's Law by not checking in with local police at a regular interval to confirm their current address. Depending on their sentence, offenders must notify police of their address either every 90 days or once a year. If they fail to do that, they are deemed non-compliant. If police cannot locate the offender at their last-known address, an arrest warrant is issued, according to police. Overall, the online sex offender registry includes more than 4,300 people, with details including photos, physical descriptions and the charges that landed them on the list. All sex offenders subject to Megan's Law are required to register for life. In addition to the annual or 90-day notifications, offenders must register any change of address at least 10 days prior to moving. Sex offenders convicted in another state are required to register in New Jersey within 10 days of moving to the state. Efforts to locate non-compliant offenders depend on the threat they pose, officials previously explained. Few of those currently listed as non-compliant are high-risk (Tier 3) offenders. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of a non-compliant sex offender is asked to submit a tip on the online registry. They can also contact local police. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. By PTI: (Eds: Adds information on arrested man) Kolkata, Nov 24 (PTI) Kolkata Police today arrested a man allegedly linked to two terrorists of the banned Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) of Bangladesh from near a cinema hall in the citys busy Sealdah area, a senior police officer said. Mohammed Sahadat Hossain was arrested by a team of the Special Task Force after the two ABT terrorists - Samsad Mia, alias Tanvir Saiful, and Rizaul Islam, who were arrested from the Kolkata railway station on Tuesday - provided information to them, he said. advertisement Hossain has confessed to the STF sleuths that he had helped two persons ? Swapan Biswas, alias Tamim, and Tanvir Saiful - in illegally entering India through the Bangladesh border. "(Hossain) took both Tamim and Tanvir to Hyderabad where they were introduced to a group head of the banned terror outfit," the officer said. Hossain later brought them back to Kolkata as per the instruction of the "group head", the officer said. Tamim was introduced to Nayan Gazi here and the duo stayed for around three days at a hotel in Howrah. "We have collected CCTV footages from the Howrah hotel and distributed photographs of the two to all police stations in the state. We need these two persons to dig more into the case," the officer said. Anyone giving additional information about Tamim and Gazi would be rewarded, he added. Hossain was produced before a city court during the day and was remanded to police custody till December 5. On Tuesday, the STF had arrested Mia and Islam along with arms supplier Monotosh Dey from the Kolkata railway station and seized several fake documents and arms from them. The two are suspected to be behind the killing of secular bloggers and writers in Bangladesh. PTI SCH KK ABH --- ENDS --- You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The presumed nominee, defense attorney Peter Strasser, either pushed or poked Assistant U.S. Attorney Myles Ranier in the chest during an argument, according to the news site.(File photo) He said that the minority community in Bangladesh would like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to intervene in the situation. By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Rana Das Gupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist & Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) on Friday claimed that many ruling party leaders are involved in property of Hindu people in Bangladesh through various MPs and ministers. Gupta was speaking as the chief guest at the tri-annual conference of BHBCUC in Pirojpur. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the chief of the Awami League, the ruling party of Bangladesh. The party time and again claims that Hindus are its friends. advertisement "We want Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention to remain free from this situation. We do not want to see the Awami Muslim League of 1954, we want to see Bangladesh of 1971- the dream of Bangabandhu," Gupta said. He added that the oppression against Hindus has been continuing since 1991, all under the state's nose. No one sees the light of justice in any of these violent attacks. He expressed his anger over the recommendations of the Justice Shahabuddin Commission in 2012 to protect the interests of Hindus. 'AWAMI LEAGUE LEADERS INVOLVED IN ATTACK' Gupta said local Awami League leaders were involved in the incident at Thakurpara of Rangpur District in Bangladesh. Following rumours that a Hindu youth had posted an offensive Facebook status on November 10, a mob of angry protesters had set at least 30 houses of Hindus on fire in Bangladesh. "Not just in Rangpur, an Awami League leader was involved in an attack on a Buddhist temple in Cox's Bazaar and another Hindu area at Nasrinagar in Brahmanbaria district," he added. "Even though they (the attackers) talk about the ideology of Bangabandhu, they do not hold his ideology in their heart." 'NO VOTES FOR THOSE TORTURING HINDUS' He said Hindus will not give votes to those leaders who have tortured minorities and occupied their land. "Because, when we are tortured, no political leader or police can see anyone next to us," He added.District Awami League adviser advocate Chandicharan Pal inaugurated the conference held at Ramkrishna Mission Ashram in Rajarhat area of Pirojpur city. Officials of BHBCUC were also present. --- ENDS --- The Fremont County Attorneys Office has announced dispositions from the Iowa District Court there on Nov. 20. The man, 33, of Omaha, pled guilty to child endangerment and domestic abuse assault. He was sentenced to 25 days in the county jail with credit for time served. He was granted a deferred judgment for the domestic abuse assault charge. The man was ordered to one year of supervised probation and to complete the Batterers Education Program, obtain a mental health evaluation and follow recommendations. Mikayla MLynn Edie, 27, of Council Bluffs, pled guilty to possession of a weapon in a correctional institution and violating her probation. She was given a suspended sentence of 10 years in jail with credit for time served. She was ordered to two years probation, to reside at a residential corrections facility and to pay court costs. Authorities are still investigating the death of a Harlan woman who was killed Thursday morning after a car struck her while she was walking along Highway 59. The Iowa State Patrol said the incident concerning the death of Patsey Ann Maria Nuzum, 50, is still being looked into by law enforcement. The Shelby County Sheriffs Office said the incident occurred just before 6 a.m. in the 700 block of Highway 59. Two vehicles were southbound when one vehicle, a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer, reportedly attempted to pass the other. During the pass attempt, the Trailblazer struck Nuzum, who was walking southbound in the northbound lane. She was pronounced dead at the scene. According to several people around the world, a suspicious loud sound was heard recently. The booming sounds have left experts baffled. By India Today Web Desk: What's creating noise these days? Well, mysterious booming sounds which have been recorded from different parts of the world. These booming sounds have left people perplexed. People have been claiming these booms to be terrifying and have been nicknamed as Bama Boom. Bama Boom have been recorded from the Middle East to the East Midlands to Australia, with the several people hearing them on America's eastern coast. advertisement According to a Daily Mail report, the terrifying boom has left experts mystified. A few suggested causes range from supersonic aircraft to meteors exploding in the atmosphere. According to the same portal, mysterious booms have been reported 64 times this year. The latest boom was reported from the US state of Alabama and Idaho in the last week. "Loud boom heard: we do not see anything indicating large fire/smoke on radar or satellite; nothing on USGS indicating an earthquake," the Birmingham National Weather Service said in a tweet. Re: loud boom heard: we do not see anything indicating large fire/smoke on radar or satellite; nothing on USGS indicating an earthquake. We don't have an answer, and can only hypothesize with you. 1) sonic boom from aircraft; 2) meteorite w/ current Leonid shower?- NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) November 14, 2017 WHAT TRIGGERS BAMA BOOM? While the cause remains unknown, suggested explanations include a sonic boom from an aircraft or a meteorite from the Leonid shower. But NASA has since cast skepticism on these explanations. The loud boom could have been caused by a supersonic aircraft, a ground explosion, or a bolide -- a large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere unrelated to the Leonid shower, Bill Cooke, head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, was quoted as saying to ABC 3340. The noise, which was also picked up by the US Geological Survey, noted that the boom was not the result of an earthquake. The boom may have been caused by a military flight by a supersonic jet, they said, although the US Air Force is yet to confirm this. BAMA BOOM RETURNS The Bama Boom is just one of many mysterious booms heard worldwide this year. This is not the first time the mysterious sound has been heard. In 2017 alone, 64 booms have been heard worldwide, in locations including Michigan, Lapland, St Ives, Swansea and Yorkshire. This was heard across multiple counties this afternoon? doesn't appear to be related to a geological event https://t.co/34O9kGgjJH https://t.co/3fTtYDOies- James Spann (@spann) November 14, 2017 advertisement On October 10, a similar loud sound left Cairns locals confused. Many people suggested it was an FA-18 Hornet plane was heard flying, news.com.au reported. Two weeks later, another boom was heard over the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia at the same time a blue meteor passed across the sky. "It just got bigger and bigger and it was just this big flash across the sky and there were sparks coming off it," Port Lincoln local Lisa Watson was quoted by News Corp. "I pulled up home and I heard two massive bangs, maybe a second apart, and then the sky lit up again I just felt the whole earth shake twice," he added. According to Cooke, NASA's meteor scientists will continue to analyse new data in hopes of determining the cause of the boom. --- ENDS --- Since the rise of the Patidar agitation led by 24-year-old Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) in 2015, their support base has eroded slowly. By Poulomi Saha: Its going to pour rallies in Gujarat come this weekend. The BJP has charted out a gameplan to carpet-bomb Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions of the state that go to polls on December 9. The saffron party today released a detailed plan of the top faces of the Union Cabinet, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be descending on Gujarat to give the party's campaign for the first phase a last-ditch push. Its expected to be a campaign blitzkrieg. advertisement Bharatiya Janata Party's 50 star campaigners, including Unions Minister Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani and Piyush Goyal will address rallies across the 89 constituencies of the state that vote on December 9. These rallies will be addressed simultaneously on November 26 and 27. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies across the region is expected to steal the show. Starting his campaign on November 27 from Bhuj, the Prime Minister will address 15 rallies and inaugurate a hospital in Ahmedabad over 4 days - November 26, 27 and December 3, 4. Each day the Prime Minister is expected to address 4 rallies. This leg of the campaign is going to be extremely crucial for the BJP because the Saurashtra region, that covers roughly 60 of the 89 seats that go to polls in the first phase, is considered to be a Patidar stronghold. Patidars have been known to be BJP supporters but since the rise of the Patidar agitation led by 24-year-old Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) in 2015, that support base has eroded slowly. The death knell to this erstwhile association was sounded yesterday when Hardik announced that he has accepted the Congress' formula to provide reservation for Patidars in jobs and educational institutions, if voted to power. Hardik said Congress assured they would introduce a bill in the Gujarat assembly to that effect and it would not disturb the current 49% reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs in Gujarat. How that would not overrule the Supreme Court's cap on reservations at 50% is not known. Patidars account for roughly 12% of the population of Gujarat and BJP banked heavily on their support in previous elections. Saurashtra had favoured BJP strongly in 2012 when the party got 37 of the 58 seats in the region while Congress scooped up 16. This latest arrangement between the Congress and PAAS could be the Prime Minister's target as he embarks on his campaign blitzkrieg ahead of December 9. The Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has already canvassed around the region as part of his Navsarjan Yatra. But the BJP is optimistic that launching their biggest star in the final lap will erase away all the legwork that Rahul has put in. advertisement The BJP has also significantly given several Patidar leaders tickets in the 134 seats where they have declared candidate names for so far. Contrary to popular speculation, the party has also repeated several sitting MLAs, including seniormost Patidar face in the party, state Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel. Congress rebel MLAs who defected to the party from the Congress at the time of Ahmed Patel's re-election to the Rajya Sabha, have also been accommodated. It remains to be seen how this strategy coupled with the Prime Minister's popularity can dent any anti-incumbency wave that may have been created in the last year due to demonetisation and GST. Its the party's 22 year-old reign that is at stake, and the BJP is looking hopefully towards Prime Minister Modi. --- ENDS --- Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides for a convention of states to be called at the request of at least 34 state legislatures. Our federally elected politicians, appointed officials and unelected bureaucrats provide us daily examples of corruption and dysfunction in Washington, D.C.. Randy May, West Region captain of Nebraska Convention of States, said in the press release. Were inviting everyone in the McCook area to come to the town hall to learn how they can end their frustration and act. Centier Bank donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross's relief efforts after Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma devastated Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. The Red Cross would like to thank Centier Bank, its associates, and their clients in their fundraising efforts to support our hurricane relief efforts, said Kristin Marlow-Kellemen, executive director for the American Red Cross Northwest Indiana Chapter. Donations like these have helped us to provide 1.3 million overnight stays in emergency shelters, served more than 10.5 million meals and snacks, distributed more than 6 million emergency relief items like diapers, bug spray, cleaning supplies, coolers, and comfort kits containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene items. We know there is still a great deal of work ahead of us, and we will continue to stand with the individuals and families impacted, for as long as it takes. The family-owned Merrillville-based bank raised $9,000 from clients and workers at its 60 branches across Indiana. Centier's Board of Directors decided to kick in another $1,000 to bring the total to an even $10,000. "It is humbling to witness how the Centier family rallied is this time of need. Our employees did a wonderful job of taking the lead with this great idea to support the victims of the hurricanes. I feel that this genuine gesture truly embodies the caring nature of our culture here at Centier," said Anthony Contrucci, Vice President of Community Relations and Business Development at Centier Bank. Im proud to be on a team with people who are making a positive impact on the communities that we serve as well as those communities in need. Centier Bank also was recently named Corporate Philanthropist of the Year by the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. President and CEO Mike Schrage said the ongoing philanthropy reflects the bank's core value of "caring." It is no surprise to me that our associates and clients came out in full force to support the communities impacted by the hurricanes, Schrage said. The entire Centier family is dedicated to providing care and support to those in need; though we are an Indiana bank, I am proud to say that our reach extends well beyond the State and the communities we serve in times like these. PORTAGE A recent federal inquiry may center on a significant tax break a local business received several years ago. FBI and IRS agents visited Portage Township Assessor Alta Neri last week to ask questions about SRH LLC, which previously owned a multiacre real estate parcel at 5900 Southport Road on which Great Lakes Peterbilt trucks has been doing business for more than 20 years. While the federal agents didn't serve a subpoena for records, they did ask about routine practices of the township assessor's office and took copies of documents related to a decision to reduce SRH's property tax assessments. Neri said a tax representative for SRH filed appeals of its 2011-12 assessments. She said properties usually are assessed at values, for taxing purposes, that follow the local real estate market. On this appeal, they used an alternate method of measuring the firm's business income and arrived at a lower value. "We honestly did our job," she said. Neri was the chief deputy assessor at the time. She was elected assessor in 2014. Neri said the documents federal investigators asked questions about are confidential. But public records kept by the Porter County assessor's office indicate the assessment of SRH's parcel was reduced in value by at least 35 percent to $1.6 million from $2.5 million in 2011, and to $1.6 million from $2.6 million in 2012. Neri said that reduction accounts for SRH's 2012 tax bill dropping by nearly $22,992. The Porter County treasurer's office records indicate SRH's taxes went to $42,170 from $65,162. Stephen Buha, listed as SRH's president in state business records, said this week no federal agents have questioned him about what he considers to be a routine tax appeal. "I was the president who filed it, but I didn't do it personally. I cannot speculate what this is about." Valparaiso attorney Russell Millbranth, who has represented SRH, said he is baffled. "People quite often find their assessment is steep. There are a lot of companies that perform appeals of tax matters." Spokespersons for the FBI, IRS and the U.S. attorney's office in Hammond declined to comment, saying federal law prohibits them from commenting on investigations. Neri said she suspects the federal inquiry may be connected to the long-running investigation of Portage Mayor James Snyder, who is awaiting trial next year on bribery, extortion and tax evasion charges the U.S. attorney's office filed a year ago. Snyder is pleading not guilty to all counts. Reached Wednesday by text message, the mayor said he would respond but did not. His defense attorney could not be reached for comment. Business records kept by the Indiana secretary of state indicates SRH was first organized as a limited liability company in January 2003 and has remained active. SRH's principal office was listed at the Southport Road address until 2015 when it moved to the Valparaiso residence of Robert Buha, who is listed as the company's secretary. County records indicate the property at Southport Road sold in 2015 to Larson Properties LLC for $5.3 million. Neri said that will require her office to readjust the property's value upward in future tax cycles. In September 2014, FBI agents visited Portage's street department and requested documents related to the purchase of automated garbage trucks from Great Lakes Peterbilt, Clerk-Treasurer Christopher Stidham said at the time. City Attorney Gregg Sobkowski also had confirmed the FBI issued a subpoena at the time for all bid packages received by the city for garbage trucks purchased from 2012 to the present. In August 2015, FBI agents visited the offices of Porter County Assessor Jon Snyder to inquire about property tax appeals from 2012 and 2013. The county assessor is a brother of the Portage mayor. CROWN POINT A Lake County attorney has been elected by his fellow attorneys to serve three-year terms on the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission and the Commission on Judicial Qualifications. Daniel Vinovich, a partner for the Hilbrich Law Firm in Highland, was elected to represent the commissions' Third District, which is comprised of 20 counties in the upper portion of the state. The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission is responsible for vetting applications and submitting qualified applicants to the governor for each vacancy that occurs on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or Tax Court, according to the state's website. The governor then appoints an individual from that list to fill the vacancy. The nominating commission members also serve on the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications, which is responsible for investigating allegations of judicial misconduct and, when appropriate, filing judicial disciplinary charges. The members of the commissions include three elected attorneys, three governor-appointed citizens, and the chief justice of Indiana, who is the chair of the commissions. The attorneys-only election for the Third District seat was held Nov. 17. Vinovich was elected to replace attorney John O. Feighner, of Fort Wayne. Vinovich's term begins Jan. 1. Vinovich said he wanted to serve on the commissions so he could help improve the administration of justice in Indiana. Vinovich has practiced law for 27 years and concentrates in civil trial work, primarily medical malpractice. He was president of the Indiana Bar Association in 2012 and 2013, and also served as chairman of the state bar association's House of Delegates. He is also the former president of the Lake County Bar Association. The other candidates for the Third District were Debra Lynch Dubovich, of Levy & Dubovich in Merrillville, and Mark W. Baeverstad, of Rothberg, Logan & Warsco in Fort Wayne. EAST CHICAGO The Hammond Disabled American Veterans Indiana Chapter 17 is hosting a town hall Tuesday night to discuss major policies potentially impacting local veterans in the upcoming legislative session. Jim Tarka, finance officer at the American Legion Allied Post 369 in East Chicago, said the "Veterans Voices" event organizers are hoping for a large turnout. "All veterans and their families are invited to attend. Anybody can come. There will be a question-and-answer period. We want input," Tarka said. The town hall will center on major legislative priorities such as mental health, disabled veterans' healthcare benefits and homelessness presented by the Indiana departments of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and American Veterans. The event starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Allied Post 369, 1401 W. Chicago Ave. in East Chicago. Event organizers ask that veterans wear a Legion, VFM, DAV or military cap to signify unity. Marty Dzieglowicz, a U.S. Army veteran and 42-year member of Allied Post 369 in East Chicago, said other priorities include the creation of tax credits for veterans and legalizing the use of medical marijuana for disabled veterans. The groups also propose creating a veterans lottery ticket to help fund American Legion veterans programs. Several veterans, along with local, state and federal politicians have been invited to attend. State Sens. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, and Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, North Township Manager Frank Mrvan Jr. have all committed to attend, along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, and U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana. Mrvan Jr. said he wants to continue the discussion on improving veterans' healthcare, creating sustainable employment, and cutting down on veterans homelessness rates in Northwest Indiana by creating transitional housing programs with the East Chicago Housing Authority and the Catholic Diocese of Gary. "Our main goal is to listen and the really help identify any needs they have," Mrvan Jr. said. Those also invited include U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, state Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, Rep. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and Rep. Mara Candeleria-Reardon, D-Munster, and Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland, and Lake County Councilwoman Christine Cid, have also been invited to attend, according to event organizers. VALPARAISO Sandy McGuigan reached out and lifted up a small handmade Nativity scene from Peru. "Just think about making this," she said. As the Valparaiso resident continued making her way around the 11th annual Fair Trade Holiday Bazaar at the Valparaiso International Center, 309 E. Lincolnway, she marveled at the wide assortment of items from many different countries including Indonesia, India, Africa, Pakistan and Peru. "They have gorgeous things here," said McGuigan, who was volunteering during the opening of the event Friday afternoon. The bazaar will continue from noon to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through at least Dec. 9, said Frieda Davison, co-founder of the International Center. All of the items on sale at this year's bazaar are fair trade, she said, which means fair prices are paid to the producers of the items in the other countries, she said. This allows them to earn a living wage, gain a better quality of life and have the chance to send their children to school. "It provides good work conditions, no child labor and sustainability of the environment," Davison said. While fair trade can be associated with higher prices, Davison said the items at the bazaar are moderately priced. "It's a different mindset," McGuigan said. "Initially, people don't think that much about why this is a good thing to do." But it becomes clearer once they learn about the conditions in other countries, she said. Providing this education is part of what takes place at the International Center, she said. The center presents a Fourth Friday event, which features representatives from different countries discussing that culture, showing photos and even sharing native foods, said Valparaiso resident Lani Fisher, who was among the first to be shopping at this year's bazaar. "We like to support fair trade," she said, explaining that it benefits those who are less fortunate. "I think everyone wants to work and make a fair living," Fisher said. In addition to supporting such a good cause, McGuigan said she simply likes the beautiful merchandise at the annual bazaar. "What a marvelous gift to give somebody," she said of the items from around the world. After the hustle and bustle of Black Friday at retail chains, mom and pop stores get the chance to shine today. Small Business Saturday was launched in 2010 by American Express as a campaign encouraging shoppers to spend their money at local businesses. By 2012, officials from all 50 states recognized the initiative, according to the American Express website. The movement is now in its seventh year of celebrating shopping small the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small businesses have long been recognized as the economic engine for job growth, economic stability and preserving neighborhoods across Alabama and the nation, Gov. Kay Ivey said after signing a proclamation officially recognizing the day. Small Business Saturday shopping continues to increase each year and is achieving the goal of showcasing the importance of Main Street businesses to the local community. There are 388,850 small businesses in Alabama. Thats 99.4 percent of total businesses in the state, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy. When consumers shop at those small businesses, they pour money back into the local economy. I think people sometimes get wrapped up in Black Friday, said Pam Powers-Smith, Opelika Chamber of Commerce president. But we want people to not forget about small businesses. When you shop with a small business, more sales tax dollars stay in the city and help the community. Many small businesses across the country offer special promotions on Small Business Saturday. But with Auburn hosting the Iron Bowl today, and downtowns proximity to campus, small business owners in downtown Auburn celebrated yesterday. Downtown Auburns version of Small Business Saturday is known as Blue Friday, according to downtown coordinator Jessica Kahn. We had a bunch of sales and specials today, Kahn said Friday afternoon. She said shopping at small businesses not only stimulates the local economy, but supports the business owners who call Auburn home. There are a lot of people who have the misconception that because downtown Auburn is always crowded and finding a parking spot is difficult, that all the business owners here are really well-off and dont need the money, she said. But thats not the case. This is their livelihood. They really depend on patrons spending money with them, and not the big box stores. Former Kumi Member of Parliament, Patrick Oboi Amuriat has defeated Gen Mugisha Muntu, the incumbent in the race for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidency. Muntu, a former army commander and bush war veteran was running for the second and last term garnered 463 votes (41.1 per cent) against Amuriats 641 (57.6 per cent). He was defeated at all the six polling stations at Namboole national stadium. Patrick Oboi Amuriat is the new FDC president Muntu ran his campaign on the approach of building party structures, accepted the defeat and apologised to those who did not vote for him for having disappointed them. He said in the coming weeks, he has to make personal decisions about his struggle to liberate the country because he wants to operate in an environment where he is trusted. On my side, in the next few weeks, there are decisions I have to make. We need to bear with each otherWell do our part as human beings the rest well leave to the living GodHonourable Amuriat you have taken over the seat of FDC but I can tell you it's tough. I wouldnt want you to operate in the environment that I have operated in...Continue the same path of building the party, he said. Amuriat, a new face in the party leadership, on his part, ran his campaign on the defiance strategy (radicalism) vowing to go head-on against the ruling party, NRM. Gen Muntu I will never stop to respect you as a president I look up to. I have listened to your remarks and I believe once the dust has settled, we shall have to meet and iron out the differences. We need each other in this party...In the near future I would like to meet all the candidates to find a way on how we can work together", Amuriat said in his acceptance speech. Amuriat added that the liberation of Uganda will not happen in Parliament but outside with the people. Political minnows Moses Byamugisha got 3 votes while Dan Malcom Matsiko got 2 votes each. iStock/Thinkstock(TUCKER, Ark.) -- Two correctional officers who were briefly held hostage Friday night by a pair of inmates at an Arkansas maximum security prison have been released, and their captors are in custody, officials said. The incident took place in the housing area at the Maximum Security Unit in Tucker, located about 30 miles southeast of Little Rock. The officers were released at 7 p.m. local time with minor injuries, including cuts and bruises, said Solomon Graves, public information officer for the Arkansas Department of Correction. Following "a use of force," both inmates were taken into custody, Graves said. When the hostage situation began, emergency response teams from the Department of Correction headed to the scene and Arkansas State Police were notified. notified, Solomon Graves, public information officer for the Arkansas Department of Correction, said in a statement. It was unclear what prompted the hostage situation. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved By PTI: Amritsar, Nov 25 (PTI) Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today accused the Centre of delaying the process of giving the states share in GST collections. The minister along with Congress workers also took out a protest march against the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The state is facing problems in spending on development projects because of a cash crunch caused by the delay in disbursement of Punjabs share in GST collections, he alleged here. advertisement "The GST has created terror among people and it is a direct attack on the federal structure. Rs 3,500 crore has not been paid by the Centre to the Punjab government," Sidhu said. He also claimed that traders and customers were upset with the tax slab. "Earlier there was a six per cent tax on goods but with the implementation of the GST, tax was being charged at 18 per cent on most of goods because of which both traders and consumers are upset," the minister said. The Local Bodies Minister alleged that the "improper" implementation of the GST had left business communities fuming as they were finding it difficult to adjust to the new tax system. He claimed that with the Centre sharing tax proceeds with states, the latter had become "beggars" for their share of revenue. Reportedly, two ambulances carrying patients got stuck in the traffic jam for half-an-hour because of the protest march. PTI COR CHS ANB --- ENDS --- Babaria, who is said to be close to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, ruffled feathers in Bhopal by claiming that the BJP had managed the media in the state. By Rahul Noronha: AICC General Secretary in charge of MP, Deepak Babaria, while in Bhopal on Saturday conceded that the Congress was short of funds and that funding in polls was a problem for the party. "I am an AICC functionary and am saying this. If someone donates to the Congress, he gets a call from a big BJP leader threatening them against the contribution," he said. advertisement Babaria, who is said to be close to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, ruffled feathers in Bhopal by claiming that the BJP had managed the media in the state. "Vyapam is such an important issue, but even five lines on the issue are not discussed in the papers," he said. Babaria made the comment while responding to a question that the Congress is not seen on the streets raising issues of public interest. "The media creates a perception on these things," he said. However, he clarified later that he meant that the Vyapam issue was not discussed the way it should have been discussed. Deepak Babaria has been in Bhopal for the last two days, meeting state Congress leaders to take feedback from them. On the issue of who would lead the Congress in the next assembly polls, Babaria said that this was a sponsored issue by the BJP. "Who leads the party, when the announcement will be made can't be stated before the media," he said. He, however, did add that Congress was united in the state. On being asked how he expects the Congress to do in the state in the next polls, Babaria said that MP will witness a Tsunami for the Congress and the recent election results at Chitrakoot where the Congress won, was an indicator. He said that Congress was also bringing about changes at the organizational level to counter the BJP's booth level management. On the Congress's chances in Gujarat- the state where he hails from- Babaria said that the BJP's confidence of large victory margins stems from EVM manipulations. --- ENDS --- For many kids, this time of year means narrowing down the wish list to the toys they really want. It means counting down the days till schools out, and going home to pine trees and gingerbread cookies, to warmth and wonder. But for many others, the holidays arent so bright. This December, Camp Fontanelle is opening its doors to kids in need of a little extra spirit over the holiday season. The fourth annual Christmas Camp will be Dec. 15 to 17 at the campground, 9677 County Road 3 in Washington County. The camp is meant for kids ages 9 to 12 who, for whatever reason, will be facing a less-than-blessed holiday season, said Jane Van Horn, coordinator at Camp Fontanelle. Maybe they come from a low-income family. Maybe a parent or grandparent is seriously ill. We just want to reach out to these kids that just need some fun, some light in their life, Van Horn said. The Christmas Camp, funded through a grant from the Nebraska United Methodist Foundation, is free for families. It features a range of Yuletide activities: Campers construct gingerbread houses, re-enact the Nativity story and shop for gifts to give friends and family at a makeshift Christmas store. Camp Fontanelle, owned by the United Methodist Churchs Great Plains Conference, hosts Christian camps and retreats throughout the year, Van Horn said. But the holiday season offers a chance to do something different. People come to summer camp because its just fun, she said. We want to give that fun in the month of December as well. We want (campers) to leave with positive feelings, with understanding of giving and receiving gracefully. To learn more or to register, email fontanelle@greatplainsumc.org or call 402-278-0526. BERLIN (AP) Workers at a half-dozen Amazon distribution centers in Germany and one in Italy walked off the job Friday, in a protest timed to coincide with Black Friday to demand better wages from the American online giant. In Germany, Ver.di union spokesman Thomas Voss said some 2,500 workers were on strike at Amazon facilities in Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig, Rheinberg, Werne, Graben and Koblenz. In a warehouse near Piacenza, in northern Italy, some workers walked off the job to demand dignified salaries. The German union has been leading a push since 2013 for higher pay for some 12,000 workers in Germany, arguing that Amazon employees receive lower wages than others in retail and mail-order jobs. Amazon says its distribution warehouses in Germany are logistics centers and employees earn relatively high wages for that industry. The strikes in Germany are expected to end today. Amazon Germany defended its position, saying it was a fair and responsible employer that offers attractive jobs. The strikes will not affect us keeping our word to our customers, as the overwhelming majority of our workers are continuing their normal work, the company told the Associated Press. The Italian action, a one-day strike, was hailed by one of the nations umbrella union leaders, the UILs Carmelo Barbagallo, as having enormous symbolic value because its clear that progress, innovation and modernity cant come at the expense and the interests of workers. The chief of the CISL umbrella labor syndicate, Annamaria Furlan, called on Amazon to work with unions for proper industrial relations, employment stability and dignified salaries. The Italian strike at the facility near Piacenza was called for permanent workers. The unions advised workers who are on short-term, work-on-demand contracts to stay on the job, so they wouldnt risk losing future gigs. Amazon says it has created 2,000 full-time jobs in Italy, where unemployment remains stubbornly high. Amazons head of personnel at the Piacenza-area center, Salvatore Iorio, told Italys Sky TG24 TV on Friday that despite the strike, the facility was keeping our commitment to serve our clients. Asked about union complaints that workers there did repetitive physical tasks to the point of experiencing health problems, Iorio said the company balances positions at work areas to avoid any such problems. Some things shoppers simply miss out on if they buy online in lieu of standing in line on Black Friday like, for instance, a friendly wag from a skunk named Flowers. The pet skunk was with owner Paul Messerschmidt at the front of the pack of hundreds who waited outside for Cabelas in La Vista to open at 5 a.m. Messerschmidt has done this before: pitched a tent ahead of the holiday in front of the store, accompanied by animals he said have included geese and ferrets. He planned to shop for snow boot bargains this year, but mostly he likes to entertain. This year was different, he admits, because Cabelas was open for the first time ever on Thanksgiving Day, and there was not as much of a buildup or down time to the climactic moment when the doors flew open. It didnt really feel like Black Friday, Messerschmidt said. Still, he said, Flowers made many a child smile as the two stood outside Cabelas. The store was open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and reopened at 5 a.m. Friday. Deneille Chamley was No. 4 in line at Cabelas, arriving about 3 p.m. Thursday. She was flanked by two couples she just met, one from St. Paul, Nebraska, and the other from the Kansas City area. Chamley usually comes with her husband, but this year he had to work. Her solo trip turned out to be a fun bonding experience with the women. I became sisters with them overnight. Phillip Nelson of St. Paul said he got a kick out of Messerschmidts antics, and passed other hours Thursday night and Friday morning socializing and eating. At one point, his wife held their spot in line Thursday, while he scoped out the store to pinpoint the location of a rifle he wanted. Most of it is the camaraderie, Nelson said of why he was there. Outside PetSmart in Papillions Shadow Lake Towne Center, before the store opened at 7 a.m., shoppers chatted it up about their common denominator, be they furry, feathered or fishy. Leanne Braniff stood in the predawn darkness with her kids, Claire, 7, and Colby, 16. They were on a mission to buy two 36-gallon aquariums. (The family already has three cats and a bird at home.) Colby was eager for the aquarium Christmas gift, which he plans to design with live plants and exotic fish. A big seller at PetSmart that morning was cat litter. T.J. and Lori Lichtas got in line at 6 a.m. to get 35-pound buckets, about two dozen of them. The price for Friday morning was cut in about half, and the couple planned to stock up. There was a day, the couple said, when they used to rise early on Black Friday to shop for joy and adventure. Now its for stuff we need, Lori said. Bob and Dorothy Whited said discounted cat litter would be their primary Black Friday loot as well. Not too glamorous, but practical and necessary. Bob chuckled good-heartedly as he pointed next door to the shoppers forming a line at Best Buy. Theyre going to get something nice, he said. All Im getting is fancy dirt. Yes, they might have stayed home in their pajamas, shopping with the point of a cursor and a click, but what fun would that have been? Thousands of people across the region lined up well before dawn Friday sometimes even staking out territory on Thursday afternoon all to get a good place in line for when retailers threw open the doors to their Black Friday deals. Modou Nyang of Papillion was among those waiting for the one-day-only doorbusters at Nebraska Furniture Mart. No doors actually were busted down, but there was a line of people for the stores opening at 8 a.m. Friday. Good weather it was in the 50s in the morning and topped 70 by the afternoon certainly didnt hurt. Nyang said it was hectic once he got inside the Furniture Mart, but the prices were better than at Walmart, he said, where hed popped in on Thanksgiving to shop. Was it worth facing the Black Friday crowds? Of course, he said. Ill come back again next year. Jim Cahill, Nebraska Furniture Marts corporate security manager, said it was one of the busiest Black Fridays hes seen. The lines were actually longer than I have probably seen in the last five years, Cahill said. Among those who really, really wanted a good deal on some Mart goods: 15 people who camped overnight for the Black Friday morning bell. They werent the only ones on the hunt for a start-to-the-holidays deal: A recent survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers of about 1,000 adults in the U.S. found that 84 percent of shoppers expected to head to stores sometime over the Thanksgiving weekend. Their average expected spending? $470.20. On Friday by about 5:30 a.m. about 1,200 people stood in a line that snaked 500 feet around the Council Bluffs Menards. They must not have gotten the memo: More shoppers told the National Retail Federation that theyd be shopping online this year than ever before, yet here they were in the Omaha area, spilling out of cars that filled parking stalls and grass islands and, in this case, seeped into nearby parking lots at Manawa Center. Bluffs resident and Black Friday shopping devotee Angel Johnson joined the queue at about 3:30 a.m. with eyes on a collection of dishware as well as a set of pots and pans. Fellow local Mary Bixler accompanied Johnson out the door, but not because the two were shopping partners: Bixler had staked a claim to Johnsons shopping cart. Do you know how hard it is to find a cart? Bixler asked with the authority of a shopper who had already been at it for about 12 hours. At the Kmart store east of downtown Council Bluffs on U.S. Highway 6, Alyssia Wiebold had already struck paydirt by 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Wiebold, a Bluffs resident, was really only looking for an air fryer for someone on her Christmas list. Everything else, she said, was just window-shopping. But nabbing the air fryer still required a 4 a.m. wake-up call and a trip to the local Menards, where people by then had already begun to form the line that stretched halfway around the store. Once Wiebold got her hands on the air fryer, she headed to the Kmart, where a 10 to 50 percent store-wide discount special had already been in effect for more than 24 hours. Doorbuster specials there had kicked off at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. As big a draw as early promotions are for some shoppers, Wiebold and friend Steve DeSantiago said theyd be more enthused for the big shopping day if it were only that: one day. Wiebold even hinted at a little bit of burnout from Black Friday deals that actually start on Thursday when many people are still sitting down for dinner: Wed get more crazy if it werent all opened up on Thanksgiving Day, she said. DeSantiago agreed. They need to stay closed and let people have the day off with family, he said. Black Friday, though, indeed was a family affair for many. Generations of the Gibson family set out to the Shadow Lake Towne Center in Papillion shortly after it opened Friday morning. Jared Gibson, 22, was running out of Best Buy with a Christmas gift-to-self Oculus Rift virtual reality device. Waiting in the running car for him was grandma Char and mom Julie Gibson. The three already had been to a couple of places Friday morning and other shops Thanksgiving Day starting about 2 p.m. Grandma got the air fryer she had her sights set on. Mom got a copper pan, pillows and more. I love to shop, Julie said. I like the idea of shopping at the actual stores. Even Jared, who does most of his shopping throughout the year online, said he would spend his post-holiday morning no other way. Its part of the Thanksgiving tradition for sure, he said of the running around and waiting in lines. I think a lot of families do it. Grandma Char waved from the car at Jared as he exited Best Buy with the virtual reality device he went in for. He hopped in. She was ready for the next stop. Said Grandma: At my age (71) I still enjoy this. A 37-year-old was seriously injured Friday in a one-vehicle crash in Sarpy County. Authorities said the crash occurred just before 1:30 p.m. near 25th Street and Fairview Road, west of Offutt Air Force Base. The Sarpy County Sheriffs Office said a 2004 Chevy pickup truck driven by Jeremy Clark was traveling west on Fairview Road at a high speed. The vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign at the T-intersection of Fairview Road and 25th Street, and the pickup went airborne over the ridge, overturning when it landed. Clark, who was the vehicles only occupant, was taken to the Nebraska Medical Centers trauma center and placed in the intensive care unit. About 500 Republicans under age 40 will be descending upon Omaha in 2019 to choose their leaders and get fired up about conservative politics. The Nebraska Young Republicans won the bid over four other states to hold the Young Republican National Federation biannual convention here. We really think its a great opportunity for all of our elected officials, all of our leaders statewide, to showcase what we do in Nebraska, said Nebraska Young Republicans Chairman Spencer Head. Gov. Pete Ricketts and Omaha City Councilwoman Aimee Melton will co-chair the host committee. The success of the Young Republicans shows that conservative values are alive and well in the next generation, Ricketts said in a press release. With Nebraskas values and Omahas national reputation as one of the best cities for young professionals, our state is the perfect place to host the Young Republican National Convention. Melton said shes excited about the event and about seeing her political party focus on young people. Its great for Omaha to get that kind of national exposure with young people and Republicans, she said. The event will be July 24-28, 2019. Head said that the group hasnt finalized a location but that theyre looking into a downtown hotel. The purpose of the event is for each states chairman and national committeeman and woman to elect the national groups leaders. But its also a chance to show off the state. Well typically work with local businesses, restaurants, that kind of stuff to showcase and feature the local hot spots, the local innovators and local businesses, said the national groups spokesman, Matthew Oberly. Head said he wants to highlight Nebraskas unicameral legislature, the only one in the nation. He said he also wants to focus on the traditional Republican message of lower taxes, less government, strong family, the free enterprise system. Oberly said the Omaha convention will mark the first time in recent years that the convention will be held in a heavily Republican state. This years convention was held in Annapolis, Maryland. The events typically draw 500 to 700 people, he said. Late fines for young people could go by the wayside at the Omaha Public Library. Library leaders are considering a proposal to no longer charge youths 19 and younger who return materials late. Library Director Laura Marlane said fines often dont encourage people to bring items back. Instead, they keep people out of the library. Nearly 10,000 Omaha kids and teenagers are blocked from using their library cards because they owe $10 or more in fines and fees. That has an adverse effect for children at north Omahas Washington branch, where 22 percent of young readers cant use their library cards because their fines arent paid. I think children should always be given the benefit of the doubt, Marlane told members of the Library Board earlier this month. The board delayed a vote on the proposed change and will consider it again at its next meeting. Thats scheduled for 5 p.m. on Dec. 20 at the Benson branch. Some board members voiced support for the idea, while others offered tweaks including doing away with late fines for kids 14 and younger. Waiving late fines for younger people isnt unheard of, and some systems go further. Kids 19 and younger arent charged any fees at the District of Columbia Public Library, for instance. Meanwhile, the New York Public Library this fall took part in a one-time amnesty program to forgive all childrens fines. For a week in October, the Omaha Public Library accepted food donations in exchange for credit toward overdue fines. It raised 5,500 pounds of food, Marlane said. Library Board member Mike Kennedy said thats a great benefit for the community. But hed still like the late fines policy to have teeth, even if it simply required that a child read away his or her late fines. I think you have to have some accountability at some level, he said. Marlane said that kids ages 11 to 18 can already wipe away their overdue fines by volunteering. She said shed like to see programs like All Clear for kids who are too small to volunteer. Currently, kids 13 and younger get a 60-day grace period. After that, the account is billed with the price of the item. If the item is returned, the fine is removed. Even if the proposed policy is adopted, young readers would continue to face fines for not returning items or returning damaged items. And accounts owing more than $25 would still be sent to Unique Management Services, the collections agency that contacts people with long-overdue books and materials. Board member Adrian Suarez-Delgado said he liked the proposal and wants the library to be easily accessible. Even $5 in late fines is a lot of money for some users, he said. The fear alone of that potential money is enough to keep them from even stepping into the library, he said. Marlane noted that should the proposal pass, she could make the 2018 budget work without the revenue expected from such fines. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said his new role as vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association will allow him to better advocate for Nebraskans issues. In fact, he said, he has already done so. At the RGA annual conference in Austin earlier this month, he said, he discussed the North American Free Trade Agreement with Vice President Mike Pence. He said he asked Pence to pass along the message to others in the administration that NAFTA has benefited Nebraska. He said he would, Ricketts said. At the meeting, Ricketts was elected to a one-year term as vice chairman of the organization. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam was elected chairman. When asked if hes seeking to elevate his national profile, Ricketts said thats more of a byproduct of his efforts to make sure Nebraskans have a voice with national leaders such as Pence. Ricketts, who is running for re-election next year, said hell spend a few hours a month fundraising and otherwise supporting Republican gubernatorial candidates. Its a great organization that helped me, so I wanted to give back, Ricketts said. He called the RGA the most effective national political organization out there. There are 36 gubernatorial races coming up next year, and Ricketts said the RGA would focus on holding on to the 26 seats currently held by Republicans. Ricketts also said the organization allows governors to share best practices. He said he went to a panel on opioid addiction at the Austin conference and came back with more information on how other states are handling the issue. The Congress vice-president said Rupani did not want to keep it as there was no space to keep the flag ever since Dalits moved into Gandhinangar. By Supriya Bhardwaj: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi accepted a giant Tricolour made by the Dalit community at Dalit Shakti Kendra, Nani Devati in Sanand. The giant flag measures 125 feet in length and 83 feet in height. It was made by Dalit students of the Kendra. Dalit Shakti Kendra officials said the flag, which weighs 240kgs, was created by 115 students from 10 states while the cloth was woven by bunkars from three villages in Sanand district. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi accept a tricolour which weighs 240kgs, measures 125ft in length & 83ft in height. According to officials of Dalit Shakti Kendra, this national flag was first presented to Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani & he refused to accept citing space crunch pic.twitter.com/DZU2h2qCSw- Supriya Bhardwaj (@Supriya23bh) November 24, 2017 advertisement It has been claimed that the flag was presented to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani but he refused to accept it, saying that there wasn't enough space ever since Dalits went to Gandhinagar in August. Slamming Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi said, "You guys made this giant Tiranga and the Chief Minister of Gujarat refused to accept this national flag because there wasn't any space to keep it. There is a difference in ideologies. Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Rupani don't have space to keep the Tiranga but they have given all the space in Gujarat to 5-10 businessmen. I have massive space and respect in my heart for our national flag." Exclusive Rahul Gandhi to @IndiaToday :Any CM who has tragedy of this magnitude & some decency would hav resigned till now. Yogi shud resign pic.twitter.com/FQFy2p8hFT- Supriya Bhardwaj (@Supriya23bh) August 19, 2017 The handing over of the giant Tiranga was the highlight of Rahul's two-day tour of Gujarat. Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK) is a vocational training institute run by dalit activists in Sanand district. Watch: By playing caste card, Congress is attempting to rebuild its politics in Gujarat --- ENDS --- 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. By PTI: Jammu, Nov 25 (PTI) Demands ranging from rights of PoK refugees to special financial packages for border residents facing frequent Pakistani shelling were highlighted as the Centres special envoy on Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, met delegations from different sections of the society here for the second day today. The delegations also highlighted issues like alleged discrimination against Jammu, revocation of Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, and deportation of Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslims. advertisement Sharma, a former Intelligence Bureau chief, was appointed the Centres interlocutor on October 23 to hold talks with all stakeholders in an effort to find lasting peace in Kashmir. After conducting a six-day tour of the state from November 6, Sharma arrived here yesterday on his second visit to the state and will leave for Kashmir tomorrow. He visited Kashmiri pandit camps here yesterday. Sharma met several delegations this morning and is scheduled to meet over two dozen more this evening. "The resolution of issues in Kashmir is not possible without resolving the problems faced by the refugees of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," senior BJP leader and MLC Charanjeet Singh Khalsa told PTI. Khalsa, who led a six-member delegation of PoK refugees, said they are the "real victims" who have been waiting for justice for the last seven decades. Khalsa put forward his demands for benefits at par with Kashmiri pandits, including reservation for their children in various educational institutions. A delegation of prominent citizens of Jammu led by BJP MLC Ramesh Arora discussed various issues while suggesting that "the problem is within the state and it should not be taken as a Kashmir-oriented problem only. "No politician should be allowed to cross limits of freedom of speech as prescribed by the Constitution," Arora said, asserting that the aspirations and problems of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are different. The delegation submitted a memorandum to Sharma which, among other things, welcomed the governments decision to release stone pelters but cautioned against releasing those who committed "serious offences". After his first visit to Kashmir Valley, Sharma suggested that cases against 4,500 youths involved in stone pelting for the first time be dropped in a bid to win hearts. Suggesting to set up a separate department for all types of refugees, Arora demanded necessary measures to put an end to illegal funding coming from outside. He demanded promotion of local industry saying it has suffered a lot in the past three decades of terrorism. Jammu Province People?s Forum delegation led by former districts and sessions Judge Pavittat Singh Bhardwaj alleged that the state government was intentionally changing the demography of Jammu by settling Rohingyas and Bangladeshi Muslims here. advertisement "The influx of anti-social and anti-national elements is posing a grave threat to the security of the region," Bhardwaj said in his three-page memorandum, demanding immediate deportation of the foreign immigrants. The memorandum demanded for repeal of Article 35A saying "it is legally non-existent and a hurdle in development of Jammu." The forum said the demand of self-rule by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and greater autonomy by the opposition National Conference is not acceptable to the people of Jammu. Choudhary Kamal Singh, who led a delegation of Border Area People Welfare Forum (BAPWF), highlighted the miseries of the people living along the Line of Control and International border in the state. He also demanded enhancement of ex-gratia relief to the victims of border firing and suggested that compensation to those killed should be raised to Rs 1 crore. He also demanded development of Suchetgarh border in Jammu on the pattern of Wagah border as part of promotion of border and religious tourism in the state. advertisement Singh also called for special recruitment packages on the lines of Kashmiri pandits and allotment of land or two-room apartments in safer zones for the border residents. PTI TAS DK IJT --- ENDS --- Newsflare STUDIO 20 Nov 2019 British Transport Police said they were at the scene along with emergency services treating the victim, who fell in front of the.. Women and girls have been especially vulnerable to Pakistan's floods facing several challenges in the aftermath of the natural.. AFP English 22 Sep 2022 By ELIZABETH HOVDE Rich people: They're on my "what I'm thankful for" list. Always. If it weren't for them, after all, I wouldn't enjoy so many other items on my "what I'm thankful for" list. That list exists because of our nation's generosity with their money. When it comes to income tax, a Pew Research Center report, using Treasury Department numbers, shows people with adjusted gross income above $250,000 account for only 2.7 percent of all returns filed but paid more than half of all individual income taxes. Their average tax rate was 25.7 percent. "By contrast, people with incomes of less than $50,000 accounted for 62.3% of all individual returns filed, but they paid just 5.7% of total taxes. Their average tax rate was 4.3%." Even when all federal taxes are factored in -- including payroll taxes, which are often higher than a person's income tax -- the system as a whole is progressive. Pew Research Center confirms, "The top 0.1% of families pay the equivalent of 39.2% and the bottom 20% have negative tax rates (that is, they get more money back from the government in the form of refundable tax credits than they pay in taxes)." Instead of thank you cards this Thanksgiving, however, "the rich" received a cornucopia of insults and barbs. They're being treated like villains in our societal conversation about tax reform, per usual. Oregon lawmakers added to the unhealthy bounty. After the House passed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, on Nov. 16, many chose to fuel rampant class envy with careless comments about the tax plan moving through Congress. The morning after the legislation passed, The Oregonian quoted reactions from the state's U.S. House members. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, called the tax cuts "an early Christmas gift to Donald Trump," a "monstrosity" and "stunning." He opposed the legislation for "trillions of reasons." Democratic Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Peter DeFazio were similarly animated, throwing the wealthy under the bus. Bonamici said, "This disastrous, partisan tax plan cuts rates for wealthy corporations and billionaires while leading to tax increases for about 38 million working families." In a Facebook video, DeFazio said in part, "This is an outrageous piece of work. I can't believe that they'll get away with this." Democrat Kurt Schrader is quoted expressing concern about the bill not having enough input from minority Democrats and worrying it will inflate our nation's debt load. Those are legitimate, though debatable, concerns. The bill's economic impact will be subject to some wait-and-see. I was glad to see U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, offer a different narrative than "only the rich benefit." That message is neither true nor beneficial, even if popular. Walden's take: "This is an important step forward to provide a tax code that works better for Oregonians and their families." In another press release he points out that according to data from the Internal Revenue Service and reports from the nonprofit Tax Foundation, the act will positively impact Oregon by leading to creation of more than 12,000 jobs, raise after-tax income for middle-class families in Oregon by $2,602, increase the child-tax credit, bring tax relief to small businesses and nearly double the standard deduction -- which offsets the elimination of a state income tax deduction. Most taxpayers will also have a much simpler return to file. Do the rich benefit from this tax plan? Yes. Tax cuts will hit people who pay the most taxes. Cutting income taxes for lower-income families, who already have no income-tax burden, isn't possible. Asking whose taxes will go up and whose will go down is the wrong question, anyway. The right question, I think, is does this tax bill make things more fair -- knowing fair is not possible to run the country and isn't even being sought. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to shared resources when possible, and societal safety nets provide for those who cannot contribute. Away from entitlement attitudes and class envy, it's easy to see that. When I look at tax pie charts each year and consider my tax picture, I know I owe a lot of rich people thank you cards. Elizabeth Hovde's column appears the fourth Sunday of the month. GRANTS PASS Rural Josephine County has joined much larger West Coast communities in declaring a housing emergency. The Josephine County Board of Commissioners took the action this week, hoping to free up state assistance and suspend some state rules, the Daily Courier reported . The board asked Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to declare a two-year emergency. A housing crunch caused by a rising population and meager apartment construction has sent vacancy rates plummeting and rents soaring. The growing city of Grants Pass has seen an average of just 10 new apartments added per year over the past decade, the Daily Courier found. A 2015 study by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies found that 50 percent or more of households in Josephine County were rent-burdened, meaning they pay at least a third of their monthly income on rents and housing expenses. "It's not just for face value and to get some notoriety," Commission Chairman Simon Hare said of the declaration. "It really is going to be, hopefully, used to galvanize the state into making some legislative adjustments to our cumbersome land-use process." Hare supports a change to allow accessory dwelling units, secondary residences better known as mother-in-law apartments. Such dwellings might be a converted garage, an add-on or a new structure. Commissioners also bemoaned the cost of new construction costs made higher by government mandates, including energy efficiency rules and new state solar power rules. A study by the Daily Courier found that fewer than 100 apartment units have been built in the county seat of Grants Pass over the past 10 years. During that same period, more than 1,000 homes have been built and quickly sold to investors and retirees from outside the area. Homes in the Grants Pass area that rented for $800 or $900 a month six years ago are now $1,200 to $1,600. The National Low-Income Housing Council estimates that to be at 30 percent of monthly income, rents in the county would need to be $536. ___ Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com Portland Police launched a search Friday evening for the person who fired a fusillade of bullets at a Northeast Portland house, causing minor injuries to an occupant. The incident took place at the 10900 block of Northeast 1st Avenue in the Bridgeton neighborhood at about 7:20 p.m. Police responded to a 911 call from a person inside the home, located near the intersection of Northeast 1st and Northeast Bridgeton Road. Police found evidence of multiple bullet strikes to the home's front door. They also found one of people inside the house had suffered minor injuries but did not require medical attention. Officers performed a canvas of the neighborhood and have not located the suspect. The suspect is described as a black male in his mid-20's, 6'3" tall, weighing 210 pounds. Based on information learned during the investigation, police said, they do not believe the suspect poses an immediate threat to the public. The police asked that anyone with information about this shooting should contact the Portland Police Bureau Detective Division's Assault Detail at 503-832-0479. -- Jeff Manning The elderly driver killed in a car crash Thanksgiving night near Monmouth has been identified as William Harold Arthur. Arthur's sedan pulled out in front of an oncoming truck just before 8 p.m. at the intersection of Oregon Highway 99 West and Parker Road in Polk County. The crash sent Arthur's car off the road into an adjoining field. Arthur, 79, was from Carleton. The family in the truck was unhurt. The roadway was closed for about 3.5 hours. Oregon State Police troopers investigated the crash with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation. -- Jeff Manning CAIRO -- In the deadliest-ever attack by Islamic extremists in Egypt, militants assaulted a crowded mosque Friday during prayers, blasting helpless worshippers with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades and blocking their escape routes. At least 235 people were killed before the assailants got away. The attack in the troubled northern part of the Sinai Peninsula targeted a mosque frequented by Sufis, members of a mystic movement within Islam. Islamic militants, including the local affiliate of the Islamic State group, consider Sufis heretics because of their less literal interpretations of the faith. The startling bloodshed in the town of Bir al-Abd also wounded at least 109, according to the state news agency, and it offered the latest sign that, despite more than three years of fighting in Sinai, the Egyptian government has failed to deter an IS-led insurgency. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi vowed that the attack "will not go unpunished" and that Egypt would persevere with its war on terrorism. But he did not specify what new steps might be taken. President Donald Trump denounced what he called a "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless worshippers." "The world cannot tolerate terrorism" he said on Twitter, "we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!" He later tweeted that he would call el-Sissi and said the attack showed the need to get "tougher and smarter," including by building the wall he has promised along the U.S. border with Mexico. The military and security forces have already been waging a tough campaign against militants in the towns, villages and desert mountains of Sinai, and Egypt has been in a state of emergency for months. Across the country, thousands have been arrested in a crackdown on suspected Islamists as well as against other dissenters and critics, raising concern about human rights violations. Seeking to spread the violence, militants over the past year have carried out deadly bombings on churches in the capital of Cairo and other cities, killing dozens of Christians. The IS affiliate is also believed to be behind the 2016 downing of a Russian passenger jet that killed 226 people. Friday's assault was the first major militant attack on a Muslim congregation, and it eclipsed past attacks, even dating back to a previous Islamic militant insurgency in the 1990s. The militants descended on the al-Rouda mosque in four off-road vehicles as hundreds worshipped inside. At least a dozen attackers charged in, opening fire randomly, the main cleric at the mosque, Sheikh Mohamed Abdel Fatah Zowraiq told The Associated Press by phone from a Nile Delta town where he was recuperating from bruises and scratches suffered in the attack. He said there were explosions as well. Officials cited by the state news agency MENA said the attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades and shot men as they tried to run from the building. The militants blocked off escape routes with burning cars, three police officers on the scene told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press. Abdullah Abdel-Nasser, 14, who was attending prayers with his father, said the shooting began just as the cleric was about to start his sermon, sending panicked worshippers rushing to hide behind concrete columns or whatever shelter they could find. At one point, a militant shouted for children to leave, so Abdel-Nasser said he rushed out, though he was wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and a bullet. "I saw many people on the floor, many dead. I don't think anyone survived," he said at a hospital in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, where around 40 of the wounded were taken, including many children. Mohammed Ali said 18 members of his extended family were killed in the attack. The mosque belonged to a local clan, the Jreer, so many of its members worshipped there. "Where was the army? It's only a few kilometers away. This is the question we cannot find an answer to," he said. The attackers escaped, apparently before security forces could confront them. Afterward, dozens of bloodied bodies wrapped in sheets were laid across the mosque floor, according to images circulating on social media. Relatives lined up outside a nearby hospital as ambulances raced back and forth. The state news agency MENA put the death toll at 235. Resident Ashraf el-Hefny said many of the victims were workers at a nearby salt mine who had come for Friday services at the mosque. "Local people brought the wounded to hospital on their own cars and trucks," he said by telephone. No one claimed immediate responsibility for the attack. But the IS group affiliate has targeted Sufis in the past. Last year, the militants beheaded a leading local Sufi religious figure, the blind sheikh Suleiman Abu Heraz, and posted photos of the killing online. Islamic State group propaganda often denounces Sufis. In the January edition of an IS online magazine, a figure purporting to be a high level official in the Sinai affiliate of the group vowed to target Sufis, accusing them of idolatry and heretical "innovation" in religion and warning that the group will "not permit (their) presence" in Sinai or Egypt. Millions of Egyptians belong to Sufi orders, which hold sessions of chanting and poetry meant to draw the faithful closer to God. Sufis also hold shrines containing the tombs of holy men in particular reverence. Islamic hardliners view such practices as improper, even heretical, and militants across the region often destroy Sufi shrines, saying they encourage idolatry because people pray to the figures buried there for intercession. El-Sissi convened a high-level meeting of security officials as his office declared a three-day mourning period. In a statement, he said the attack would only "add to our insistence" on combatting extremists. Addressing the nation later on television, he said Egypt is waging a battle against militancy on behalf of the rest of the world, a declaration he has often made in seeking international support for the fight. Islamic militants stepped up their campaign of violence in northern Sinai after the military ousted the elected but divisive Islamist Mohammed Morsi from power in 2013 and launched a fierce crackdown on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group. The result has been a long, grinding conflict centered on el-Arish and nearby villages. The militants have been unable to control territory, but the military and security forces have also been unable to bring security, as the extremists continuously carry out attacks. The attacks have largely focused on military and police, killing hundreds, although exact numbers are unclear as journalists and independent investigators are banned from the area. The militants have also assassinated individuals the group considers spies for the government or religious heretics. Egypt has also faced attacks by militants in its Western Desert. -- The Associated Press LONDON -- Merry olde England has had a glum run of news. The divorce from the European Union is going badly -- a lot of fuss about alimony. There's been a "sex pest" scandal in Parliament. And the British pound is getting pounded. So, as if on cue, the flash story this week was the feverish speculation about exactly when -- never if -- Prince Harry and the American actress Meghan Markle would finally announce their engagement to wed. The only thing better than royal babies are royal weddings -- but one must precede the other. Of course, the most momentous royal news of all is also on the horizon, another life event, this one sad yet inevitable. Queen Elizabeth II turned 91 years old in April, God save her. On Friday, the tabloids went a little nuts. The Sun ran a salivating headline claiming that a Harry and Markle engagement announcement was "imminent." The Daily Mail was more specific. They had a date and time. On Friday, it tweeted, "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rumoured to be announcing their engagement at 5pm TODAY." Today came and went. No matter. If you've missed your latest copy of Hello magazine, Markle is a 36-year-old actress, born and raised in California, best known for playing Rachel Zane in the well-liked New York legal drama "Suits," which is filmed in Toronto. It's rumored that she will quit her acting career and will continue her charitable work. She is a global ambassador for World Vision Canada. The 33-year-old ginger-bearded Harry is fifth in line to the British throne. (He will be bumped to sixth place after his brother Prince William and Kate Middleton welcome their third child in the spring.) With modern medical science being what is - and the Tower of London now a tourist attraction versus a gallows - Harry's chances of sitting on the big chair are virtually nil. Still, Harry is one of the most popular royals, said to have inherited his mother Princess Diana's mischievous side, as well as her common touch. He also has had his share of past missteps, including stirring major royal flaps in 2005 by wearing an outfit with a swastika to a costume party and in 2012 with photos showing him playing "strip billiards" in a Las Vegas hotel suite. The last time an American married into the royal family, Britain was plunged into a constitutional crisis. In 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry the American socialite and divorcee Wallis Simpson. There are no hard and fast rules for royal engagements, but perhaps William and Kate can offer us clues as to how it might be done this time. William and Kate were engaged after a lengthy courtship. The tabloids called her "Waity Katie." Palace officials announced their engagement at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday - on Nov. 16, 2010, to be exact. Kate pronounced William "a true romantic" and said he popped the question on an African safari to view wildlife. The couple held a "photocall" event with the world's media and then gave a sit-down interview to a broadcaster, which was aired later in the day. They were married five months later. Rumors of an engagement between Harry and Markle have been swirling for some time. In November 2016, Prince Harry revealed he was dating the actress when - in a remarkable statement from Kensington Palace - he blasted the press for subjecting Markle to a "wave of abuse and harassment." The palace condemned "the smear on the front page of a national newspaper, the racial undertones of comment pieces, and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments." Markle's mother is African American, and her father is white. Her relationship with Harry has been a source of intense media speculation ever since the statement. And along the way, royal watchers wondered if the couple wasn't dropping clues that there was a wedding in the offing. In April, Markle ended her lifestyle blog, The Tig, after three years. "Something to tell us?" queried the Daily Mail. The same newspaper reported that the couple had tea with the queen last month, sparking rumors that they were seeking her majesty's blessing. Apparently the meeting went well - a good thing, too. Under ancient rules, the monarch has the right to refuse a royal marriage. The duo made their first public appearance together in September at the Invictus Games, a sporting event for disabled veterans founded by Harry. They held hands, they kissed, they canoodled - they were snapped alongside Markle's mother, Doria Ragland. Markle has been living in Toronto, where "Suits" is filmed. However, there are rumors she has left the show and is planning on relocating to London, where she could move into Harry's two-bedroom cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace. "Has Harry pupped the question?" ran the front-page headline in the Sun, Britain's best-selling newspaper, making a very tabloid-esque pun after stories appeared that Markle was moving her dogs to London. The paper said that "BBC staff had been primed" to expect an announcement. "What DO they know?" asked the Daily Mail on its front page, noting that a British bookmaker stopped accepting bets on Harry popping the question this year. Markle has spoken about their relationship in prescient and hopeful terms. "We're in love," she told Vanity Fair magazine. "I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us. It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy. Personally, I love a great love story." -- Karla Adam By PTI: Chennai, Nov 25 (PTI) The DMK today named N Marudu Ganesh as its candidate for the December 21 bypoll to the Dr Radha Krishnan Nagar Assembly constituency here, which fell vacant after the demise of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa last year. DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan announced Ganeshs candidature in a party release. N Marudu Ganesh, alias N M Ganesh, is a journalist- turned-politician. The DMK had fielded him for the bypoll, which was supposed to be held on April 12 earlier. advertisement However, it was subsequently cancelled by the Election Commission (EC) over allegations of bribing voters. "Our candidate is in the fray with the support of our allies. We will appeal to other parties as well to extend their support to our nominee," DMK working president M K Stalin told reporters at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, here. He also exuded confidence that the opposition party would script a "major victory" in the bypoll. The Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are among the DMKs allies. For the April 12 bypoll, which was cancelled subsequently, the AIADMK (Sasikala faction) had named T T V Dhinakaran as its candidate. The faction headed by the then rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam had fielded senior leader E Madusudanan and the BJP named veteran Tamil film music director Gangai Amaran as its candidate. While Dhinakaran announced his candidature for the December 21 bypoll yesterday, the EPS-OPS faction of the AIADMK and the BJP are yet to declare the names of their nominees. The EC had yesterday announced that the R K Nagar bypoll would be held on December 21. PTI VGN APR RC --- ENDS --- Donald Trump made a pretty remarkable claim this morning. It didn't take TIME magazine too long to debunk it. By India Today Web Desk: US President Donald Trump said TIME magazine rang him up to say he would "probably" be named Person on the Year. Trump claimed to have turned down the offer. And why? "I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!" Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named Man (Person) of the Year,?? like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017 advertisement It was a pretty remarkable claim, considering what TIME said about its selection process just a couple of hours later. The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6.- TIME (@TIME) November 25, 2017 Richard Stengel, a former editor of TIME magazine, tried to explain what might have happened. And it wasn't good news. Hate to tell you but that PROBABLY means youre NOT Person of the Year. They just wanted a photo shoot. But Im sure you still have that fake TIME cover somewhere in storage. https://t.co/HkW1XkKxXK- Richard Stengel (@stengel) November 24, 2017 Trump hasn't taken down his tweet, or tweeted back to TIME - yet. The US President was named TIME's Person of the Year in 2016, after his historic - and unexpected - election to the highest office in his land. Donald Trump has criticised TIME magazine in the past. For example, when Angela Merkel was named Person of the Year in 2015, he had this to say. I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite They picked person who is ruining Germany- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2015 Thank you @oreillyfactor for your wonderful editorial as to why I should have been @TIME Magazine's Person of the Year. You should run Time!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2015 And in 2013, he said this. The Time Magazine list of the 100 Most Influential People is a joke and stunt of a magazine that will, like Newsweek,soon be dead. Bad list!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2013 Just took a look at Time Magazine-looks really flimsy like a free handout at a parking lot! The sad end is coming-just like Newsweek!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2013 But when he was honoured with the title last year, there was a change in tone. Thank you to Time Magazine and Financial Times for naming me "Person of the Year" - a great honor!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2016 And, according to NBC New York, he said: "It's a great honour, it means a lot. Especially me growing up, reading TIME magazine, it's a very important magazine. I've been lucky enough to be on the cover many times this year and last year." advertisement WATCH | PM Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump meet in Manila --- ENDS --- We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. By PTI: Mathura, Nov 25 (PTI) Drones fitted with cameras would be used for the first time here during the civic body polls on November 26 to maintain law and order situation and for proper monitoring of the election process. According to an official, 85 polling centres have been selected for web casting, while videography would be done in 95 polling booths. advertisement "Five drones fitted with cameras would be used for proper monitoring of election process," he said. The official said 290 polling booths have been identified as oversensitive and 280 as sensitive. SSP Swapnil Mamgai said polling centres would be guarded by the Provincial Armed Constabulary. Two company CRPF, five company PAC, 300 sub-inspectors, 500 constables and 800 homeguards from Agra have also been deployed for the election process, he said. Campaigning for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh civic elections on November 26 ended yesterday in 25 districts, including Varanasi from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the Lok Sabha. Over 52 per cent voting was recorded in the first phase on November 22 which covered 24 districts. Polling for the third and final phase covering 26 districts will take place on November 29. Counting of votes for all the three phases will be on December 1 and results will be declared the same day. PTI CORR NSD --- ENDS --- BLOOMINGTON Central Illinois Regional Airport's traditional main terminal Christmas tree will have a very meaningful roommate this holiday season. The 'Fallen Heroes Tree of Honor' will be dedicated at the airport 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and stay near baggage claim through Jan. 2 as a reminder of those killed while serving America's armed forces. The holidays are a joyous occasion for many, but theres also many dead. Its very sad and difficult for their families," said Patti Smith, president of America's Gold Star Families, which helped bring the tree to the Twin Cities. "Our hope is in some small way we help these grieving survivors by letting them know, not only do we honor their hero, but we support them as well by remembering their loved ones sacrifice for our freedom. The tree, which will feature 155 ornaments representing service members from 33 states, was inspired by a similar tree erected at the state capitol in Springfield for the first time last year. Both are on display this holiday season. The project is sponsored by America's Gold Star Families and the Sgt. Anthony Maddox Memorial, which honors a Normal native killed while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Smith said Maddox's family, especially his mother, Frances, has been instrumental in establishing both trees. Their family makes all the ornaments. ... One tree alone is a huge project, and shes taken on two, said Smith. It's really been a great way for their family to deal with their grief. Its been therapeutic for them. Another Twin City soldier killed in Afghanistan, Sgt. Joshua Rodgers, will be honored at the dedication. His mother, Vonda, will speak, as will state Sen. Jason Barickman and state Rep. Dan Brady, both Bloomington Republicans. Fran Strebing, deputy director for marketing at CIRA, said the airport is honored to host the tree. Officials chose to put it near baggage claim, before the terminal's security checkpoint, so the public can come in and see it. LINCOLN A 22-year-old Wood River woman, who was a graduate of Normal Community West High School, has been identified as the victim of a fatal crash Wednesday night on Interstate 55 near Lincoln. Courtney E. Littell was killed when a southbound car driven by Adriana Rodrigues, 26, of Wenona, went off the the road, traveled through the median and struck Littell's vehicle in the northbound lane, according to Illinois State Police. The 9 p.m. crash occurred near milepost 128. Littell died as a result of blunt force trauma, Logan County Deputy Coroner Chris Sprague said on Friday. Rodrigues, who was treated for minor injuries, was issued tickets for improper lane usage and driving without insurance, said police. Littell was a student at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, who graduated from Normal West, said Sprague. The accident was the second fatal crash over the holiday weekend in Central Illinois. WASHINGTON One Tazewell County man died and another was injured in separate gunfire incidents Friday, but sheriff's police say foul play was not seen in either incident. Sheriff's police responded to a gunfire report about 12:55 p.m. Friday in the 22000 block of Armington Road in Delavan. An unconscious 22-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the chest. Those on scene tried to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene, police said. Although no foul play is suspected, both the sheriffs and coroners offices are investigating the incident, police said. Delavan and Minier police and Delavan and Emden rescue workers also were called to the scene. In a later incident, a 21-year-old Washington man suffered a gunshot wound when two bullets went through the wall of a shed and one struck him, police said. Jacob A. Miller was in the large shed in his backyard at 26102 Schuck Road when two bullets penetrated the wall of the shed about 7:15 p.m., police said. One of the bullets hit his arm, and he was taken to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, by family members for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said. A nearby resident was shooting a firearm at a target on his property at the time, police said. The sheriff's department does not suspect foul play at this time, but the incident remains under investigation and criminal charges will be reviewed with the state's attorney's office. BLOOMINGTON Members of the Sunset Rotary Club of Bloomington-Normal are improving the health and wellness of families in Cambodia. The club funded the installation of 10 water wells and pumps for villagers who struggle to find clean water. The project was accomplished through the Cambodian Community Dream Organization (CCDO). The idea was introduced to Rotary by a local pediatrician, Dr. Regina Rosa, who spent a month volunteering in a childrens hospital in Cambodia this year and became acquainted with CCDO. The working population in these communities, mostly people around 20 years old, only makes $2 a day and the majority of them are unable to build wells. The elderly and children are more susceptible to waterborne diseases from contaminated water, said Noeli Anderson, member and past president of Sunset Rotary Club. Especially in the dry seasons, Anderson said villagers will travel long distances to find water sources and it is difficult for elderly villagers to carry much water home. Some resort to collecting water out of potholes in the road. Each well was placed in a village near a familys house. The family is assigned to take care of it and they share the water with their neighbors, so it has a ripple-effect, said Anderson. The wells were completed in October and CCDO recently sent photos to the Rotary Club of the families beside their new wells. The sanitation and health of the people will steadily improve and the families overall lives will improve immensely, said Anderson. According to www.theccdo.org, each well and filter costs $300 and provides clean water for nearly 11 people. CCDO also organizes educational workshops for villagers to teach the importance of hygiene and personal health. A sign giving credit to the Sunset Rotary Club was placed at every well. Were all very delighted by the project, said Anderson. One area the rotary emphasizes is water sanitation and health. This was very well fit for the Rotarys aim to eliminate those problems in the world. The Sunset Rotary Club of Bloomington-Normal funds other international projects each year, as well as service projects each month in the Twin Cities. A Michigan Company by the name of Nartron is suing Apple for infringing their patent titled "Capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit." The company claims that Apple's every iDevice comprises of capacitive touch sensing devices that covers multitouch and therefore infringes their patent, even though Apple uses touch technology from Broadcom and Texas Instruments. Nartron's lawsuit provides some background of the company's role in the history of touch technology as follows: "The touchscreen's path to preeminence did not happen overnight. Established in 1967, Nartron was an early pioneer in touchscreen technology. Nartron is credited with inventing the electronic touch screen in 1995. For example, Nartron's "Smart Touch" sensing technology provided a breakthrough in human interface technology by giving direct access to computer power, such as with highly successful handheld devices and smartphones. Nartron's experienced product development team located at its 200 acre complex in Reed City, Michigan has been awarded several hundred patents for exceptional innovation. Nartron's leadership in innovation was recognized by Inc. Magazine, which named Nartron as one of America's Top 50 Innovators and one of the "Top 30" firms for leading the technological, industrial, and social movement in the United States that has taken place over the past 30 years. Apple's Alleged Infringement According to Nartron's lawsuit, all of Apple's iDevices infringe on one or more claims of their 5,796,183 patent (the'183 patent). They further note that "The Accused Products comprises of capacitive touch sensing devices. For example, the Accused Products allow users to make selections and move objects by moving their finger proximity to or in contact with a touch sensing surface, like touchscreens (e.g., the iPhone 6s Plus includes a 5.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display). In the Accused Products, such surfaces include touch sensing points that senses a user's finger. The Accused Products recognize such touches by users, interpret the users' input, and thereafter perform actions based on the input. On information and belief, the Accused Products use, among other things, touch controller chips such as those manufactured by Broadcom (e.g. BCM5976) and Texas Instruments (e.g., TI 343S0694) to recognize and interpret the users' input. For example, the touchscreen controller, individually or in combination of other hardware and software components, takes a periodic signal from an oscillator with a pre-defined frequency, and selectively provides a signal output frequency to each row of input touch terminals. On the touchscreen of the Accused Products, the input touch terminals define adjacent areas on a substrate for a user to provide inputs. When touched (or in close proximity) by the user, a detector circuit within the Accused Products respond to signals from the oscillator through the touchscreen controller and the presence of the user's body capacitance to ground to provide a control output signal. The Accused Products use input and output frequencies such that the change in impedance caused by the user's touch differs from any change in impedance that may create an electrical path caused by contaminates on the substrate. Based on the above, the Accused Products infringe at least, but not limited to, claim 40 of the '183 patent. Apple has been aware of the '183 patent since at least 2007. In 2007 Nartron provided written communications to Apple in which Nartron notified Apple of the '183 patent, explained how certain Apple touchscreen products infringed claims of the '183 patent, and offered to enter into licensing discussions. Apple refused to consider a license, instead insisting that its touchscreen products did not infringe any claims of the '183 patent and asserting that all claims of the '183 patent were invalid. Apple's infringement of the '183 patent was willful. Apple committed acts of infringement despite having actual notice of the '183 patent and a high likelihood that its actions constituted infringement. Apple knew or should have known that its actions constituted an unjustifiably high risk of infringement. Thus, Apple's infringement was deliberate and exhibited bad faith, entitling Nartron to enhanced damages." The patent infringement case presented in today's report was filed in the Michigan Eastern District Court, Detroit Office. The Presiding Judge in this case is noted as being Judge Avern Cohn, with referring Judge noted as Stephanie Dawkins Davis. It should be noted that the infringement case was formerly filed by UUSI, LLC d/b/a Nartron ("Nartron"). Notice: Patently Apple presents only a brief summary of certain legal cases/ lawsuits which are part of the public record for journalistic news purposes. Readers are cautioned that Patently Apple does not offer an opinion on the merit of the case and strictly presents the allegations made in said legal cases / lawsuits. A lawyer should be consulted for any further details or analysis. About Making Comments on this Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. The stress and anxieties of the holidays dissipate once you step foot into the calming, peaceful dining room at Thea. On December 14, the lights on the 14 - foot tree in front of Thea, the featured restaurant at , will be plugged in, commemorating the restaurant's one-year anniversary. "After a year, we couldn't be more thankful," said chef AnnMarie Nelms, who co-owns and operates the seed to table restaurant with Trevor Sybrandt. (He owns the nearby farm along Woods Road responsible for all of the seed-to-table fresh produce and for trees made into wooden furnishings at the restaurant. Trees grown on the farm will be available next year for purchase in the Christmas tree lot next to the building.) Quiet and soothing, Adele croons in the background as diners are escorted from hostess station to comfortable seating arrangements spanning across the large, open dining room. "I wanted the room to look like someone's home and to feel like you're at your best friends house for dinner," AnnMarie said. Thea is located at 1303 Saxton Way, Mechanicsburg. Splashed with eye-catching local artwork, soft, glowing Edison lighting and tastefully decorated in warm grey and blue hues, high back cushy armchairs surround beautiful, distinct wooden tables designed and built by Sybrandt. His handcrafted walnut slab 12-seat table expands almost the length of the private room (There's another larger party room down the hall.) off of the dining room. Chef dinners, one seating per night with customized or regular menu are still available for booking in this closed off space. Growing up surrounded by great cooks and restaurateurs, chef AnnMarie Nelms is quite at home in the kitchen. The restaurant is actually named for her great Aunt Helen (Thea is "aunt" in Greek) who passed away two years ago around Thanksgiving. "She hosted lots of family gatherings, big Greek Orthodox family get-togethers," Nelms said. Another of Nelms' aunts, Joanna Lembesis, owns and operates What If ... West and What If ... Hershey. After graduating from Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in Pittsburgh in 1997, AnnMarie apprenticed at Pasta Piatta in Pittsburgh before returning to assist her mom, Sophia, at her successful bakery and cafe, Sophia's on Market in Hampden Twp. Later the mother/daughter duo opened Sophia's at Walden at Charter's Walden development at Silver Spring Twp. in 2013. "Ever since I was 6 or 7, I knew I was meant to be in the kitchen, and when I would stay home sick from school, I would sit by the kitchen and watch my mom cook," Nelms said. Nelms takes comfort food recipes and spins them into wholesome, creative dishes of her own; deconstructed beef Wellington, fresh-cut truffle oil fries crowned by micro greens, tzasiki sauce spiked with green onions and served with Greek meatballs (keftedes) laced with threads of mint and meatloaf sweetened by leeks and set over Gruyere bread pudding. There are some slip-ups but they are barely noticed interspersed with the triumphs. Crispy polenta, an item on the assorted bruschetta board ($12), are stacked like golden fence posts. The dry, under-seasoned consistency of the crumb was unappetizing. Saganaki (pan-seared Greek halloumi cheese) on the Mezza Plata ($12) had the appearance and texture of golden-flecked silicone rectangles. German, Greek, Italian and American influences play out on the entree page. The favorites include Thea Pasticcio ($24), which is served in a piping hot crock. Rich, succulent nutmeg-infused bechamel covers cinnamon-accented rigatoni tossed in chunky sausage sauce and layered with pulpy eggplant. Salmon of the day ($26) is an oversize-fist portion of fish, napped with herbaceous remoulade verdant sauce over lumpy crab embedded quinoa. Fall Chicken Milanese ($24) has hand-breaded Parmesan and garlic-crusted chicken topped with fresh arugula and served with roasted vegetables. Thea Pasticcio Pastry chef Megan Seiferth and her team at Sophia's on Market make the most amazing desserts. Save room for tender, crisp apple oatmeal cookies ($3 each) the texture of meringues with chewy, moist centers or pumpkin cookies resembling mini whoopee pies filled with maple icing. Bavarian apple cheesecake ($8) has buttery shortbread crust and softened apple pieces are surprise bites incorporated into fluffy filling. Make reservations now if you want to save a place during the holidays at this BYOB locale. You'll probably recognize one of your neighbors at another table. The place has caught on and it is the talk of the West Shore. Decorating an evergreen for Christmas is an ingrained American tradition and one that a whole lot of Pennsylvania families will be doing in the next five weeks ... but it's not an American invention. It's not even a German invention, as you might have heard. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the first recorded display of a decorated Christmas tree dates to 1510 in Riga, Latvia, a small country along the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Estonia. The tree was decorated with fruit, cookies and candy that became gifts for family members. Hessian troops fighting for Britain in the Revolutionary War are credited with bringing the idea of Christmas trees to America, which is where the German connection comes in. However, the custom of decorating evergreens didn't begin gaining steam in the United States until the mid-1800s. Three other Christmas-tree trivia tidbits: At least 235 worshippers were killed and 109 others injured when heavily-armed militants bombed the al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city and opened fire on people attending Friday prayers. Injured people are evacuated from the scene of a militant attack on a mosque in Bir al-Abd in the northern Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. (AP Photo) By Press Trust of India: Hours after 235 people were killed in an attack on a mosque in Sinai Peninsula region of Egypt, the Egyptian Air Force gunned down several militants and destroyed their vehicles. In a statement, Army spokesperson Tamer el-Rafei said that the air force launched retaliatory attacks on terror hideouts in the surrounding area of North Sinai, killing militants and destroying vehicles used in the deadly attack. advertisement He said arms and ammunition depots of the militants were also targeted. At least 235 worshippers were killed and 109 others injured when heavily-armed militants bombed the al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city and opened fire on people attending Friday prayers. Earlier, local media reports quoting sources in the security force said the army launched "immediate and wide" ground and air raids and two drones attacked two vehicles belonging to militants in Al-Resha village near el-Rouda village. Following the mosque attack, President Abdel Fattah el- Sisi had chaired an emergency meeting with officials to review security situation. In a statement later, he pledged to respond with "brutal force" against militants. He had said that the "vile and treacherous" activity would not pass without a decisive punishment. The Egypt government has announced three days of mourning. --- ENDS --- UPDATE: Police have clarified the date of the incident since the first report. Police say an 18-year-old man died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds early Saturday morning. Police said officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of State Street in Harrisburg for a report of a man down inside of a residence at 2:52 a.m. Saturday. Officers arrived to find Jashun Patton, 18, of Philadelphia. Medics were also dispatched, and determined that Patton was deceased as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to police. Police continue to investigate the incident, and are asking anyone with information to contact the Harrisburg Police, or submit a tip through Crime Watch. By Mike Folmer So, what's next in the ongoing efforts to eliminate school property taxes as I continue to believe no tax should have the power to leave you homeless? State Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon (PennLive file) Article VIII, Section 1 of Pennsylvania's Constitution calls for uniformity of taxation: "All taxes shall be uniform, upon the same class of subjects, within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax, and shall be levied and collected under general laws." This provision is why Pennsylvania's Personal Income Tax is a flat tax rather than a graduated tax like federal income taxes. Pennsylvania's Constitution doesn't allow for graduated income taxes. However, Pennsylvania's Constitution also provides some exclusions from the requirement for uniform taxation, including: churches, cemeteries, government entities, charitable organizations, and "homesteads." A "homestead" is a person's or family's primary residence (i.e., no vacation properties) they own (i.e., no rental properties) - including farmhouses and outbuildings (i.e., no commercial, industrial, or retail properties). On Election Day, voters approved (54 percent to 46 percent) an admittedly confusing amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution: "Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to permit the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction, rather than limit the exclusion to one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead property, which is the existing law?" The previous exemption for homestead properties allowed local taxing authorities to exclude up to one-half the median assessed values of properties located within their boundaries. While some equate "median value" with "average value," the former is calculated by putting all the numbers in numerical order and finding the one that's in the middle - the 50th percentile. It's more difficult to calculate than an average where you simply add the numbers together and divide by how many numbers there are. The approved constitutional change further simplifies the calculation by using 100% of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction. Previously, taxing jurisdictions had to first figure the median assessed value and then calculate what one-half of that value would be in order to enact a homestead exemption. It's one of the many reasons why this exemption to Pennsylvania's uniformity clause was almost never used. With the change in the Constitution, the calculation for homestead exemptions becomes much easier. More importantly, it provides more options for the total elimination of school property taxes. While I continue to believe across-the-board elimination of school property taxes, as proposed by Sen. David Argall, is the best option, we now have other alternatives to consider and I look forward to exploring them in the weeks and months ahead. In the interim, I remain committed to the goal of ensuing no tax should have the power to leave you homeless. State Sen. Mike Folmer, a Republican, represents the 48th Senate District, which includes parts of Dauphin, Lebanon and York counties. Train cars are seen at the site of a derailment north of Hope, B.C. in this undated handout photo. British Columbia's Environment Ministry says a rock slide north of Hope derailed a freight train and led to a fuel spill in the Fraser River. The ministry says in a statement that a Canadian Pacific Rail (TSX:CP) train was knocked off the tracks on Thursday by the slide near Hells Gate in the Fraser Canyon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, B.C. Environment Ministry *MANDATORY CREDIT* Sara Wernimont, left, and Christina Wernimont, both of Dubuque, Iowa, look for deals at Theisen's Home-Farm-Auto in Dubuque, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Black Friday has morphed from a single day when people got up early to score doorbusters into a whole season of deals, so shoppers may feel less need to be out. (Jessica Reilly/Telegraph Herald via AP) By PTI: Panaji, Nov 25 (PTI) The Portuguese-era diesel-powered ferry boats, that ply in the inland water routes of Goa, will give way to solar energy-backed vessels by June next year, a minister said today. The proposal for the new ferry boats will be ready in the next six months and constructing them would take another six months, River Navigation Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said. advertisement He said the Goa government would soon release an advertisement seeking "Expression of Interest" to construct the ferry boats. "We are yet to take the call on whether to run the services on public-private partnership basis. The solar- powered ferry boats would be ready to be pressed into service by June 2018," he said. The minister said that officials from the River Navigation department (RND) had visited Kochi in Kerala this week where such solar-powered ferry boats are in use. Dhavalikar said the state cant imitate the Kochi model of ferry service as the passengers are charged there (in the Kerala town)), while in Goa the services are offered free of cost. The RND department is currently servicing 20 ferry boat routes with a fleet of 39 vessels, which run on diesel. While bridges have been constructed across several rivers, people living in the places like Diwar and Chorao islands still rely on these boats to travel to the mainland. PTI RPS BNM RSY --- ENDS --- In a city growing as quickly as Philadelphia is these days, it's no easy task for developers to find sprawling lots of vacant land that can be developed in attractive neighborhoods. Yet local developer Dan Neducsin has been sitting on one for decades. While developers have been snatching up the last pieces of buildable land in neighborhoods stretching from South Philadelphia to Fishtown in recent years, few beyond Neducsin have paid much attention to Manayunk. Until recently. With the cost of building in core urban areas mounting, and with affordability concerns rising, Philadelphia's formerly "it" neighborhood, located just eight miles outside Center City, is back in the spotlight. In particular, developers in the last few years have rushed to build luxury apartments in the tiny enclave so much so that 3,000 units are expected to be delivered within a one-mile radius of Manayunk between 2014 and 2018. But what has been lacking in Manayunk, some say, is an influx of new housing to meet the demand of wealthier residents who have arrived in the last decade as the neighborhood has tried to shed its image as a post-college hub. That's exactly what a pair of developers intend to bring to Neducsin's land. After sitting vacant for more than a decade, 1 Leverington Ave. between Green Lane and Leverington Avenue, and between the Manayunk Canal and the Schuylkill is finally seeing some activity. Greg Hill of locally based D3 Developers and Concordia Group of Bethesda, Md., are partnering once again to transform the former industrial site into 70 high-end townhouses, each starting at $599,000. For now, Neducsin, the developer credited with reviving Manayunk in the 1990s, remains the owner of the land. The plan for the sleek homes which Neducsin said would include roof decks and underground parking garages is quite the change for the nearly 400,000-square-foot parcel, which for more than a decade has sat overgrown and unkempt as a fierce legal battle between Neducsin and residents flared over the land's fate. It's also quite the change for Manayunk, a neighborhood that for decades has been defined by the aging, pre-1940s rowhouses that dot its hilly streets. Manayunk "is going to be the next Brooklyn," said Neducsin, when talking about the vision for the site. "They are running out of spaces in the city [to build] yet this is not the suburbs, and that is why people like living here. Because it's in the city." "In Center City, this would be a $2 million unit," he continued, speaking about the homes planned. "They are going to see this [development] and come out here." Still, there is a long way to go before shovels are in the ground. The developers have had initial meetings with the Manayunk Neighborhood Council, but both a formal Registered Community Organization meeting and a presentation in front of the city's Civic Design Review board are still needed. Plus, the land is zoned for smaller-scale commercial space on the ground floor and residential up top, meaning that D3 Developers and Concordia will need a change in zoning to accommodate the 70 townhouses. Even so, the developers have reason for optimism. According to the Lower Northwest District Plan published in 2014, part of the Philadelphia2035 project, the land surrounding 1 Leverington Ave. was recommended to be rezoned to a more residential area. And initial meetings with the Manayunk Neighborhood Council were generally positive, both sides say, a reversal from years ago when a lengthy legal battle stalled Neducsin's initial plans to build 280 condominium units on the site. Kevin Smith, president of the Manayunk Neighborhood Council, said the group generally supports the latest plan, despite having lingering concerns about residential building on the site one that he said could be prone to flooding by the two bodies of water that surround it. (To combat that, Hill, of D3 Developers, said they plan to raise the grade of the site and install early flood warning systems.) "In the biggest picture, it is still our belief that residential is inappropriate down by the river," Smith said. " But our approach now is obviously development. "The development is positive, and it seems like the community would support it with adequate flood evacuation plans." It wasn't always this way for Smith and his Manayunk Neighborhood Council. Nearly a decade ago, Neducsin who has owned 1 Leverington Ave. for decades proposed to develop 280 dense condominium units, which would stand nearly 90 feet tall, and require hundreds of parking places. Immediately, residents pushed back. "It would have been huge; it would have changed the face of Manayunk," Smith said. " There was no hardship and no justification for the variance" that Neducsin was granted at the time. Saying that the proposed condo complex was too dense, too tall, and too vulnerable to flooding, Manayunk's residents fought back, appealing Neducsin's zoning approval to Philadelphia's Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Common Pleas Court, and the Commonwealth Court. For years, the case wound its way through the court system, as multiple appeals and remands ensued. In the end, Neducsin never built his project. For years after, Neducsin's land remained bedraggled, as brush and trees grew over. And the only building left at 1 Leverington Ave. which formerly housed two prominent restaurants, Arroyo Grille and then Carmella's fell victim to trespassers, graffiti, fires, and trash. But a few years ago, Neducsin said, his thoughts about the site changed. "I feel that it's the wrong time to build 280 units and the right time to do this," Neducsin said. "We have a huge advantage over kind of anything to me, it's one of the best sites in the city. You're on the river, you have the [Manayunk] towpath right there, and Main Street right there." "You can see the influx of people coming [to Manayunk], and it's a higher income group," Neducsin said. Indeed, in recent years, Manayunk has grown wealthier as its population has increased, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Between 2011 and 2015, the neighborhood's population surged nearly 29 percent, and its median household income jumped 27 percent, to $70,556. Yet median home sale prices have not increased quite the same way that they have in other city neighborhoods in recent years. In the third quarter of 2017, the median price of a home in Manayunk was $234,500 less than the median price of $253,000 a decade before, according to data from Drexel economist Kevin Gillen. While Neducsin recently sold a newly constructed property for more than $900,000 on the 4500 block of Silverwood Street, it's unclear how much demand there may be for 70 properties priced at more than $599,000. The developers and Neducsin say the site has a lot of perks working in its favor. With river and canal views, the roof decks on the four-story homes will be in high demand, Hill predicted. Developers plan to create landscaped green space on the land closest to Green Lane. And, Hill said, architecturally, they are planning for a "contemporary design that's respectful of [Manayunk's] industrial past." "When doing townhouse work, it's challenging to find sites that really provide a sense of community mostly, it ends up being just infill sites in the city," Hill said. "I think the intriguing aspect of Venice Island is that it's an isolated parcel of land on the waterfront, with just a great opportunity to create a sense of place." Doug Guyer, BrandShare president and CEO, and his sister Kathie Tuoni, chief operating officer, in the product-sampling companys Berwyn headquarters with items included in tote bags being offered to first-time Walmart online grocery customers. Read more Mott's Fruity Rolls. Tide detergent pods. Art of Shaving razors. These are just some of the surprises e-commerce shoppers have found when their packages arrived tucked, for instance, inside the children's pajamas from Zulily, the sheets from Bed Bath & Beyond, the men's shirts from Brooks Brothers. The retail world no longer guarantees face-to-face opportunities to pitch new products to consumers a taste test in a supermarket aisle, an impulse-purchase display at the checkout counter because shoppers no longer have to leave home to buy. So the in-package free sample has become a key marketing and customer-loyalty-building tool in online commerce because of its seemingly undeniable popularity. "Who doesn't like free? Especially when something has real value," said Craig Kapilow, senior director of brand partnerships and integrated marketing at Rue La La, an invitation-only online shop offering short-lived deals on brand-name merchandise. The answer: No one doesn't like free, apparently, and that's meant enormous success for a Philadelphia-area family-run business founded before e-commerce was a thing. BrandShare, based in Berwyn, is believed to be the world's first and largest media and e-commerce sampling company, providing 74 million "value-add product inserts" a month and expected to reach between $40 million and $50 million in revenue this year. Triple-digit growth since 2013 earned the company created in 1984 by Dick Guyer and one of his nine children, Doug a spot on the Inc. 5000 earlier this year. E-commerce is projected to reach $700 billion in the United States by the end of 2017, and brand spending on product sampling is expected to total $34.12 billion this year, according to the Path to Purchase Institute in Chicago. The Guyer family's decision to redirect its focus to the online shopping world seems genius. "If we wouldn't have made this change, we wouldn't be where we are today," said Doug Guyer, 55, president of the company of 54 employees, split mostly between Berwyn and New York City. BrandShare also has offices in Bentonville, Ark., and San Francisco, primarily to serve Walmart, one of its biggest retail partners, and in Chicago, home to a major brand whose products it samples, Wrigley's. Founded initially as International Direct Response, the company was proposing a new revenue stream media inserts, such as credit-card offers for catalog companies Dick Guyer, now 87 and retired in Florida, had served as a list broker. (List brokers help companies get their message to the right audience.) Son Doug graduated from Boston College in 1983 with a degree in marketing. Then came the idea to expand beyond media inserts (paperwork, basically) to actual product samples. Their first job: placing 200,000 Tylenol packets, along with coupons for the pain reliever, in catalog orders from Cabela's, Eddie Bauer, and Sportsman's Guide. Apparently, outdoors enthusiasts have a lot of pain. So pleased with the results was Johnson & Johnson that it upped the ante five months later to four million samples, Doug Guyer said. The company has "been a great partner ever since," he added. As retailing morphed, so did the Guyers' business, renamed seven years ago as BrandShare. By the mid- to late 1990s, that meant media and product sampling in e-commerce orders. BrandShare pays retailers a fee, the specifics of which Doug Guyer would not disclose, to get samples included in their outgoing packages. It makes money by charging brands a fee to get their products placed, and almost guaranteed notice. "We're going to put your product into a FedEx or UPS package that gets opened 100 percent of the time in a very positive environment," Guyer said. "It just has to be that perfect synergistic fit," his sister Kathie Tuoni, chief operating officer, said of the product/retailer matches BrandShare makes. The biggest opportunities are for fashion retailers, Tuoni said, whose customers are a receptive audience to the myriad beauty and skin-care products available for sampling. Mothers with young children are another prime sampling audience, she said. Hence the Mott's Fruity Rolls and Legos that have gone in Zulily orders. Another plus about moms and millennials, Tuoni said, is that they are huge social-media users inclined to gush about their free samples on Facebook and Instagram. Advertising gold. "Zulily customers are excited to receive an extra surprise in their shipments, which we see from social feedback and engagement with the brands whose products and/or messaging is featured," said Brian Doherty, head of Zulily's integrated marketing. Since Zulily started sampling with BrandShare in 2015, it has increased its volume of samples about 28 percent each year, Doherty said. They have included Teddy Soft Bakes, Back to Nature's Macaroni and Cheese, Brookside Chocolates, Werther's Original caramels, and Bic 4 Color Pens. "It's added value," Doherty said. Currently, BrandShare provides samples in 42 lifestyle categories, said Doug Guyer, who said its client retention rate is 93 percent year after year. Rue La La customers have been treated to tea, skin-care products, and chocolate through BrandShare-enabled sampling, said Kapilow. "Who's not going to be excited about getting a good shrink-wrapped chocolate sample?" he said, noting that Rue La La is "always cognizant about consumer engagement. Right now, there's just so much noise in the digital space, it's getting harder and harder to engage with customers." Kapilow lauded BrandShare for being "hyper-respectful when we say 'no' if something is not the right fit" and for being "great reaching out to brands we want." Ever-evolving, as the digital world demands, BrandShare has begun to offer retailers digital campaigns to provide consumers with interactive educational experiences about sampled products. For Rue La La, that includes a website tutorial on Burt's Bees lip and skin products, Kapilow said. "It's true consumer brand awareness." E-commerce grocery shopping is "great news for us," Doug Guyer said, pulling out a Walmart tote bag stuffed with samples including Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry children's toothpaste, Prego tomato sauce, and V8 energy drinks. The bags are for 210,000 first-time Walmart online grocery customers. Two other Guyer brothers work at BrandShare: Steven, as chief financial officer; and Michael, as vice president of operations. All but one of the Guyer children have worked at the company, which, a little more than two years ago, took on private-equity partner Aperion Capital Management in New York. With all that momentum, there are still worries. A sample arriving broken, or, worse, causing damage to the ordered shirt or pants it accompanies. Or a retailer opting to bring in-house the work BrandShare does. "That's what keeps me up at night," Doug Guyer said. And it keeps Tuoni, a former teacher who used to run the catalog group at the old Franklin Mint museum and shop, focused on "getting that next big retail partner to work with us." There also are many more product samples to land. Although BrandShare now works with 2,000 brands, "there are another 20,000 brands that need to know about us," Guyer said. He acknowledged the irony of a company in the marketing business needing to be better known. "Cobbler has no shoes sometimes," Guyer said. Violet & Brooks Grace Earrings Gift Quint as featured in O, The Oprah Magazine Read more The Oprah effect is real. On Nov. 2, O, the Oprah Magazine featured a set of earrings from Wallingford jewelry company Violet & Brooks as one of Oprah's favorite things. Already, said company owner Robbin Cook, she's sold more than 1,000 sets at $48 apiece. Traffic to her website has more quadrupled, and she's heard from at least 30 potential retailers eager to stock the line. "It's really incredible," said Cook, the 55-year-old designer whom fashion insiders know as the silent half of the quirky Maximal Art jewelry brand founded by John Wind. "What a way to launch a brand!" Tell me about it. The Violet & Brooks set featured in O is the Grace Earrings Gift Quint. It includes five pairs of gold-plated and crystal studs, some with sparkle and some with pearl, which can be worn as singles or stacked in lobes with multiple holes. The Grace is one of six quint collections. A cornflower blue stone anchors the Skylar set; a moonstone does the same for the Luna grouping. Birds are the special detail in the Birdie quint; a pave daisy is at the center of the Daisy earrings. The Opal set is heavy on the sparkle. The Violet & Brooks line named for Cook's children, Madison Violet, 21, and Spencer Brooks, 16 also includes chokers, necklaces, monogrammed jewelry, ringed sets, brooches, and sterling silver charms, and is available online, in Anthropologie, and in the Barnes Foundation gift shop. Cook brought Violet & Brooks to the Atlanta Spring Gift Show & Home Furnishings and Holiday Market in March. It was there that the magazine's creative director, Adam Glassman, took notice. Cook officially left Maximal Art to launch Violet & Brooks on Aug. 15; by Aug. 30, she'd learned Oprah's team had picked the Grace Quint to feature. "When I learned I was selected, everything changed about my original plans to launch my company," Cook said. Thanks to the Oprah nod, Cook said, she's been able to launch the brand on Amazon. She said it usually takes months for entrepreneurs to get products on the mega-retail site. "For 32 years, I've been behind the scenes, planning the business and creating strategy," Cook said. "Now, I stand out in front and represent the brand." And Oprah Winfrey has just made it that much easier. The Free Library has just renovated and expanded four branches to reflect the new ways people are using its facilities. The glass addition at the Lillian Marrero branch at Sixth and Lehigh includes an elevator that finally makes the building accessible. Read more The gleaming, white Lillian Marrero Library on Lehigh Avenue is easily the most magnificent building in the Fairhill neighborhood. And that's long been a problem for the Free Library. The building was a gift from Andrew Carnegie, the early 20th-century philanthropist, who believed that community libraries could help lift people out of poverty. To ennoble the experience of borrowing a book, Carnegie libraries were often modeled on classical palaces, with grand staircases, columned porticos, and hushed, wood-paneled reading rooms. At Marrero, you had to climb 23 steps to the entrance, then shoulder-open a pair of heavy oak doors. For elderly and disabled residents in the heavily Latino Fairhill section, Carnegie's great civic resource may just as well have been located on the moon. Figuring out a better way to get people in the front door of its branches has taken on new urgency for the Free Library. As more of the world's information fits in the palm of our hands, fewer people need to check out a physical book. In the last few years, the Free Library has watched its total number of visitors dribble down, from 13.8 million in fiscal 2014 to 9.9 million in fiscal 2017. Hoping to counter the trend, the Free Library has just renovated four branches Lovett, Logan, Tacony, and Marrero to make them more welcoming and flexible. In each case, it brought the doors down to where the people are, at sidewalk level, and installed elevators. The interiors have been reconfigured to appeal to a generation raised on smartphones. The transformation marks the beginning of a sea change for Philadelphia, from the library as a storehouse of books to the library as a community gathering place. The library's response to the disruption of the internet resembles the strategies pioneered by big retailers like Apple and Warby Parker. Rather than think of their stores as outlets that exist to ring up sales, they have reimagined them as places to have experiences that reinforce loyalty to the product. They serve as clubhouses for the brand. In a similar way, the four library branches have been outfitted with meeting and study rooms, and furnished with soft seating and cafe tables to encourage people to hang out. The number of books and bookshelves have been greatly reduced. "We've stopped talking about stuff and now talk more about the experience, being with other people," Siobhan Reardon, the Free Library's president, told me. To prepare the branches for their new role, the library hired James R. Keller, who spent 25 years as Vitetta architects' library specialist and recently started his own firm. Since all four branches had been poorly maintained, his first job was to fix the roofs and modernize the infrastructure. Once the structures were stabilized, Keller applied the principals of universal design to ensure that the branches could be accessed and used comfortably by everyone. It's almost unbelievable that Marrero operated without an elevator until its reopening last week. "You look at those stairs and think, 'What a terrible way to say hello to someone,' " Keller said. "It's telling people, 'You can't come in.' " It wasn't just Marrero. All four branches had accessibility issues, partly because they date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Marrero also is historically designated, making it difficult to tamper with the exterior. Keller developed an accessibility template that could be easily adapted to each branch. At Marrero, Tacony, and Lovett, he designed striking glass additions that have sidewalk-level entrances and house elevators that serve the older building. Because of space constraints, an exterior wheelchair ramp was installed at Logan. At Marrero, you now enter from the corner of Sixth and Lehigh, traveling up a gently sloping ramp to a shimmering glass enclosure that has been scored with a star-shaped pattern, a riff on the Roman lattice muntins that divide the windows on the main building. The star pattern, which also deflects glare, makes the simple structure dance with life. Besides providing elevator access to the main reading room, Keller was able to tuck in a cafe-style reading area on the second floor, with work counters and plug-ins for laptops. Because the room is elevated, the counters offer spectacular views of the rowhouse neighborhood and the distant towers of Center City. The design cries out for coffee service, but the Free Library is ambivalent. The glass addition flows into Marrero's soaring reading room, designed by the Hewitt brothers in 1906. Along with restoring the coffered ceiling and other classical details, Keller cleared out the Sheetrock partitions that had cluttered the great room. The result could have been stuffy restoration, but Keller played against type by furnishing the immense room with brightly colored modern furniture and quirky light fixtures. The centerpiece of Marrero's reading room and all the branch reading rooms is an oval-shaped seating arrangement called the "Living Room." Custom-made by Agati, a Chicago industrial design firm, the furniture solves three problems at once: The upholstered banquette allows readers to relax with a book or type at a laptop on a cafe table. The back of the seating is rimmed with shelves, lighting and a work counter. And since the arrangement is comprised of modular pieces on wheels, the Living Room can be easily disassembled to create an events space. All the shelves are kept low to ensure that children and people in wheelchairs can easily scan the titles. Such communal seating naturally encourages chatter, which the library wants. But since many library users still need quiet places to work, each branch is outfitted with glass-walled study rooms. Every location has a communal table with desktop computers. One thing you won't find in any of the four is a circulation desk. That's been replaced by self-service check-out machines, giving librarians more time to wander the floor, offering assistance. Reardon said the branches would ramp up their programming soon. That includes everything from movie nights to video gaming clubs to English classes for immigrants. Thanks to a grant, Marrero was able to hire a community organizer to work with Spanish speakers, particularly those who have just arrived from Puerto Rico to escape the ravages of Hurricane Maria. None of this came cheap. It cost $28 million to renovate the four branches, and the project wouldn't have been possible without a $15 million grant from the William Penn Foundation. Can brighter rooms and cafe counters really attract people who perceive libraries as musty throwbacks, while keeping those who still like to physically scour the stacks for information? Reardon says the early numbers are encouraging. After the South Philadelphia branch reopened last year in a new combination health-and-rec center on South Broad Street, it quadrupled the number of visitors. The Free Library predicts that 10.2 million visitors will stop in its branches in 2018. At least in the four renovated branches, they should have no trouble getting in the front door. By PTI: of wife (Eds: Repeating after correction in 2nd para) Ahmedabad, Nov 25 (PTI) Unhappy over the BJP nominating his daughter-in-law instead of his wife from the Kaalol Assembly seat in Gujarat, party MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan has warned that he would not guarantee a win for the party, if the candidate is not replaced with someone of his choice. advertisement The BJP yesterday released its fifth list of 13 candidates for the second phase of Assembly polls in Gujarat. In the list, the ruling party dropped sitting MLA Arvindsinh Chauhan and instead fielded Prabhatsinh Chauhans daughter- in-law Suman Chauhan from the Kaalol seat in Panchmahal district. Enraged over the announcement, Prabhatsinh Chauhan dashed off a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah yesterday, urging him to replace Suman Chauhan with a "local candidate". Although, in the letter he did not clearly demand that his wife Rangeshwari be given the party ticket, recently he had told reporters that she was the best candidate for the Kaalol seat. While Rangeshwari is the president of Ghoghamba taluka panchayat of Panchamahal district, Suman Chauhan is a member of Panchmahal district panchayat. In the letter, the parliamentarian also alleged that his son Pravinsinh is a "bootlegger" and that he and his wife had even gone to jail. "My son Pravin is a bootlegger and several cases are still pending against him. Both he and his wife Suman even went to jail in the past. This will dent the BJPs prospects of winning the seat. Further, Suman belongs to Godhra and people of Kaalol will not accept her," Chauhan said in the letter. "Though I am senior, having spent 45 years in public life, the party has not taken my opinion while selecting the candidates. I was also not taken into confidence while selecting the candidate for Kaalol. Thus, I urge you to consider changing the current candidate with a local one of my choice," he added. Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a prominent Rajput face in the region, who had joined the BJP in 1992, claimed that though he had single-handedly established the BJPs dominance in that district over the years, he has been ignored by the party and not given any post in the organisation. Chauhan stressed that the BJP would not get even a single vote from tribals. While his wife Rangeshwari is a tribal, Suman Chauhan is a Rajput. "The BJP will not get a single vote, out of the 1.10 lakh votes of tribals due to this ongoing controversy. There are huge chances that we will lose Kaalol. Thus, I want to inform you that I will not take any responsibility of ensuring the partys victory on any of the seven seats under my constituency including Kaalol," Chauhan said in the letter. advertisement Three days ago, Chauhan said that he had sought ticket for his wife on the ground that she had done "very good work" as Ghoghamba taluka panchayat president. "Just go to Ghoghamba to see what kind of work she has done. She has completely uprooted corruption. Rangeshwari is the best candidate and that is why I have appealed to the party leaders to select her for Kaalol seat," Chauhan told reporters. Yesterday, when Rangeshwari came to know that she has been ignored in ticket allocation, she targeted her husband in a fiery Facebook post, in which she even dared him to enter Kaalol for poll campaign. However, she deleted the post today. "I had posted that comment out of anger and disappointment. That was not against the BJP, it was against the Member of Parliament. But now, I have entered into a compromise with him over the issue," Rangeshwari told reporters. PTI PJT PD NP SMN SMN --- ENDS --- advertisement Emily Wilson of the University of Pennsylvania is the first woman to translate The Odyssey into English. Read more Many are the books given as gifts for the holidays. And a lot of those books even get read. Below is just a taste of the best of 2017 in fiction and nonfiction, things we or our reviewers really got hooked on. As gifts, they'll make you seem sensitive, knowing, and humane. Fiction readers like good, meaningful stories, with characters whose lives work out important human themes. These suggestions do all that, with beautiful writing to power it all along. Fiction Days Without End by Sebastian Barry ($26). This won the prestigious Costa Book of the Year Award in the U.K. An Irish boy flees the Great Famine, travels to the United States, and signs up for the Army in the 1850s. From there, it's the Indian Wars, the Civil War, and an enduring friendship. Reviewer Frank Wilson called it "a wonder, part western, part romance, part war novel, but at every turn humane and moving." Viking, penguinrandomhouse.com. Five-Carat Soul by James McBride ($27). The local American Book Award-winner hits us with a zesty, original, engaging, quick-reading collection of two novellas and some standalone stories. Riverhead Books, penguinrandomhouse.com. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward ($26). This tale of a Southern family's travels to the North won the National Book Award for fiction this year. A young boy tries to have a life during the Great Migration. A heartbreaking book full of heart. Scribner, simonandschuster.com. The War-Bride's Scrapbook: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston ($29.99). And postcards, letters, newspaper clippings, and doodles. Lila Jerome elopes with a soldier in tumultuous World War Two America. He ships off to war, and she goes off to Harvard. And thereby hangs an engrossing tale. HarperCollins, harpercollins.com. What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons ($22). Strath Haven High alum Clemmons writes of growing up feeling out of place. Thandi contends with her mother's death, her mixed racial background, and the conflicting expectations of those around her. Viking, penguinrandomhouse.com. Nonfiction Aging Thoughtfully: Conversations About Retirement, Romance, Wrinkles and Regret by Martha C. Nussbaum and Saul Levmore ($24.95). These paired essays really are a conversation thoughtful, penetrating, and hopeful between Nussbaum (one of our wisest, smartest writers) and economist and lawyer Levmore. Oxford University Press, global.oup.com Calder: The Conquest of Time: The Early Years: 1898-1940 by Jed Perl ($55). This big, beautifully illustrated book traces the first half of local kid Alexander Calder's career from the Philly area to being the most prominent U.S. sculptor of the 20th century. Knopf, knopfdoubleday.com Cartoon Country by Cullen Murphy ($27). This guy grew up in a Connecticut colony of newspaper cartoonists, among them some of the best of our time. Richly illustrated. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, us.macmillan.com France Is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul and Julia Child by Alex Prud'homme and Katie Pratt ($35). Famed chef Julia Child's spouse, Paul, took a lot of photos as they wandered through Paris and the French countryside, absorbing French culinary ideas. Thames & Hudson, thamesandhudsonusa.com Grant by Ron Chernow ($40). Chernow, known for his Hamilton bio, delivers what our reviewer Clayton Butler calls a mammoth reconsideration. Grant emerges as a vulnerable, humane, and accomplished leader, deserving of a place among our most celebrated Americans. For history lovers. Penguin Press, penguinrandomhouse.com The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone ($27.99). Longtime Philly journalist Fagone tells the story of Elizebeth Friedman, who helped invent modern cryptology, helped fight enemies in two world wars and organized crime in between, and helped found the National Security Agency. Reads like a novel, tells the truth, and gives our history a new heroine. Dey Street, harpercollins.com Classics Lots of people give the great standards for the holidays. Here are two winners. Persuasion by Jane Austen (Penguin, $17). This is a gorgeous, deluxe, reader-friendly Penguin Classics celebration of the 200th anniversary of this masterpiece. In Persuasion, Austen's last finished book, and perhaps her best, a woman thinks she's figured someone out and then unlearns, bit by bit, what she thought she knew. Penguin Classics, penguinrandomhouse.com Note: The Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition series is turning out beautiful new editions of many classics, from Great Expectations to Heart of Darkness to Dubliners. They are readable, beautiful to look at, and eminently giftable. The Oddysey, translated by Emily Wilson ($39.95). The Penn professor of classics is the first woman to bring this epic poem into English. I wrote that "Wilson has created a page-turner, spacious, direct, and light-shot, yet also an exciting chain of adventure stories. A perfect gift for everything from Christmas to Festivus!" W.W. Norton, books.wwnorton.com Karen Builione, top left, watches the holiday light show with her daughters Isabella, 7, in blue, and Francesca, 4, in pink, in Macy's. Read more On Friday morning, Lindsey Wells made the trek from Cherry Hill to Center City to show her 16-month-old daughter, Avery, Macy's Christmas Light Show for the first time. She parked Avery's stroller in the middle of the grand atrium by 11:30 a.m. for the show at noon, staking out the best possible vantage point with her husband, Shaun. "Avery loves music and shiny things, so this should be really fun for her," Wells said. It wasn't Wells' first time seeing the holiday lights at Macy's. Taking the train into the city to see the light show has been a family tradition since she was 5, but she stopped when she became preteen. She acknowledged, though, that the trip to Macy's wasn't just for Avery she had wanted to see it, too. "Because our daughter is still so young, we're trying a lot of new things," Wells said. "We'd like to create some of our own family traditions, but there are some we'd like to carry over, as well." Read more: All the Philly holiday events kicking off this weekend The Macy's Christmas Light Show has been dazzling kids and adults alike since 1956. Formerly called the John Wanamaker Christmas Light Show, it now uses energy-efficient bulbs and a computer system to operate the lights. Other than that, little has changed, making it a holiday tradition that has stood the test of time. Sisters Kristin Mansfield and Karen Builione also started going to the light show with their parents when they were 5. "They used to tell us that real Santa lived in this Macy's," Mansfield, who lives in Center City, said with a laugh. "We would also go to Bookbinder's afterwards for lunch, but we've cut that one out of the tradition." This year, Builione brought her four daughters, ages 4 through 12, to the show for the first time. "I didn't tell them much about it," she said. "I want them to be surprised." For many Philadelphians, the show, with more than 100,000 lights accompanied by the Wanamaker Grand Organ, is a holiday staple and family tradition. But the show, which started its run through New Year's Eve on Friday, drew many curious visitors from out of town, as well. Thirteen-year-old Mark Mathis traveled to Philadelphia from Indianapolis with his family to celebrate Thanksgiving, partly because of all the light shows the city has to offer during the holiday season. Mark, an aspiring light-show designer, has been putting together his own shows since he was 6. "When I was really young, I became obsessed with light switches," he said. "I've been doing my family's holiday lights display for a while now, both indoors and outdoors." So far, Mark has seen the Franklin Square light show and the Comcast Holiday Spectacular. The noon show started a little later than expected because of technical difficulties, which led to some grumbling among the crowd. But Mark patiently waited on the floor of the atrium, lying down to get the best possible view. When the show finally began, his face lit up in astonishment. "So far, I've been really impressed with Philly's light shows," he said. "There's so many of them, and they're all really elaborate." The 150-acre landfill along Route 42 in Bellmawr, Camden County. Officials plan to redevelop the landfill with retail and commercial space, as well as a park along the Big Timber Creek. Read more A hulking, 150-acre landfill that looms at the busy Route 42 and I-295 interchange in South Jersey would be transformed into a commercial center with a park overlooking Big Timber Creek, according to the latest round of plans for the long-dormant site. Bellmawr officials introduced a plan this week that still needs a second vote by council as well as approval from the Camden County planning board. But borough administrator Joshua Tregear called the updated plan good news and was hopeful the park would be open some time next year. That would be far before completion of the state Department of Transportation's $900 million "Direct Connection" road-and-ramp-reconfiguration project underway in the same area where Interstates 295 and 76 and Route 42 converge in Camden County, a project whose finish line, officials said, has been moved from 2021 to 2024. A spokesman for the DOT said Wednesday the delay was caused by increased time needed to acquire the right-of-way for part of the project. The DOT is planning a new access road to the Bellmawr development site in parallel with that massive road project. "This has been a long time coming," Tregear said of the plan to transform the landfill. "The project started in 2006." Indeed, Bellmawr's plan is the third iteration of a process that began with remediation of the landfill actually four separate landfills that included municipal waste and a private dump. This updated version includes details on the park. Tregear said he's optimistic the final touches on the capping and vegetation will soon be complete and that a park will be open by next year. He said the park will be a mile-long ribbon overlooking the creek, which feeds into the Delaware River. The park will comprise about 12 acres of land. "It's going to have a very natural feel to it," Tregear said. "It would be something like you see down in the Chesapeake area." The overall plans, drawn by Remington & Vernick Engineers in Haddonfield, call for three phases of work on the site, which has multiple owners. Those owners include the borough and Big Timber Junction LLC, the chosen redeveloper, which includes multiple investors. The park would be built in the first phase. The next two phases include a mix of development, including retail and potential housing if required by the state's mandate on affordable housing. "The waterfront park should provide public access to the Big Timber Creek waterfront area," the plan states, "and should include at a minimum, nonexclusive visitor parking areas, scenic vistas, improved natural trails, benches and rest areas, and also signs providing interpretative ecological information to the public." It also "encourages" access for boating and fishing through a dock or pier. A rendering of the park area by SR3engineers, of Bellmawr, shows a strip of green along the waterfront, stretching from Deptford Township to Runnemede Borough, both of which border Bellmawr. The last two phases of Bellmawr's redevelopment plan are not fully detailed. But conditional uses include a retailer with at least 50,000 square feet of floor space, with walkways connecting the retail areas and the park. The plan calls for any new development to be "walkable," "visually interesting," and with a "sense of place." Stores connecting in strip-mall fashion should have "distinctive awnings, signage, and store windows" that give the area a unique feel. Officials also hope for a shuttle to the PATCO rail line and Philadelphia International Airport. Previously, a Bass Pro Shops was a potential big-name store for the site. But it chose Atlantic City because of difficulty getting a direct access road for the store in Bellmawr. But officials say there is a lot of interest in the site and that more details on potential stores and anchors could come in the beginning of 2018. During his nation's "darkest hours" in World War II, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, inspired the United Kingdom and much of the rest of the world with his strength and certainty that the Allies would defeat the Nazis, however hard the struggle. "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender," the 65-year-old prime minister intoned on June 18, 1940, in his "Finest Hour" speech, as the Battle of Britain was about to begin. Few knew that as a youngster, the man whose soaring oratory would mean so much to so many suffered from a stammer, a speech disorder that is notoriously difficult to overcome. Prime example: Britain's wartime King George VI, whose own struggles to control his stammer were the subject of the Oscar-winning 2010 film, "The King's Speech." Churchill was more successful at mastering the impediment, teaching himself to practice his speeches well in advance, and developing the art of effective, loaded pauses. But the strains of war showed even on the man called Britain's Bulldog. He suffered a mild heart attack in December 1941 while at the White House shortly after Pearl Harbor to solidify relations with his most important ally, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Two years later, he contracted pneumonia. Through it all, he enjoyed his trademark cigars and his favorite cocktail, whisky and soda. Some have thought Churchill was bipolar, sometimes suffering from depression he later would call his "Black Dog," other times exhibiting vast levels of energy, working from early morning to past midnight, often from his bed wearing the pale pink silk underwear he preferred, and even from his bathtub. After the war, in the summer of 1949, Churchill went to the south of France to rest and enjoy painting the French Riviera. While there, he suddenly lost sensation in his right arm and right leg. The incident was handled quietly, with a sign stating only that he "contracted a chill while bathing" posted at the villa where he was staying. He rapidly recovered and returned to England. Churchill once again became prime minister on October 24, 1951. In June 1953, at a dinner to honor the Italian prime minister, Churchill gave a speech, but then suddenly couldn't continue discussion and slumped back in his chair. His son-in-law noticed he appeared weak on his left side, and quietly got Churchill up to his room. The next day, after conducting a cabinet meeting, he was driven to Chartwell, his country home in Kent. The public and Parliament were told he was suffering from exhaustion. What was really going on, and why was it hushed up? Solution As his son-in-law noticed at the 1953 dinner, the left side of Churchill's mouth was drooping, and his left arm and leg were weak. This was his second hypertension-related lacunar stroke he suffered; the first was in 1949. This most common type of stroke is caused by blockage of small arteries leading to the brain. Once at Chartwell, Churchill received around the clock nurse's care and physical rehabilitation. The news blackout during these tense, Cold War times, was maintained; the nation's press barons agreed to keep the secret. The young Queen Elizabeth II was among the few who knew what was going on. For the better part of a month, "my colleagues and I had to handle requests for decisions from Ministers and Government departments who were entirely ignorant of the Prime Minister's incapacity," his private secretary, Jock Colville, later wrote. He didn't stay down for long. In December 1953, Churchill went to Bermuda to meet with President Dwight Eisenhower, who was not aware of Churchill's strokes. Churchill's physician, Lord Moran, his staff and family also kept hidden other events including the "mini-strokes" he suffered in 1950 and 1951. In 1952 a fleeting speech disturbance suggested a spasm or partial occlusion of the artery supplying the speech center of the brain. By then, both the right and left sides of Churchill's brain were affected by atherosclerosis and hypertension. Recognizing he was slowing down physically and mentally, Churchill retired as prime minister in 1955, but remained in Parliament until 1964. On Jan. 15, 1965, the 90-year-old Churchill suffered another stroke, which was announced. He died nine days later, and was mourned by millions at a massive state funeral, televised worldwide, to say farewell to the man who may have done more than any other to stop the Nazis. Allan B. Schwartz, M.D., is a professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension at Drexel University College of Medicine The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is encouraging electricity customers to shop for suppliers on Black Friday. Buyer beware. Read more The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is encouraging consumers to shop for electricity on Black Friday. A quick glance at the PUC's website suggests Peco Energy customers could save an eye-popping 44 percent on their bills. Buyer beware: Not all prices are as low as they seem. Papowerswitch.com, the PUC's marketplace for electricity shopping, lists about 140 offers for Peco Energy customers, some of which will save customers compared with the utility's current price. But some offers that appear to be very competitive may not be. Seven suppliers tack on additional fees that require alert customers to compute their own true comparisons for household use. The PUC requires suppliers to disclose additional fees on the government website. But three Peco suppliers, while noting they charged monthly fees, did not disclose the amount of those fees. Visits to several supplier websites failed to reveal the details, requiring a customer to either call the supplier or to submit an online form providing the customer's contact information. Complicating matters, the PUC's online tool did not include the monthly fee for several suppliers in its calculation of the estimated monthly cost of their offers. As a result, the deals offered by some suppliers that charged monthly fees appeared to cost less than they actually do. The PUC corrected the problems this week, after the Inquirer pointed out the flaw. "There was a little glitch on the back end of our site on how some offers were displayed," said Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, the commission's spokesman. Programmers fixed the glitch Tuesday, and estimated costs now include the monthly fees, which range from $3.95 to $9.95. As for that 44 percent savings? By far the best price posted for Peco customers is from Public Power LLC, a Connecticut company whose website acknowledges that it's neither a public utility nor affiliated with "any government owned not-for-profit utility." It is owned by Crius Energy LLC, which owns several other suppliers. Public Power offers a rate of 3.99 cents per kilowatt hour, which is indeed 44 percent less than Peco's current price-to-compare of 7.13 cents per kWh. (Peco's price, which is adjusted quarterly, is set to go up slightly to 7.22 cents on Dec. 1.) Public Power does not charge a monthly fee, but it is unique among suppliers in that it charges a $145 "enrollment fee." Because that upfront payment is not a monthly fee, the PUC does not include it when it estimates the cost of the deal compared to others. The $145 fee buys a discount rate fixed for only three months. The supplier will make a new offer to the customer at the end of that term. When customers do not take action, suppliers typically switch them to variable-rate deals. "There is no limit on how much your variable rate may change from one billing cycle to the next," Public Power discloses in the terms of its offer. Realistically, a customer would need to recover $145 in savings in three months to justify the enrollment fee. For a typical residential customer using 700 kWh, the fee would add 6.9 cents per kilowatt hour to the 3.99 cents per kWh that Public Power charges for the electricity. That means a typical residential customer would pay the equivalent of 10.89 cents per kWh. That's 53 percent more than Peco's price, not 44 percent less. Public Power's deal would be attractive only for customers consuming about twice as much as a typical household, or more than 1,500 kWh a month. Electric-heating customers consume that much, as do customers with large numbers of potted plants under lamps. Alas, the price is not available to Peco electric-heating customers, who are in a separate rate class. (Your average monthly usage is listed on your Peco bill.) In response to the Inquirer's questions, the PUC on Wednesday added a fine-print disclaimer to the web page promoting the purported 44 percent savings, saying: "These savings do not include any additional enrollment fees." "We're constantly evaluating how to best display the data so consumers can digest it." said Hagen-Frederiksen. The PUC also posts a list of suggested questions for customers to ask suppliers. Evaluating electricity offers gets more complicated when a customer factors in other premiums, such as free thermostats or loyalty rewards, or if the rate varies according to the time of day. About 2 million Pennsylvania customers, or 36 percent, buy their electricity from competitive suppliers, according to the PUC, including 541,000 Peco customers and 641,000 PPL Electric customers. Customers that don't shop get the "default rate," or price-to-compare, offered by the electric company. Lucian Stock, 20, of Souderton, was charged with homicide by vehicle for a crash that killed a road worker and injured another in September. Read more A 20-year-old Montgomery County woman whose car crashed into a work crew, killing one man and injuring another, in September has been charged with homicide by vehicle, prosecutors said Friday. Luciana Stock of Souderton was driving to work shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 and had reached below her radio for her cigarettes when her 2000 Oldsmobile Alero plowed into a Franconia Township crew that had been painting roadway markings on the 300 block of West Broad Street, prosecutors said. The car hit David Smith, 53, and Jeffrey Moyer, 46. Smith was transported to Grand View Hospital in Sellersville, where he was pronounced dead. Moyer, who was critically injured, was flown to Temple University Hospital. Stock was arraigned last week before District Judge Philip J. Daly, who set unsecured bail at $75,000. Stock was released on her own recognizance. Her preliminary hearing was set for Thursday. Stock told a detective that she was late for her job in Hatfield and "felt rushed," according to the affidavit of probable cause. As she was driving, "she reached down for her cigarettes, which were underneath her radio, and when she looked up two people were on her windshield," according to the affidavit. Stock's car ran over a traffic cone before hitting the men. Investigators determined that she was driving 39 mph when she crashed. The posted speed limit was 35. She was charged with homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, and careless driving. PHOENIX -- Saying 18 is plenty young enough, a Scottsdale lawmaker wants to repeal existing Arizona laws that allow children of any age to get married. The proposal by Republican Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita would make it illegal for the clerk of superior courts in any of the state's 15 counties to issue a marriage license to anyone younger than 18. Specifically, HB 2006 would undo laws that allow anyone age 16 or 17 to marry with permission of a parent. But the measure also addresses the fact there is no minimum age in Arizona. The only thing required is the permission of a superior court judge. "Why do we need to allow underage marriages to happen?'' Ugenti-Rita asked. "What is the public benefit to that?'' If she can get her bill heard, Arizona would join a growing number of states looking at whether laws that may date back to territorial days make any sense. But the record also shows that Ugenti-Rita may be facing an an uphill battle. While most states set the age of marriage at 18, the Tahirih Justice Center which works to stop violence against women, reports more than half are like Arizona. Their laws not only allow for exceptions but do not even have a "floor'' age. The record on changing that is mixed. Earlier this year New York changed its laws to make 17 the absolute minimum, up from 14. Lawmakers in New Jersey voted for a measure similar to what Ugenti-Rita is proposing. But that was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie. And, efforts to set the minimum age in California at 18 faltered this year amid opposition from several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children's Law Center of California. Ugenti-Rita, however, argues that there's no legitimate reason to allow such nuptials. "I don't see why waiting 12 months or 24 months interferes with your ability to have a life together or marry,'' she said. Nor does she believe that the parental consent requirement is meaningful. "The exceptions don't make sense anymore,'' she said. Ugenti-Rita also pointed out that those younger than 18 can't buy cigarettes, even with a note from mom or dad. And the legal purchase and use of alcohol is reserved to those 21 and older, no matter what a parent says. "So we clearly recognize that age is a big factor in being able to comprehend the magnitude of a choice and being mature enough to make a certain choice,'' she said. Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said he hasn't considered the question. But Farnsworth said simply making marriage off-limits to those younger than 18 raises a series of questions. One is the fact that Arizona law already allows teens 16 and older to become legally "emancipated,'' freeing them from parental oversight and giving them many of the same legal rights as an adult, including the right to contract, incur debts, and even to sue and be sued. It's also legal for teens to have an abortion with either parental or court permission. And there's something else: Arizona repealed its laws against cohabitation laws more than a decade ago. But Ugenti-Rita brushed aside questions of whether her legislation could then lead to teens living together without being married. She said that's no reason for Arizona to provide "recognized status'' to couples where one or both is a minor. Conversely, Ugenti-Rita said there are definite drawbacks. "I think child marriage lends itself to some real problems,'' she said. "Those who are marrying before they are 18 are at an increased risk of physical or sexual violence, coercion, and other economic complications.'' Nor does Ugenti-Rita believe a pregnancy should change the equation. There is no statewide figure of how many teens younger than 18 wed each year in Arizona, as these are issued by court clerks in each of the state's 15 counties. An analysis done for Capitol Media Services by the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court found that 570 minors received a marriage licenses in a five-year period ending June 23. The actual number of licenses is slightly less, at 524, as some went to couples where both parties were minors. That's out of about 20,000 licenses issued each year. The area around Raishina is known for large number of farm houses and poaching of leopards reportedly happens here. The leopard was mysteriously found dead in the foothills of Aravalli in Gurugram on Friday. By Ajay Kumar: Despite all efforts by the wildlife department, leopards frequently prowl around human population. Some of them are rescued by the department, while many die or are hunted down by poachers in Aravalli forest in Gurugram. On Friday morning, a four-year-old male leopard was found dead under mysterious circumstances in an area between Bhango and Kharak village near Raishina forest in Gurugram. The wild cat sustained injuries in head and mouth. advertisement Department officials have not ruled out foul play in its death. "We have recovered the dead body of an adult leopard and has been sent to postmortem. It will be clear only after the postmortem whether the injuries were accidental or unnatural," said Shyam Sunder Kaushik, DFO wildlife Gurugram range. The villagers claimed that they spotted the wild animal around 2 PM on the foothills of Aravalli mountain. "It is hard to predict the cause of death, but it looks like the leopard fell down accidentally near the foothill," said Tarif, a local resident of Kharak village. Due to dense forest, the corridor between Maneser, and Palwal is considered a natural habitat for wild cats and hence leopards are frequently seen in the area. According to official figures, nine leopards, including a couple of cubs, died under mysterious circumstance in Gurugram and Faridabad since January 2014. The area around Raishina is known for large number of farm houses and poaching of leopards reportedly happens here. Two leopard cubs, three-year-old, were found dead in Gairatpur Bas village in May 2016 and September respectively. On November 24, 2016 agitated mob of Mandawar village killed a three-year-old leopard in full public view and paraded the big cat in the area. On October 5, a three-year-old leopard was rescued from Maruti factory in IMT Maneser. An adult leopard was rescued on April 27, 2017 from Durga colony in Sohna after five hours of effort. A four-year-old leopard was strayed into human population in Palwal district on February 16 this year. --- ENDS --- Three years after retiring as president of Pennsylvania State University, Rodney Erickson is netting $477,590 a year from a state pension. Gary Schultz, the former Penn State vice president who pleaded guilty in the Jerry Sandusky scandal, takes home $330,699 in pension benefits. Former state lawmaker Frank Oliver, a Democrat who represented North Philadelphia, gets $286,117. More than 127,000 former Pennsylvania state employees or their beneficiaries collect public pension checks each month, and most are comparatively paltry. The average paid out last year was $27,722. But despite reforms in the system which mostly affect future retirees and a move by some states to cap retirement payments, a separate class of Keystone State pensioners will continue to receive checks that alone put them among the top tier of all income earners in the United States. As the costs of public pensions continue to be a point of debate for struggling state and municipal governments, the Inquirer and Daily News reviewed data for hundreds of Pennsylvania's highest-paid beneficiaries, all current through August. They showed that 20 state retirees collect more than $215,000 a year a payout so big it exceeds an IRS mandated pension cap and must be paid from two plans. More than 500 retirees collect $100,000 or more. Officials in the system say such retirees earned their benefits contributing a percentage of their pay to the state's defined-benefit plan, along with their employers. Critics say the six-figure payouts reflect a policy that isn't grounded in fiscal reality. "Professional state employees should make a good living, but they are not entitled to make a killing," said Eric Epstein, coordinator with the Rock the Capital reform group in Harrisburg and an advocate for pension changes. Some of the payouts, he said, "are excessive pockets of gluttony that are deeply disturbing" as Pennsylvania confronts a $70 billion shortfall in its retirement obligations. Top Pennsylvania Pension Recipients Shown below are the 500 former state employees with the highest annual pension payments. Staff Graphic Many of the best-paid retirees worked in the court system, the legislature, or academia, the records show. Of the top 500, 124 worked at Penn State, and 143 at schools within the State System of Higher Education. The pensions traditionally are calculated using a formula that includes an employee's highest average salary over a three-year span and years of service. The $477,590 going to Erickson, 71, flowed in part from his 37 years at Penn State and his final salary of $633,336. He also received severance, bonus, and life insurance payouts upon retirement. Right behind him on the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) list is Stephen Benkovic, 79, a former Penn State chemistry chair and National Medal of Honor recipient who receives $443,879. Efforts to reach him and Erickson this week were unsuccessful. Retired Shippensburg University human communication studies professor William Kingsley, who at third on the list gets $385,819, retired in 2015 after nearly 50 years with the university. Kingsley said pension considerations played no role in his decision to work for the university. "I wanted to do theater, I had opportunity there, and that's what I did," said Kingsley, 85, who lives in Aspers, Adams County. "I also loved teaching." Asked whether his pension allowed him to live comfortably, he said: "Reasonably." Schultz, 68, the former Penn State vice president, spent nearly four decades working for the university. His guilty plea to child endangerment for not reporting signs that Jerry Sandusky was a serial child-sex predator doesn't affect his $330,000 pension. (Sandusky himself won a court battle to keep his $59,000-a-year retirement benefit even as he serves at least three decades in prison.) In the state's Public School Employees' Retirement System which covers workers in the 499 school districts just one pension tops $222,000. The second highest is $190,000. Given that relatively few retirees receive them, the largest pensions aren't a significant driver of Pennsylvania's pension deficit, said Greg Mennis, director of the Public Sector Retirement Systems project at Pew Charitable Trusts. What "really set Pennsylvania apart," Mennis said, was how significantly the state increased benefits in 2001, when the pension system was flush. Since then, its $20 billion pension surplus has turned into a nearly $70 billion deficit. Pennsylvania has since rolled back those benefit increases for new employees. The state also has stuck to a plan to increase employer contributions into the system. And earlier this year, lawmakers and Gov. Wolf agreed on a plan to cut pension costs by shifting at least some benefits for future employees into 401(k)-style plans. But past decisions to boost benefits continue to have an effect. One was lawmakers' decision in 2002 to create a separate plan for paying out SERS members whose pensions under the enhanced state formula would have exceeded the IRS cap. Such plans are relatively common, said Rick Dreyfuss, a business consultant and senior fellow with the conservative Commonwealth Foundation. The real issue, he said, are the salaries that lead to the largest pensions. "If you don't manage the base pay, then the whole thing is going to continue," Dreyfuss said. Leonard S. Jefferson, a former Penn State College of Medicine cellular and molecular physiology professor, gets a $30,999 monthly check, which is among the top 20. He said his work as a researcher starting in 1967 was a boon for the university, bringing millions of dollars in funding for students and staff over decades. "This extramural funding has also provided employment for numerous research support staff, and supported the training of more than 100 graduate students and fellows. All of which has contributed significantly to the economy of the Commonwealth," Jefferson said in an email. Such retirement obligations ultimately are at least partly borne by taxpayers. Penn State receives state funding every year, as does the higher education system, and pension costs "are a very, very significant part of our annual budget," said Kenn Marshall, spokesman for the system of 14 universities. The state appropriation covers about one-fourth of the system's operating budget, Marshall said. About half of the university system's 12,500 full-time employees, including more than half of faculty, choose a 401(k)-like defined contribution plan instead of the traditional SERS pension, Marshall said. The employer match for that plan is 9.29 percent. In 21 states, a defined contribution plan the traditional kind of pension is the only retirement plan option offered to most faculty, according to Pew. Some states have moved to cap pensions. In New Jersey, where the highest pension tops out at $195,000, pension-eligible salaries for newer members in the state's main plans are capped at the annual maximum wage for Social Security deductions, which this year is $127,200. Some lawmakers said Pennsylvania had effectively capped pensions with the move to a hybrid defined benefit/defined contribution plan for future hires. That takes effect in 2019. "The Commonwealth will no longer be on the hook for those exorbitant amounts," said state Rep. Mike Tobash (R., Schuylkill). But today's retirees are still owed pensions based on past rules. "Whether you like this pension reform or not, it's going to take years for this to emerge in terms of something meaningful," Dreyfuss said. Speaking to reporters before leaving for New Delhi, Hadiya said that she wants to go with her husband. By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: As Hadiya, or Akhila Ashokan, left for New Delhi to appear before the Supreme Court in the Kerala 'love jihad' case, she said nobody forced her to convert. "No one forced me to convert. I want to go with my husband," Hadiya said at the Cochin airport. The Supreme Court on October 30 directed Hadiya's father to produce her on the next date of hearing, November 27. advertisement Hadiya is being accompanied by her parents and 15 police personnel, including three woman officers, to Delhi. Shafin Jahan, Hadiya's Muslim husband, had moved the Supreme Court after the Kerala High Court annulled his marriage. I am a Muslim. I want to go with my husband. Nobody forced me to convert: Hadiya, who will be produced before Supreme Court in Kerela 'Love Jihad' case on 27th November in Delhi pic.twitter.com/w9JzcmBw9Z&; ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2017 The direction by the apex court for producing the woman for an interaction came amid an assertion by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that this was a case in which the woman was indoctrinated and she may be incapable of giving free consent to marriage. A Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, had asked senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing the father of the woman, to ensure she is produced before them to ascertain whether she had married of her own volition. The woman and her parents are likely to stay at Kerala House in New Delhi, sources said. Hadiya had converted to Islam and later married Jahan. It was alleged that she was recruited by ISIS' mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge. Jahan had moved the Supreme Court after the Kerala high court annulled his marriage, saying it was an insult to the independence of women in the country. The Supreme Court on Monday will also deal with the plea filed by Hadiya/Akhila's father for an in-camera hearing of the case. The court had said that before examining the issue, it would like to ascertain if she had voluntarily converted to Islam and got married. "We will have the lady before us and ask her if she has consented voluntarily" to conversion and marriage, the bench had said. In another development, Hadiya's husband Shafin Jahan has filed a complaint alleging efforts are being made to reconvert her to Hinduism. In the complaint filed with Kottayam Police chief, Shafin Jahan alleged that attempts are being made by Hadiya's family in cahoots with RSS activists to get her to do ghar wapsi. He alleged that she was also counselled for more than three hours by a Hindu religious leader recently. advertisement -With PTI inputs ALSO WATCH | Kerala love jihad 'victim' Hadiya first time on camera: Forced conversion or choice? --- ENDS --- Former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deputy director, Michael Morell opines that JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's release will only spell doom for mainstream Pakistan politics. By PTI, Press Trust of India: 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed has "blood on his hands", and wants to bring extremism into the mainstream politics of Pakistan, a former top American spymaster said today. The JuD head and LeT founder, who has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan on Friday. advertisement "Saeed is a terrorist. Worked with the LeT, a Kashmiri militant group, and al-Qaida on attacks," Michael Morell, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deputy director, who has also served twice as its acting director, said in a tweet. "He has blood on his hands. Now wants to bring extremism into the political mainstream in Pakistan," he said after Saeed, a UN and US designated terrorist, was released from house arrest in Lahore. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The fire-brand cleric's release came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. A deeply concerned US has asked the Pakistan government to re-arrest and charge Saeed for his crimes. It also asked Pakistan to ensure that the LeT leader is behind bars. NBC news said Saeed's release could once again sour US relations with Pakistan. The New York Times said, for decades, Pakistan has cast a benign eye on groups like LeT- which is perceived as an asset because its attacks target Indian soldiers in Kashmir . Even as the government battles jihadist groups like the Pakistan Taliban that directly threatens the country. "But despite its pressure on Pakistan to move against militants like Saeed, the United States has also sent mixed messages. Just a month ago, the United States Senate struck down a provision tying American government funding to Pakistan to the country's efforts to curb Lashkar-e-Taiba's operations. "The provision, part of a broader Pentagon-funding legislation that Congress introduced this past summer, would have forced the secretary of defence to certify that Islamabad was thwarting Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities inside Pakistan or risk USD 350 million in American assistance," the Times wrote. Meanwhile, in an op-ed, The Washington Examiner said the Trump administration "should work with India" to "capture or kill" Saeed. "Trump should call Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and offer to work with him to capture or kill Saeed," the daily said, adding that Saeed intends to lead a new Muslim theocratic political bloc in next years parliamentary polls. advertisement "Although Pakistan's electoral commission has refused to certify the bloc, Saeed's populist power should not be understated. Charismatic and determined, if left unchecked in his political party or terrorist activities, Saeed could destabilise the region," the daily added. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the banned LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attack. --- ENDS --- 14 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Nicosia Written by Jess Lee Updated May 26, 2022 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( ) The Cypriot capital of Nicosia is literally a tale of two halves. The southern half of Nicosia (also called Lefkosia) belongs to the Republic of Cyprus, while North Nicosia (also known as Lefkosa) is the capital of the UN-unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Since 2003, the logistics of visiting both sides of the city have loosened up considerably, and popping over to Northern Cyprus and back again requires just a quick flash of your passport as you stroll through the Ledra Street green-line crossing that divides the old city district in two. This means that the tourist attractions of North Nicosia's old town can be just as easily visited as the museums in Nicosia. The city is also a fantastic base for launching yourself out on sightseeing trips into north Cyprus, which is home to some of the island's most important historic places to visit such as the fairy-tale castle of St. Hilarion and the extensive ruins of Ancient Salamis. To help plan your time here, use our list of the top attractions and things to do in Nicosia. See also: Where to Stay in Nicosia 1. Admire Nicosia's Venetian Fortifications Venetian Fortifications Nicosia's most defining features are its impressive Venetian walls, which encircle the old city. Although crumbling significantly, much of their original three-kilometer length is still in place. Famagusta Gate is the best preserved and is decorated with numerous coats of arms. The passage here leads out from the old city to the old city's empty moat area. Paphos Gate and the Roccas Bastion beside it are more interesting for their role in modern history. Here, the UN Buffer Zone between the Republic of Cyprus and northern Cyprus dwindles to less than 200 meters, and until 2003, this was the only place on the island where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots could get close up. Today, flags for all four countries in the unresolved dispute (Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, Turkey, and north Cyprus) flutter in the breeze as a reminder of this island's unresolved woes. 2. Visit the Cyprus Museum Cyprus Museum | Sergey Galyonkin / photo modified This exceedingly well-thought-out museum should be top of your things to do in Cyprus list if you are interested in getting to grips with the ancient history of the island. Its extensive collection of artifacts swoops from the Neolithic period right up to the Byzantine era. Room One contains excavated finds from the Neolithic age, including a large number of Steatite idols. Room Two covers the Bronze Age, with many vases and jugs decorated with rather endearing animals. Mycenaean artifacts from Ancient Kourion are displayed in Room Three. Head to Room Four to view the museum's highlight: a collection of votive figures (including Minotaurs, warriors, and charioteers) from 7-6 BC, found at Ayia Irini, near Morphou. Rooms Five and Six are sculpture galleries with artifacts from a wide range of periods, while Room Seven contains a limestone female statue from Soli and a huge bronze statue of the Emperor Septimus Severus. Continue on to Room Eight for exhibits of bronze tools and assorted weaponry, as well as some statues of gods. The tiny stone seals are interesting as are the Egyptian amulets and the green-horned god from Engomi. You'll find representations of rock-cut tombs (2500 BC - 400 BC) along with the objects found in them, votive inscriptions, and other artifacts from tombs in Rooms Nine and 10. Afterwards, check out the marble statues from Salamis in Room 13 and the terra-cotta figurines in Room 14 before heading for the exit. Address: 1 Leoforos Mouseiou, Nicosia Accommodation: Where to Stay in Nicosia 3. Shop for Crafts inside the Buyuk Han Buyuk Han This han (a caravanserai) was constructed in 1572 and is an excellently preserved example of the architecture of that period. Hans were used as accommodation and storage places for merchants as they passed through town, often including stabling facilities for their horses (or camels) and sometimes recreation facilities such as restaurants and hamams (Turkish baths) as well. The Buyuk Han is one of the city's finest historic buildings and has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. Today the former sleeping quarters, now home to a variety of shops, cafes, and local artisan ateliers, are perfect for a spot of shopping to break up your old city sightseeing. It's in North Nicosia, just a short stroll from the Ledra Street pedestrian green line crossing. 4. View the Byzantine Art inside Makarios Cultural Foundation The Byzantine Museum For anyone interested in Cypriot religious artwork, the Byzantine Museum contained within the Makarios Cultural Foundation is an important stop in the city. Here, you'll find a staggering collection (220 pieces) of Christian icons that range in age from the beginning of the Byzantine era up until the 19th century. For many people with a special interest in this artwork though, the highlight of the museum is the Kanakaria Mosaics on display. These important art pieces were stolen from a church in the Karpas Peninsula after the 1974 Turkish invasion. In a story that could have been ripped straight from an art world thriller novel, involving dodgy art dealers and an Interpol sting operation, they were returned to the Republic of Cyprus in 1991. Address: Plateia Archiepiskopou Kyprianou 5. Admire the Architecture of the Selimiye Mosque Selimiye Mosque The most recognisable landmark in North Nicosia, the Selimiye Mosque began life as the Church of Agia Sofia and was finished after a 78-year construction process in 1326. It has been a mosque since the 16th century, when the Ottomans took control of the island. This merging of elaborate medieval church architecture and the simplicity of mosque design has created a fascinating space with the soaring interior of this typically Gothic structure having been whitewashed and any icon details long taken away. If you'd like to enter, bring a headscarf (for females) and dress modestly (no shorts or shoulder-less tops). The mosque is a five-minute walk from the Ledra Street green line crossing. Address: Selimiye Meydani, North Nicosia Cathedral of St. Sophia (Selimiye Mosque) Map (Historical) 6. Stroll Nicosia's Old Town Neighborhood Building in Nicosia's Old Town Although Nicosia doesn't have a huge amount of big-hitter tourist sights, the true attraction of a visit here is simply strolling the narrow lanes of the old town district. Ledra Street is the main drag through the old town and is lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops, leading right up to the Ledra Street Green Line crossing-post to North Nicosia. To explore the northern section of the old city, you will need to bring your passport to cross here. Skirt off Ledra Street into the tumble of alleyways to check out the Ottoman mansion architecture of the House of Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios (20 Patriachou Grigoriou Street), who was the island's dragoman during the late 18th century and the Omeriye Mosque (Trikoupi Street), which has a 14th-century Lusignan entranceway. Plenty of the old town's small churches have lavish interiors that merit a peek inside. Two of the best are the Panagia Chrysaliniotissa (Archiepiskopou Filotheou Street), considered the oldest church in Nicosia and believed to have been built in 1450, and the Agios Ionnis (Plateia Archiepiskopou Kyprianou), which holds colorful 18th century frescoes. Among the old town's many private museums that are worth seeking out, don't miss the photography and document collection at CVAR (Ermou Street), which focuses on the island's period under British colonial rule. Afterwards cross into North Nicosia to continue your old town tour. Along with the two main attractions of the Selimiye Mosque and the Buyuk Han, make sure to visit the Bedesten (Arasta Sokak), which first served as the Church of St. Nicholas of the English and then became a market in the Ottoman era; the Mevlevi Museum (Girne Caddesi), which offers a series of well-thought-out exhibits on the whirling dervish Sufi order; and the Arabahmet neighborhood. While wandering Arabahmet's alleys, rimmed with Ottoman-era mansions, don't miss the finely restored Armenian church Sourp Asdvadzadzinare (Sehit Mehmet Huseyin Sokak), which dates from the 13th century. 7. See the Leventis Museum Collection Recently renovated, Nicosia's Leventis Museum is housed in a beautiful old city mansion and presents the history of Nicosia through a carefully selected collection of ethnographical displays and artifacts. For history lovers, this is not to be missed, and the museum has won European Museum of the Year for its brilliantly curated exhibits that trace the city's long and eventful past. Among the displays, you'll find items dating from 2300 BCE right up to the Ottoman and colonial era with some of the most fascinating exhibits being the wonderful traditional costumes on show. The museum also helps you understand the impact of British rule on Cyprus and the city's modern history with the island's division in 1974. Address: 17 Ippokratous Street, Nicosia 8. Day Trip to the Ruins of Bellapais Abbey Bellapais One of the island's most famous tourist attractions thanks to writer Lawrence Durrell Bellapais is a wonderfully old-fashioned village of humble whitewashed cottages that sprawl down the hillside ending at the evocative ruins of Bellapais Abbey below. British author Lawrence Durrell wrote the book Bitter Lemons of Cyprus while living here, immortalizing Cypriot village life at the end of the British colonial period. Although the village is incredibly picturesque itself, the main sight is Bellapais Abbey, an old Augustinian monastery full of intricately carved arches and cypress trees surrounding its cloister. There are panoramic views across North Cyprus' coastline from the refectory roof. Bellapais is 25 kilometers north from North Nicosia but there's no direct public transport to the village from the city. If you don't have your own transport, hop on one of the frequent minibuses from North Nicosia heading to Kyrenia and then take a short taxi ride to the village from there. 9. Road Trip through the Mesaoria Region Mesaoria Region Just west of Nicosia is the Mesaoria region, scattered with tiny villages and ancient monasteries and churches. If you've got your own transport, this region is great for a day trip, exploring the historic highlights and rural scenery in easy reach of the city. Of the villages here, Peristerona (30 kilometers west from Nicosia) is a quaint place, which deserves a visit for its 10th century five-domed Church of St. Barnabas and Hilarion, which towers over the surrounding traditional stone houses. Inside, the church contains important and well-preserved 16th century icon paintings depicting the presentation of Christ. Head south from here to visit Maheras Monastery, sitting in splendid isolation on a craggy hill. Then head northeast for a trip to the Monastery of Agios Irakleidios and the archaeological site of Ancient Tamassos, an old copper-working town that dates back to the 6th century BCE, both near the village of Pera. 10. Explore the Sights of Kyrenia (Girne) Kyrenia The atmospheric harbor town of Kyrenia (also known as Girne), 30 kilometers north of Nicosia, is northern Cyprus' vibrant seaside hub. It's one of the best places to visit if you are looking for day trip options from Nicosia. The small harbor is overlooked by a grand Byzantine-era castle and backed by an old town district of tangled alleyways and Ottoman-period houses that are fun to explore. Visit the castle first with its Shipwreck Museum, and then stroll harbor-side to see the Folk Art Museum in a restored carob warehouse. Later, wind through the narrow lanes to the Church of Archangel Michael (Cambulat Caddesi), with its collection of religious icons that come from churches across northern Cyprus. Frequent minibuses run from North Nicosia to Kyrenia, so it's very easy to day trip to the town by public transport. 11. Climb up to the High Towers of St. Hilarion Castle St. Hilarion Castle St. Hilarion Castle looks like it fell straight off the pages of a storybook. With its ramparts climbing up the jagged hilltop, this is the epitome of a fairytale castle (and it's said the castle in Disney's Snow White is based on St. Hilarion). Built in the 10th century by the Byzantines, the castle sits in a lofty position that has been a strategic asset right up to the modern era. Follow the path (wear good walking shoes) from the lower enceinte, where the garrison were housed, up to the middle enceinte, with its church and barrack rooms, and then climb higher to the upper enceinte, with a tower and royal apartments. From here, a series of staircases lead you to Prince John's Tower, with amazing views across the countryside. Located 36 kilometers northwest of Nicosia, St. Hilarion Castle is best visited with your own transport, as there's no public transport to the site. If you haven't rented a car, though, taxi drivers in North Nicosia are happy to run return trips to the castle. 12. Day Trip to Famagusta Famagusta The old town of Famagusta (also called Gazimagusa), riddled with crumbling Gothic buildings, is the most beautifully evocative town on the island. Ringed by a mighty border of well-preserved Venetian fortifications, the old town is stuffed full of golden-stone ruins of basilicas and remnants of palaces that sit incongruously between rows of dilapidated houses. Right at the center is the glorious Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (Main Square), which was once the Cathedral of Agios Nikolaos and is a beautifully-preserved example of Gothic architecture. Nearby are the roofless ruins of St. George of the Greek Church (Istiklal Caddesi), where faint traces of frescoes still remain on the apse. On a grassy bank just inside the city walls are the haunting remnants of St. Mary Church and the Carmelite Church (Server Sokak). From here, it's possible to climb up onto the Venetian fortifications at the Pulacazara Bastion. You can stroll along a segment of the walls here for commanding views across the town. Famagusta is 58 kilometers east of North Nicosia, and there are regular minibuses between the two towns if you don't have a hire car. For a day trip, though, your own transport is best, as then you can easily fit in a visit to Ancient Salamis and other historic tourist attractions around Famagusta in one day. 13. Wander through the Ruins of Ancient Salamis Ancient Salamis Along with Ancient Kourion, Ancient Salamis is Cyprus' most important ancient-kingdom archaeological site, with a wealth of ruins to explore. The gymnasium and baths complex, with its fine statuary and grandly columned courtyard, is the main attraction, but further into the sprawling site are vast remnants of two basilicas, an agora and a huge reservoir complex. Nearly all the remains date from the city's Graeco-Roman and Byzantine eras, but Salamis' history stretches much further back. It's said to have been founded just after the Trojan War and has been variously under Assyrian, Persian, Greek-Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab command, which mirrors the island's own classical history. There's no public transport to the site, so it's easiest seen with your own wheels, or you could catch a minibus from North Nicosia to Famagusta and hire a taxi for the short ride to the site. The ruins are located about 73 kilometers east of Nicosia. 14. Visit the Remains of Buffavento Castle Buffavento Castle Less visited than St. Hilarion Castle and more dilapidated, Buffavento Castle is a windy, rugged outpost of a ruin atop a craggy mountain summit to the east of Kyrenia. The ruins here are not extensive but they lie in a picturesque location, towering over the forested slopes below. Hike from the lower enceinte to the upper enceinte for the best views across the coast. Buffavento is thought to have been built during the Byzantine era, and Crusader Richard the Lionheart once took ownership of it. Strategically, it played an important role in guarding the coastline along with St. Hilarion Castle to the west. Located 52 kilometers northeast of Nicosia, the castle is best visited with your own transport as part of a day trip including St. Hilarion. Where to Stay in Nicosia for Sightseeing We recommend these great hotels and guesthouses with easy access to the town's top attractions: The Landmark Nicosia : At this 5-star luxury, guest will find spacious rooms, an excellent breakfast, an indoor pool, and a health club. : At this 5-star luxury, guest will find spacious rooms, an excellent breakfast, an indoor pool, and a health club. Gul Hanim House : An intimate family-run boutique hotel with welcoming owners, this property has atmospheric old-world interiors and is conveniently located in the old town. : An intimate family-run boutique hotel with welcoming owners, this property has atmospheric old-world interiors and is conveniently located in the old town. Centrum Hotel : This 3-star hotel has an old town location, air-conditioned rooms, and tea and coffee-making facilities. : This 3-star hotel has an old town location, air-conditioned rooms, and tea and coffee-making facilities. Asty Hotel : This family-run budget hotel is like a home away from home. It offers free city shuttle, mini-golf and fitness center, and complimentary use of bikes. 16 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Cyprus Written by Jess Lee Updated Mar 22, 2022 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( ) This island has a grand history. Coveted by empires across the centuries, Cyprus' enviable position has made it a prized possession for all who rose to power in the Eastern Mediterranean. Today, people still flock here, but it's now to seek out the island's beaches rather than to gain power and glory. For travelers interested in more than sand and sun, you're in for a treat, as Cyprus has archaeological sites, fine Byzantine churches, and monasteries and museums galore among its historic tourist attractions. It's also a wonderful place to go hiking, with an incredible wealth of unique flora and fauna. Best of all, it's so small that you can easily base yourself in one town and head out on sightseeing day trips from there. Make sure you don't miss any of what's on offer by using our list of the top attractions and places to visit in Cyprus. 1. Ancient Kourion Ancient Kourion There's no shortage of ancient sites in Cyprus, but Kourion is the pick of the bunch. Exploring the grand monuments and mosaics here is one of the best things to do in Cyprus. Romantically situated across a coastal cliff, with tumbling views of the countryside and Mediterranean below, it's a magical place. The entire site is vast, but the most famous places to visit while here are the theater and the House of Eustolios, which holds a clutch of fine, well-preserved mosaics. For those with more time up their sleeves, the large Byzantine basilica area is wonderfully picturesque with its tumbled columns and scraps of mosaic floor. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Limassol Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Limassol 2. St. Hilarion Castle St. Hilarion Castle One of the Mediterranean's most beautiful castle ruins, St. Hilarion is an old Crusader bastion and home to many myths and legends. Local lore claims the castle itself was built by a fairy queen, who used to charm local shepherds on the slopes here. The castle's extensive ramparts and chambers snake up the mountain and are explorer heaven. A trail runs through the lower castle buildings of soldier barracks and stables, up to the remnants of towers, royal apartments, and chapels. For those that climb right to the top, the views across the hills and down to the coastal plain are phenomenal. St. Hilarion is in north Cyprus, so you need to cross the Green Line to visit. The north has three major castle ruins, but St. Hilarion is by far the best preserved. This is the one to visit if you're only on a day trip to the north. 3. Larnaca Larnaca Easygoing Larnaca, on the island's southeast coast, may be a seaside resort, but it's kept its local soul. This is by far the most laid-back base for holidaymakers here. All the facilities for sun- and sand-based fun can be found, but the old crumbling Turkish Quarter (called Skala) and ornate Agios Lazaros (Church of St. Lazarus) give the town an interesting historical edge, while the center itself has retained the atmosphere of a proper workaday town rather than just a summer resort. Even better, the salt lake, just to Larnaca's west, is packed full of flocks of pink flamingos during spring, and plenty of hill villages and cultural tourist attractions lie in the surrounding hinterland. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Larnaca Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Larnaca 4. Karpas Peninsula Golden Beach on the Karpas Peninsula The most beautiful region in Cyprus is the lonely and rugged Karpas Peninsula, which stretches out in a long finger of golden beaches backed by rugged hills in the northeast of the island (in north Cyprus). It's Cyprus' least trodden area with sublime hiking, quaint villages, and hidden historical sites in abundance. This is the place you need to head if you want to experience the undiscovered and undeveloped island life of old. Agios Filon church Venture out for the day in a car (the area has virtually no public transport) and visit the mosaics of Agia Triada at Sipahi village before heading further northeast to remote Dipkarpaz village and the small ruin of Agios Filon church. Afterwards, move on to the peninsula's famous Golden Beach, a vast swath of sand that sums up the Karpas' rugged appeal. 5. Ancient Salamis Ancient Salamis This huge archaeological site is home to a wealth of marble ruins and ranks up there with Ancient Kourion as the top historical site on the island. Wandering along the dirt tracks of Salamis between sets of ruins from a muddle of different time periods is a lesson in the vast history of Cyprus. Grand Hellenistic statuary missing their heads, which were lopped off by over-zealous Christians sit amid the ruins of the Gymnasium. Two substantial ruins of Byzantine churches stand amid fields of wild fennel and weeds, and a humongous reservoir area showcases the engineering ability and management of what must have once been a grand ancient city. Ancient Salamis is in north Cyprus and is easily combined with a day trip to Famagusta. 6. Kolossi Castle Kolossi Castle If castles had cuteness competitions, Kolossi would surely come up trumps. This tiny but perfectly formed castle just outside of Limassol is an old Crusader stronghold and a reminder of Cyprus' importance for the Europeans during the Holy Land Crusades. First held by the Knights of St. John, the castle was used as a commandery for the area, with an excellent location looking out over the coast line. Today, the castle's appeal is mostly down to its dollhouse proportions and its tranquil position amid snoozy Kolossi village. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Limassol 7. Cape Greco Cape Greco Even along Cyprus' buzzing south coast, there are regions where you can escape the crowds. Cape Greco is a rugged and rocky coastal national park covering the promontory that makes up the island's southerly tip. There's a variety of walking trails here that start just east of the resort of Agia Napa. The longest trail winds across the rocky headland, with staircases at points along the cliff, where you can descend to swim by the sea caves, and ending at the tiny cove of Konnos Beach, where you can cool off with another swim after your walk. There is a wonderful variety of local flora here, particularly many of Cyprus' endemic wild orchids that bloom in early spring but the real highlight is the absolutely gorgeous coastal scenery with azure blue sea beyond. 8. Troodos Villages Agros village in the Troodos Mountains The Troodos Massif (Troodos Mountains), in the hill region of the southwest, are packed full of pretty villages full of stone-cut traditional houses and cobblestone alleys. They're also home to some of Cyprus' most amazing churches and monasteries that hold vibrant frescoes and wall paintings that date from the medieval era. The Troodos churches are so important historically that nine of them have been given UNESCO World Heritage status. Hiring a car and tootling around this area, searching out stone cut chapels is a great day out but if you only have time to view one, the Church of Archangelos Michail in the little village of Pedoulas should be top of your things to do list. For self-drive day trip potential, the Troodos Mountains are easiest accessed using Limassol or Nicosia as your base. To cut down on the driving there are also plenty of small boutique-style hotels in the main Troodos Mountains villages themselves. Accommodation: Where to Stay in the Troodos Mountains Region 9. House of Dionysus House of Dionysus The big-hitter site in the resort of Paphos is the House of Dionysus, home to an incredible collection of mosaic floors that are feted for their excellent preservation and vibrant coloring. Part of the larger Paphos Archaeological Site which contains the excavated remains of ancient Paphos, the area is home to a variety of Greco-Roman ruins, as well as several other mosaic houses. Mosaic at the House of Dionysus The House of Dionysus remains the most visited part of the site because it contains the best examples of intricate mosaic artistry. The house is named after the god Dionysus who crops up in many of the mosaics throughout the house, which mostly depict scenes of Greek mythology. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Paphos Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Paphos 10. Cyprus Museum Cyprus Museum | Sergey Galyonkin / photo modified With so many archaeological sites, Cyprus is packed full of museums, but the Cyprus Museum in the capital Nicosia is where you go to pull together all of the island's history. Extremely well-curated, the museum takes visitors on a journey from the Neolithic age right up to the Ottoman era using beautiful artifacts to show the sophisticated artistry of each period. The standout exhibits are the huge collection of terra-cotta votive statues that date from the 7th century BC. Even if you're based on the coast, you should definitely make a half-day trip to the capital just to view the museum. Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Nicosia Accommodation: Where to Stay in Nicosia 11. Nissi Beach Nissi Beach A swath of white sand loveliness that rolls onto the turquoise sea in Agia Napa, Nissi Beach is Cyprus' most famous strip of sand. Yes, it gets crowded in summer (a beach this gorgeous doesn't stay a secret), but even with rows of sunbeds, there's no denying Nissi's beauty. The water is very shallow at the shoreline and very calm within the bay as a whole, making it a great spot for families with young children, and in the summer high season, bags of facilities are on offer, meaning you can make an entire day at the beach. 12. Kyrenia Kyrenia Kyrenia (Girne) is north Cyprus' prettiest town having clung to the old Ottoman character of its harborside district. Kyrenia Castle overlooks the quaint harbor on the eastern side, and climbing up onto the castle's ramparts rewards you with fantastic views across the town. A squiggle of narrow lanes meander back from the waterfront area, full of wooden-shuttered houses in various states of disrepair. It's a great place for strolling and soaking up the timeless atmosphere and there are plenty of cafes overlooking the harbor for when you want to put your feet up. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Kyrenia 13. Underwater Museum MUSAN Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa | Rob Atherton / Shutterstock.com Opened in 2021, the underwater museum park (officially called MUSAN Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa) is an underwater forest featuring 130 sculptures created by reef artist Jason deCaires Taylor. As well as being a major new tourist attraction, the forest has been created to help the local marine environment, with the sculptures (all made from PH neutral cement that will eventually attract coral) set between kelp, which will grow to become a dense forest attracting marine life to the area. Both snorkelers and scuba divers can explore the underwater museum, though divers will be able to head down to the farthest depths of the park. MUSAN is situated off the coast of Pernera Beach in Ayia Napa. Official site: http://musan.com.cy/en/home 14. Famagusta Old City Famagusta old city In north Cyprus, don't miss the old city of Famagusta, surrounded by sturdy, high Venetian-era walls and inside, scattered with the crumbling ruins of Gothic churches. In the center is the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque, which was originally the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, built in the early 14th century during the reign of the Lusignans. Sprinkled throughout the old city's lanes are several other churches in various states of ruin or disrepair, mostly dating from the 14th century and built in the Gothic style but also some earlier Byzantine examples. Famagusta's biggest tourist attraction, though, is its 16th-century Venetian walls, with its bastions and gates, which can still be climbed up and traversed across at some sections. 15. Protaras Beaches Beautiful beach in Protaras In the island's southeast corner, the coastline running north from Cape Greco up to the Green Line (which separates the Republic from the north) is speckled with beaches. This stretch of coast is a summer resort haven, with the little town of Protaras the central base for family-friendly holidays devoted to sun, sea, and sand. Protaras Beach and Fig Tree Bay are the two most popular strips of sand, with plenty of water sports on offer and facilities for a full day of beach time, though the small white-sand cove of Konnos Beach, on the northern edge of Cape Greco, comes a close third. To the north of Protaras, the little sand strips of Agia Triada Beach and Skoutari Beach are great options if you want to escape the biggest crowds, but during mid-summer, don't expect any patch of sand along this coast to be empty. 16. Nicosia Old City Nicosia old city alleyway Nicosia is Europe's last divided capital. Nicosia (Lefkosia) is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, and North Nicosia (Lefkosa) is the capital of UN-unrecognized north Cyprus. The Green Line slices right through the center of the walled old city district, and you will need to have your passport (and fulfill any of the current border requirements, which change regularly) if you want to cross. In Nicosia (Lefkosia), the old city lanes are home to several excellent small museums, including the Makarios Cultural Foundation Byzantine Museum, and some fresco-covered churches, such as the Agios Ioannis Church. 9 Top Highlights of Pergamum (Bergama) & the North Aegean Written by Jess Lee Updated Sep 24, 2021 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( ) From the hilltop Hellenistic ruins of ancient Pergamum that loom over the town of Bergama to quaint coastal villages of cobblestone streets lined with pastel-hued houses, the North Aegean region is packed full of sights. Despite its historic tourist attractions and coastal scenery, this area tends to be overlooked by foreign travelers in their rush to get to Turkey's big-hitter ruins farther south along the coast. If you have time up your sleeve, though, the North Aegean doesn't disappoint. Pergamum (Bergama) itself is reason enough to add the North Aegean into your itinerary with its mighty hill summit ruins one of the best places to visit in Turkey to capture a sense of the Classical era. The North Aegean is also where many city Turks come for their holidays, in sleepy beachfront towns that burst into life every summer. They have no idea why international tourists seem to miss the North Aegean either, but they're happy to keep it Turkey's best-kept coastal secret for a while longer. For ideas on things to do, read our list of the top highlights of Pergamum (Bergama) and the North Aegean. 1. Admire Pergamum's Acropolis (Bergama Akropol) Pergamum's theater in the Acropolis The ancient site of Pergamum (also often known as Pergamon and called Bergama in Turkish) should win an award for its stunning location alone. Rolling across the hillside, five kilometers from the modern town of Bergama (there is a cable car if you have no car and don't fancy the steep ascent), Pergamum's Acropolis area was once the beating heart of a powerful Hellenistic city. The most striking feature is the 15,000-seat theater, set into the steep southwest slope of the hill and reached by a narrow flight of steps from the Temple of Athena. Adjoining the temple are the ruins of Pergamum's famed library, built around 170 BCE and once home to one of the largest libraries in the ancient world with 200,000 volumes (later carried off to Alexandria by Mark Antony as a gift to Cleopatra). The Temple of Trajan in Pergamon To the west of the library is the Temple of Trajan, built in the Roman era, with its marble colonnaded terrace. Below the theater, you can see the remnants of the Great Altar (Altar of Zeus) dating from the 2nd century BCE. You'll have to imagine what the altar looked like when it was covered with its original elaborate friezes depicting scenes from the Gigantomachy (the great battle between the Olympian gods and the Gigantes) as it was all carted off to Berlin by German archaeologists in the 1870s. Today the friezes are known as the Altar of Pergamon and form the highlight exhibit of Berlin's Pergamon Museum. Despite the ruins here being nearly wholly from the Hellenistic era, for Christian visitors traveling in Turkey, Pergamum's Acropolis is often an important stop on a biblical tour, as the Pergamum church was one of the seven churches of the Revelation (along with Ephesus and Laodikeia). For a guided tour that offers a full roundup of the archaeological site, a good choice is the small-group full-day Pergamum tour from Izmir, which covers all the highlights of this classical city. It visits both the Acropolis and Asclepion areas, as well as Bergama Archaeological Museum. Lunch in Bergama and pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Izmir are included. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Bergama Official site: https://muze.gov.tr Pergamon - Acropolis Map (Historical) 2. Explore Pergamum's Asclepion (Bergama Asklepion) Pergamum's Asclepion area This ancient spa is a two-kilometer uphill hike from the modern town of Bergama. During the 2nd century, it thrived as a major healing center, with mud bath treatments and the use of herbal remedies, and many of its remaining buildings date from its Roman-era glory days rather than the earlier Hellenistic period. The physician Galen was born in Pergamum and returned to practice medicine here after his studies in the great centers of the Roman world. The work he did here would go on to become the founding elements of Western medicine. An imposing colonnaded street leads you into the main complex, which holds a sacred well, library, Roman theater, and the Temples of Asclepius and Telesphorus. These temples are where patients would pray for recovery to the gods of medicine. Official site: https://muze.gov.tr 3. View Bergama's Red Basilica Red Basilica This massive red-brick ruin, which sits in Bergama town, was originally built by Hadrian (CE 117-138) as a temple dedicated to the gods Serapis and Isis. Later, in the Byzantine era, it was converted into a church and dedicated to the Apostle John, who had earlier named Pergamum as one of the seven churches of the Revelation (also sometimes known as the seven churches of Asia Minor). During the time of John writing the letters that would become the Biblical book of Revelation (around CE 96), Pergamum's Christian congregation (referred to as the Pergamum church) suffered great persecution and were regarded as a seditious sect, which is why Pergamum is referred to in Revelation as the place "where Satan has his throne." Red Basilica Some people believe that John could be referring specifically to this grandiose pagan temple as the throne of Satan, while others believe it could be a reference to the Altar of Zeus. Although the interior of the Red Basilica is severely ruined, the building is definitely worthy of a visit just to witness the sheer bulk of the remaining walls, which give a great idea of how foreboding and impressive the temple must have looked when fully standing. The interior was divided into three aisles by two rows of columns. The central aisle ended in a semi-circular apse, with a crypt underneath. Address: Knk Caddesi, Bergama Official site: https://muze.gov.tr 4. Visit Bergama Archaeological Museum Lion's head from the Pergamum altar of Zeus |Alex Lovell-Troy / photo modified When you've finished your sightseeing around the ruins of Ancient Pergamum, don't forget to poke your head in Bergama's small but well laid out museum. Excellent exhibits here display finds from both the Acropolis and Asclepion, including intricately detailed Hellenistic friezes and Roman mosaics and statuary. Of particular note is the display of "Pergamum School" statues of gods dating from the 4th century. Inside the museum, you can also see a replica of the Altar of Pergamon that today sits in Berlin's Pergamon Museum. A less interesting ethnography section has some rather sad and dusty looking dioramas displaying typical scenes from Ottoman-era life. Address: Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Bergama Official site: https://muze.gov.tr 5. Relax on Bozcaada Ayazma Beach on Bozcaada Tiny Bozcaada is a sun-worshiper's paradise, with glorious beaches backed by vine-covered green slopes. It's one of Turkey's most famous island summer escapes and a hugely popular vacation destination with city-siders from Istanbul and Izmir, who come here to relax, soak up the sun and sand, and hang out at the many chichi cafes. Little Bozcaada town is the island hub, with a warren of cobblestone alleys wrapped around a Byzantine-era castle that looks across the harbor. Two of the most popular stretches of sand are Ayazma Beach and Ayana Beach. Ferries to Bozcaada run regularly throughout the day from Yukyeri ferry terminal on the mainland, near the town of Geyikli. During the summer months, there are also daily ferry departures from Canakkale. 6. Soak Up the Holiday Scene in Alacat Village Alacat village street scene One of Turkey's chicest summer vacation destinations, Alacat is a boutique-hotel haven with a burgeoning foodie scene. It's the prime beach town of Turkey's Cesme Peninsula, sitting 77 kilometers west of Izmir. The beautifully restored, traditional stone houses of the village host cafes and restaurants specializing in local Aegean dishes, and if Turkey's famed culinary scene is high on your reasons for visiting then an Alacat stop should be on your itinerary. Alacati Village Alacat is also a major windsurfing spot with an annual international windsurfing competition. Whether you're a complete beginner or seasoned pro, this is a great place to learn or improve your windsurfing skills, with plenty of windsurfing companies offering lessons on the beach. 7. Stroll the Historic Lanes of Ayvalk Ayvalik One of the North Aegean's prettiest towns, Ayvalk is all crumbling, vine-draped stone houses in pretty soft pastels, which lead down to a bustling harbor, where fishing boats jostle with excursion vessels and yachts. If you're here on a Thursday, don't miss the huge and lively market on Nese Sokak, where you can get a real vibe of local life. Otherwise this is a top place to head out onto the sea for some sunbathing and swimming (or diving) action. Down at the harbor dozens of excursion boats head out on cruises during the summer months for trips around the bay. 8. Check Out the Ruins of Assos Assos Temple of Athena The Temple of Athena, with its panoramic views across the Aegean Sea, is a reminder of the glorious past of ancient Assos which was founded in the 8th century BCE on Turkey's Biga Peninsula. Once home to philosophers such as Aristotle, today the modern village of Behramkale, beside the ruins, is a quietly charming place to sit back and marvel at the former splendor. Assos Amphitheater The temple is the major tourist attraction, but the Assos ruins also include a theater, necropolis and remnants of much later medieval walls to explore. Assos is 148 kilometers northwest from Bergama and 86 kilometers south of Canakkale, so it makes for a good stop-off on a drive down the Aegean Coast between the two towns. 9. Enjoy a City Break in Izmir Izmir One of Turkey's most vibrant cities, Izmir is a bustling port with a history that stretches back to the 11th century BCE, when a settlement of Greeks founded the colony of Smyrna here. Over the centuries, Smyrna grew into one of the Mediterranean's most important cities, surviving and thriving through countless empirical changes up to and through the Ottoman era. Izmir During Turkey's War of Independence in 1922, much of old Smyrna was burnt to the ground, which is why the city today is so strikingly modern. This means that despite its long and illustrious past, historical attractions are few and far between within the city, although the vast Kemeralt Bazaar area in the city center is one of the surviving historic areas and is a fascinating district to wander in. Izmir Map - Attractions (Historical) More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com Aegean Itinerary Ideas: You can make a great itinerary starting from Istanbul that combines visiting Pergamum and this area with visits to Canakkale for the WWI memorials of the Gallipoli Peninsula and the famed ruins of Troy. From Izmir: If you want to use Izmir as a base, you can easily visit the huge and well-preserved ruins of Ephesus from here, and the charming village of Selcuk, with the excellent Ephesus Museum and its clutch of atmospheric Byzantine ruins in the center of town. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The internet had a hard time holding it together after Donald Trump posted a bizarre tweet on Friday, claiming that Time Magazine called him and said he would probably be named Person of the Year but only if he agreed to an interview and photo shoot. In a tweet, Trump said he turned down their offer, saying probably is no good. Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named Man (Person) of the Year, like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 24, 2017 As Jason Easley wrote a short time ago, Time Magazine quickly debunked Trumps claim that they contacted him discussing the possibility that he would be named Person of the Year, saying in a tweet that they dont discuss their choice until publication. The President is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6. TIME (@TIME) November 25, 2017 Other social media users had priceless reactions to the presidents tweet, with some even giving the magazine a few suggestions as to who really should be this years Person of the Year. Time should give it to Hillary, just to mess with him David Frum (@davidfrum) November 24, 2017 If Time Magazine really wants to mess with Donald Trump, it should give Person of the Year to Robert Mueller. Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) November 24, 2017 Hate to tell you but that PROBABLY means youre NOT Person of the Year. They just wanted a photo shoot. But Im sure you still have that fake TIME cover somewhere in storage. https://t.co/HkW1XkKxXK Richard Stengel (@stengel) November 24, 2017 I dont know who the Person of the Year is, but I know that the rightful President of the Year is Hillary Clinton. Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) November 25, 2017 I dont know wholl be Times 2017 Person of the Year, but I must say it would be nice if Robert Mueller turns out to be Times 2018 Person of the Year. Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) November 25, 2017 We live in polarized political times, and we have a president who has only added fuel to the flames of already-existing divisions, whether they be racial, religious or political. These certainly arent laughing matters. The dangerous policy proposals, the gross incompetence, the petty effort to overturn every measure enacted by President Obama, and the increasingly explosive developments in the ongoing investigation into Trumps ties to Russia this is all serious stuff. But every so often, Donald Trump says something so ludicrous that its impossible not to laugh at how buffoonish he is. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that would allow his government to register U.S. media as foreign agents. The move comes not long after multiple Russian officials threatened retaliatory action in response the U.S. governments recent decision to force Russia Today, a state-owned Russian media company, to register as a foreign agent. The Foreign Agent Registration Act was passed in the United States shortly before the start of World War II. It was established to insure that the U.S. Government and the people of the United States are informed of the source of information (propaganda) and the identity of persons attempting to influence U.S. public opinion, policy, and laws. After evidence of the Russian governments efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election mounted, RT and Sputnik, another state-owned media company, were specifically mentioned in a January report conducted by U.S. intelligence agencies as having made deliberate efforts to influence the American publics opinions on Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton: Russias state-run propaganda machinecomprised of its domestic media apparatus, outlets targeting global audiences such as RT and Sputnik, and a network of quasi-government trollscontributed to the influence campaign by serving as a platform for Kremlin messaging to Russian and international audiences. State-owned Russian media made increasingly favorable comments about President-elect Trump as the 2016 US general and primary election campaigns progressed while consistently offering negative coverage of Secretary Clinton. The Kremlins principal international propaganda outlet RT (formerly Russia Today) has actively collaborated with WikiLeaks. RTs editor-in-chief visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in August 2013, where they discussed renewing his broadcast contract with RT, according to Russian and Western media. Russian media subsequently announced that RT had become the only Russian media company to partner with WikiLeaks and had received access to new leaks of secret information. RT routinely gives Assange sympathetic coverage and provides him a platform to denounce the United States. In September, Maria Zakharova, director of Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the U.S. should anticipate pushback for its actions against state-funded Russian media. Russia is dedicated to all international statues and norms regarding the freedom of speech and proved that on many occasions, she said. When it comes down to a fight with no rules when the law is twisted and turned into an instrument for the destruction of a TV company, every step against a Russian media outlet will be met with a corresponding response. And whom this response will be aimed at, that is what Washington needs to figure out well. The clock is ticking. In October, the UK-based Russian embassy published a threatening tweet conveying the same message. .@MFA_Russia: ready to impose restrictions on US-owned media in Russia, no matter, state or private, in response to what is done vs @RT_com pic.twitter.com/TuWclZCXbk Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) October 9, 2017 Earlier this month, Zakharova suggested that a practical phase of these response measures against U.S. media in Russia were set to begin within a week. You are the owner of this article. Straight No Chaser is celebrating its silver anniversary with a three-month tour that would exact a physical toll on any performer vocalists especially. Yet despite the grueling schedule (they are almost exactly in the middle of more than 60 performances), SNC performed an outstanding show Nov. 13 at the Charleston Gaillard Center. Read moreReview: Straight No Chaser delights young and old on a cappella tour By PTI: Chennai, Nov 24 (PTI) The Madras High Court today decided to compare former chief minister J Jayalalithaas thumb impression on documents relating to a bypoll last year, with the late leaders fingerprints available with the Parappana Agrahara jail at Bengaluru. Justice P Velmurugan also asked the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to furnish Jayalalithaas thumb impression details to the court. advertisement The superintendent of central prison at Parappana Agrahara and UIDAI regional officer, who handles Aadhaar, should give fingerprints details to the court by December 8, the judge said. The matter relates to a petition filed by P Saravanan, DMK candidate for the November 2016 Thirupparankundram Assembly bypoll, challenging the election of AIADMKs A K Bose. During the pendency of the case, Saravanan had filed an additional affidavit, questioning the validity of the election documents. He contended that the thumb impression of Jayalalithaa was obtained without her consent and knowledge while she was unconscious, with the "connivance" of the doctors who attended to the former chief minister and others. Jayalalithaa was lodged in the jail after her conviction in the Rs 65.66 crore disproportionate assets case in 2014. She subsequently secured bail from the Supreme Court and was released on October 18, 2014, after spending 21 days in prison. The Karnataka High Court later acquitted her and three of her associates of all charges, but the Supreme Court on February 14 this year set aside the order. However, since Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5 last year, the apex court abated the proceedings against her. The apex court convicted Sasikala, deposed AIADMK general secretary, and her two relatives in the case and had restored the trial courts order awarding four year jail term to them. She is at present in the jail. In his petition, Saravanan had also questioned the ECs decision to accept the left-thumb impression of Jayalalithaa affixed on the documents filed in support of Boses nomination papers. He further submitted that following the attestation, the AIADMK candidate (Bose) was allowed to contest on the two leaves symbol under the "defective form A and form B" of the documents, which had materially "affected the outcome of the election". The Election Commission (EC) had last month submitted that it had accepted the left-thumb impression of the late leader, affixed on documents relating to the bypoll, based on a letter from AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan. advertisement The letter stated that Jayalalithaa was not in a position to sign as she was unwell and hence, her left-thumb impression attested by the doctor could be taken on file, K F Wilfred, Principal Secretary of the EC, said. The court had summoned the official for giving evidence on the election plea. PTI COR BN ZMN --- ENDS --- The trial for Russell Laffitte, a former top executive for Palmetto State Bank, continues this week in Charleston's U.S. District Court. He stands accused of helping Alex Murdaugh defraud his former law clients, while using money from his family's bank to prop up the disbarred attorney's shaky finances. Read moreBank official reported Russell Laffitte's handling of Murdaugh client checks as suspicious There was a combination of superlative hysteria and political opportunism behind the warnings about the end of democracy leading up to last weeks elections, but it wasnt inconceivable that wed have flare-ups of violence and intimidation, that people who embrace the fantasy that the 2020 e Read moreEditorial: Election 2022 gave everybody something to celebrate State Circuit Judge DeAndrea Benjamin appears poised to join a powerful federal appeals court bench following a U.S. Senate hearing in which Republicans repeatedly questioned her handling of two cases out of thousands she'd handled in South Carolina over two decades. Read moreSC Judge Benjamin praised by Clyburn, questioned by Republicans during US Senate hearing The boss is coming on to you. You do want to be promoted, don't you? Your co-worker won't take no for an answer when it comes to drinks after work. Why is it that your supervisor can't seem to pass you in the corridor without brushing against your breasts? Every day is a fresh headline. Sen. Al Franken. Comedian Louis C.K. Republican U.S. Senate nominee Roy Moore. Those are the high-profile cases, but what should you do if the harassment is happening to you? Maya Raghu, director of workplace equality and senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center in Washington, has this advice: As soon as you have an inkling that what you are experiencing may be harassment, start documenting incidents. Write a memo to yourself, with dates, times and descriptions of what happened. Were there any witnesses? Make a note of them. Save hard copies of emails, texts and tweets. Transcribe voicemails and date them. ADVERTISEMENT Don't go it alone. "So many people are suffering in silence, and that's a lot to carry around," Raghu said. Before you decide to take any action, talk the incidents over with trusted friends, family members, and, if possible, trusted co-workers. Gain their perspective and their emotional support. You also might uncover helpful information about a serial harasser at work. Sometimes, stopping the harassment might be as simple as telling the person to knock it off. But that, too, has its risks. Rehearse your actions, consider the possible consequences, and most important, make sure you are physically safe a key consideration in workplaces such as factories and warehouses, or when people work shifts when there are fewer co-workers in the vicinity. Before you complain, do research. Does your company have a policy? What is the reporting procedure? What are the potential outcomes? Does it say anything about retribution? As you prepare to complain, "think of what outcome you'd like," Raghu said. "Most people simply want the harassment to stop and to get on with their jobs." This is another time to talk over strategies with friends, family and trusted co-workers. Longtime Philadelphia employment lawyer Alice Ballard said in an interview that the human resources department "is not your friend" because it is charged with protecting the interests of the company. Friend or not, Raghu said, HR is the place to start. Because of the way the law has developed, it's important to show the proper procedures were followed, even before contacting agencies such as the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If you are considering litigation, mentally and financially prepare yourself for a long haul with no guarantee of success. You might be counting on a settlement, but there's no guarantee of that either. By PTI: Udupi (Ktaka), Nov 25 (PTI) A senior Hindu seer today said Hindus must bear at least four children till the Uniform Civil Code is implemented to check "demographic imbalance". Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj of Bharat Mata MandirAin Haridwar said the two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone, noting that India had lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. He was speaking to reporters on the second day of the three-day Dharma Sansad organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in the temple town of Udupi of coastal Karnataka. The Swami said the government was insisting on a maximum of two children, but till the time the Uniform Civil Code isA implemented, Hindus should have at least four children.AIndia lost many of its territories wherever Hindu population reduces, he said. "We have seen that India lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. The two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone." advertisement On cow-vigilantism, the seer said some criminals were settling personal scores under the guise of Gau Rakshaks. "Gau Rakshaks are peace loving people. They haveAbeen defamed by some vested interests. Some criminals areAsettling scores under the guise of Gau Rakshaks," said GirijiAMaharaj. The mega religious event is being attended by over 2,000 Hindu seers, matt heads and VHP leaders from all over the country. PTI GMS RA APR APR MVV --- ENDS --- We all know Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, but among the other famous characters of Walt Disney are Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. According to Collectors Weekly , "At the end of the 1930s, Disney began modernizing its familiar characters with contemporary outfits and softening their physical features to achieve a more human silhouette. The market for Disneyana really went wild after the 1937 release of Disney's first full-length animated fantasy musical film, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' with the princess and her little friends appearing on every imaginable household product. The film was originally released by RKO Radio Pictures and based on the German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm." Today, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs can be found, along with other Disney toys, with little to no effort at flea markets, garage sales, local antique and toy shows as well as online and through auction houses and specialty catalogs. Disney material from the pre-war 1930s through the 1960s is by far the most desirable. Local collector Ramona Metz, of Rushford, got started about 32 years ago. "I always loved seeing the 'Snow White and Seven Dwarfs' movie," Metz said. "Once I realized Snow White and I are the same age, I decided to start a collection. I now have about 200-plus pieces to my collection. My oldest pieces and the most valuable are my three dwarf dolls, Sleepy, Happy and Bashful, with 1937 Ideal tags attached." What's it worth? ADVERTISEMENT There are many manufacturers of these items. They include, from Lenox, a complete set selling for around $479. A Lladro #07555 Disney Snow White with Birdie, made in Spain, sells for about $425. Then we have a set of Schmid Snow White and all seven of the Dwarfs music boxes selling $230. But looking back with the Antique Trader 2017 Price Guide, we see the value on an original art piece of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1936 around $2,151 and by Marx, 1938 Dopey walker tin litho wind-up with original box around $278. A 1937 Dwarf Doc celluloid holding a lantern followed by Bashful and Sneezy, applied to airbrush background valued around $605. We are seeing the value and the selling prices jumping around. Of course, condition is everything, and some rubber items have deteriorated, making it hard for collectors to find those from 1937. Reproductions, including reproduced tin dolls, are also on the marketplace, so be aware. Snow White Matryoshka Dolls vintage nesting dolls would make a fabulous gift for Christmas. They are selling on the market for around $40 on up. For Madam Alexander dolls, the selling prices and values jump, mainly because so many are on the market and finding the right individual to purchase may take some time. More collectibles came out in the 1960s. Even McDonald's came into the act, with Snow White and the Dwarfs clip-ons in Happy Meals. Metz took advantage of that deal to add to her collection. These are going as low as $14 for a complete set, including the queen and witch, unopened. Starting a collection I asked Metz what a beginning collector needs to know. She said, "When a person decides to collect something such as mine, you need to have time to search out items at antique stores, auctions and in my case, stores carrying Disney items. They should also have a place to display the collection. "I consider my collecting a hobby and I suppose it is a 'true love' and also exciting when finding items," she said. "Some friends and family have also contributed to my collection." ADVERTISEMENT Since Metz displays her items and folks have given her items, I would say they are probably impressed with all. "Yes, they are very impressed, and I have received lots of satisfaction and enjoyment from the challenge of adding to my collection," she said. "When the time comes that it is necessary to move to smaller living quarters, I will consider selling some items and passing some on to family members." So you've grown out your beard and mustache this month to support a better awareness of men's health but Movember is more than half over, and you're starting to look, well, scruffy. How can you ensure this new look of yours is presentable this holiday season? We talked to Alex Masi, senior hair stylist and barber at Le Reve Salon & Barbershop in Philadelphia, for grooming tips. KEEP THE 'STACHE TRIMMED A lot of guys come in with mustaches that grow over the lip, Masi said. That's just wrong (not to mention gross.) "The beard looks so much better if you take a trimmer and trim right above your lip so that all the hair isn't curling in the mouth," Masi said. COVER A DOUBLE CHIN Commonly, men stop their beard at the point where the jaw meets the neckline. In some cases, that's too high, because it exposes double chins and that gives a puffy look to the face. "You always want the beard to look like it's hugging the jaw," Masi said. "This way, you cast a shadow over the fuller parts of your face, and that slims your face down." ADVERTISEMENT BE MINDFUL OF THE SHAPE Though you want the hair on the cheeks to be filled in as much as possible, keep the hair there trim. But let it be fuller in the chin. The thicker the hair is in the cheek area, the rounder your face looks, Masi said. In other words, pies are for Thanksgiving dinner tables, not our faces. THIS IS HOW YOU CLEANSE IT Some guys are tempted to wash their facial hair every day. That's not a good idea, Masi said, because that strips the hair of its natural oils. Instead, Masi said, use a gentle cleansing shampoo clarifying ones are too harsh every third day. "If you go any longer than three days," Masi said, "the natural oils will build up too much, (and your beard) will look greasy and weighed down." MOISTURIZE Facial hair is really coarse and needs a lot of moisture to keep flyaways at bay. Massage a cream- or oil-based product into your beard every day, Masi said, suggesting V76 Vaughn styling cream to keep facial hair looking its freshest. "I grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and my first introduction to the Midwest took place during my college years," Olia Richter said, explaining she spent two years at the University of Northern Iowa. "After a bit more traveling around the globe, life eventually planted me in Minnesota 10 years ago. "Up until now, I have lived outside of Rochester and commuted to Mayo for work," Richter said, adding this fall she purchased a home here. Having recently completed a degree in health care administration from St. Mary's University, Richter said, "In my heart, I am still a literature girl with an English degree. I am really looking forward to setting up a proper library room in my new house walls lined with books, a cozy fireplace and leather chairs, and no TV that definitely goes with my style!" Richter has a daughter, Sophia, 8, and a son, Leo, 5. Please tell us a bit about your style. ADVERTISEMENT I really like British style with a twist of retro and a nod to pop art. My sartorial choices tend to be classic because I work in a rather conservative organization, but I like to spice things up with fun accessories, statement jewelry and a dash of animal print. I wear a bit more of the latter on the weekends with a pair of jeans and fun shoes. I would describe myself as "The Style Investor." My current wardrobe took me years to build. Fashion is a constant hunt for me, and I enjoy it. When I am looking for something new, I think of how it would pair with my existing pieces. Sources of inspiration? Probably my love for fiber arts and decorative arts in general. (Mexican self-portrait artist) Frida Kahlo is my alter ego. I also love classic black and white cinematography so always found that expression of femininity and classic beauty very appealing. Progression of your style? It took me years to learn to express it, and it is still shaping itself. In my younger days, I just couldn't afford much of what I liked and let's just say my sewing attempts could have been more flattering. I grew up during the Soviet days of Russia when shopping didn't exist in a form of pastime for most women. The stores were empty, and the fashion was closer related to politics than art. Those who could sew often looked more stylish than those who couldn't. And since becoming a Minnesotan? I think I have adapted well. I never even owned a pair of jeans before moving to the States. Never wore running shoes outside of gym -- and still refuse to do so! Given our weather patterns, Minnesota style is very practical and well made when it comes down to fashion and that practicality resonates with my Russian roots. However, I do think that my upbringing in Saint Petersburg instilled a bit more need for flair in me. I dress up just for a quick run to the grocery store. ADVERTISEMENT What should every well-dressed woman have in her wardrobe? At least a few very high quality and well-tailored pieces in her wardrobe that make her feel confident and joyful. Compliments on the outfit can brighten a tough day. Do you have priceless sentimental pieces? My mother's jewelry. I am very close to my parents, but we live so far away now. My mother's style can be easily defined by her love for jewelry, so I feel a strong connection to her when I am wearing something she gave me. Something surprising in your wardrobe? I have even more leopard print clothes than they suspect. Parting thoughts? I will share advice from probably the most stylish writer of all times the fabulous Oscar Wilde himself: "It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible." ADVERTISEMENT WABASHA An area man has been charged with a single felony after authorities say he spent about $140,000 of a relative's money as she sat in her own feces in a filthy apartment. Keith Harlan Novak, 63, of Wabasha, will make his initial appearance Tuesday in Wabasha County District Court, where he faces one count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The investigation began in March 2016 with a report of adult maltreatment of a 90-year-old woman who lived alone in an apartment in Wabasha. The report raised concerns about her hygiene, physical health and lack of supervision specifically, that she was hardly able to walk and her apartment had "an odor." Novak was serving as the woman's power of attorney and primary caregiver, but was not bathing her very often and was asking other people in the building to shower her. ADVERTISEMENT He was heard yelling at her, "You're a ball and chain around my neck. Pick up your feet," the report says. After the March report, authorities met with the woman and Novak; the victim allegedly had difficulty processing conversation, but Novak said he'd work with public health officials to determine services that would ensure the woman's safety. Though she didn't qualify for in-home services, Novak agreed to pay for private care. In June 2016, Wabasha County Social Services received another adult maltreatment report about the woman, who still was living alone in the same apartment. The report was almost identical to the first, raising concerns about her hygiene, physical health and lack of supervision. The day before the report was filed, paramedics responded to the apartment; the woman had fallen, and other residents heard her screaming for help. The apartment smelled like urine, the report says, and alleged there was feces in her bed, on her chair and on the back of her pants; there was moldy food sitting on the table and the brakes on her walker were broken. Neighbors heard Novak swearing at the woman, and claimed he refused to take her to the hospital after an earlier fall. ADVERTISEMENT When authorities went to the apartment to investigate, the woman answered the door wearing only a shirt and an adult diaper. She had difficulty standing, and the residence was as dirty as the maltreatment report alleged. There were multiple medication bottles lying around, but the victim couldn't answer any questions about her medicine, the criminal complaint says. She didn't know what or when she last ate, and couldn't answer questions about her finances. The woman was taken to an adult foster care facility, cleaned up and evaluated; it was there officials requested her medical records and learned she had dementia, court documents say. She was transferred to a nearby nursing home; she died four months later. Novak's guardianship was terminated, and law enforcement opened an investigation of financial exploitation with the help of social services and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Officials discovered the victim had a home in St. Louis County; when she moved to Wabasha, Novak "signed the property over to himself and then used her funds to continue paying for services on the property," the complaint says. From July 2013 until her death in October 2016, the woman's bank account disbursed a total of $178,252. Out of that, a total of $139,057.91 was "attributable to the benefit of (Novak) and not for the benefit of" the victim, court papers say. The total included about $33,000 for coins/metals, $7,000 for vehicles, $8,000 for the St. Louis County home and $83,725 for "self," the report says. ADVERTISEMENT When interviewed a month after the woman's death, Novak said he went to her apartment every morning for breakfast, took her to lunch every day and fixed her supper or brought her a plate of food. He said he took her to dental and medical appointments, didn't consider her to be a vulnerable adult, the documents say, and claimed much of the money was "gifts," because the woman was "a generous person." An investigator asked Novak specifically about a withdrawal of $37,030 in October 2014; he said the money went "oh, her and for the kids and what and me." Novak allegedly said it was permissible to issue himself such an amount of money during the three years because "he took care of (the victim) and she just gave him money." If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both. Authorities are investigating after a man apparently shot himself Friday afternoon in Mayo Park , the green space directly southeast of Mayo Civic Center. The call came in shortly before 4 p.m., sending Rochester police to the park for a report of a man with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two events were being held at the facility at the time: A performance by the Allegro School of Dance and Hiawatha Homes ' Festival of Trees . Both events proceeded as planned. Danielle Hutton has seen patterns repeat themselves. "My life that I've been going through is basically a repeat of my mom's," said the working single mother of two. Hutton moved to Rochester in 2015 after a five-month stay in a St. Cloud women's shelter. She said it was the start of an effort to get on the right track. "My life has changed for the better," she said. "I'm a lot happier; I'm not depressed; I'm not stressed; I'm not angry; I'm not bitter. "I used to be two years ago." ADVERTISEMENT She said she's learning to acknowledge her mistakes, which include letting her temper keep her from earning a high school diploma and making a choice that resulted in a misdemeanor theft charge on her record. Those decisions have stood in the way of employment opportunities. "I made some messed-up decisions and now those messed-up decisions are catching up to me," she said, noting she also spent too much time in an abusive relationship. Working with a social worker from Olmsted County Community Services is helping her understand her destructive path and showing her opportunities to take a new one. She's putting past issues behind her and working to earn her GED, with the hope of eventually landing a job in health care. "Me, being a mom, I just want to show my kids there is way more in life," she said. "You don't need to settle for less, and you should always reach higher for a goal and have faith. "I didn't do that, and I didn't have anyone to tell me that." She said it's time to make some changes. A new approach Paul Fleissner, director of Olmsted County Community Services, also sees a potential for changes that could help people similar to Hutton, who are stuck in a multigenerational cycle of poverty. ADVERTISEMENT He's hoping a planned pilot program will bring that change. The program will include at least four counties Olmsted and Dakota counties in Minnesota and two counties in Colorado and stems from a Harvard gathering of community service directors and others seven years ago. Fleissner said he and others were told change was needed. "We were told we hadn't moved the poverty needle in 40 years," he said, noting the comment was unsettling after about 25 years in the field. Follow-up discussions brought new ideas for tackling what Fleissner calls the national "poverty prison," which sees generation after generation of families facing repeated struggles. Creating a pathway From the early conversations, the Pathways to Prosperity pilot program emerged. With plans to start next spring, the program aims to identify root causes of poverty for individual families and create programs to address the entire family, rather than sticking with efforts that frequently focus on parents and children separately. The approach isn't entirely new for Olmsted County. John Edmonds, the county's supervisor of family support programs, and his staff have been working to motivate young mothers in recent years, hoping to guide them down new paths with their children. The pilot program will build on local efforts by focusing on single mothers with young children. It will aim to ensure they have housing, child care, health care, education, food and other support needed for a path out of poverty. ADVERTISEMENT Edmonds said that path often can be hidden from young mothers in economic despair, who typically don't see a possibility for anything better. As a result, they frequently seek to simply maintain the status quo, which at the best means paying rent, putting food on the table and getting by. He said social workers need to show them options exist. "These folks cannot see the possibilities," he said, noting it takes time to show them the cycle of poverty can end. "You have to have some belief that you have control over your future," he said. "For people living in generational poverty, they don't believe they have control. It isn't part of their repertoire of possibilities." Hutton's story is an example of that. She followed in her mother's footsteps before discovering there might be a different way. Barriers to opportunity From providing dedicated county staff to help keep clients on track to creating computer programs to identify potential pitfalls, the pilot program seeks to address a variety of issues that often keep people in a cycle of poverty. Chief among the problems are limitations on how state and federal support can be used. Fleissner said it can be precarious when people try to pull themselves out of poverty because adding a paycheck or changing jobs can jeopardize support for day care or other needed services. Olmsted County social worker Briana Satzke said that's exactly what has happened to one of her clients in the county's Bright Futures program, which helps teen mothers in their children's early years. She said the young mother sought to improve life for herself and her child by seeking a better-paying job after graduating high school. Unfortunately, the pay increase took her out of the Minnesota Family Investment Program, while also forcing her to pay an extra $400 per month in child care. "She actually ended up leaving two different jobs because she was making too much and couldn't afford living on her own," Satzke said. She's now back to making $12 to $13 per hour instead of $16 to $17. Hutton said she can relate. She's forced to watch her hours to make sure she doesn't lose the assistance she needs to support her children. She said the loss of child care support would be devastating. "It's like dominoes," she said. "Everything's going to collapse. You need child care to be able to work. You need a job to pay your bills. If I lose child care, I have no one to watch my kids." Bridging the gaps Part of the Pathways to Prosperity effort will be creating a way to recognize when programs such as child care support are in jeopardy so options can be found. Fleissner said parents in poverty might have supports elsewhere that reduce reliance on one program, which could provide funds to be used elsewhere. He's hoping the planned pilot program will allow flexibility in funding that doesn't currently exist. "We can't do that now or I go to jail," he said. "Those funding streams are not flexible." Financial tools to track family support and forecast pitfalls are being developed with the help of the University of Minnesota and the University of Denver. Fleissner said he hopes they will show when funds can be shifted to actually stabilize families. Stability in the existing system, he said, means a single parent with two children must earn $3,422 per month and be able to take care of the emotional and mental health needs of the family. A way out Fleissner said he's hoping the pilot will show there is a path toward that goal. He said he expects it to take about three years to produce the needed evidence. "We hope they are working or finishing some sort of career pathway by that time," he said. "We hope their kids are on target in school. We hope they are out of poverty, so (that they're) over 200 percent of federal guidelines. Those are distinct measures we could take." He acknowledges the policies are created to protect taxpayer dollars but points to an opportunity to reduce the long-term tax burden by supporting the whole family today and guiding two generations out of the "poverty prison." "If we can get them out of our system, I would argue we're stopping the next generation, so we're starting to get people out of the river," he said. STEWARTVILLE Concerned about local families struggling to pay for school lunches, Megan Romens stepped forward and set up a GoFundMe page . "As a parent, I think it just tugged at my heartstrings. It's like, 'Oh my gosh. These poor kids have so many other things to worry about.' In school, you are worried about academics and social things," Romens said. "I just felt like this was just something too big to put on a little kid or even a high schooler's shoulders." Romens set up the fundraising webpage a week ago after KTTC-TV reported some Stewartville Public Schools students with negative lunch accounts might have had their lunches dumped in the trash and been given a sandwich instead. On Nov. 1, the district began enforcing a new policy that students with negative fund balances be given an alternative lunch. In the wake of a public outcry over the reports, the district stopped enforcing the policy. It is now seeking input on its website, and the school board is slated to discuss the policy at 7 p.m. Monday in the Central Education Center Cafeteria. The district has a $10,000 deficit in its lunch fund account due to parents behind on making payments. Superintendent Belinda Selfors did not return a phone call on Friday seeking comment. Determined to do something constructive to help solve the problem, Romens reluctantly stepped forward to create the fundraising webpage. She doesn't like being in the spotlight, but the mother of two wanted to help. ADVERTISEMENT "I just felt like we needed a positive solution to the problem," she said. "And I think it's easy for people to grumble and get upset about what's happening, but none of that really helps the situation, and the bill obviously needs to get paid." As of Friday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised $7,125 toward its $20,000 goal. A total of 90 people have donated, including donors who are not from the area. Romens said she is amazed by the generosity especially from people who live outside the community. That includes a woman from Minnetonka who donated $3,000. Donor Rene Heimer wrote on the GoFundMe page: "The children bear the shame. That is not okay. I grew up poor and know how this feels. Chip in now. It's the least we can do. Just quit complaining and chip in." Another contributor, Gloria Fredkove, wrote, "Glad to help with this fundraiser. Children should not be punished for poverty. Everyone deserves a healthy, balanced lunch. Hope the school adopts a kinder policy." Romens is dismayed by all the negative attention Stewartville has received from the reports about "lunch shaming" and is eager to highlight the community's caring side. She noted if everyone who has voiced concerns about the situation on Facebook gave $10, "that would be a huge amount of money raised." She added, "This is just my small way of helping." Here are a few things to know about the planned Pathways to Prosperity pilot program slated to start in the spring. 1. As many as 200 single mothers are expected to benefit from the pilot. By focusing on single mothers, 26 and younger, with children 5 years and younger, the program likely will include 35 to 40 Olmsted County families and 60 families in Dakota County. Another 100 families will be helped in two Colorado counties. In Olmsted County, the families helped likely will be in one of five existing programs that provide assistance to single mothers. They are: ADVERTISEMENT Baby Steps for first-time mothers. Bright Futures for teenage mothers. Steps to Success for mothers with multiple children. Reach a program seeking to address equity concerns for mothers with children 5 and younger. Hope Long-term case management for struggling families. 2. It's not a new idea. Creating programs aimed at the whole family is not a new idea. The Gage East program in Rochester is an example of a two-generation approach that seeks to help parents and their children at the same time. Likewise, the Jeremiah Program, which is planning a new location in Rochester, helped initiate efforts to focus on parents and children struggling to get out of poverty. ADVERTISEMENT Paul Fleissner, director of Olmsted County Community Services, however, said the approach is new for some tax-funded programs, which have policies established by federal and state lawmakers. He said he hopes creating a program that provides flexibility in benefits can demonstrate a better way to provide services that could reduce taxpayer expenses in the long run. "That's what we are trying to prove," he said. 3. State is pitching in. To help create possibilities, the county is receiving unsolicited state support. A $200,000 grant is helping Olmsted County start work on financial tools that will help track and determine benefit needs. Another $300,000 is possible next year to support added county staff and other work as the program starts. Jovan Perry, the Minnesota Department of Human Service's director of Economic Assistance and Employment Supports, Children and Family Services, said the state is excited about the effort because it's part of a national push to address concerns. She said state officials already were looking for partners at the local level. "We looked across the state," she said, noting Olmsted County's efforts were recognized quickly. 4. Program can address equity concerns. ADVERTISEMENT John Edmonds, Olmsted County's supervisor of family support programs, said the Pathways to Prosperity pilot, along with its focus on the whole family, has the potential to address disparities seen in current programs, with more minorities needing to rely on help. He said the tools will allow social workers to create level playing fields that can pull all people out of poverty, which will be required for lasting change. "If we are truly going to embrace the concept and address the issue, we've got to address the equity issues simultaneously," he said. 5. Two-generation approach offers additional opportunities. Dakota County also is using the two-generation approach found in the Pathways to Prosperity pilot to address concerns in juvenile corrections. Kelly Harder, the county's director of Community Services, said the idea is to focus on parents, as well as young offenders "We all know how well Mom and Dad are doing is what brings the kid to our door in many cases," he said, noting a juvenile offense can be a sign of other needs in the family. Harder said the goal of the separate program is to see if it can get the whole family started in a better direction. 6. Program allows flexibility. Social worker Kirsten Huus said the Pathways to Prosperity pilot will offer a unique opportunity to meet the needs of clients. "Every family has different barriers and different challenges to getting where they want to be, and we are able to individualize services," she said, noting the county already has some flexibility but added opportunities will improve prospects. She said young mothers in the Baby Steps program frequently run afoul of paperwork requirements in what can be a daunting system of multiple programs and requirements. She said streamlining the supports and catering to the needs of the client can mean reduced anxiety for stressed parents and better paths for their children. By PTI: Washington, Nov 25 (PTI) Flies can be more than pesky picnic crashers, they carry hundreds of different species of harmful bacteria and may help to spread disease, a study warns. Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University in the US have warned the public to avoid eating food during picnics. In a study of the microbiomes of 116 houseflies and blowflies, they found that these flies carry hundreds of different species of bacteria, many of which are harmful to humans. advertisement "We believe that this may show a mechanism for pathogen transmission that has been overlooked by public health officials, and flies may contribute to the rapid transmission of pathogens in outbreak situations," said Donald Bryant, from the Pennsylvania State University. The researchers were able to investigate the microbial content of individual fly body parts, including legs and wings. The legs appear to transfer most of the microbial organisms from one surface to another, said Stephan Schuster, from the Pennsylvania State University. "The legs and wings show the highest microbial diversity in the fly body, suggesting that bacteria use the flies as airborne shuttles," said Schuster. "It may be that bacteria survive their journey, growing and spreading on a new surface. In fact, the study shows that each step of hundreds that a fly has taken leaves behind a microbial colony track, if the new surface supports bacterial growth," he said. Blowflies and houseflies - both carrion fly species - are often exposed to unhygienic matter because they use feces and decaying organic matter to nurture their young, where they could pick up bacteria that could act as pathogens to humans, plants and animals. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, also indicates that blowflies and houseflies share over 50 per cent of their microbiome, a mixture of host-related microorganisms and those acquired from the environments they inhabit. Surprisingly, flies collected from stables carried fewer pathogens than those collected from urban environments. The researchers found 15 instances of the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori, a pathogen often causing ulcers in the human gut, largely in the blowfly samples. The known route of transmission of Helicobacter has never considered flies as a possible vector for the disease, said Schuster. "It will really make you think twice about eating that potato salad thats been sitting out at your next picnic," Bryant said. "It might be better to have that picnic in the woods, far away from urban environments, not a central park," he said. PTI SNE SNE --- ENDS --- EAGAN When you were cooking that Thanksgiving turkey on Thursday, it might have been tempting to pour the extra grease down the drain. But there are some gargantuan-sized reasons to avoid that temptation. From London to Baltimore, horror stories about "fatbergs" giant globs of fat and grease mixed with disposable wipes and other debris have made headlines in recent months. Fatbergs wreak havoc on sewer systems, clogging pipes and forcing a costly removal. The one in London was 130 tons, the size of 11 double decker buses. Minnesota hasn't had any monster fatbergs yet. But the sticky combo of grease and wipes is causing plenty of problems for city sewer systems around the state. At a sewer lift station in Eagan, Randall Mateo, an interceptor service worker for the Metropolitan Council, has the unenviable job of raking disgusting clumps of unidentifiable material from a metal grate and dumping them into a garbage can. ADVERTISEMENT He describes the mess: "Some rags and wipes, and anything that's big enough to get stuck in the screen here. And there's some pieces of grease." This is all the stuff people pour in their drains or flush down their toilets that they shouldn't. It ends up here, where it can clog up city sewer pipes and jam equipment if it's not removed. Conditions for fatbergs get the worst around holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, said Cathy Rofshus, public information officer with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. "We're all enjoying these big turkey dinners, and then people have those roasting pans with the drippings in the bottom," she said. "For decades, we've just washed that down the sink with lots of hot water and sudsy soap." Once the fat and grease reach the sewer, it congeals and coats the inside of the pipe, said Cynthia Finley, director of regulatory affairs for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. That's where the trouble starts. "It's just like a person who eats too many fatty foods, and it clogs up their arteries and blood vessels with the fat," Finley said. "The same thing happens in sewer pipes." The problem got a lot worse about a decade ago, when the popularity of disposable wipes exploded. They're marketed for everything from cleaning to removing makeup to bathroom hygiene. ADVERTISEMENT Many of these products are labeled flushable. But that's misleading, Finely said. They don't break down in water the way toilet paper does, so they get stuck in pipes or in sewer equipment. "Every time you flush a wipe or flush dental floss or feminine hygiene products or pour fats, oils and greases down the drain, it's not going to disappear," Finley said. When wipes combine with fats and grease, they can form concrete-like masses. Removing them is difficult and expensive. Doug Kammerer, utility superintendent in Watertown, said grease has stopped up sewer pipes in his city, forcing workers to use high-pressure hoses to scour the insides and remove the blockages. "How we tell it's grease is when you pull the hose out, it's very slick, very slimy," Kammerer said. "You know then it's grease that's causing the backup right there." Restaurants also contribute to the problem but not as much as people might think. Many cities require them to install a trap that catches most of their grease before it reaches the sewer pipes. That's where Art Kallenbach saw an opportunity. Kallenbach owns a company called Drain King. He empties those traps and takes the grease to a wastewater treatment plant in St. Paul. But Kallenbach says grease traps have to be maintained and emptied regularly to work correctly. ADVERTISEMENT "Some of these stores will put in a grease trap and then forget about it and never pump it," he said. "I've been to stores 5 years old and they didn't even know they had a grease trap." Most people don't have grease traps at home. Rofshus advises pouring that grease into a container, then putting it in the trash. Wipe out those greasy pots and pans with a paper towel before you wash them, and don't flush anything but toilet paper. "What we're trying to tell people is even if it says flushable," Rofshus said, "put it in the trash." As you read this, President Trump's tax plan is being debated. Congress will change it. Where this ends, no one knows. I want two things: 1. Simplification. 2. More money in private hands. Trump offers some of both. ADVERTISEMENT His cuts would leave more money in private hands, where it will be used more efficiently. Politicians' spending decisions already put us $20 trillion in debt; they shouldn't be trusted with more money. Cutting the corporate tax rate isn't popular (rich people!), but a cut is needed. Economic growth is really important. It's stifled when America's taxes are higher than other nations'. Trump also offers some simplification. Good. The more complex the rules, the more time we waste hiring accountants and the more time lawyers spend fighting over who qualifies for what. Trump would double the personal exemption (fewer people will itemize) and kill the "death tax," deductions for local taxes and the alternative minimum tax. It's a start. But that's not nearly good enough. Heck, the "simplification" bill itself is 400 pages long. Americans spend about 7 billion hours trying to comply with today's tax rules. That's the equivalent of 3.7 million people working 40-hour weeks. What a waste. I spend hours filling out forms and forwarding paperwork to an accountant. I distort my spending and investments because of tax rules. What a waste. America's first 1040 form was four pages long. Today's code is more than 3.7 million words. No one understands it. Even the tax specialists get things wrong. ADVERTISEMENT Yet parts of Trump's plan make taxes more complex: He increases the child tax credit and creates a new credit for nonchild dependents. It may be fair to help people who care for helpless adults, but each new deduction creates complexity and parasites who feed off it. As usual, some rich people will game that credit, and some poor people will never figure it out. Far better to lower everyone's taxes to, say, 15 percent, by getting rid of all deductions. Then we could focus on creating wealth instead of filling out forms. But good luck with that, President Trump. Today's tax deductions are the main reason we've got a huge culture of lobbyists. One of the most unfair tax breaks is the mortgage interest deduction. It encourages rich people to buy more homes than we need. It exacerbates housing bubbles. Trump merely proposed cutting the maximum deduction to half-a-million dollars. But even that has the swamp creatures screaming, "Unfair!" Jerry Howard of the National Association of Home Builders says he will fight that "tooth and nail." He claims it "is a direct assault on the American dream of homeownership." Bunk. Canada has no mortgage deduction, yet Canada's homeownership rate is higher than the United States'. The big mortgage deduction is welfare for the rich. But people like Howard have clout. Homebuilders and mortgage bankers give politicians money. ADVERTISEMENT Likewise, even some Republicans in high-tax states like New York and New Jersey now are whining about losing state tax deductibility. They fear voter backlash in their districts. Once again, Congress ends up fighting over who gets the biggest cuts instead of the overall tax haul and size of government. Ideally, tax cuts should be accompanied by even larger spending cuts to avoid expanding that $20 trillion debt. But that's not happening. How about a variation on Trump's two-for-one regulation rule (cut two regulations for each new one you propose)? Cut two dollars from the budget for every dollar in tax reduction. That way we won't end up deeper in the hole. The best way to avoid Washington's spending getting out of balance is to avoid giving them our money in the first place. I'm rooting for a tax law so simple that everyone understands it, and one that will keep as much money as possible out of government's hands. That's the best formula for a growing economy. I want to take the liberty of drawing attention to weekend reading of special interest without commentary from me. I recommend: Douglas Murray, The Russian Revolution, 100 years on. Murray looks back at what Communism wrought and decries its continuing appeal. NRO has posted Murrays recent cover story along with sidebars by Anne Applebaum, David Pryce-Jones, Noah Rothman, Roger Scruton, and Radoslaw Sikorski assigning notable books for extra credit reading. Clifford May (Foundation for the Defense of Democracy), Came the revolution. The New York Times has more or less celebrated the centenary of the Russian Revolution this year. The celebration expresses a nostalgia for Communism. Former Timesman Cliff May is not amused. Seth Barron (City Journal), Autonomy in the UK. A salute to Nick Cave for tebelling against the BDS crowd, with cameos by Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr. Victor Davis Hanson (Defining Ideas), A Thanksgiving toast to the Old Breed. Dr. Hanson draws on his family background and his scholarly work to raise a toast to those who are gone. Ben Cohen (Wall Street Journal), A chess novice challenged Magnus Carlsen. He had one month to train. Max Deutsch is a self-described extreme learner. In the words of the song, there are such things: Max [Deutsch] was not very good at chess himself. Hes a 24-year-old entrepreneur who lives in San Francisco and plays the sport occasionally to amuse himself. He was a prototypical amateur. Now he was preparing himself for a match against chess royalty. And he believed he could win. The unlikely series of events that brought him to this stage began last year, when Max challenged himself to a series of monthly tasks that were ambitious bordering on absurd. He memorized the order of a shuffled deck of cards. He sketched an eerily accurate self-portrait. He solved a Rubiks Cube in 17 seconds. He developed perfect musical pitch and landed a standing back-flip. He studied enough Hebrew to discuss the future of technology for a half-hour. Max, a self-diagnosed obsessive learner, wanted his goals to be so lofty that he would fail to reach some. At that, he failed. Max was 11-for-11. He knew from the beginning of his peculiar year that the hardest challenge would come in October: defeating Magnus Carlsen in a game of chess. The article is behind the Journals paywall. The companion video, however, gives the short version of this compelling and educational? inspirational? story (below). I cant think of a single political figure in recent American history who has been hated as deeply, or for as long, as Hillary Clinton. From the moment she emerged on the national stage in 1992 as a distinctly feminist prospective first lady, she has been the target of right-wing wrath woefully out of proportion to anything she has ever said or done. 2. Hillary Clinton being elected president (at last) would monumentally piss off misogynistic trolls, and whats not to like about that? This is where Clinton offers a quality that no politician in America can beat. While Republicans are trying to tar her with a bogus scandal connecting her to Russia (and anyone who believes Clinton did something wrong in the Uranium One deal lacks credibility on all matters political), the reality is that no candidate can be better described as Russias nemesis than Clinton. Putin has always hated Clinton because of his innate sexism , which has manifested in his policies , and she certainly didnt endear herself to him by publicly criticizing Russian corruption in 2011. As the ample connections between the Trump campaign and Russia or its water-carriers like WikiLeaks clearly demonstrate, the one person we know we can trust more than anyone is the candidate who Putin very obviously did not want to see as Americas president. I agree with the basic principle of Godwins Law: The first person to invoke Hitler in a political debate should normally lose. The exception, of course, has to be when someone has genuine Hitler-like qualities. A foreign despot who has invaded neighboring countries and has a right-wing nationalist agenda is about as Nazi-like as you can get. The reason for this is sexism. Its not the chic thing to say right now, but no other explanation really makes sense. Yes, Hillary Clinton is more centrist than either party likes these days, but why is she singled out for opprobrium here when her husband who actually served as president remains popular despite holding the exact same views? The same point can be made about the claim that she is corrupt or too establishment. To the extent that these accusations are valid, they are no more true of Clinton than of the vast majority of politicians from both parties (especially Trump). Theres much more, but you get the idea. I really cant tell whether this piece is an attempt at droll satire, but Salon isnt very good at satire, so I expect this is meant seriously. I hope she runs. My long position on popcorn futures will come in yuuge. The session covered the issues faced by the people in the fashion industry, at all levels. By India Today Web Desk: At the India Today Conclave East 2017, during a session called Cutting Edge Fashion: The Eastern Style, designers Dev R. Nil, designer Madhu Jain, supermodel Ketholeno Kense Vihienuo, jewellery designers Eina Ahluwalia and Raj Mahtani discussed the issues of the fashion industry. The session was moderated by News Editor Padmaja Joshi. Talking about the aesthetics of Kolkata fashion, designers Dev R Nil said, "I am trying to be Eastern style, and I want to be proud of our fashion. We don't have the support from our government to revive our fashion. I see the actual sensibility of Kolkata aesthetics are getting lost." advertisement Textile designer Madhu Jain talked about the support from government, and said, "My entire career has been textile- based, and I have supported myself. I haven't taken any aid. Our Minister is very receptive and supportive. Things are changing. I think a woman is always interested in handicrafts." Dev R Nil also added, "From our perspective it might look easy, but the small textile-based families are getting lost. They are struggling with the cost of material. Things are not happening fast enough. The government is interested in Make in India, but they're not concerned with Make in Bengal. For the beginners, it's chaos. The young ones are lost. They don't know what to do in an industry that has 4-5 levels of taxing." Madhu then objected, and said, " Over the past 15 years, I have been working on several projects. The present Textile Minister is different. She wants to sit across the table and address weavers and their problems." But Dev R. Nil added, "Your geographical location (New Delhi) is the reason." Talking about compartmentalisation, Ketholeno Kense Vihienuo said, "I am the only North- Easterner, but its only because of the fashion. My look is not commercially acceptable, I am not a market face. They think I am very oriental." Dev responded, "We love exotic-looking models. Clients think North-Easterners won't work, they compartmentalise." Talking about the change in fashion industry, Raj concluded, "I honestly think fashion needs to change. Couture Week is all about Iehengas and more lehengas. There is no fashion happening in the country." Ketholeno then added, "The buyers want this. They are not ready to change." Talking about change, Eina Ahluwalia also added, "The responsibility for making the change lies upon us. Our jewellery is unlike the others, ours is aggressive. We've subverted the idea of jewellery, to assert our own identity of Kali and Durga. It is our responsibility." Talking about the stagnation in the fashion industry, Raj said, "I think the fault lies with bodies. The bodies that appoints counsels, they are the ones making these stereotypes. They want representation. At the end of the day, you need a very responsible body. The government choose the right people for the body. " advertisement Nil responded to Raj, and said, "We're the highest selling bridal designers in the country. Our fashion affects the national market. But we don't have a voice, so we sit here and let the madness happen." Bringing up the topic of aesthetics, Dev said, "By and large, there is a downright fall of aesthetics. It's the advent of mass media that is encouraging the downfall of aesthetics." Eina Ahluwalia also said, "A large part of responsibility is ours. We have to choose between business and aesthetics. Change happens when you try to normalise new things." --- ENDS --- New Jersey is becoming more racially diverse, but its schools are becoming more segregated, according to the latest report from the UCLA Civil Rights Project. The report released this month, New Jerseys Segregated Schools: Trends and Paths Forward, says racial and economic segregation in schools is mostly the result of segregated communities. This sort of segregation can have a detrimental impact on minority student outcomes, studies have shown. I think theres pretty much no question that, overall, students benefit from being in a diverse setting, said Paul Tractenberg, a national expert in public education, a former professor at Rutgers University and founder of the Education Law Center. The latest report, which includes data through 2015, is an update of a 2013 report that drew attention statewide after it pointed out racial and economic segregation patterns from 1989 to 2010. Tractenberg collaborated with Civil Rights Project co-founder Gary Orfield and his team on the 2013 report, sparking his interest in the topic. People have put it off the table for discussion, but the reality is that were getting more and more powerful data showing its a life-changing problem, said Orfield, who co-authored the report. Orfield is a professor at UCLA and co-director and co-founder of the Civil Rights Project. He said the organization has been consistently looking at this topic on a national level for its 21 years of existence but a few years ago started delving into state data. Data from the report show that school population in New Jersey is becoming less white and more Hispanic. Despite the increase in minority populations, schools continue to be segregated in urban areas, mainly along the New Jersey Turnpike corridor, the data show, but also near Atlantic City. The proportion of schools serving less than 1 percent white students 8 percent has nearly doubled in the last 25 years. At the same time, the exposure of black and Hispanic students to white students is decreasing. Not all schools suffer from a diversity problem. In South Jersey, analysis of enrollment data from the New Jersey Department of Education from the 73 school districts in The Press coverage area shows a diverse population with small concentrations of segregated school districts, mainly near Atlantic City. Tractenberg said he was hopeful when he saw about 15 percent of school districts in the state actually do mimic the racial makeup of the state. He said Atlantic County is home to five of the 19 most proportional districts in the state: Buena Regional, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Greater Egg Harbor Regional and Somers Point. Thats 26.3 percent, the highest percentage of any county, he said. Last month, the Egg Harbor Township School District held a strategic planning meeting where more than 100 community and faculty members were tasked with coming up with the pros and cons of the school district. Many of the groups in the meeting pointed to the districts diversity as a positive. The district is 46 percent white, 25 percent Hispanic, 14 percent Asian and 10 percent black. Superintendent Kim Gruccio said the diversity is great exposure for all students. Were in the business of education, but were very fortunate to be diverse, and thats education right there, she said. They embrace it, and we coexist with a mutual respect for one another. Egg Harbor Township High School Principal Terry Charlton said the diversity also helps spur conversations and lessons that may not have otherwise happened. Students bring up things in class that really make the students engage because of their cultural backgrounds, Charlton said. Tractenberg said the biggest educational benefits from diverse schools are for minority and low-income students, but theres also evidence that white and Asian students, who dont suffer a disadvantage, may also achieve greater. Then there are the cultural and social benefits of a diverse school. To function at maximum effectiveness in that multicultural world is experience in doing it, Tractenberg said. The earlier they start that process, the better off well all be. There is hope for New Jersey if more focus can be put into diversifying communities, improving school-choice options and better training for educators, students and community leaders, the report states. Orfield said it was true that not everything can be desegregated, but there are options to help integrate students, including school choice, county technical schools and regional magnet programs. He said school districts and towns should be intentionally pursuing integration. Tractenberg said New Jersey has to make a plan to deal with segregation in schools, and that should start with housing. He said much of the housing segregation that exists is not happenstance but the result of government and legal intervention through housing policies and zoning rules. Another way to address segregation might be the most controversial: Taking away home rule of school districts. The state has chosen to assign responsibilities for carrying out education to local school districts, but thats not part of the constitutional structure, Tractenberg said. The Legislature of N.J. tomorrow could abolish all school districts and say were running everything out of Trenton. Whats the likelihood of change? That depends, Tractenberg said. I believe (Gov.-elect) Phil Murphy has a lot of progressive instincts. Hes identified school desegregation as something hed like to see happen under his administration. Is he going to bite some of these bullets that are going to be explosive? Tractenberg asked. Blue Acres demolitions in the Bay Point section of Lawrence Township began this past week, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The Blue Acres program buys properties that have experienced repeated flood losses, removes structures and cedes the land to a wildlife management area operated by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. The area can then provide habitat for wildlife and a buffer in future storms for properties located farther inland. A total of 20 homes on a peninsula in Cumberland County jutting into the Delaware Bay are being demolished in the $10 million effort, funded by state and federal funds. Piling or docks will be removed from another 14 vacant lots, according to DEP. Delaware Bay gets first artificial reef on New Jersey side The states first artificial reef in the Delaware Bay will be centrally located for recreati Demo work is being done by Site Enterprises and includes approaches from both land and water, DEP said. Due to wildlife habitat restrictions, work can only be done in the water through Feb. 28, 2018. Work must be completed by April 14, DEP said. Ventnor scores bigger flood insurance discount: Ventnor property owners who have flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program will start to receive a 25 percent flood insurance discount next May, up from the 20 percent discount they had been receiving, the city announced last week. The city has done what is needed to be certified as a Class 5 community by the NFIPs Community Ratings Program, which encourages towns to take steps to reduce their flood-loss risk. There are 4,747 property owners in Ventnor with flood insurance covering more than $1 billion in property. Policyholders paid $4.2 million in premiums in 2017 alone, according to the city. Public hearing at Stockton to discuss solar energy market in N.J. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP The state Board of Public Utilities is holding public hearings on the so A 25 percent discount will save $1.06 million next year, and the savings will grow as rates increase, the city said. Rutala Associates, the citys planning consultant, led the reclassification efforts, the city said. Cape May County grants fund Avalon park, bike path: The Borough of Avalon will use almost $2.07 million in grants from the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders for a new park and expansion of its bike path. About $2 million will be used to create a new Surfside Park at the Boardwalk at 30th Street and the beach. It will replace an old playground and skateboard park with new playground equipment, a gazebo, a play lawn and a small performance stage. It will also include new bathrooms, rinsing stations and a changing station. Water will be reused for irrigation, and bicycle racks will be added. The $70,000 expansion of the bicycle path, currently on Dune Drive outside of the business district, will use parts of First and Avalon avenues, with more signage and street markings added for public safety. Pinelands protection also about culture, history The 1.1 million-acre Pinelands National Reserve may be the largest body of open space betwee Pheasant season underway: The 2017 pheasant season is underway and thousands of birds are being distributed throughout the state, DEP said. The birds are distributed by a formula that includes proximity of stocked wildlife management areas to stamp buyers home zip codes. More information on the formula can be found at njfishandwildlife.com/ artpheasallocation16.htm. The northern region receives 41 percent of the pheasants stocked as part of the Pheasant Stocking Program, compared with 27 percent for the central region and 32 percent for the south. Pheasant stocking maps can be found at njfishandwildlife.com/pheasmaps.htm. DEP asks for help tracking exotic tick species The NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife is asking deer hunters in Hunterdon County for help locating an exotic East Asian tick species known as the longhorned tick or bush tick that was recently found on a farm there. The initial identification was done by Rutgers University and the Hunterdon County health department. This tick is not known to occur in the U.S., although there are records of at least a dozen previous collections of this species on animals and materials presented for entry at U.S. ports. This tick is a serious pest to livestock, as well as wildlife, pets and humans, so DEP is doing targeted surveillance on deer that are harvested around the area where the tick was found. For questions on the divisions surveillance and deer check, call Carole Stanko at 609-984-6295. Eagle rehabbed in N.Y. doing well in N.J. In October, NJ Eagle Project volunteer Randy Lubischer spotted a banded adult bald eagle near his home in Monmouth County, according to Conserve Wildlife Foundation wildlife biologist Larissa Smith. A New York state band on the bird held a number W34. The New York Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources said it found the eagle as a hatch-year bird on the side of the road in Onondaga County with tissue damage and worms. The division rehabilitated the bird and banded it Oct. 7, 2011. It was observed in Darlington, Maryland, on Nov. 18, 2016, then in northeastern Maryland on March 1. Now, W34 looks to be staying in New Jersey to nest as he has found a mate, a sub-adult female, who still has dark feathers on her head. They have started to build a nest and have been copulating. Its possible W34 fledged in New Jersey, since recent N.J. fledges outfitted with transmitters have taken long flights north after leaving their nest areas, said Smith. CWF also said many New Jersey banded eagles return to the state to nest. For more, visit conservewildlifenj.org/blog/2017/11/20/w34-a-ny-banded-eagle-in-nj. By Malini Banerjee: Woman power shone bright at the India Today Conclave East 2017 in the session 'Kanyas Show The Way'. It was the first session with West Bengal's minister for Woman and Child Development and social welfare Dr. Shashi Panja in attendance. Six young girls who benefited from the 'Kanyasree scheme' of West Bengal state government spoke up and left the audience inspired. advertisement One of them was an acid attack survivor Paramita Bera who couldn't have finished her education if not for the kanyasree program. The gutsy girl from West Midnapore survived 12 surgeries to reconstruct her face. 'I may have been a victim before but now I am a survivor. Earlier I'd hide my face. Now I don't. My face is the mirror of the society today', said Paramita proudly. Kuheli Basak had another of such an inspiring story to tell. 19-year-old Kuheli was not going to be allowed to take her higher secondary examinations. A difference of a INR 1000 helped her complete her plus-two examinations. With a donation of Rs.25000, she opened a photocopy and printout centre that now employs two more people. All of 19, she's a micro entrepreneur who's funding her own organisation. West Bengal's Woman and Child development minister Dr. Shashi Panja pointed out the figures which helped 'Kanyasree Program' bag the UN award for public service. "We have sanctioned nearly 5000 crores for 42 lakh girls. Among 663 projects from 62 countries that were considered for the award, this program had the most impact on the most disempowered," she said. Here is the full coverage of India Today Conclave East 2017. WATCH | We appreciated Bengal Chief Minister's move of declassifying Bose files, says BJP's Chandra Bose at India Today Conclave --- ENDS --- LOWER TOWNSHIP A Thanksgiving night crash ended in police charging a 17-year-old township resident with driving while intoxicated. At 9:10 p.m., officers responded to Breakwater Road and Route 9 for a report of a car striking a light pole. The Erma Volunteer Fire Department, AtlantiCare medics and Lower Township Rescue also responded. Police said they found a black 2015 Chrysler 200 at the scene. An investigation revealed the car was headed east on Breakwater when it crossed the intersection and ran off the road. The car struck the utility pole and a fence. The pole landed on top of the car. Authorities said the driver, later identified as a 17-year-old boy from the township, had gotten out of the vehicle prior to police arriving. First responders evaluated the boy at the scene. He was then flown via helicopter to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for further medical evaluation. Police said an investigation, as well as the drivers statements, led to the DWI charge. The driver also was issued summonses for reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane and disregard of a traffic control device. Atlantic City Electric crews responded to the scene and repaired the utility pole. Officers Stephen Flitcroft, Eric Coombs and Kenneth Walker and Sgt. Kevin Lewis are investigating the crash. TORONTO, November 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Graham G. Clow, Chairman, is pleased to announce the appointment of Arthur G. Graham, MBA, P.Eng., as Vice President, Corporate Development (New York), Avakash Patel, P.Eng., as Vice President, Metallurgy (Toronto), and Grant Malensek, P.Eng./P.Geo., as Principal Engineer - Valuations (Denver). With over 37 years of experience as a financial institution mining expert with experience in operations, project development and business development, Art Graham will lead the continued growth of RPA's New York office. Prior to joining RPA, Mr. Graham was the Managing Director of Kingsteps Mining Advisory, LLC (Kingsteps) where he provided risk assessment and project evaluation services to capital providers and financing advice and corporate development guidance to companies in the mining sector. Prior to joining Kingsteps, Mr. Graham held senior mining finance positions with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Citigroup, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Behre Dolbear Capital, Bankers Trust, and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Mr. Graham's project evaluation experience includes over 150 projects and mine sites covering 15 different commodities in 20 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australasia and central Asia. Avakash (Akoo) Patel joins RPA with over 24 years of senior professional experience, including 15 years in operations and nine years in consulting and construction. Prior to joining RPA, Mr. Patel was Corporate Manager - Mineral Processing and Metallurgy for Kinross Gold Corporation (Kinross) where he was responsible for process leadership on operations and capital projects from scoping studies, testing programs, feasibility studies, to construction and EPCM projects. Prior to joining Kinross, Mr. Patel held senior positions with two large engineering firms. Mr. Patel's experience includes project management, mineral processing, extractive, hydro, and pyrometallurgy, capital projects, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate development. Mr. Patel will be based in RPA's Toronto office. Grant Malensek is a Geological Engineer with over 20 years' experience preparing project finance models, mineral property valuations, and valuations for the international arbitrations in the mining industry. Prior to joining RPA, Mr. Malensek was a Mineral Project Evaluation Consultant for a consulting firm where he carried out fatal flaw, due diligence and Independent Engineer reviews for equity and project financings. Earlier in his career, Mr. Malensek spent 10 years as a mineral exploration/development geologist for several major mining firms in Canada, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, USA, and Peru. Mr. Malensek's consulting experience includes scoping level to feasibility studies, capital cost estimates and reviews, mine strategy, and options analysis and project evaluations in connection with mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Malensek will be based in RPA's Denver office. RPA has been providing independent geological and mining consulting services to the international minerals industry for over 30 years from offices in Toronto, London, New York, Denver, Vancouver, and Quebec City. The company recently celebrated 10 years of serving the UK and European markets from its City of London office. Through the strength and experience of its team, RPA has gained a worldwide reputation for independent, innovative, and practical advice on investments, project development, and operations at all stages, in all mineral commodities. http://www.rpacan.com Contact: Arthur Graham, RPA USA Ltd., Three Times Square, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10036, USA, +1(646)485-0577, arthur.graham@rpacan.com; Avakash Patel, Roscoe Postle Associates Inc., 501 - 55 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2H7, Canada, +1(416)642-1424, avakash.patel@rpacan.com; Grant Malensek, RPA USA Ltd., 143 Union Boulevard, Suite 505, Lakewood, Colorado 80228, USA, +1(303)330-0952, grant.malensek@rpacan.com SOURCE Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Speaking on Day 2 of the India Today Conclave 2017 in Kolkata, the Jharkhand CM said the police along with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has cracked down on those funding Naxal terror. By India Today Web Desk: Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that the state will be "Naxalism-free" in 2018. Speaking on Day 2 of the India Today Conclave 2017 in Kolkata, the Jharkhand CM said the police along with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has cracked down on those funding Naxal terror. As a result, many Naxalites have surrendered, he said. advertisement Simultaneously, Raghubar Das said, the government is working towards developing Naxal-hit regions. "I have visited many of these Naxal-hit areas," he said, and added that "people have supported development". Asked about why Raman Singh, chief minister of Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh, has not been able to declare the state Naxalism-free despite being in power for three tenures, Das maintained that both Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are together fighting Red terror in the region. ON GUJARAT ELECTION Raghubar Das said he is confident that people in Gujarat will give a befitting reply to the Congress in the upcoming Assembly election. "Those who called Narendra Modi a merchant of death (maut ka saudagar) were given an apt response by the people of Gujarat in 2014," the Jharkhand chief minister said. "This time too, they (Congress) will be defeated," he said. Raghubar Das said that post 2014, people have voted for politics of development. In Uttar Pradesh too, people voted against dynasty politics and gave a thumping majority to the BJP, he said. ON ANTI-CONVERSION BILL Asked about the contentious anti-conversion bill, Raghubar Das said that everything has been done in the ambit of Constitution. "Congress governments in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have enacted similar laws," he said. The Jharkhand Assembly recently passed the anti-conversion bill which prohibits forceful conversion and prescribes a fine of Rs 50,000 or up to three years in jail, or both for the same. Refuting allegations that the bill targets a particular community, Raghubar Das said, "No one has the right to take benefit of someone's poverty and lure them into conversion" and maintained that this was not an effort to divide tribals on the basis of religion. Here is the full coverage of India Today Conclave East 2017. +++ WATCH | Police, Enforcement Directorate have cracked down on Naxal terror funding: Jharkhand Chief Minister at India Today Conclave --- ENDS --- New Delhi, Nov 20 : Emphasising on the growing importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the legal community should make use of this mechanism for enhancing ease of doing business. Prabhu conveyed the message through video conferencing at the Bar Leadership Summit held here recently. The agenda of the Summit, organised by Indian National Bar Association (INBA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, was 'Reforms in the Indian Legal Sector'. The Summit explored issues and concerns surrounding the liberalisation of the Indian legal services sector. "The Summit on the whole agreed on the need to reform the legal sector to align itself with the new global realities in the profession," the Ministry said in a statement on Monday. Minister of State for Human Resource Development (Higher Education) Satya Pal Singh, in his inaugural address, stressed on the importance of law as an enabler of justice and spoke on the importance of the impartiality and neutrality of the judicial system in India. He noted that the justice system should focus on the difficulties faced by victims in particular. Secretary General of INBA Kaviraj Singh highlighted the dramatic changes that have taken place within the legal sector in India in the last two decades and identified the three major areas which need focus - conduct of arbitration in India, reforms in the Indian legal regulatory sector and liberalisation of legal services. Law Secretary Suresh Chandra said India has huge potential to increase the size of the legal market, which is around $9 billion at present. He suggested that reforms in this sector could tie in with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda of 'reform, transform and perform'. Additional Economic Adviser, Department of Commerce, Sangeeta Saxena, highlighted the need for diversification of services exports and the particular importance of the legal services sector in boosting India's overall performance in services. President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) R.S. Suri noted that the "gulf of understanding between the Bar Council of India, State Bar Councils and the government needs to be bridged" and that frequent consultations and deliberations are needed in reforming this important sector. Moscow, Nov 25 : Progress has been made in achieving a political settlement in Syria and it is urgent to advance the process of intra-Syrian negotiation, representatives of Russia and the United Nations said on Friday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exchanged views with visiting UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura about the latest international contacts on the Syrian issue and its possible political settlement, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Xinhua news agency reported. On Wednesday, presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to continue their joint efforts to facilitate a possible transition to a political settlement in Syria and restore peace and stability to the war-torn country. "Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of building up international efforts to launch a comprehensive intra-Syrian negotiation process with the leading role of the United Nations based on the UN Security Council resolution 2254," a ministry statement said. The two sides agreed to maintain close contact on the whole complex of Syrian issues, it added. Later on Friday, the UN special envoy talked with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in a separate meeting and they discussed the organization of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress. De Mistura said Russia has made many efforts to create the basis for the political settlement of the Syrian crisis. They agreed that it is necessary to "arrange a political dialogue as soon as possible" as well as organise and conduct a political settlement process in Syria. The Syrian National Dialogue Congress, proposed by Moscow in late October at Astana talks in Kazakhstan for Syrian settlement, is expected to bring together opposition and pro-government forces, as well as representatives of all Syrian ethnic and religious groups to work for the peace process in the country. The date and participants of the congress have not been confirmed yet. Washington, Nov 25 : US President Donald Trump told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he will stop arming a Syrian Kurdish militia the Turkish government considers a terrorist organisation, Turkey's Foreign Minister has said. The decision would cut the flow of weapons from the US to the YPG, the Kurdish militia fighting with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, just six months after Trump approved the plan over Turkey's strenuous objections. "Our discomfort regarding the provision of weapons to the YPG was conveyed to Trump once again," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a news conference Friday, CNN reported. "Trump very clearly said he had given instructions to not provide weapons to the YPG." The White House did not dispute the top Turkish diplomat's account of the Friday morning call between Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but suggested there were no impending plans to stop supplying weapons to the YPG. Trump told Erdogan "of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete and we are progressing into a stabilization phase," the White House said in a statement. Pressed about the US's specific plans, National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton told CNN the US' supply of weapons to the YPG will be "winding down over time, as the physical caliphate is destroyed." It was not immediately clear whether Trump had overpromised in his conversation with Erdogan or if the Turkish foreign minister had oversold Trump's pledge to the US, but the lack of clarity could leave the YPG and other US-backed allies in Syria uncertain about the future of US involvement in the region. But Cavusoglu was emphatic, saying Trump "repeated by the end of the conversation before they hung up that he ordered generals and National Security Adviser (Lt. Gen. H.R.) McMaster not to give arms." Trump approved a plan to supply weapons to the YPG in May to help bolster the effort by US-backed forces to capture Raqqa, the self-declared capital of IS. The YPG is closely affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the PKK, which has carried out terrorist attacks against Turkey, prompting concerns from the NATO ally that weapons supplied to the YPG could wind up in the hands of the PKK. US-backed forces captured Raqqa from IS last month in a major milestone in the fight against the terrorist group, but the Trump administration has offered no signals it would stop arming the Kurdish militia after the city's fall. Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, said Turkey welcomes Trump's "promise of not providing weapons to the YPG" and is waiting for the pledge to be "implemented practically." Trump's call with Erdogan had been expected to focus on the Syrian conflict, coming days after Erdogan met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Syria's future. Trump also spoke earlier this week with Putin to discuss Syria. New Delhi, Nov 25 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and termed the latter's relationship with US President Donald Trump as failed "hugplomacy". "Narendrabhai, baat nahi bani (this is not done). Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed," Gandhi tweeted on Saturday morning. On Friday, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai massacre in 2008, was freed after 10 months of house-arrest in Pakistan. Earlier this month, the US Congress also passed a bill which dropped action against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a condition for Pakistan to receive hundreds of millions of dollars. Madrid, Nov 25 : Venezuelan opposition leader and former metropolitan Mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, has submitted a request for political asylum in Spain. Even though Ledezma himself, who arrived in Spain a week ago from Colombia after fleeing Venezuela, had stated he had no intention of seeking asylum, Spanish government spokesman IAigo Mendez de Vigo announced on Friday that he had changed his mind, Efe news reported. "It's another indication of the Venezuelan people's struggle to recover their freedom and a normal democracy," the Spanish spokesman said, after noting that the opposition leader himself stated after landing in Madrid, that "today upon arriving in Spain, I feel free". Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy received Ledezma last Saturday. The Venezuelan opposition leader had been under house arrest in his country since 2015, accused of conspiracy and criminal association. Ledezma met Rajoy and the latter told him that Spain will continue working bilaterally and in collaboration with its European and Ibero-American partners to help reach a fully democratic solution for Venezuela. Ledezma censured the situation his country is going through and has called on other opposition leaders to forget about the "personal issues" and certain "inconsistencies" of recent times. Earlier this week, the opposition majority at Caracas City Hall cancelled Ledezma's title of metropolitan Mayor after he fled the country. Kolkata, Nov 25 : Emphasising the anti-corruption drive initiated by his government, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said nobody will be spared and even he is ready to go to the jail if he commits something wrong. "Our CID or vigilance department questioned several former ministers in regards to corruption charges on social welfare, public health. It is not that we have stopped the investigation and it has been continuing. Even I am ready to go to jail, if I commit something wrong," he said at the India Today Conclave East. He said those sincere in fighting against corruption would admit there was no bias from the Chief Minister's Office to Panchayat Office. "There would no discrimination," said Sonowal. "We have started acting against corruption from the first day of our government and we decided in the cabinet meeting to crack down on all the illegal segments and strengthen the revenue collection department and for which, the revenue collection grew by 21.6 per cent in our regime," he said, adding that once actions against corruption were taken, it would send a message to the people that one "has to work with commitment" otherwise, one "has to face penalty" . When asked about whether his government would act against Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was with the Congress, and is now a minister in his government, the Chief Minister said: "We do not take any initiative out of prejudice. We cannot act without having any proof against corruption... If anything is proved against anyone, he would be brought to book." Speaking on the issue of updating Assam National Register of Citizens, Sonowal said: "This is under the supervision of the apex court. Whatever direction will be passed on us, we will carry out. The matter would be again heard on November 29. We want to ensure an error-free, correct National Register of Citizens." Santiago, Nov 25 : Thousands of people gathered in the centre of the capital to protest violence against women to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The UN designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to commemorate the Mirabal sisters, who were assassinated on the same day in 1960 for opposing the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. A crowd of around 5,000 joined the two-hour march on Friday organised by the Chilean Network against Violence towards Women, bringing traffic along one the city's main arteries to a standstill. Protesters were pleased by the large turnout, calling for an end to gender-based violence both in Chile and around the world, Efe news reported. According to the protest organisers, 61 femicides have been recorded in the country so far this year, in addition to the 36 women who have committed suicide. Women in Chile have called on authorities to amend the law on gender-based violence as the current legislation only accounts for violence within marriages and relationships. Cairo, Nov 25 : The death toll in a horrific terror strike on a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai region has climbed to 300 as the military kicked off a hunt for the attackers and responded with airstrikes at "terrorist" locations and vehicles. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi vowed to respond to the gory attack on Al Rawdah mosque, affiliated with Sufi groups, with "brute force". More than 100 people were injured, the BBC reported. The mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed was bombed during Friday prayers and fleeing worshippers were then gunned down. No group has yet claimed the massacare, one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the country. "What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism," Sisi said in a televised address. "The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force." Hours after the massacre, "terrorist spots", where weapons and ammunition were reportedly stocked, had been bombed by Air Force jets in response. An Army spokesperson said that several vehicles used in the attack had been located and destroyed. Dozens of gunmen surrounded the mosque in vehicles and opened fire on those trying to escape after bombs were set off. The militants were reported to have set parked vehicles on fire in the vicinity to block off access to the mosque and fired upon ambulances trying to help victims. A witness told the Guardian he had heard calls for help emanating from other nearby mosques after the attack. "I went with my family and friends to the scene of the mosque and found ambulances loading bodies and injured," he said. "What happened in al-Rawdah is a massacre against peaceful civilians." "In the Ber al-Abd hospitals, there was chaos," he said. "Blood and screaming were everywhere." There was also international condemnation for the attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called "for those responsible for today's horrific attack to be swiftly brought to justice". Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on a place of worship in Egypt. Our deep condolences at the loss of innocent lives." US President Donald Trump called it a "horrible and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent and defenseless" and said terrorism and its ideology must be defeated. UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron also gave their condolences. Landmarks and government buildings across the globe paid tribute to the victims. In Israel, which borders the Sinai peninsula, Tel Aviv's city hall was lit up with the Egyptian flag. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower went dark to honour victims of the attack. In England's second largest city, The Library of Birmingham was lit up in the colors of Egypt's flag. And in Canada's most populous city, Toronto, the CN Tower was also lit to honour of the victims. San Francisco, Nov 25 : A fake advertisement reportedly led some users searching for "Amazon" on Thanksgiving to a scam website just before the Black Friday shopping frenzy, media rpeorted. "Some Google users searching for "Amazon" on Thanksgiving were shown a phony ad that redirected to a scam website, one day before the biggest shopping day of the year," CBS News reported late on Friday. "The advertisement appeared at the top of search results on Google for an unknown number of users for at least part of the day on Thursday," the report added. Meanwhile, the search engine giant has said that the advertisement violated its policies and has been removed. "This was an abuse of our platform. We strictly prohibit advertising of illegal activity and have removed these ads and suspended the account," a Google representative was quoted as saying. The app which redirected users to a scam site purporting to be run by Microsoft's support team with a message saying the computer was infected with malware, according to CNET. However, the site's URL suggested that it was not affiliated with Microsoft. New Delhi, Nov 25 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit back at Rahul Gandhi for his "failed hugplomacy" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the release of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, saying the Congress Vice President should stand with the country and not with the mastermind of the Mumbai massacre. "Rahul baba, Aadte nahi badli (Habits have not changed). For once, stand with the country and not with Terrorists as is your habit. You are a known sympathiser of LeT. WikiLeaks and Ishrat Jahan case cover-up exposed your links. By the way have you congratulated your 'Hafeez Saheb' on his release yet," BJP spokesperson G.V.L Narsimha Rao said in a tweet. Accusing the Congress of showing sympathy with Pakistan, the BJP leader said "Congress Ka Haath, Aatankivadiyon ke Saath" would be a more appropriate slogan for the grand old party. "While Manmohan Singh's government treated Pakistan as a victim state and let it off lightly, Narendra Modi has succeeded in isolating and cornering Pakistan as terroristan not just in the region but globally and in all international fora like the UN, G20, BRICS, ASEAN etc," Rao said. He said that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly betrayed the country by pandering to anti-India elements. "The manner in which they questioned the surgical strikes against the terror launch pads across the LoC and the utterly disgraceful attacks against the army chief as a 'Street thug (Sadak Ka Goonda)' and Rahul Gandhi's joining the groups shouting "Bharat ki barbaadi" slogans are symptomatic of Congress party's support for anti-India sentiments. "The statements of Congress leaders eulogising and praising Burhan Wani and their solidarity for separatists clearly show their sympathies for pro-Pakistan elements. It is a tragedy that a party which ruled India for six decades has compromised with the terrorist groups that have bled India for the sake of appeasing a minority vote bank. They have abused Hindu religion with terms like Hindu Terror and Saffron terror for appeasing minorities. In no other country, terror is politicised as the Congress sought to do in power," he said in a statement. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the Prime Minister and termed the latter's relationship with US President Donald Trump as failed "hugplomacy". "Narendrabhai, baat nahi bani (this is not done). Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed," Gandhi tweeted on Saturday morning. On Friday, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai massacre in 2008, was freed after 10 months of house arrest in Pakistan. Earlier this month, the US Congress also passed a bill which dropped action against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a condition for Pakistan to receive hundreds of millions of dollars. Derek O'Brien took a dig at PM Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah saying two people shouldn't be able to decide when the Parliament will function while having breakfast in Ahmedabad. Parliamentary calendar is the need of the hour By Vivek Surendran: Derek O'Brien, Rajya Sabha MP, in a session at the second day of the India Today Conclave East titled 'Inside Parliament: Question Hour', decided that instead of him taking questions from the four young students on the dais, he will ask them questions. Ujaan Ganguly from Jadavpur University, Aastha from Loreto College, Dr (in the making) Sain from National Medical College, and Prithviraj from St Xaviers College joined O'Brien. advertisement Joking about not promoting his new book named 'Inside Parliament' by repeating the sessions' name, Derek said the students could ask him questions, and do the talking, and that politicians are not listening to young people. Talking about a minimum qualification being mandatory to be an MP, Aastha and Prithviraj said it should be a norm while Ujaan, Sain and O'Brien said qualification doesn't matter. What do you expect from your representatives in the Parliament? Prithviraj: Honesty and integrity are two values politicians should have, given the number of corruption charges coming to light. Ujaan: Transparency and clarity from each and every MP. Aastha: Discipline - the kind of language MPs use and mannerisms. Sain: MPs should be dynamic. And I feel MPs from West Bengal are more dynamic than from other states. Any MP you look up to as a good Parliamentarian? Aastha: Arun Jaitley, because in a recent debate on cow slaughter, he was the only one who did not bring in a communal touch to his argument. Ujaan: Mamata Banerjee, because she's got a mother's touch when she approaches issues. That's exactly what the Bengali soul needs. Sain: Derek O'Brien. Prithviraj: Shashi Tharoor, because he reflects the thoughts of today's youth. He's been championing the cause of LGBT rights and I think that's very admirable. Dinesh Trivedi, a four-time MP, joined the conversation and when asked what MPs owe to the young generation, said, 'environment'. He also extended a warm welcome to youngsters saying, "for heaven's sake, join politics." On being asked what they would choose to be -- a journalist or a Parliamentarian -- Prithviraj replied saying he'd like to be "happy" 15 years down the line; Aastha said she'd become a journalist so that she could be impartial and neutral; Sain said he'd choose to be an MP because he'd be at a position where he can help more people; Ujaan said he'd initially be a journalist and later go on to become a Parliamentarian. Talking about making the functioning of the Parliament better, Derek O'Brien said there should be a Parliamentary calendar with fixed dates for winter, budget and monsoon sessions, and took a dig at PM Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah (without naming them) saying two people shouldn't be able to decide when the Parliament will function while having breakfast in Ahmedabad. advertisement Here is the full coverage of India Today Conclave East 2017 WATCH | India Today Conclave East 2017: Derek O'Brien takes dig at PM Modi, Amit Shah --- ENDS --- Agartala, Nov 25 : Four employees of Tripura Gramin Bank were kidnapped by unknown persons from southwestern Tripura, police said here on Saturday. The miscreants kidnapped the four Tripura Gramin Bank officials, including branch manager Tanumoy Bhattacharjee, 30, while they were returning to Agartala in a vehicle on Friday night, southern Tripura's Gomati district police chief Bijoy Debbarma told IANS over phone. He said police not sure whether they were abducted by armed miscreants or any terrorist group. Bhattacharjee was driving his car and Sujit Chandra Dey, 28 and Raktim Bhowmik, 31, were in the car. Another bank official Subrata Debbarma, 32, was driving his bike along with the vehicle. "The car and the bike were also remain untraced," the police official said. "The exact location from where the bank officials were kidnapped is not yet known," Bijoy Debbarma said. Meanwhile, families of the captives said an unidentified person called them up and demanded Rs 20 lakh each for release of the bank employees. Troopers of Tripura State Rifles and other Security forces led by senior police officials launched a massive combing operations on Friday night in Khowai, Dhalai and Gomati districts to rescue the bank employees. Police officials said there was not a single extremist related incident in Tripura since 2015. Police and intelligence officials had earlier apprehended that terrorist activities might resurface in the state ahead of the crucial assembly elections in February 2018. Dhaka, Nov 25 : Following repatriation from Bangladesh, Myanmar will send Rohingya refugees to temporary shelters before moving them back to their original villages or new neighbourhoods of their choice, an official said on Saturday. Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali said that the two governments have agreed that the repatriation of the refugees to Rakhine should start within the next two months and will be conducted in phases, although he did not specify a start date, Efe news agency reported. Myanmar will also carry out a verification process before accepting the refugees back in the country, according to a Memorandum of Intentions signed by the two countries that was made public on Saturday. The document, signed on Thursday, specifies that the final decision about the repatriated refugees will rest with the Myanmar government but stipulates that the Myanmar authorities will not persecute or punish the refugees for fleeing the country illegally, except in specific cases involving terror links or criminal activities. The agreement added that both countries will assist the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the process of repatriation as and when necessary. The UNHCR had warned on Friday that conditions were not conducive for the safe return of the refugees to Rakhine. The current Rohingya exodus started when the Myanmar Army had launched a military offensive -- described as "ethnic cleansing" by the UN -- in the region on August 25 following multiple attacks on government posts by Rohingya rebels. Islamabad, Nov 25 : At least five people were killed and another 20 were wounded in a suicide bomb attack targetting a security forces vehicle in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta on Saturday. The suicide bomber had detonated near a bus terminal when the Frontier Corps vehicle was passing by, Quetta police spokesperson Abid Mengal told Efe news. The Taliban claimed the attack in a statement. "We accept responsibility of the suicide attack on Saryab Road, Quetta," Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Mohamed Khurasani said. The wounded included several members of the security forces. Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, is among the most conflict-ridden areas in Pakistan, with armed separatists, Taliban factions and terrorist groups operating in the region. Attacks against the security forces are common in the city and have intensified in recent weeks. On November 9, a senior police official of the city was killed in an attack and six days later, a superintendent of police was shot dead, along with his wife, son and brother. On Friday, two people were killed and another five were wounded in a suicide bomb attack against the vehicle of a senior police official in Peshawar. New Delhi, Nov 25 : A Union Minister and Chief Justice of India on Saturday crossed swords over judicial activism at a conference on the occasion of National Law Day with CJI Dipak Misra saying it was their sacrosanct duty to protect the fundamental rights of the citizens. Addressing the conference, Minister of State for Law and Justice P.P. Chaudhary said judicial activism is an outcome of judiciary's independence and should be lauded as long as it stays away from the realm of policy. But when judicial activism and review wade into policy making, its consequences can be disruptive, he added. "Judicial activism by itself is a necessary outcome of judicial independence, and may be lauded, especially when it is undertaken to protect those who may not otherwise have ready access to justice," Chaudhary said. "But quite apart from this, is another species of judicial activism where the judiciary is also stepping into areas which are strictly speaking in the realm of policy," he added. He said that as a "fundamental principle" of governance decisions "should, as far as possible, be predictable and not disruptive". "When judicial activism and review wades into policy making, sometimes its consequences can be disruptive. This needs to be avoided if possible," he said. The Minister emphasised that while judicial independence is a pillar of democracy, judicial accountability "is the base of that pillar". "Without accountability there can be no legitimacy. Those in government and those outside it are both fully aware of the fickle nature of power, and are fully aware that a strong and independent judiciary is necessary for everyone. We must do everything possible to preserve the moral authority and legitimacy of our judiciary," he said. Taking the floor after the Minister, the CJI dismissed the perception of judicial activism, saying protection of fundamental rights of citizens is the "sacrosanct duty of the judiciary" and it is obliged to stand with citizens if government entities "encroach" upon their fundamental rights. "The citizens have been guaranteed fundamental rights and the governing entities are not expected to encroach upon it. The moment they encroach upon it or there is an apprehension that there is an encroachment, the judiciary is obliged to stand by them," he said. Justice Misra defended courts taking a pro-active position on the fundamental rights of citizens and expanding their scope. "There is a perception that there is a judicial activism... I must clarify protection of fundamental rights of each and every citizen is the sacrosanct duty of the judiciary which has been conferred on by the Constitution. Fundamental rights have been expended from the date the Constitution came into existence," he said. The CJI also said the judiciary has no desire to make policy. "Nobody intends, nobody desires to enter upon the policy making areas. We don't make policies but we interpret policies and that's our job," he said. The prime task of the three wings of the state is to defend the Constitution, its values, morals and philosophy, Chief Justice Misra said. Pointing out that there was a direct co-relation between Directive Principles of State Policy and the fundamental rights, Chief Justice Misra called for a quality governance and said, "Cooperative constitutionalism is the responsibility of the three organs of the State to protect the Constitution which is the source of their origin." Referring to the protection of women at work place by framing Vishaka guidelines and rescuing children working in industry, Chief Justice Misra said, "What you see today may be relevant tomorrow." The two-day conference on the occasion of National Law Day was also addressed by President Ram Nath Kovind, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. New Delhi, Nov 25 : On the eve of the ninth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Israel on Saturday expressed its condolences and solidarity with the people of India. In a statement, the Israeli Embassy expressed "deep condolences and solidarity with the people of India on the anniversary of the harrowing terror attack" that was launched on November 26, 2008. "The tragic events of that day are ingrained in our collective memories. Israel stands by India in remembrance and grief over the senseless loss of life at the hands of terrorists," it stated. Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said in the statement: "Together with India, the people of Israel mourn the victims from countries all over the globe including Israel, embrace their loved ones and the survivors. India and Israel, along with nations of the world, must do everything in their power to eradicate extremism and terrorism for a better future." Over 160 people were killed and over 300 were injured a when terrorists of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba launched a series of attacks on India's commercial capital. During his visit to Israel in July this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, were killed when the terrorists attacked the Chabad House in Mumbai. Moshe was two years old then. Moshe, who was invited by Modi to visit India, has been granted a visa and he is expected to accompany Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to India next year. Shimla, Nov 25 : The CBI on Saturday filed a charge sheet in a local court against eight policemen, including Inspector General Zahur H. Zaidi, over the custodial death of an accused in the sensational gang rape and murder of a school girl in Shimla district. They were arrested on August 29. The 500-page charge sheet mentions the evidence of more than 50 witnesses, including the four rape accused. Superintendent of Police D.W. Negi, the ninth accused in the custodial death who was arrested on November 16, is in judicial custody along with eight others till December 7. "Since investigation against D.W. Negi is on and additional charge sheet will be filed later in the court," a police official investigating the case told IANS. Both the gang rape and custodial death cases are being monitored by the High Court that has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file the charge sheet in the custodial death case by November 30. Police said the 16-year-old girl victim was offered a lift in a vehicle by the accused on July 4 when she was returning home from her school in Kotkhai town, 56 km from the state capital. On the way, they raped and murdered her in a nearby forest. Her naked body with injury marks was found two days later. The arrested persons include prime accused Rajinder Singh, who offered her the lift, Ashish Chauhan, Subhash Bisht, Deepak Kumar, Suraj Singh and Lokjan. They are believed to have been drunk at the time of committing the crime. Currently all the rape accused are on bail. However, a new twist in the case came after Rajinder Singh allegedly murdered a fellow accused Suraj Singh in the police lock-up on July 19. Inspector General Zaidi was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the gangrape-cum-murder case before the CBI took over the case. At that time, Negi was posted in Shimla as the Superintendent of Police where both the crimes occurred. Cairo, Nov 25 : The death toll in a terrorist attack on a mosque in Egypt's northern Sinai has risen to 305, with 27 children among the dead, Egypt's state prosecutor said on Saturday. Another 128 people were injured as the Al Rawdah mosque, affiliated with Sufi groups, in the town of Bir al-Abed was bombed during Friday prayers by 25 to 30 armed men and fleeing worshippers were then gunned down. Though no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the state prosecutor said that the militants were carrying Islamic State flag, state news agency MENA reported. The case will be tackled as "an emergency supreme state security case," he added. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi vowed to respond to the massacre -- believed to be the deadliest terror attack on the country's soil -- with "brute force". He also ordered the armed forces to build a memorial for those killed at the mosque. Egyptian warplanes conducted airstrikes on "terrorist outposts" and vehicles following the attack, the military said on Saturday. "The Egyptian Air Force pursued the terrorist elements, discovered and destroyed a number of vehicles that carried out the brutal terrorist killings and killed all terrorists inside those vehicles," military spokesman Tamer Rifai said. It also targeted a number of terrorist outposts containing weapons, ammunition and radical elements, Rifai said. "What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism," Sisi said in a televised address. "The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force." Dozens of gunmen surrounded the mosque in vehicles and opened fire on those trying to escape after bombs were set off. The militants were reported to have set seven parked vehicles on fire in the vicinity to block off access to the mosque and fired upon ambulances trying to help victims. A witness told the Guardian he had heard calls for help emanating from other nearby mosques after the attack. "I went with my family and friends to the scene of the mosque and found ambulances loading bodies and injured," he said. "What happened in al-Rawdah is a massacre against peaceful civilians." "In the Ber al-Abd hospitals, there was chaos," he said. "Blood and screaming were everywhere." Friday's attack prompted wide international condemnation, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump among the leaders expressing their condolences. Landmarks and government buildings across the globe paid tribute to the victims. In Israel, which borders the Sinai peninsula, Tel Aviv's city hall was lit up with the Egyptian flag. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower went dark to honour victims of the attack. In England's second largest city, The Library of Birmingham was lit up in the colors of Egypt's flag. And in Canada's most populous city, Toronto, the CN Tower was also lit to honour of the victims. Ghaziabad, Nov 25 : Police in Ghaziabad have arrested a criminal involved in the killing of a city trader on Tuesday, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Unravelling the murder mystery at a press conference, Superintendent of Police-City (SP-City) Akash Tomar said three persons were involved in the crime and the trader was murdered over a financial dispute. According to Tomar, during patrolling near Sihani Gate area in the city, the police team spotted a person moving around in a suspicious manner. They caught hold of him and questioned him, but he failed to come up with satisfactory replies to their queries. He was then taken to the police station. On sustained interrogation, he revealed his name as Mintu Tyagi alias Kuldeep Tyagi -- a resident of Siddique Nagar locality in Ghaziabad. He confessed to killing the trader on November 21, along with two of his accomplices. On his information, the police recovered a country-made pistol of .315 bore. Mintu gave the names of two other persons involved in the crime as Bunty Tyagi and Rajiv Sharma. They killed the trader following a dispute over Rs 2.5 lakh. The deceased was demanding the money back that he had lent to the accused. Irritated with his reminders, the criminals eliminated him. Earlier, the traders' organisations had given the police a 24-hour ultimatum to work out the killing. Trader Gagandeep Khanduja was killed when he was on his way back to home on his two-wheeler after buying a cake to celebrate the birthday of his son. The assailants shot him twice in his head near Nehru Yuva Kendra in the city. Khanduja was rushed to hospital, but he was declared dead. "The deceased trader and the accused persons had business relations and money-lending between the two sides would happen every now and then. But this time, reminders to return the money proved fatal for the trader. We are trying to nab the absconding two other criminals," said Tomar. Chennai, Nov 25 : Two teachers of a government school in Panapakkam in Vellore district were suspended on Saturday in connection with the suicide of four girl students of the school. Tragedy struck the Panapakkam village on Friday when four girl students committed suicide by jumping into a well as their teacher scolded them and wanted them to bring their parents to the school. All the four students were studying in Class XI and were identified as Deepa, Sankari, Revathi and Manisha. Following the death of students, the District Education Officer held an inquiry and suspended the school Principal and the students' class teacher. Offering his condolences to the families of the deceased girls, PMK Founder S. Ramadoss said education should be made enjoyable for school students with games and without burden. "Only then suicides by students can be put an end to." Panaji, Nov 25 : A day after IFFI reached out to "S Durga" director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan following a Kerala High Court rap over screening of the controversial film, a Goa-based NGO on Saturday appealed to the festival's organisers not to screen the film, saying it may hurt sentiments of Hindus. The Goa-based Rashtrapremi Nagrik, in its memorandum to Sunil Tandon, the director of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), said that IFFI would face ridicule if the "provocatively titled" movie if screened. "You can't censor imagination. In the film, the rituals of appeasing Goddess Durga walking over burning coal and piercing their skin with metal have been shown as bizarre rituals when they are very much a part of worship of the Goddess," the memorandum read. "The court may have given the direction to show this film in IFFI. We respect the court, but you can't ignore the sentiments of crores of Hindus who worship Goddess Durga. Currently, there are issues going regarding the film 'Padmavati'. So, showing this film at IFFI will add in more controversies," the statement added. The last few days had seen a standoff between the makers of "S Durga" and the festival authorities over screening of the controversial film, which was one of the two films to be dropped from the screening schedule of IFFI's Indian Panorama section. Tandon reached out to the "S Durga" makers late on Friday, only after the Kerala High Court, despite a request from the Union Ministry for Information and Broadcasting, also refused to stay its earlier order, which had directed festival authorities to screen the film. The cast of the film, which is present at the festival, had also accused IFFI organisers of harassment and succumbing to political pressure, which they said was the reason why the film was not being screened at the festival. The U.S. Supreme Court will soon consider taking a case that challenges Arizonas death-penalty law on the grounds that it fails to narrow the punishment to the worst offenders. Regardless of whether the court accepts it, the case raises serious questions about the death penalty that the Arizona Legislature needs to come to grips with. As the attorney general, I was responsible for overseeing dozens of appeals from sentences of death. Six people were executed during my tenure. It was critical for me that we imposed the ultimate sanction only on those most deserving. Tragically, our state has failed in this undertaking in fundamental ways. The breadth of our statute, capturing nearly every first-degree murder, makes it unconstitutional. But more than that, Arizonas use of the death penalty is bad policy. Arizona does not have a good track record for getting it right. At least nine times our death penalty has swept up the innocent in its net. Nationwide, 160 people have been exonerated from death row. Getting it wrong once is one time too many. Death, in its finality, means correcting a wrongful sentence is not an option. Sentencing the innocent to die undermines the publics confidence in the entire criminal justice system, and is reason alone to abandon the death penalty. Moreover, Arizonas death penalty scheme has unsettling racial disparities in its application. People in Arizona who are accused of murdering white victims are more likely to receive the death penalty. Hispanic men who are accused of murdering whites are more than four times as likely to be sentenced to death as white defendants accused of murdering a Hispanic victim. Any other state policy with that sort of disparity would be quickly repudiated. The Legislature should end this horrible death penalty malfunction. The spiraling costs of seeking and imposing a death sentence are further reason to abandon the policy. These costs have caused the location of the crime to take precedence over its heinousness. Several counties simply cannot afford to pursue the death penalty, creating imbalances having nothing to do with the crime. Maricopa County imposed the death penalty at a rate 2.3 times higher than the rest of the state between 2010 and 2015. The increased use of the death penalty was driven, in part, by an overzealous County Attorney, Andrew Thomas, who later lost his law license for abusing his authority. The costs associated with defending Arizonas statute (never mind the cases themselves) have been substantial. Dozens of convictions have been set aside because Arizona, unlike almost every other state, did not provide for jury sentencing in capital cases. Arizona was one of two states to extend the death penalty to felony murders, leading to a rebuke by the Supreme Court and further reversals. The Arizona Supreme Court narrowly interpreted our states prohibition on executing the intellectually disabled until they were recently forced to reconsider. And case after case has been reversed because of flaws in the instructions given in capital sentencing proceedings. The case now before the Supreme Court is only the latest example of these problems. But the case itself highlights stunning breadth of Arizonas statute. Virtually every first-degree murder is eligible for the death penalty, leaving imposition of the death penalty to the unfettered discretion of prosecutors and juries, causing an intolerable risk of arbitrariness in its administration. Weve been here before. In 1972, the court struck down every states death-penalty statute because they operated to execute a capriciously selected random handful, rather than the worst offenders. Similar to other states efforts, then-state Sen. Sandra Day OConnor and Rudy Gerber (who later became an Arizona judge) rewrote Arizonas statute to comply with the courts narrowing requirements by obligating the prosecutor to prove one or more aggravating factors before the death penalty could be imposed. More than four decades have passed and we are back to square one. Despite the efforts of OConnor and Gerber, Arizona has failed to narrow the application of the death penalty and has been unable or unwilling to provide the guidance necessary to ensure that the death penalty is only imposed on the worst offenders. Finally, 31 states have abandoned the death penalty. In light of its myriad problems, Arizona should join the rising tide against imposing it. Harshvardhan Neotia said that the natural inclination of people from the East is to indulge in activities that involve emotional quotient. By India Today Web Desk: The sixth session at the India Today Conclave East titled 'Starting Up from the East: Making It a Business Destination' was moderated by Rahul Kanwal, Managing Editor, TVTN and had Shitanshu Jhunjhunwalla, Director, Turtle, CS Ghosh, Managing Director and CEO, Bandhan Bank, Harshvardhan Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Group, Hemant Kanoria, Chairman and Managing Director and Srei Suvankar Sen, Executive Director, Senco Gold as speakers. advertisement How can the East of India compete and beat the West of India? Neotia: People in the West India worship Lakshmi (wealth), South India worship Saraswati (learning) and East worship Durga (talent, energy). Natural inclination of people from the East is to indulge in activities that involve emotional quotient. Tourism is one industry we should focus on and all areas that require handcrafted skills, jewellery, textile for example. Kanoria: Kolkata should be the headquarters for anyone who wants to tap the Northeastern market. Quality of life in Kolkata is much better, people are more relaxed and there is a potent talent pool. Service based activities should be based out of Kolkata. Even manufacturing sector should setup plants in Kolkata because power is cheap. No labour problem. Jhunjhunwalla: What we are lacking is marketing. The demand is there, it's a question is about marketing. Weavers etc. are working with designers from abroad, they should be able to get through to their customers. Sen: Agriculture is one key area we should focus on. Food processing - so much farming happening here, we form the food belt of India and we should play a major role in providing to the nation on the whole. Next is mid-sized companies. The key is not running behind setting up huge industries but to setup many. We could become Barcelona. Is there enough land? Neotia: It's a bit of a problem, yes, to get acres of land. Bengal's land area ratio to population is twice more dense than the rest of the country. Convincing people to move could be problematic. But you don't need that kind of land for new industries. You can't bulldoze people in Bengal, that's something people have understood the hardway. Sen: Service sector is booming and that doesn't need land. You build up, like Japan. It's about using the intellectual capacity to invest in service sector. Kanoria: We are very poor in marketing, and it's true for the entire country. But in last three years, PM Modi has marketed India like never before. Money is flowing to India. Land is not an issue, let me tell you. Jhunjhunwalla: We ourselves think we are one step back. Creative pool is just amazing. It's a question of vision and marketing. Why can't a Kolkata-based brand pull off a Zara? advertisement On utilising the geography, the neighbours, Neotia said, The world is becoming more interconnected, trade is increasing. Infrastructure connectivity in Bengal is increasing as well. CS Ghosh, joining the discussion, said, "There are peak opportunities in eastern region. 5.1 million MSME is here. When banking penetrates, jobs will be created, exports will increase. How to setup a startup culture? Kanoria: Free-flowing guidelines and rules and regulations are key. The ones there now keep changing. If the government steamline processes and create a good environment, people will startup. Neotia: Most enteprises here are owned by non-Bengalis. We have setup Neotech hub which is an incubation hub. Gradually, the ecosystem is getting built, we will catch up. Jhunjhunwalla: I am part of Calcutta Angels, we evalaute two to three startups every three months and we fund them. Young, budding entrepreneurs are really talented. Sen: East has been weak in getting finance. Moral support, mentorship is what is important. Ghosh: Convincing others, even family members, to take the plunge and startup is difficult. Getting a loan was so tough. But now that I am successful, people are happy. advertisement Watch the full session video here: --- ENDS --- New Delhi, Nov 25 : Veteran actor Kamal Haasan, who earlier came out in support of "Padmavati" actress Deepika Padukone amid protests and death threats hurled at her for being a part of the film, says people are being "over-sensitive" on the issue. "We are being over sensitive. I am saying so in the capacity of being an Indian. In a country where politicians wanted citizens to come upfront in the past... that doesn't mean I am dismissing off a whole group of people... There are enough Kamals not enough podiums," said Kamal during a discussion at the Times Delhi Lit Fest on Saturday. Bhansali's attempt to bring alive the story of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati on the silver screen with his movie "Padmavati" hasn't gone down well with Hindu groups backed by the BJP. It features Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as her husband and a warrior king and Ranveer Singh essays Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali faced many hiccups while shooting the film, but the protests escalated as the film neared its release date. There are conjectures that it "distorts history" regarding the Rajput queen, and Bhansali has denied it repeatedly. The movie's release date has been deferred from the original December 1 date, but there are efforts from Hindu groups to have it banned. Kamal, whose films too have faced threats on the same level be it for "Hey Ram" or "Vishwaroopam", says the current clamour around "Padmavati" is a "problem", but it is not new. "There is a problem but it's not new. When my film 'Hey Ram' was to release, somebody in Congress (political party) thought it should be banned just by looking at the poster. But they did not know what was in the film. Censors were being extra careful. Certification board behaved like censor board," said Kamal, who has been a part of the film industry for almost five decades. "All my films had a problem for reasons I am still trying to understand. Same goes for rumours when you send an sms and it distributes. We are always ready to believe the negativity first. It (protests) is wrong. After it ('Padmavati') comes out and then people have problem... that I still understand," he added. Speaking on the slamming culture on social media like Twitter where individuals are free to opine, Kamal says "those who want it regulated have some logic of their own". "They shouldn't do it but... some are far exceeding their freedom which is why they are slammed perhaps," he said. "Everyone blames it on youth. It's not age talking it is the lack of reverence talking. Deeper and hurtful things come from the grown up," he added. Islamabad, Nov 25 : Violent protests erupted across Pakistan on Saturday after security forces launched an early-morning crackdown on thousands of religious demonstrators camped on a highway in the capital in which a policeman was killed and 200 hundred people were injured. The authorities ordered private television channels to go off the air. Roughly 8,500 elite police and paramilitary troops in riot gear were seen throwing rocks and using slingshots in the bid to followers of the cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi of the Tehreek-e-Labaik party who began rallying near Faizabad interchange soon after dawn. The protests had erupted after the Pakistani Parliament approved an amendment to the electoral law earlier, removing an oath public servants had to take before assuming office, reiterating their belief in Prophet Muhammad. The amendment was deemed a "clerical error" by the government and was rectified. But the protesters still demand the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for his alleged role in the controversy. They attacked his home in Pasrur but the minister and his family were not present at that time. Security forces resorted to rubber-bullets after the protesters put up the resistance. The law enforcement agencies lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse the crowd. In return, the demonstrators pelted stones on the security personnel. Amid the furoure, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal claimed that religious parties protesting in Islamabad had "contacted India", and that the government was investigating the matter. "Why they did it, we are looking into it. They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state," he was quoted as saying by Dawn online. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited all satellite TV channels from covering the operation at Faizabad. The authority advised media houses to ensure the safety and security of their field staff. Social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were blocked on web browsers across the country. Protesters broke the gate of former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar's residence. They set the gate, a building and a mobile satellite van located near Nisar's residence ablaze. He and his family were not at the residence at the time of the incident. The protesters had been camping since November 8 on the main highway that connects Islamabad to the city of Rawalpindi causing huge traffic snarls that led to the closure of some schools in the capital. The Islamabad High Court on November 18 directed the local administration to clear protesters from Faizabad, within 24 hours. However, the government did not carry out the orders and initiated several rounds of talks with the protesters to disperse them peacefully, but failed each time. The operation on Saturday came a day after the court issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court to the Interior Minister over his failure to take steps ordered by the court to end the sit-in. According to reports, the operation against protesters was suspended at 1.30 p.m. At least 370 protesters were taken into custody, said police officials. At least 10 motorcycles and two vehicles were torched during the operation. Ninety police and Frontier Constabulary personnel were among 200 injured. An Islamabad police spokesman confirmed that a policeman was killed in the clash with protesters after he was struck in the head by a rock. The crackdown also sparked protests in other parts of the country. In Karachi, people supporting the sit-in took to the streets and blocked several roads, causing disruption in traffic flow. Clashes also erupted between supporters of sit-in and police after they burned tires and blocked roads and railway tracks in the country's eastern cities of Lahore and Daska. New Delhi, Nov 25 : Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been elected President of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA). IDSA was set up in 1965 by the Ministry of Defence as an autonomous think tank, and it is customary to have the Defence Minister as its President. The Minister chairs the Executive Council which governs the Institute. Sitharaman's election, held November 23, was unanimous. The Executive Council includes Prof Charan Dass Wadhwa, Air Marshal M. Matheswaran, G.K. Pillai, Lt. Gen. Prakash Menon, Ambassador Swashpawan Singh, Gulshan Luthra and Vice Admiral Anup Singh. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, Director General Jayant Prasad and Deputy Director General Maj. Gen. Alok Deb are ex-officio members. The staff representative in the Council is Ashok K. Behuria. The previous Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, had resigned from the post after shifting to Goa as Chief Minister. IDSA is funded by the Ministry of Defence and its faculty conducts research in military, foreign and strategic affairs. Significantly, the Government has sought its views before taking major policy initiatives, like conducting nuclear tests, as in 1974 and 1998. IDSA also executes specific assignments from the Ministry of External Affairs. Bengaluru, Nov 25 : With services driving the economy, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday advocated quality revolution in the lead sector as it also provided more jobs. "A quality revolution in the services sector is a priority for us, as the economy is increasingly driven by it... it also provides more jobs than other sectors," he said in a video address to the 25th National Quality Summit of the Indian industry here. According to a joint report of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and global audit services firm KPMG, the services sector contributed 61 per cent to India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in fiscal 2015-16. "Quality movement has been the cornerstone of the competitiveness of India's economy. Businesses in services and manufacturing must benchmark their quality performance with the best in the world and serve the domestic and global markets," said Prabhu. Echoing his call for quality benchmarks even in the services sector as in the manufacturing sector, Karnataka IT and Biotech Minister Priyank Kharge said skill development played a key role in promoting quality and innovation. "Our government is training 1.1 lakh students in developing skills to provide software and hardware services in emerging technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data, animation and block chain," he said at the inaugural session of the two-day summit on "Quality Evolution - Journey through Innovation". Export-Import Bank of India Managing Director David Rasquinha said lack of quality culture was proving to be a non-tariff trade barrier for the Indian industry. "In a competitive environment, quality is the only way to gain market share. Exports should invest not only in their brands, but also in the quality of their products," he said in his special address at the event. Highlighting the importance of quality in customer service, ASI Consulting Group Chief Technical Officer Shin Taguchi said there were three types of quality in such a service - basic quality, without which a customer would be upset; performance quality, which would surprise a customer; and excitement quality, which excites a customer. "Successful companies are good at innovating to create the excitement quality in the market by focusing on robust design of products and services," he said in his keynote address. CII Institute of Quality Chairman & Tata Chemicals Managing Director R. Mukundan said as technology was at the heart of doing business, it must be harnessed for improving the quality of goods and services. "Developments like data driven quality, self-organising productivity, robot assisted productivity and predictive maintenance should make progress in quality improvement," he said. Kolkata, Nov 25 : No government should intrude into anybody's kitchen or infringe upon people's freedom to eat in their personal space, panellists at a discussion said here on Saturday. The panel comprising a politician, a bureaucrat, a restaurateur among others, dwelt on a host of issues which have in recent times sparked controversy in relation to people's eating habits, particularly beef. Stating that the Congress regime was far less intrusive that the present BJP government at the centre, Congress' Tripura unit Working President Pradyot Bikram Manikya DebBarma said while a government may ask people to be sensitive about slaughter of animals, it cannot ask them to stop eating a certain dish as it would be an intrusion in the private space. "The government may tell us to be sensitive about how you slaughter an animal because a section of the society might worship them. But it cannot have any job entering our kitchen," DebBarma said while discussing the politics of food in India Today Conclave East here. "The party I know of, never infringed into our kitchens. There may been a figure where some individuals tried to propose a restriction in their personal capacity during the reign of Congress, but as a party we are far less intrusive than what you see now at the centre," he argued. DebBarma termed the Central government's stand on consumption of beef as "hypocritical" as it is allowing this meat in Christian, tribal-populated Northeast while imposing a ban on it in rest of the country. "Their Union Minister says in the Northeast that he loves beef and when the same person comes to Delhi, he says it will not be allowed. This is nothing but hypocrisy," the Congress leader said. He claimed there are far bigger issues at present than fighting over what one should or should not eat. Echoing DebBarma, bureaucrat Atri Bhattacharya said the only thing that people should worry about is if the food is hygienic or not. "The only thing that matters is what you eat should be hygienic. Beyond that what you cook or eat in your own kitchen or own home is nobody else's business," he said. About cow vigilantism, he questioned if the 'Gaurakshaks' are officially allowed and claimed there are no cow vigilantes in West Bengal. "Gaurakshaks are officially allowed... There are specific law and order problems in the country, but not in Bengal. I haven't seen cow vigilantes, you bring them to me. Let's see how I deal with them." he added. City-based Bengali restaurant Kewpie's owner Rakhi Dasgupta also said she feels the government should not direct people on what to eat. "Food is also a form of expression. Therefore we have different types of cuisine throughout India. There is no reason why a government should tell us what to eat," she said, adding she refrains from serving beef or pork at her eatery as those meat do not go well with the cuisine it offers. The speakers also agreed that serving of food in a public place is different from what one can have in their personal space. "If there is government that tells me what to eat. I would not vote for them," Bhattacharya added. New Delhi, Nov 25 : Amid a raging row over "Padmavati", Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that nobody has the right to take law into their hands, but at the same time nobody has the right to hurt others sentiments. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Times Litfest, Naidu emphasised that inciting violence or unlawful activities as a way of protest such as announcing bounty on some people's heads was "unacceptable". "Now this new problem has come related to some film. Some people feel that it is hurting the sentiments of this community or that community and then they protest. Some of them go out of the way and announce rewards. This is not acceptable," he said, without naming anyone. "You have a right to protest in a democratic manner. Go to appropriate authorities and complain to them. Take the recourse in a democratic way but you cannot physically obstruct. And you cannot give violent threats," he said. "You don't have a right to take law into your hands. At the same time you don't have the right to hurt the sentiments of others. That is a reality," he said, adding that some people are quite "selective" in their criticism. He said respecting others' sentiments and feelings is the "essence of our culture". A controversy has been raging over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama "Padmavati" with several organisations, mainly from the Rajput community, opposing release of the movie on the grounds it "distorts history". Fringe elements have also announced rewards on the heads of actress Deepika Padukone and film director Bhansali. The Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer was scheduled to be released on December 1, but it has now been deferred. Referring to an article in a newspaper, Naidu said in the past too films have faced bans and obstructions and mentioned "Aandhi" and "Garam Hava" as some examples. "Aandhi" (1975) whose protagonist had striking similarities with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was banned after 26 weeks of release. "Garam Hava" was held up by the censor board for eight months." Speaking on Parliamentary democracy, Naidu said that it was not important as to how many days Parliament meets, the important thing was for how many days "it functions". Naidu said people have a right to disagree but first they "must learn to respect the majority and the people's mandate". Naidu also said that while dissent was agreeable, "disintegration is not acceptable". "That is the bottom line and any attempt to undermine integrity and unity of India by forces inimical to growth of India must be nipped in the bud," he said in reference to last year' Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) controversy. New Delhi, Nov 25 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday expressed India's gratitude to the international diplomatic community based here for helping get Indian candidate Justice Dalveer Bhandari re-elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague. Stating that it was a historic moment, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted that Sushma Swaraj, addressing the diplomatic corps here, "conveyed gratitude to the international diplomatic community for their support for election of Justice Dalveer Bhandari to ICJ". Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Bhandari saying: "His re-election is a proud moment for us". Congratulating the efforts of the External Affairs Ministry officers, Sushma Swaraj specifically complimented India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin. Bhandari will start his term from February 2018. He received all 15 votes in the UN Security Council and 183 out of the 193 votes in the UN General Assembly. "The extraordinary support from the UN membership is reflective of the respect for strong constitutional integrity of the Indian polity and the independence of the judiciary in India," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement following the reelection. Bhandari's election upset what had become a traditional balance in the ICJ. Besides a permanent member going unrepresented, four Asian countries will be represented on the ICJ bench instead of the usual three. Three incumbent judges of the ICJ -- President Ronny Abraham of France, Vice President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf of Somalia and Antonio Augusto Cancado Trindade of Brazil -- were elected in the first four rounds of voting on November 9. Bhandari's election was a dramatic face-saving turn of fortunes for India as he lost the Asian seat on the ICJ to Lebanese lawyer-turned-diplomat Nawaf Salam, who had been campaigning for two years and had the backing of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation with 55 UN members. He got a second chance only because an unpopular Britain could not get an Assembly majority for a remaining judgeship requiring a runoff where the two chambers of the UN split in their voting. Justice Bhandari was reelected on Monday after the UN General Assembly rallied behind him in a show of strength that made Britain bow to the majority and withdraw its candidate Christopher Greenwood. India lauded Britain's decision. Chandigarh/Kolkata, Nov 25 : Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu on Saturday threatened West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that she would meet the same fate as "Surpanakha", a demoness from the Ramayana whose nose was cut off by Lakshman, a day after she said her state was ready to welcome Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film "Padmavati" and its crew. Amu's comments drew flak from Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, as also writers and cultural personalities of Bengal, who described the remarks as "shameful" and "unfortunate". But Trinamool's controversial leader Anubrata Mondal went a step further, matching Amu's hate speech by threatening to cut off his tongue if he dared to make the comments in Bengal. Addressing a public meeting, Amu refered to the mythological character "Surpanakha". "I have come to know that Mamata Banerjee is saying Sanjay Leela Bhansali, come to Kolkata. We will welcome you. I say, this is the village of Ramchandra Ji's brother Lakshmanji. And what Lakshmanji did to Surpanakha, I don't have to tell you," Amu said, making a gesture of cutting one's nose. Further egging on the crowd, Amu, also a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, repeated: "Do I need to say? What Lakshman had done, will you do or not?" In Valmiki's Ramayana, Surpanakha - the sister of Ravana - had proposed toRama and Lakshman, but was spurned by both. In retaliation, she tried to attack Ram's wife Sita, but Lakshman rushed to protect his sister-in-law, and cut off Surpanakha's nose. Hours after Amu's speech, Mondal - Trinamool's Birbhum district unit president - went ballistic. "The Haryana leader has threatened to cut Didi's nose, make her Surpanakha. Poor BJP, it is easy to say such things in Haryna, but it is not easy to make such comments standing here in Bengal. "If you utter such words here, people will chop of your tongue," Mondal, equally infamous for his inciting speeches, told a public meeting. Amid the raging controversy over the period drama, Banerjee on Friday had promised to make special arrangements for the screening of "Padmavati" in her state. "Yes, we would welcome them. They are welcome here if they can't do it in other state. We can make special arrangements. Bengal will be very happy," she said, in response to a query whether her state would welcome the film's crew for a premiere here at a time when a number of states have banned the movie. Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee demanded Amu's apology. "The language, and the content of his remarks cannot be condoned. Either he should apologise, or else the people of the state would keep a watch on him, and launch proper protests," Chatterjee said. Eminent Bengali writer Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay described Ammu's comment as "unfortunate". "I do not know how to protest. Such comments create despair among us. As politicians, they should be more careful about using their words. I do not know why police are not taking any action. Police must take action against such comments," he said. Theatre personality Debesh Chattopadhyay said threatening people was part of agenda of the BJP and the RSS. "The more they talk like this, the more their hidden agenda will be exposed. History assures us the people of India would reject and protest such attempts," he said. Poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay said through such comments, people like Amu were ensuring the "democratic right of cutting of nose". Bhansali's attempt to bring alive the story of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati on the silver screen with his movie "Padmavati" hasn't gone down well with Hindu groups backed by the BJP. It features Deepika as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as her husband and warrior king and Ranveer Singh essays Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali faced many hiccups while shooting the film, but the protests escalated as the film neared its release date. There are conjectures that it "distorts history" regarding the Rajput queen, though he has denied it repeatedly. New Delhi/Gandhinagar, Nov 25 : In late night raids on Friday, a Gujarat Police team seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 2.2 crore and five vehicles worth Rs 24.15 lakh from Khoraj village, the Election Commission said on Saturday. Police seized 75,968 bottles of IMFL, including those of brandy, from a premises taken on rent by Rohit Yadav, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur who was into metal scrap business. Police said it was being illegally used as godown for bootlegging activities. The seizure is one of the biggest in recent times, police said. "A criminal case has been registered vide Adalaj PSCR No.6266 /2017 under Section 66B, 65A C, 98(2), 116B etc of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949 in this regard and investigation is being carried out into the ownership of vehicles seized during the raid and to identify various people associated with the transportation, storage and sale of liqour," the EC said in a statement. The Gujarat Police has launched a special drive against the bootlegging activities in coordination with neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in view of the forthcoming assembly elections, scheduled for December 9 and 14. New York, Nov. : New York, Nov. Nov 26 (IANS) United States President Donald Trump has warned Pakistan that failure to take action against Jammat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed "will have repercussions for bilateral relations". The US "strongly condemns" his release from house arrest and "calls for his immediate re-arrest and prosecution," Trump's Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement on Saturday. "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistan's global reputation" the statement said. Trump's latest warning is more specific focusing on Saeed's release on Thursday in the face of Pakistan's defiance of his admonishment in August that Pakistan had "much to lose" by harbouring terrorists. "Saeed's release, after Pakistan's failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan's commitment to combating international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil," Sanders's statement said. "As President Donald Trump's South Asia policy makes clear, the US seeks a constructive relationship with Pakistan, but expects decisive action against militant and terrorist groups on Pakistani soil that are a threat to the region," she said. "The release of Saeed is a step in the wrong direction." The statement pointed out that that the US has designated the LeT as a foreign terrorist organisation "responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks, including a number of American citizens." It added, "Saeed himself is a notorious terrorist who stands accused of having masterminded the November 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six American citizens." On Friday, the State Department had condemned the release of Saeed, who carries a $10 million bounty from the US, and demanded his re-arrest. Saeed was let go by Pakistani authorities in Lahore after a court refused to extend the detention that ended Thursday and ordered him released from house arrest. When Donald Trump, who had taken a strong stand against terrorism during his campaign, assumed the US presidency in January, Islamabad put Saeed under house arrest. Pakistan has failed so far to prosecute him on terrorism charges. In 2008, the US Treasury Department declared Saeed a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and put sanctions on him. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) The protesters have called for Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid to resign for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. The oath was later restored to its original form. Police stand in their staging area and watch demonstrators near the Faizabad junction in Islamabad (Photo: Reuters) By India Today Web Desk: Islamabad police have launched a clearance operation against protesters from the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan who've camped at the Faizabad interchange for weeks, and have been demanding the resignation of Pakistan's law minister, Zahid Hamid, Pakistani news reports said. A policeman was killed, and 63 people were injured, The Nation reported. "At least" 150 protesters have been taken into custody since November 8, when the agitation began, Dawn reported. advertisement There are protests in Karachi and Lahore, too, the report said.The Express Tribune also reported protests in Faislabad, Peshawar, and the Silakot-Wazirabad road in Punjab province. Protesters have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road at Faizabad interchange that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. They want Zahid Hamid to resign for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. Dawn's report said "there is no proof that Hamid was responsible for the amendment." Meanwhile, Dawn reported that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's premier spy agency, told the country's supreme court that the original protests in Faizabad were politically motivated. Later in the day, the Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghaafoor tweeted that the Pakistan Army chief had spoken to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and urged that "both sides" avoid violence and deal with the situation peacefully. COAS telephoned PM.Suggested to handle Isb Dharna peacefully avoiding violence from both sides as it is not in national interest & cohesion.- Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 25, 2017 A demostrator detained by police gestures after being hit by a policeman as he is led to a police van near the Faizabad junction (Photo: Reuters) Today morning, police began dispersing the protesters after "several rounds of negotiations" initiated by Prime Minister Abbasi's administration failed, and after the supreme court, the Islamabad High Court, and several religious parties "repeatedly" called for the end of a protest they considered to be unlawful, Dawn reported. As government launches crackdown on the goons of Labbaik in #Islamabad, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority takes all TV channels off-air. pic.twitter.com/Xll1L1DYO3- Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) November 25, 2017 The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority told TV channels not to broadcast footage of the operation. MEDIA COVERAGE OF SIT-IN AT FAIZ-E-ABAD, ISLAMABAD pic.twitter.com/YqEGTWpFIR- Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) November 25, 2017 Several private news channels went off air, Dawn reported. Here's a photograph taken today in a newsroom. The Islamabad High Court, which reports said called the protest an act of terrorism, had set November 23 as the deadline to remove the protesters. The government had deployed hundreds of security personnel in riot gear to take action against the protesters but had been dilly-dallying, fearing a backlash from extremists. It had restored the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat to its original form recently after National Assembly passed the amendment in the Elections Act 2017. advertisement (Inputs from PTI) --- ENDS --- Since opening its doors in 1978, The French Florist has been a trusted and family-owned local florist, delivering flowers and gifts to Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Located on 8658 W Pico Boulevard, the store offers same-day local flower delivery with all cities surrounding Los Angeles and specializes in custom made flower arrangements designed for every occasion. Owner Steve Jobson ensures customer satisfaction "no matter the order or request." "The flowers are beautiful, fresh & lovely. Arranged exquisitely. I just love the choice of flowers and colors. Thank you so much, French Florist!" Nancy Lusk - Culver City, CA "Ordered flowers from Steve for our wedding. Everything was so far beyond our expectations, and we still can't believe it when we look at our photos. The entire process was such a joy from start to finish. Just perfect" Gina & Bradley - Burbank, CA "Steve Jacobson and his team at the French Florist have been doing our flowers and arrangements for a few years now at the house of the owner of Cirque du Soleil in Los Angeles, and we are absolutely delighted and happy for many reasons: Steve and his team are not only really professional, friendly and accommodating in many ways, they have been translating our visions and requests with great accuracy." - NaJa Barnes, Supervisor of the Cirque du Soleil House in Los Angeles The Best of Los Angeles Award community was formed three years ago and consists of over 3,700 professional members living and working in Southern California. It celebrates the best people, places and things in Los Angeles with a slogan No Ads. No B.S. Only the Best. The mission of the community is to celebrate the best of Los Angeles, and allow its community members to connect with other members who share the highest standards of quality and integrity, said DeRose. "At the French Florist, we strive for only the best service. We are honored to receive this award and be recognized as 'The Best Florist in Los Angeles,' says Jacobson. Global Girls Film Festival Banner By the conclusion of the program, the girls noticed a dramatic change in the way they viewed not only films, but the whole world. Tickets to the festival are $15 and may be purchased by calling 847-297-8540 or at the door on the day of the event. There is a reception at 2 pm prior to the 3 p.m. screening lasting about 80 minutes. Attendees may vote for their favorite films immediately following each program. A "Best of Fest" prize will be awarded to the film that receives the greatest number of votes. For the premiere of the Global Girls Festival, the residents of The Harbour have curated "Films for Life," which highlights short films that embody messages of diversity and empowerment. The Global Girls Festival showcases nine culturally rich and stimulating films from seven different countries. "Made by girls, for girls, and about girls, the Global Girls Fest aims to rouse discussion about female related topics, and inspire women to question and engage with the media they consume," said ICMC Executive Director Nicole Dreiske. This is the second year in which residents of The Harbour have curated the Global Girls Festival. It's truly "films for life" because, as one Harbour resident and Global Girls curator, Nicole, pointed out, "This program is meant to look at the lives of others and "grade" them personally and connect them to my [sic] own life. What I want the audience to get out of the program is that life isn't easy, there will be ups and downs, but you can overcome them if you try hard enough and put your mind to it." The Global Girls Festival was created by the ICMC as a 14-week film immersion program and is led by ICMC Executive Director Dreiske. It is designed to prompt thought-provoking discussion of 40-50 short films screened by participants that culminates in the final selection of films curated by residents themselves. One resident at the Harbour exclaimed, "Watching these films, I was able to gain new perspectives, and I hope that others who watch them find a new way to view the world. Everyone in the world is connected through laughter and pain and that is exactly what they bring--human emotion." "By the conclusion of the program, the girls noticed a dramatic change in the way they viewed not only films, but the whole world, said Kris Salyards, Executive Director, The Harbour, based in Park Ridge. Harbour resident Shanika hopes to see the same change in the audience: "These films and program mean the absolute most to me, not even that, it means the world to me. Ever since I came to the first meeting I was drawn into it. It changed my perspective on life and made me think more about the stuff I can do going forward. That's what I want my audience to also get out of it." The Global Girls Festival showcases films from around the world to expose viewers to an array of diverse backgrounds. Another resident, Jessica stated, "This means a lot to me because it really relates to me and other people in America. I hope our audience can relate to us so we can show how life is." Global Girls 2017 Schedule: Saturday, December 2, at 3:00pm (79 min) The screening of "Films for Life" includes nine powerful short films from seven different countries, and the chance to see uplifting stories for, by and about girls from around the world. Celebrate the courage of the abuelas of Argentina as they search for their stolen grandchildren (Abuelas, Argentina/UK). Join Joppe, a young transgender girl as she talks about her life and dreams (I Am A Girl, Netherlands.) Cheer for Anna who learns that inner beauty eclipses media images (Plastic, Australia.) The program includes two Chicago premieres and one world premiere. Miss Devine (US), I Am a Girl (Netherlands), Farewell (France), Reflection Day (US), Cupcakes (UK), Abuelas (Argentina/UK), Plastic (Australia), #Selfie (Germany), Birthday (U.S.). About ICMC: International Children's Media Center The ICMC is a nonprofit cultural and educational organization dedicated to transforming the way children use, view and engage electronic screens. Visit: http://icmediacenter.org/ The Global Girls Festival is supported by Academy of Motional Picture Arts and Sciences, The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund, the Polk Bros. Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Fund at the MacArthur Foundation and the Conant Family Foundation. About The Harbour: Empowering Youth. Developing Futures. The Harbour is a 501(c)3 organization providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services to youth aged 12-21 and who are experiencing homelessness in the north and northwest Chicago suburbs. The organization is committed to offering services rooted in the belief that youth must have their basic needs met before they can begin to build a promising future for themselves. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Thanks for signing up for our daily insight on the African economy. We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market, leaders, careers and lifestyle. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Speaking Saturday at a Unity Walk organised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tarkwa in the Western Region, the ex-president noted that when the Rawlings administration wanted to implement the GETFund policy, a national stakeholders conference was organized to gather ideas for a smooth implementation. READ MORE: Ayariga says Free SHS has increased teenage pregnancy Today, he added, GETFund is responsible for many school projects, especially at the secondary level, across the country. Citing another example, Mr Mahama said before the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme, former President Kufuor organized a stakeholders' conference on how to implement the policy. However, in the case of President Akufo-Addo and the implementation of the free SHS, the ex-President said the implementation was hurriedly done. This, he observed, has created a lot of challenges in many schools. According to him, if the policy, which was started with only first-year students, should cover all students in the next three years, the challenges associated with its implementation now will more than double. He, has, therefore called for a national dialogue on the funding and sustainability of the programme which he claims was not originated by the NPP and that it a provision in the 1992 constitution. Meanwhile, the government has assured that it will work to address all the challenges associated with the implementation of the policy. READ MORE: Nungua SHS to be shut down over lack of toilet facilities According to a Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the government is aware of the problems secondary schools are facing but said children cannot wait until the challenges in the education sector are fixed. The Council of the University said it has become necessary for the broadcaster to go into the University's Hall of Fame having considered his "strong advocacy role in support of infant health delivery services and your outstanding career in journalism, among several other roles being played to promote good governance in the country. In a statement, KNUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Kwesi Obiri Danso lauded Mr. Sefa Kayi for being a role model to several Ghanaians and serving as a check on successive governments towards economic progress. Speaking at the 51st Congregation and 2017 Founders Day Special Congregation Ceremony and graduation of the university, he noted that the University, over the years, has keenly noted his good works in diverse ways, hence the need for him to be acknowledged and recognized in the historical books of the school. A citation in his honour, read as follows:"Multiple award-winning broadcast journalist, KNUST salutes you. An astute and experienced broadcast journalist, your style of presentation has endeared many to the famous Kokrokoo morning show. Every day of the working week, you capture the sense and sensibilities of your patrons, facilitating their opinion and decision making in the process. You make optimal use of the medium at your disposal to influence change at various levels. He died at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital after he was rushed there following a short illness. The actual cause of his death has not been confirmed but sources say he was diabetic. His death broke many hearts among Ghanaians and across the political divide. He has been eulogized for his starling career as a radio host who showed great interviewing skills, exhibited neutrality and a firm moderator. Reactions President Akufo-Addo expressed shock at his death saying he was "undoubtedly one of the most talented journalists of his generation." Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also expressed shock at his demise asking God to give his widow, family and the media fraternity fortitude to bear his painful loss. READ MORE: Bawumia reacts to death of radio presenter On his part, former President John Mahama expressed grief at his death. There, he threatened journalist Philippe Antoine with a shotgun, and said: "Next time, I won't miss." Three days later, still on the run, he managed to stage a shooting attack at the offices of left-wing newspaper Liberation, also in Paris, that left a photographer's assistant seriously hurt. There was also a separate incident where shots were fired at the headquarters of the Societe Generale bank. The court found him guilty of attempted murder of Philippe Antoine, now chief editor at BFMTV, and Cesar Sebastien, the wounded photographer's assistant at Liberation. Prosecutor Bernard Farret had argued that "spite" had been Dekhar's main motive, adding that the shooter harboured "resentment against society, the state and capitalism". Dekhar, sentenced on Friday, was considering filing an appeal, his lawyer Hugo Levy said. Of the total, Dekhar will only be eligible for parole once he has served two thirds of his sentence. During his trial, Dekhar repeatedly evoked political arguments, raising topics such as France's colonisation of Algeria and social problems in the French suburbs. He had also claimed he was suicidal and "desperate" for the police to end his life. Dekhar had been jailed in the 1990s for his role in a "Bonnie-and-Clyde" style multiple murder and left rambling letters denouncing conspiracies and media manipulation. The case predated the January 2015 jihadist attack on the premises of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which left 12 people dead. On November 13 that year, gunmen and suicide bombers left 130 people dead in a coordinated attack targeting several Paris locations including a concert hall. "These laws will put an end to democracy in Poland. They're moving us towards a dictatorship where power will be concentrated in one place," one of the protest organisers, Michal Wawrykiewicz, told AFP. Earlier this week parliament began to debate new versions of the reforms of the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary that in July sparked massive street protests, concern from the US State Department and threats of EU sanctions. Polish President Andrzej Duda surprised the country by vetoing the measures at the time, as he is a close ally of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party that pushed the legislation. Saying that the legislation gave too large of a role to the attorney general, who in Poland is also the justice minister, Duda vowed to table his own versions -- which parliament began debating this week. Opposition lawmakers expressed their disappointment in the president, with Barbara Dolniak from the Nowoczesna party saying on Wednesday that the legislation "continues to go against the constitution". Since tabling his versions, Duda also promised PiS party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski to add certain amendments, the contents of which remain secret. The PiS, which began making changes to the judiciary after coming to power in late 2015, says the reforms are indispensable to combat corruption and streamline the judicial system. By PTI: camp Jammu, Nov 25 (PTI) The Centres special envoy on Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, today met the migrant families living at Talwara camp in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir who appraised him about their problems and demands. Over 2,200 migrant families are living at Talwara camp since 1996 when they were forced to flee their homes in Udhampur, Reasi, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu region at the height of militancy. advertisement Sharma, who visited Srinagar and Jammu earlier this month, met Kashmiri pandits at Jagti township yesterday and would be in the state for four days. The Centres special representative today visited Talwara camp and met militancy-affected people of Jammu region and heard their issues, officials said, adding Sharma also took stock of the amenities at the camp. According to the residents of the Talwara camp, this was for the first time that an interlocutor visited the camp in the last two decades. The residents said they welcome the visit of Sharma and hope that all their grievances would be addressed in a time- bound manner. Accusing the successive central and state governments of meting out "step-motherly treatment" to them, the residents said their demands included construction of flats, better living facilities, renovation of government school building and an employment package for the jobless youth. They demanded the same facilities being provided to Kashmiri Pandits living in different parts of Jammu. PTI TAS NSD --- ENDS --- "Nuclear scientists have created a commission to discover the origin of ruthenium-106," Rosatom said in a statement, also released by the country's Nuclear Safety Institute. The commission will include representatives of "Russian and European scientific organisations," according to the statement. "Rosatom will offer all necessary assistance to this commission and will inform the public of the results." On Monday, Russian meteorologists said a station close to the Mayak nuclear facility in the Chelyabinsk region detected "extremely high pollution" of the ruthenium-106 isotope during tests in late September. The radioactive isotope is created by splitting atoms in a reactor and does not occur naturally. Rosatom previously said there were "no incidents" at nuclear infrastructure facilities in Russia and that the concentration detected posed little threat. Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia's agricultural safety watchdog, on Friday denied "possible radioactive contamination" of land in the area, in response to concerns. The Mayak facility in the southern Urals, which is under Rosatom's umbrella, has said the contamination "has nothing to do with Mayak's activities". The facility, which reprocesses nuclear fuel, said it has not produced Ru-106 for several years. "There are still issues across the various matters that we're negotiating on to be resolved, but there's been a positive atmosphere in the talks and a genuine feeling we want to move forward together," May said after talks with Tusk on the margins of an EU summit in Brussels. The British premier met Tusk, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders on the sidelines of the summit with ex-Soviet states as part of a bid to unlock negotiations on a future trade deal. May said they were making progress on all of the major issues -- Britain's exit bill, the rights of EU nationals living in Britain and the Irish border, which has flared up as a major sticking point in recent weeks. "In relation to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, we and the Irish government continue to talk about the solutions for that," May said. "We have the same desire. We want to ensure the movement of people and trade across that border can continue as now and we don't create any new barriers to trade or the movement of people across that border." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was more confident than before about a deal but added nothing would be decided before he had dinner with May on December 4. The special counsel, Robert Mueller, is examining former national security adviser Michael Flynn's role in producing a documentary about an exiled Turkish cleric at the height of the 2016 presidential race, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Mueller is eyeing Flynn as part of his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election and whether members of President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in his favor. Flynn was forced to resign as national security adviser in February after it emerged that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russian officials during the transition period. Mueller's focus on Flynn has to do primarily with those interactions, as well as his lobbying firm's activities and his failure to register as a foreign agent when the firm began lobbying on behalf of a businessman with ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the latter half of 2016. Flynn's firm, Flynn Intel Group, was paid Flynn Intel Group was tasked with fomenting dissent inside Turkey and with lobbying the US government to extradite the cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who currently resides in Pennsylvania and whom Erdogan believes is responsible for planning last year's attempted coup. Flynn and his son, Michael Flynn Jr. who is also a subject of scrutiny in Mueller's probe are believed to have been offered $15 million to extradite Gulen, according to media reports. Flynn's lawyers said those reports were false, calling them "outrageous" and "prejudicial." The documentary Alptekin paid Flynn Intel Group to produce was never completed, but it was meant to focus on the supposed dangers Gulen posed. Alptekin told The Journal in May that he hoped the documentary would be "a small, '60 Minutes' kind of a thing, where these conclusions are brought to the public." "We thought that might have a good effect," he said. We dont want anyone to know the Flynn Intel Group has anything to do with this Flynn Intel Group did not want anyone to know about its involvement in the film's production, according to David Enders, a former VICE News correspondent who was hired to work on the documentary. He told The Journal that Bijan Kian, a partner at the now-defunct group, told him, "We don't want anyone to know the Flynn Intel Group has anything to do with this." Sources familiar with the matter told The Journal on Friday that prosecutors have contacted Enders as well as former CNN anchor Rudi Bakhtiar, who was hired to work on the film, to question them about their involvement in the project. Kian has also become a focus for Mueller, NBC News reported this week. The special counsel is seeking to gauge what role, if any, Kian played in securing the Inovo contract for Flynn Intel Group. President Donald Trump wants his daughter Ivanka Trump and his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, to leave Washington, DC, and head back to New York, Vanity Fair reported on Tuesday. The president reportedly advocates the move because he wants the couple to avoid negative news coverage. "He keeps pressuring them to go," a source told Vanity Fair. Kushner is a central figure in the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Mueller is reportedly investigating the president's role in crafting a misleading statement his son Donald Trump Jr. released after it emerged that he met with a Kremlin-connected lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016. Mueller is also examining whether Trump attempted to obstruct justice by firing James Comey as FBI director in May. Kushner attended the June 2016 meeting, and multiple news reports have said he strongly urged Trump to fire Comey. Kushner was also with Trump in Bedminster, New Jersey, during a weekend in early May when Trump put together a draft letter laying out the reasons he wanted to fire Comey. He never sent it White House counsel Don McGahn had advised him against doing so but he fired Comey days later, ultimately leading to Mueller's appointment as special counsel. The Vanity Fair report also said that Trump was becoming frustrated with Kushner's political advice, including that Trump back Luther Strange in the runoff for the GOP nomination for a US Senate seat in Alabama. As things unravelled people started to pay attention to this bizarre story. It might be complicated if you don't know all the details so here is a breakdown of all the drama. The beginning of the Burna Boy and Mr. 2Kay beef In October, Mr 2Kay reacted to the negative things Burna Boy said about Nigerian pastors. Mr. 2Kay during an interview with Hip TV let it be known that he didn't approve of what Burna Boy said. Mr 2Kay said Burna Boy shouldnt have spoken ill of pastors because they are anointed men of God so he cant be talking about them in that manner. Burna Boy, saw the interview and allegedly sent a threatening DM to Mr. 2Kay. "You better have that energy when I come for you because Im coming for you," he allegedly threatened. Mr. 2Kay gets beaten and robbed at Buckwyld 'n' Breathless concert On, October 22, 2017, 2face Idibia and Tiwa Savage headlined Buckwyld 'n' Breathless at Eko Hotel & Suites. Mr. 2Kay performed at the event and after his performance he would go up to his room in the hotel and relax. Unfortunately he was attacked and robbed in his hotel room. Most of his possessions were gone and he was left with bruises all over his body. Eko Hotel and Suites say the incident is under police investigation On October 24, 2017, Pulse reached out to Eko Hotel & Suites to shed more insight on the incident. According to a duty manager in the hotel, the case was under police investigation. "Since yesterday, the police and the security officials of the hotel have been working round the clock to investigate what really happened" she said. Mr 2Kay sues Eko Hotel and Suites for N500M On November 7, 2017, it was reportedly revealed that hit the management of Eko Hotel and Suites with a N500M lawsuit. Burna Boy wanted for questioning On November 20, 2017, it the police announced that Burna Boy was wanted for questioning over the Mr 2Kay robbery incident. On the same day, the police paraded three robbery suspects who claimed that Burna Boy along with his road manager sent them to attack Mr. 2Kay The police arrested four suspects including the road manager of Burna boy, Joel. During interrogation, the robbers confessed that they were hired by Burna Boy through his manager. Photos of suspects involved in Mr 2kay's attack surface According to the Lagos state commissioner of police, Edgal Imohimi, the suspects confessed to receiving a part payment of 50,000 Naira before the job and another 50,000 was paid to the robbers directly by Burna Boy when the job was done. After this revelation, the police declared Burna boy wanted, it was also announced by the police later on that they sent a letter to Burna boy to come for questioning so as to explain what role he played in the attack and robbery of Mr 2Kay, an invitation he is yet to respond to. Burna Boy releases statement On November 21, 2017, Burna Boy released a statement via his record label which claimed he had honoured the police's invitation and was never declared wanted by them in the first place. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The representative, Mr. Biodun Kupoluyi who spoke in an interview with Encomium News claimed it would have been obvious if she indeed delivered new babies. According to the spokesperson, her body will have manifested signs that she was expecting. Dont mind those people. Theyre only imagining. You can not hide a pregnancy for long. And when you deliver, people must surely know. So, delivering a set of twins in London is not something one can hide at all. Akindele got married to rapper and filmmaker, JJC Skillz, in the year 2016 at a private wedding held in London, England, attended by close circle friends. This came after a failed marriage to former husband, Adeola Kehinde Oloyede. Skillz also has three children from earlier relationships. His marriage to Akindele was welcomed by some prophecies of doom by some clergymen who advised her to pray vigorously if she hopes to have children. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari condemned the "dastardly act" on innocent people. He said the attack further reinforced his position that terrorism has no relationship or respect for any religion, and should be visited with the full wrath of the law. "The President reiterates that the workable panacea to such mindless and irresponsible attacks on citizens would be a global joint action that continually shares intelligence, simulates scenarios and regularly updates on both local and international threats. "President Buhari prays that the almighty God will receive the souls of the departed, and comfort the families of those directly affected." "Well, I cannot and should not blow my own trumpet. My music teacher in secondary school said you have to blow your own trumpet because if you dont, no one will blow it for you until it gets rusty. But I will like to be remembered as someone who came into public office to render service and rendered that service selflessly," he was quoted. According to the complaint, Jyothika uses a cuss word that puts women in a bad light in Naachiyaar teaser. By Akshaya Nath: A case has been filed against actress Jyothika and director Bala for a dialogue in the upcoming Tamil film Naachiyaar. The case has been filed by a man called Rajan. In his complaint, he has written that the dialogue in the film is derogatory and is putting women in bad light. In an interrogation sequence in the film's teaser, Jyothika says, "Thevediya payala" which translates to bastard. advertisement "Using such a cuss word, not only puts women in bad light, but it is derogatory term for derivative of the word 'Devar Adiyar' and is not only insulting the women of that community, but also of any women in the society. We want action against the team so that similar usage is avoided in the future," said advocate Rahamanthula. The case has been registered at Mettupalayam, a pace 35 km from Coimbatore, and will be heard by the Mettupalayam court on November 28. At present the case has been registered in section 294 (b) of IPC (which states that singing, reciting or uttering of any obscene word in a public place shall be punished with imprisonment of three month or fine or both) and section 67 of IT Act (which talks about punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form and the punishment will be imprisonment for five years of fine or both). Naachiyaar is Jyothika's first collaboration with award-winning director Bala. Before this, Jyothika acted in Magalir Mattum .She will also act in a Mani Ratnam film , next year. ALSO WATCH: Five best jalliktattu scenes from Tamil films --- ENDS --- In a statement by lawyer and human rights activist on Saturday, November 25, 2017, Falana responded to reports which quoted Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) as saying the said property worth N1 billion was sold to a Lagos lawyer. Falana said: Hence, I have decided to join issues with Malami over his false claim that the EFCC had sold the property in question to me. Contrary to Malamis claim I never bought any property from the EFCC." Explaining what he posited as true facts, the senior advocate of Nigeria said the property was one of the assets used as collateral of a loan obtained from Bank PHB by A Group Properties over 10 years ago. He (Malami) would also have found that the property is a subject matter of a suit which is currently pending before the federal high court sitting at Abuja. (See Suit No /2015 between Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria v A Group Properties Limited). The suit was instituted by AMCON due to the failure of the company to liquidate the loan. In granting the ex parte application filed by AMCON in the matter the court ordered an interim forfeiture of the assets of A Group Properties Limited including No 42, Gana Street, Maitama District, Abuja. The said order was granted on November 11, 2015. However, in a bid to pay the loan, A Group Properties Limited decided to sell some of the properties. The sale of the property in question to me was made subject to the setting aside of the order of interim forfeiture which had been obtained by AMCON. Up till now, the case has not been concluded as the parties have asked for time to resolve the dispute amicably and file terms of settlement. To that extent, the transaction on the property remains inchoate. Falana further said order of interim forfeiture was granted in favour of AMCON over two years ago. "Malami has not deemed it fit to disclose to the federal high court that the property at 42, Gana street, Maitama District, Abuja was recovered by the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforn. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, Mainas allegation that the management of the EFCC sold the property at No 42, Gana Street, Maitama District, Abuja or any property to me is a figment of his fecund imagination for mischief. Instead of engaging in a cheap campaign of blackmail Malami should have taken steps to recover the alleged N1 billion property for the federal government if he is convinced that it is a proceed of crime, he said. Malami's allegation Malami allegedly said a lagos lawyer bought the property in contention when he appeared before the senate committee probing ex-boss of Pension boss, Abdulrasheed Mainas recall into service after he was declared wanted over alleged fraud. The Lagos monarch said this in a remark during his courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris. More than 21,000 teachers had failed the primary four examinations in Kaduna State recently. For instance, this issue of teachers failing examinations in Kaduna, for me, there should be training and retraining of teachers. This will make us get the best of them that can compete anywhere with their counterparts, the royal father said. Monarch urges Nigerians to pray Akiolu urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of genuinely praying for the country as this would help solve a lot of problems in the country. My opinion on the government of the day is that we should support them. The former army sergeant, Solomon Abel, was paraded, alongside four other suspects, on Thursday, November 23, 2017 by the state's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado. The other suspects paraded are Dedeigbo Olabiyi, Raymond Anyam, Sunday Shakede and Kingsley Chijoke. The suspects had allegedly attacked Daramola's residence at the Tanke area of Ilorin on Tuesday, November 21, at about 5:45am. The commissioner said after the police command was tipped off about the attack, operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad and Safer Highway teams were alerted and directed to block all the entry and exit routes to Ilorin. The suspects were arrested when a green LandRover vehicle, with number plate IWA-01, was flagged down along Ajase-Ipo Road by policemen. He said, "On interrogation, it was discovered that the occupants were robbers that attacked the minister's house in the Tanke area. The five suspects, who include a military man, were members of an inter-state armed robbery gang. They confessed to have come from Abuja to carry out the robbery operation." The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Austine Agbonlahor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that they were rescued during joint operation by Kagara police and a vigilance group from Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He explained that the command was taking proactive security measures to deal with any form of security threat. He added that we have deployed sufficient security personnel to identified areas prone to criminal activities across the state. We will continue to adopt proactive security measures to confront any form of threat to enable residents to move on with there legitimate businesses. He called for more cooperation from the public to enable the police to rid the state of criminals. The National Publicity Secretary of the committee, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, made this known at a news conference at the partys National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, November 24. Adeyeye alleged the move was a "sabotage" by some persons who have allowed themselves to be used by All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause divisions in the PDP. He added that the attempt is totally uncalled, noting that those making such plans are honest members of the PDP. The party's spokesman added that the caretaker committee has been working very hard to carry all party members and supporters along towards organising a successful convention. "We are also putting our resources in place to address all the fears earlier reported by some national chairmanship aspirants. "One of the steps taken by the leadership is to make available and in good time, the comprehensive names of all the delegates for the national convention to all the aspirants before the convention. "We therefore see no reason for any honest member of this great party to want to disrupt our programmes, except they are of course working for the ruling party, the APC," Adeyeye said. He assured that the committee will address all concerns of members regarding the convention. Adeyeye, however, urged all party members to take advantage of the committees open-door policy to "ventilate their opinions, concerns and grievances." He pointed out that as part of subtle plans to weaken the PDP, some of its high profile members were recently arrested on "Trump-up charges of corruption." He particularly identified recent arrest of former governor of Taraba, Mr Abubakar Danladi and former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The spokesman recalled that the party had few weeks ago alerted that there was a list of 50 of its top leaders pencilled down for "arrest and incarceration". "In the last one week, Danladi and Anyim, two prominent members of our party, were arrested by the anti-graft agency, the EFCC. "These are all part of the agenda to create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity around PDP members before and after the national convention. "It is also part of the overall strategy of the ruling party to turn Nigeria into a one-party state," he alleged. On the resignation of the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, from the APC, Adeyeye said that PDP's door is wide open for him. He said Abubakar, who was one of the founding fathers of PDP, became Governor of Adamawa and Vice President under the partys platform, adding that "he is a PDP man to the core". According to him, Abubakar was deceived into believing that the APC is a platform that would correct all the ills in the PDP. Quoting from the Bible that "and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free", Adeyeye said "I believe that Atiku has seen the truth and the truth has now set him free and we thank God for that. "Therefore, being a founding father and because we have an umbrella that is big enough to accommodate everybody, he is welcome to PDP, the democratic party. "PDP is a free party and was conceived for all Nigerians and is free from all religious, ethnic and geographical divisions. "It has capacity to accommodate everybody. Our doors are open for him to come back to his home without any pre-condition." Saeed's freedom came despite months of pressure by Washington on Islamabad over its alleged support for militants. Freeing him "belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists," President Donald Trump's press secretary said in a statement. "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistans global reputation," the statement said. Saeed had been under house arrest since January following a government crackdown on JuD, but a spokesman for his party said authorities had failed to provide evidence. Trump seeks "a constructive relationship with Pakistan, but expects decisive action against militant and terrorist groups on Pakistani soil that are a threat to the region," the White House said. "The release of Saeed is a step in the wrong direction." On Friday the US State Department expressed deep concern at Saeed's release and called for him to be arrested and charged. Six Americans were among 166 people killed in 2008 during the three-day siege in Mumbai when gunmen who arrived by sea sparked battles with Indian commandos. The drama, played out on live television around the world, nearly brought nuclear-armed enemies India and Pakistan to the brink of war. JuD is considered by the US and India to be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group blamed for the attack on India's financial capital. In October, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington is concerned that extremist groups are threatening the "stability and security" of the Pakistani government. Trump has accused Islamabad of harboring "agents of chaos" who could attack US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. Washington and Kabul have long accused Islamabad of supporting Afghan militants including the Taliban. They are believed to have links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment. Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charge. Troops and paramilitaries had advanced into the desert from the east and north on Thursday at the start of an offensive aimed at inflicting a final defeat on the jihadists. On Saturday, troops and tribal militia pushed north from Al-Qaim and Rawa, two Euphrates Valley towns recaptured from IS earlier this month, in a pincer movement against retreating IS fighters, one of the operation's two commanders told AFP. "It's a matter of linking up with the forces advancing from Nineveh" province in the north, the commander said, asking not to be identified. "The aim of the operation is to clear the desert right up to the Syrian border and hunt down the terrorists who fled into the desert from the towns that have been liberated." The Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary force, which has played a key role in the offensive, said 100 villages and hamlets had already been cleared of IS fighters. "The battle for the desert is very important because it's from there that Daesh fighters coming from Syria can attack our defence lines," said Hashed number two Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, using an Arabic acronym for IS. In a video posted by the Hashed, Mohandis said the desert was "the last region where Daesh still has a military presence." He said operations against it were under away over an area of 27,000 square kilometres (10,400 square miles) But he warned that their completion would not spell the end of IS. "We must hunt them down in areas that have been liberated and we must arrest them before they slip back into urban areas," said Mohandis, who is widely regarded as the strongman of the Hashed, which is largely composed of Iran-backed Shiite militias. "We must remain in a state of alert," he added. "Security will not be fully assured until we have complete control of the border with Syria." At the peak of its power in 2014, IS ruled some seven million people in a territory as large as Italy, encompassing large parts of Syria and nearly a third of Iraq. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation agreement on Thursday which would pave the way for the return of the refugees at the "earliest" opportunity, according to the deal, which Dhaka released on Saturday. "Primarily they will be kept at temporary shelters or arrangements for a limited time," Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali told reporters in the capital. The comments come after the UN refugee agency UNHCR on Friday raised concerns over the agreement, saying conditions to enable refugees to safely return to Rakhine State were not in place. Under the deal, Yangon will "encourage those who had left Myanmar to return voluntarily and safely to their own households" in Rakhine State or "to a safe and secure place nearest to it". However most of the Rohingya villages were burnt during the violence, Ali said, and refugees would have no choice but to live in temporary shelters there. "There are no houses. Where they will live? It is not possible to physically (return to their own homes)," he said. Under the terms of the agreement, Myanmar will ensure temporary shelters are only a short-term option and that refugees' "freedom of movement in the Rakhine State will be allowed in conformity with the existing laws and regulations". More than 100,000 Rohingya have been living in grim camps for internally displaced persons since violence erupted in Rakhine in 2012. Rohingya activist Mohammad Zubair told AFP that "Rohingya people will never agree to voluntary repatriation if they are not taken back to their villages and their land returned to them". He said Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a similar repatriation agreement in 1992, which led to the return of some 200,000 Rohingya to Rakhine, but unresolved problems, including the issue of citizenship, continue to fester. The stateless Rohingya have been systematically oppressed by Myanmar, which has stripped the minority of citizenship and severely restricts their movement, as well as their access to basic services. Myanmar's government says Rohingya are interlopers from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, even though many can trace their roots in Myanmar back generations. "Unless we get citizenship in Myanmar, no way the Rohingya will this time return to Rakhine," Zubair said. UNHCR has echoed the concerns of the Rohingya, saying all returns must include "the informed consent of refugees". According to the agreement, some 700,000 Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh since October 2016 will be considered for repatriation. But that still leaves hundreds of thousands of Rohingya -- some of whom fled Myanmar years or decades ago -- in Bangladesh. "The repatriation of residents who crossed over to Bangladesh earlier will be considered separately on the conclusion of the present arrangement," the newly-signed deal said. Impoverished and overcrowded Bangladesh has won international praise for allowing the refugees into the country, but has imposed restrictions on their movement and said it does not want them to stay. The UN humanitarian affairs office had said on Friday that it had been given clearance by the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the rebels since 2015 to resume flights into Sanaa. But it added that desperately needed shipments of food and medicines to the rebel-held Red Sea port of Hodeida remained blocked. The UN Children's Fund said Saturday's flight was carrying more than 15 tonnes, or 1.9 million doses, of vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and other preventable diseases. The World Health Organization confirmed earlier this week that diphtheria was spreading as children went unvaccinated and doctors in Hodeida reported three deaths. More than 2,000 people have died of cholera in Yemen this year, adding to the 8,600 who have died in the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the rebels since 2015. The aid blockade, put in place after the rebels fired a missile which was intercepted over Riyadh airport, has tightened the stranglehold on Hodeida, the conduit for UN supervised deliveries of food and medicine to rebel-held territory. The United Nations has warned that unless the blockade is lifted, Yemen will face "the largest famine the world has seen for decades". Kamaal R Khan is back on Twitter with a new account, and holds Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan responsible for the suspension of his old one. By India Today Web Desk: If you were breathing a sigh of relief, that self-styled critic Kamaal R Khan was off Twitter, well think again. He's back on the micro-blogging site, after his account was suspended last month. After threatening to commit suicide , he is now back with a new account. Of course, being KRK, he can't not say anything non-controversial. He has accused Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan of being instrumental in getting his account suspended. advertisement KRK tweeted saying, "SRK + Salman Khan + Aamir Khan forced #Twitter to suspend my account, but still, they can't stop me from reviewing films to save public from watching their crap films. Better, they should make good films instead to stop me." He also went on to allege that, "Yesterday, SRK told to one of the top directors that he will finish all these idiot critics within next 2 years. Thank you SRK. Let's see if you will finish Critics or You will finish yourself within next 2 years." SRK + Salman Khan + Aamir Khan forced #Twitter to suspend my account, but still they cant stop me from reviewing films to save public from watching their crap films. Better, they should make good films instead to stop me.- KRK (@KRKActor) November 24, 2017 His account was suspended on October 18, after he revealed the climax of Aamir Khan's Secret Superstar. KRK is known to spew lewd comments at actresses, like Alia Bhatt and Bipasha Basu on Twitter, and offend filmmakers immeasurably. Vikram Bhatt even slammed a legal case on him, for his defamatory comments, and KRK had to meekly apologise on Twitter. ALSO WATCH: FIR against KRK for posting obscene tweets on women --- ENDS --- MCCOMB, Miss. (AP) On June 18, ex-Special Forces missionary David Eubank was on the front lines in Mosul when a private with the Iraqi federal police got word of five civilians trapped in a building controlled by ISIS. Eubank had already participated in numerous death-defying rescues. One, in which he dashed through ISIS gunfire to pull out a little girl, made international news this summer. But this situation seemed hopeless. Eubank admitted to his colleagues he was afraid. "I've never told people I was afraid 'till later. This day was different," Eubank recounted to supporters including many from southwest Mississippi at a reception in Covington, La. But the private, a man named Zuhair, said he would not leave the people there to die. So off they went toward the building, the ruins of a Pepsi plant surrounded on three sides by ISIS. They got inside only to encounter a floor covered in empty Pepsi cans. Not even the most skillful Green Beret could get across that without making a racket. Eubank took a deep breath and prayed silently, "ISIS, you cannot see, hear or stop us." Then, "I ran across and they never saw us." Eubank, Zuhair and their companions found four wounded people in the building including a woman with a compound leg fracture and a little girl in a state of shock but ISIS fighters were so close they could hear their voices. Outside in a courtyard flanked by a low wall were more than 70 dead civilians and one live one, a woman who mouthed to them for help. Since the courtyard was guarded by ISIS sniper fire, Eubank prayed to God to take the woman since rescue appeared hopeless. But Zuhair insisted he would not leave her to die. Eubank prayed again, and Zuhair noticed wire running along the ceiling. They cut a length of wire and sent the little girl, who was small enough to keep behind the wall, to take it to the immobilized woman, who had been lying amid carnage for three days and nights without food or water. The woman wrapped one end of the wire around her wrist and her rescuers dragged her slowly across the rubble to the building. Eubank and his partners then managed to remove all five wounded people from the rubble and take them to safety. At the Covington gathering, Eubank showed a video of the rescue. The moral, he said, was that God could use a Muslim Iraqi private and a traumatized little girl to accomplish His will even when it seemed impossible. In service of God Dr. Shannon Allison, who hosted Eubank's reception at his Covington home, is also a former Green Beret who served in the Army Rangers with Eubank and later with his mission organization, the Free Burma Rangers. The Free Burma Rangers have operated in Burma for 20 years, providing "help, hope and love" to internally displaced people in conflict zones. Allison recalled his first mission in Burma with Eubank. When they arrived, they learned the Burma Army had put out a contract on Eubank's head. Allison suggested they retreat for a week or so to regroup. Eubank told him, "There's no better way to die than in the service of God. We're all going to die, so there is no better way to die." The question, Allison said, is this: "Are we doing what we're supposed to be doing in the service of God?" Allison went with Eubank into Burma then and on countless missions since missions where the Rangers sometimes came under fire from the Burma Army. A few years ago Eubank was asked to help out in Sudan, and then in Kurdistan, Syria and northern Iraq. After the Kurds drove ISIS out of their territory in November 2016, Eubank prayed for guidance. An hour later he got a call from a Christian charity asking him to deliver 17 tons of food into Mosul. Soon he, his family and some fellow Free Burma Rangers were headed to Mosul, where the Iraqi Army was trying to drive out ISIS and civilians were fleeing by the thousands. The Rangers had two Land Cruisers and a truckload of food but none of the permits required to get through the numerous checkpoints. Nevertheless, guards let them through, including one who said, "You guys are Americans. I love Michael Jackson!" As they approached Mosul, they saw plumes from explosions going up across the plain. They came to a line of rocks across the road and, not sure what to do, turned and drove toward an Iraqi flag. ISIS, positioned not far away, opened fire with .50-caliber guns and mortars, but Eubank's group made it to the Iraqi Army outpost safely. "The Iraqis said, 'Who are you? Who sent you?' " Eubank said. "I said, 'God sent us.'" As it turned out, the commanding general hated Americans until three nights later when Eubank joined an Iraqi team to rescue some of their men pinned down by ISIS. Eubank's participation impressed the Iraqi general, and the Iraqis' bravery impressed Eubank. "The Iraqis were all willing to die for those three, and they were all cooks," he said. Time and again he saw Iraqis risk their lives and sometimes lose them to rescue people of other tribes and faiths, whereas ISIS fighters killed their own people when they tried to flee. "Jesus changed my heart to love Iraqis," Eubank said. "I didn't hate ISIS, until ..." Eubank even viewed ISIS through the lens of Christianity, reflecting Jesus' command to love our enemies. "I didn't hate ISIS. I prayed for their souls till one day they killed this 3-year-old kid," he said. Eubank had met an Iraqi family, chatted with them and prayed over them. They drove away on a tractor, only to hit an ISIS land mine, wounding the family and killing the girl. "All of us were crying. We saw dead bodies every day. Nobody cries in combat," Eubank said. He told a colleague, "We will hunt them down till they are all dead." But he prayed that night and the next morning opened his Bible to this verse: "Vengeance is mine, said the Lord. I will repay." "I said, 'Jesus, I reject vengeance. I give it up.' He lifted off my shoulders a burden I didn't even know I was carrying." Meanwhile the action came thick and fast. A hand grenade detonated 4 yards away from Eubank but left him with only minor shrapnel wounds. He and an Iraqi soldier were sitting by a road in a supposedly safe area when an ISIS vehicle rounded the corner and its men opened fire as close as 2 yards away Eubank saw the hatred in their faces but missed. The worst wound he sustained was a through-and-through gunshot through his forearm. He got it bandaged up and carried on. Others weren't so fortunate. "I lost 30 close friends in Mosul," Eubank said. "In one day I lost three guys who were close to me." The Free Burma Rangers helped feed 50,000 people and carried countless people to the casualty collection point. One of the most dramatic incidents came when they spotted some civilians huddled behind a wall amid 150 dead bodies. At that moment, "a friend of mine called me and said, 'What can I do for you?' I said, 'Pray.' That's the power of the praying church," Eubank said. He borrowed a tank from the Iraqis and called in smoke from the Americans. With two other Free Burma Rangers providing cover fire, "I said, 'Jesus, help me,' " and he dashed through ISIS fire to retrieve the girl. The video went viral and played on news channels around the world. In August, Eubank and his family returned to the States to visit supporters around the country. His plan is to return to Iraq this month, go to Burma for the 20th anniversary of the Free Burma Rangers in December, then back to Iraq and Syria. After Eubank spoke, Allison tried to put his stories in perspective. "That's the mission God has given David," Allison said. "We need to do what God has got for us." He compared Eubank to his namesake in the Old Testament. "David is like the David in the Bible. He talks to God," Allison said. Eubank's story should inspire those who hear it to do better in their own field of endeavor, Allison said. "I'm hoping that it empowers all of us to take one extra step, to say, 'I can,' not 'I can't.'" Sunday, Nov. 26 --Gloria Dei Presbyterian Church, 420012th St., Rock Island: 4:30 p.m. Celtic music session; 5 p.m. Celtic Vespers; advent focus;service; 309-788-8986 or gloriadeipresbyter@att.net. Friday, Dec. 1 --Christ United Methodist Church, 3801 7th St., East Moline; 7 p.m., "Come Celebrate the Christmas Season with Music!" concert; donations accepted to benefit church's ministries; performers are Common Threads, Josie DeWitt; Fishermens Holler; Shaun Easton, and The Called. Saturday, Dec. 2 --9th Annual Congregation of the Humility of Mary Holiday Gift Swap: 2-4 p.m., at the Humility of Mary Center, 820 West Central Park Ave., Davenport; free; presented by the CHM Care of Earth committee; bring new or gently used gift items for re-gifting; leftover items will be donated to shelter programs; share enjoy homemade goodies. --First United Methodist Church, 9412 228 St., N., Port Byron: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 18th annual "Christmas Traditions; tour decorated homes, $10; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., luncheon, Christmas crafts, woodworking items, silent auction, bake sale items, cookies, candies, jellies, jams, salsa, pickles; Christmas wreaths, toys, treats sold; 309-738-3906, 309-523-2244. Sunday, Dec. 3 --Heritage Church, 4801 44th St., Rock Island: Two "Divorce Care & Grief Share : Surviving the Holidays" seminars; 2-4 p.m.; for people facing the holidays, facing grief, separation or divorce during the holidays; register by calling 309-732-0033 or judy.sawkins@heritageqc.com; walk-ins welcome for those not able to register before class; no seminary fee; no childcare available. Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9 --Buffalo Prairie Presbyterian Church, 0320 183 Ave W, Buffalo Prairie; 6-8:30 p.m., Friday; 5:30-6 p.m. Saturday; "Walk Through Bethlehem Live Nativity" event; People with accessibility needs are invited for an exclusive visit from 5:30-6 call the Rev. Marc Shefelton at 309-537-3113 or email him at mshefelt@ashland.edu. Saturday, Dec. 9 --Broadway Church, 710 23rd St., Rock Island; 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Cookie/Candy Walk $8 per pound; get $1 off by bringing a container; coffee or cocoa available; volunteers welcome; csll or e-mail 309-786-2631 or broadway@broadwayqc.org. Sunday, Dec. 10 --Messiah Lutheran Church, Aledo, 509 NE 2nd St., Aledo: 10 a.m. service; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Smorgasbord; donations accepted for the meal; proceeds support church's the ministries; 309-582-5261. Miscellaneous --Churches United of the Quad City Area recently received a $1,750 Theisens More for Your Community Grant for Winnies Place. One hundred years ago there was a shortage of pennies during WWI. War revenue taxes were one of the reasons, according to Daily Dispatch articles in November 1918. The government put higher consumption taxes on such items as alcohol, tobacco, chewing gun, movie tickets and luxury items. War revenue taxes amounted to one or more odd cents in theater admissions and other items. This created an enlarged demand for the penny. The U.S. Mint's output of three million copper coins a day was considered insufficient. The government was not ready to resort to issuance of paper money of denominations less than a dollar, similar to the shin plasters of the Civil War days. But Raymond T. Baker, director of the mint, had given consideration to making paper money worth less than a dollar. Shin plasters were fractional currency introduced between Aug. 21, 1862 and Feb. 15, 1876. They were issued in 3-, 5-, 10-, 15-, 25- and 50-cent denominations across five issuing periods, according to Wikipedia. Baker declared, the country is threatened with a severe shortage of cents, dimes and other small change, for the approaching holiday season," The Dispatch reported. He appealed to persons who collect small coins as a savings hobby to exchange them for coins of larger denominations or for currency, to relieve the shortage. Children particularly, were asked to do their bit, said the newspaper. New York, Chicago and many other cities report shortages of small coins and have appealed to the mint to rush shipments of pennies." A local banker in Moline felt the shortage of pennies was not only due to the war tax. That banker, according to The Dispatch, felt the shortage was partly due to the thrift of the people in the U.S. In days gone by, whenever anybody boosted the price of something he had to sell, he advanced the price five cents because the American people would rather pay the nickel than bother with pennies, the newspaper said. But times have changed. Now people are not only willing to bother with pennies but they kick like blazes when they have to pay a cent more. This is natural when many have so few cents left. A Moline banker told The Dispatch he had written to Chicago and asked for $200 worth of dimes, $200 worth of nickels and $10 worth of pennies We were lucky to get the $10 worth," he told the newspaper. In New York, the newspaper reported, the shortage is so acute that the U.S. sub-treasury is appealing to the kiddies to open their banks and get the pennies there exchanged into larger coinage. Then relief came from Denver, Colo. From now until some undermined time in the future, the Denver mint will turn out nothing but pennies - 600,000 of them a day - to relieve the need for great numbers of coppers caused by the war tax bill, the newspaper said. In addition to the tax on consumer goods, the income tax was changed under the War Revenue Act of 1917. Income tax rates were raised, while exemptions were lowered. The 2 percent bracket had previously applied to income below $20,000. That amount was lowered to $2,000. The top bracket (income over $2 million) was raised from 15 percent to 67 percent. There are more one-cent coins produced than any other denomination. The coin has weathered two world conflicts and more. Maybe we should reach down and pick up that penny on the sidewalk. Once again, in celebration of the traditional Christmas season kickoff, we bring you our Thanksgiving week all-cheers edition of Cheers & Jeers. Cheers to Arconic's announcement that it will invest $137 million more at its Davenport Works. The new heat-treat furnace coming to its Riverdale plant is expected to create 30 jobs and retain 250 jobs at a wage of $18.30 per hour. It also represents the global aluminum giant formerly known as Alcoa Inc.'s continued commitment to our region. "This is the second time in less than a decade that Arconic, as a global corporation, has chosen the Quad-Cities for a significant investment, Liz Murray Tallman, chief economic development officer for the Quad Cities Chamber, said Monday. Arconic is a driver of new jobs and economic growth in the Quad-Cities. We thank them for their continued investment here, and have been honored to support their expansion efforts. Cheers to the reopening of John Deere Road to four lanes in time for Black Friday and the Friday reopening of the intersection of 7th Avenue and 19th Street. The latter is a welcome early holiday gift for motorists trying to navigate downtown Moline. It also signals continued progress on the reshaping of Moline's downtown in preparation for the new Interstate 74 bridge. Cheers to this year's army of teens representing 17 Quad-Cities area high schools for collecting 424,845 pounds of food for the needy in our community. The 2017 Quad Cities Student Hunger Drive total is 46,000 pounds heavier than last year, and will provide more than 354,000 meals to hungry children, families, and seniors in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. We were especially pleased to see that the students continued to focus on collecting good for that's also good for the food insecure in our community. Please join us in thanking the young people who took part and the schools, teachers, staff, volunteers, and Hunger Drive staff who keeps the drive going year after year. If you're looking for a more tangible way to show your support, donate to your local food pantry, not just during the holidays but throughout the year. Hunger is, after all, a year-round problem. Cheers and thank you to all who put others before themselves this Thanksgiving. That starts, as always, with Mr. Thanksgiving, Bob Vogelbaugh, who once again packed SouthPark Mall with people, pie, poultry and good cheer during his 47th annual community dinner. A standing ovation, too, to his hand-picked successor, who was announced at the 2017 event's kickoff news conference. After the dinner celebrates its golden anniversary, Mr. Vogelbaugh expects to hand the reins to Isaac Rumler. The third-grader at Seton Catholic School will be 12 by then, with some mighty big shoes to fill. But his parents, Matt and Amber, are ready to help, Mr. Vogelbaugh sahs. It's amazing to see someone so young so committed to serving his community every Thanksgiving Day. Cheers also to volunteers from churches, organizations, agencies and charities for sharing Thanksgiving meals and providing holiday gift baskets for those in need. For many, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, it's a holiday tradition. Last Sunday, thanks to efforts of many, it hosted its 28th Annual Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner for the community. Others laid the groundwork for new traditions, including the St. Ambrose Occupational Therapy students that provided a Thanksgiving meal for 50 refugee families from eight countries. The event, held in conjunction with The Spring Forward Family Reading Night, also offered these newcomers a taste of hospitality and an introduction to a wonderfully American holiday. Salute! The body of an Indian Army jawan who was abducted Friday from his home in Kashmir's Pulwama, has been recovered. No militant group has taken responsibility yet. By India Today Web Desk, Shuja-ul-Haq : In yet another incident of abduction and murder of security forces personnel, a bullet-ridden body of an army jawan was found in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Saturday morning. The deceased jawan has been identified as Irfan Dar, a resident of Sanzan village, confirmed SSP Shopian Ambarkar Shriram to India Today. The body was found under mysterious conditions in Wuthmulla village of Shopian. BREAKING: Bullet-riddled body of Army soldier Sepoy Irfan Ahmed Dar recovered in Shopian, south Kashmir this morning. He was 23. Probe on. pic.twitter.com/wIWAvLMWFI- Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) November 25, 2017 advertisement Locals who found the body had informed the police. Following the incident the police have launched an investigation to track down the culprits. "He was perhaps kidnapped by militants. His bullet-riddled body was recovered today morning," Shriram said, adding that the soldier was posted in Gurez. Sources said that Dar was posted in Gurez area. No militant outfit has come forward to claim responsibility of the murder. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the murder and condoled the family of the soldier in a tweet. The murder of young Irfan Dar is a very tragic & reprehensible act. My unqualified condemnation & heartfelt condolences to his family. https://t.co/fzwlInBjtg- Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 25, 2017 This is the third incident of murder of security forces personnel in the recent times. In September, a young Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was shot dead by terrorists when he and his family tried to thwart an abduction attempt. The terrorists opened fire on the family following the tussle. The deceased BSF jawan was identified as Constable Mohammad Ramzan Parray (31). In a similar incident in May this year, another jawan identified as Ummer Fayaz was shot dead by about four terrorists in Shopian district. The incident later triggered protests in the valley. (Inputs from Ashraf Wani) --- ENDS --- Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Property details: The above picture is of the 2.5 acres of land available in the Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino County, CA.This land has frontage on Hwy 247 (Old Woman Springs Road) with power at the road. YOU ARE BIDDING ON THE DOWN PAYMENT WHICH WILL BE SUBTRACTED FROM THEPURCHASE PRICE.THE BALANCE WILL BE PAID WITH36 MONTHLY INSTRALLMENTS. SPECIFICS COUNTY/ZIP: SAN BERNARDINO 92356 LEGAL: SW 1/4 SE 1/4 SW 1/4 SW 1/4 SEC 2 TP 3N R 3E EX MNL RTS AS RESERVED BY USA SIZE: 2.5 ACRES (108,900 SQ FT) APN: 0447-561-35... Price: $ 203 Seller State of Residence: Wisconsin Property Address: HWY 247 State/Province: California Zip/Postal Code: 92356 Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: Residential Location: 923**, Lucerne Valley, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Residential , We're sorry, this article is not currently available The NIA has said that there is a pattern in the interfaith marriage trend in Kerala. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Ahead of the hearing on the 'Kerala love jihad' case on Monday, it is learnt that all the parties in the Akhila alias Hadiya controversy will maintain their original stance. Last week, the National Investigation Agency had submitted its report to the Supreme Court in a sealed envelope. The third such report filed by agency. While Hadiya was questioned at her residence for two consecutive days, it is learnt from sources that she stated that she married out of her own free will. advertisement Hadiya's father KM Ashokan, who had approached the Kerala HC, leading to the annulment of her marriage to Shafin Jahan, was questioned earlier by the agency slueths. He claimed that his daughter was "brain washed". The NIA has said that there is a pattern in the interfaith marriage trend in Kerala. Stating further that an indoctrinated person is not capable of giving free consent in marriage. But, Hadiya vehemently denied the allegation that she was forced to marry Shafin. Her marriage was arranged without the consent of her father. She has reportedly said she converted to Islam out of her own free will. The statement is part of the sealed envelope that will be the crux of the court hearing on Monday. Out of the 89 cases of interfaith marriages, 23 were found to have PFI connections. No direct case of 'love jihad', indoctrination, conversion, or recruitment to terror outfits has been found in the case. Though, the NIA has hinted at indoctrination and lure -- both making voluntary conversion illegal. Earlier this week, NIA also recorded statement of AS Sainaba, National President, Women's Wing of PFI. Incidentally, she was caught on the India Today sting, talking about conversions in Kerala, a charge she denied later. As per the sources, she was interrogated on Sunday. Sources say, based on the questioning of several key persons including parents of the young woman have been examined. The agency is reportedly maintaining its stand that there is a systematic pattern to convert non-Muslim girls and marrying them off to Muslim men which appears to be a larger conspiracy of conversion. Meanwhile, Akshara Bose, a 25-year-old Hindu woman from Kerala has also approached the court alleging that her husband Sajjad Rehman had forced her to convert to Islam, and was trying to sell her as a sex slave while he went to Jeddah on work assignment. The matter is expected to be heard on November 30. ALSO WATCH | Kerala love jihad 'victim' Hadiya first time on camera: Forced conversion or choice? --- ENDS --- advertisement 'The stage is set for increasing tensions in a highly volatile region as crucial as ever from a geopolitical standpoint,' predicts Claude Smadja. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is not only trying to reorient Saudi Arabia, but also endeavouring to reshape the geopolitics and balance of power in West Asia. And he is in a hurry. While MbS, as he is nicknamed, is a very shrewd, ruthless and bold individual as well as a risk-taker -- evident from his breaking away from the traditional mindset of Saudi rulers -- yet successfully tackling domestic and international challenges will require his utmost capabilities. Since elevated as co-crown prince by his father, King Salman, MbS has systematically established himself as the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, without waiting for the abdication or death of his octogenarian father. Becoming rapidly the key decision-maker for the kingdom's economic, foreign and defence policies, he eliminated the other co-crown prince, his cousin Prince bin Nayef, snatching also from him the control of the security services. He has restricted the pervasive power of the religious police and allowed Saudi women to drive -- a very potent symbol of change -- scoring points with the country's middle class bristling at the strait-jacket imposed on Saudi society by the Wahhabi clergy and the ultra-conservatism of the monarchy. MbS knows that these kind of moves -- and similar ones that will have to follow -- are absolute prerequisites if his ambitious programme of economic reform to wean the kingdom away from an unsustainable over-dependence on oil is to stand a chance of success. The latest step, three weeks ago, has been the most spectacular -- the arrest of more than 200 top personalities (princes, business leaders, former top officials) considered until now as untouchable on the accusation of corruption. This was the perfect way of killing three birds with one stone: Neutralising potential opponents as he prepares to ascend to the throne; showing to the middle class and other segments of the population that he is serious about fighting endemic corruption, creating a modern economy and making the country enter the 21st century; and, last but not least, taking from Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, now in prison for corruption, the control of the National Guard, the elite unit in charge of the protection of the monarchy, and thus bringing the whole military and security apparatus under his control. Many Saudis and foreign observers have been worrying at MbS' brashness and the destabilisation risks that his moves are creating for Saudi Arabia and, indeed, West Asia. However, he might not have any other choice than moving fast and taking the risks given the daunting challenges he is facing and the fact that he needs to 'lock in his power before his father King Salman's abdication or death. And there is some systematic approach behind the brashness and impatience as, in the past few months, MbS has been putting people loyal to him in a number of key positions in Riyadh as well as in the kingdom's provinces. Transforming an economy based on oil rent and corruption and a society whose acquiescence has been either bought by subsidies or ensured by the Wahhabi obscurantist propagated not only requires major structural changes but also a radical cultural and societal transformation. Since the launch of the Reform 2030 programme, deadlines for achieving some objectives have now been pushed back as unrealistic and some previously abolished subsidies had to be reinstated because of the social unrest their abrogation had created. In the same way, the fight against corruption, which has been an intrinsic part of the system, is bound not only to be a difficult process but also to create many enemies waiting for the first opportunity to strike back. There will be no shortage of members of the royal family, not speaking of rent-happy businessmen, willing not only to limit the scope of reforms but also to do whatever they can to bar the crown prince from ascending the throne. This is where the international challenge undertaken by MbS comes into play. The crown prince, in alliance with UAE leaders, is determined to draw a line against the expansion of Iranian power and influence in the region, and to reassert Saudi Arabia as a number one regional player. He intends to reverse the strategic gains achieved by Tehran in Iraq and Syria with the defeat of ISIS and the consolidation of regimes in Baghdad and Damascus ever more closely allied to Iran and acting as its proxies. MbS and the UAE rulers' decision to strangulate Qatar and force the regime there to distance itself from Iran has illustrated the decision to actively contain Iranian influence. But the Saudis have also been very alarmed by the growing encroachment of Hezbollah -- another Iranian proxy in Lebanon and by the rapprochement between the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas and the Iran-supported Hamas. Hence the bringing back to Riyadh of Prime Minister Saad Hariri who had been unable to stop Hezbollah's advances, and the announcement, from the Saudi capital, of his resignation (Hariri has since returned to Lebanon and withdrawn his resignation). Ditto for the summoning of Mahmoud Abbas to Riyadh to let him know in no ambiguous terms that Saudi Arabia will not allow the rapprochement between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas to be a cover for Tehran gaining more influence in Palestinian affairs. MbS and his Gulf allies consider the expansion of the Shiite -- Iranian -- crescent of power encompassing Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon a lethal threat to their regimes and seem ready for an open confrontation with Tehran. They feel supported by the Donald J Trump administration which does not believe in any possibility of a 'grand bargain' between the US and Iran -- as the Barack Obama administration implicitly did -- and has taken a much more confrontational policy toward the Iranian regime. All these moves may be taking Mohammed bin Salman into uncharted waters: The war in Yemen is going nowhere with ever higher casualties and the increasing desolation inflicted to the country. Not to speak of the drag on the Saudi finances already under stress. Iran will continue to support the Houthi, Shia-led insurrection in Yemen and will not abandon its broader goal of asserting its prominence in the region. The missile launched from Yemen, which landed close to Riyadh airport a few days after the Hariri's resignation, and the blasting of an oil pipeline in Bahrain look like warning shots from Tehran about the risks Saudi Arabia would run in case of a direct confrontation with Iran. So far Tehran's response to the Saudi counter-offensive has been shaped by the desire to preserve its nuclear agreement. However, neither Iran will renounce its objective of prominence in the region nor will Saudi Arabia, under MbS' leadership, backtrack on its will to block and reverse the Iranian/Shiite power grab. The stage is thus set for increasing tensions in a highly volatile region as crucial as ever from a geopolitical standpoint. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has embarked on a course that, beyond his own personal future, will define the evolution of West Asia, with massive repercussions beyond the region. Don't expect quiet moments in the period to come. Claude Smadja, president, Smadja & Smadja, a strategic advisory firm, tweets @ClaudeSmadja IMAGE: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, with his father King Salman. Photograph: Saudi Press Agency/Reuters The Egyptian air force on Saturday gunned down several militants and destroyed their vehicles, hours after over 230 worshippers were killed in a terrorist attack at a mosque in the country's restive North Sinai region. Army spokesperson Tamer el-Refai said in a statement that the air forces launched retaliatory attacks on terror hideouts in the surrounding area of North Sinai, killing militants and destroying vehicles used in the deadly attack. He said arms and ammunition depots of the militants were also targeted. At least 235 worshippers were killed and 109 others injured when heavily-armed militants bombed the al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city and opened fire on people attending Friday prayers. Earlier, local media reports quoting sources in the security force said the army launched "immediate and wide" ground and air raids and two drones attacked two vehicles belonging to militants in Al-Resha village near el-Rouda village. Following the mosque attack, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had chaired an emergency meeting with officials to review security situation. In a statement later, he pledged to respond with "brutal force" against militants. He had said that the "vile and treacherous" activity would not pass without a decisive punishment. The Egypt government has announced three days of mourning. Representative image MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan has sent a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah after his daughter-in-law was given a ticket instead of his wife. Unhappy over the Bharatiya Janata Party nominating his daughter-in-law instead of his wife from the Kaalol assembly seat in Gujarat, party MP Prabhatsinh Chauhan has warned that he would not guarantee a win for the party, if the candidate is not replaced with someone of his choice. The BJP on Friday released its fifth list of 13 candidates for the second phase of assembly polls in Gujarat. In the list, the ruling party dropped sitting MLA Arvindsinh Chauhan and instead fielded Prabhatsinh Chauhans daughter-in-law Suman Chauhan from the Kaalol seat in Panchmahal district. Enraged over the announcement, Prabhatsinh Chauhan dashed off a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah, urging him to replace Suman Chauhan with a local candidate. Although, in the letter he did not clearly demand that his wife Rangeshwari be given the party ticket, recently he had told reporters that she was the best candidate for the Kaalol seat. While Rangeshwari is the president of Ghoghamba taluka panchayat of Panchamahal district, Suman Chauhan is a member of Panchmahal district panchayat. In the letter, the parliamentarian also alleged that his son Pravinsinh is a bootlegger and that he and his wife had even gone to jail. My son Pravin is a bootlegger and several cases are still pending against him. Both he and his wife Suman even went to jail in the past. This will dent the BJPs prospects of winning the seat. Further, Suman belongs to Godhra and people of Kaalol will not accept her, Chauhan said in the letter. Though I am a senior, having spent 45 years in public life, the party has not taken my opinion while selecting the candidates. I was also not taken into confidence while selecting the candidate for Kaalol. Thus, I urge you to consider changing the current candidate with a local one of my choice, he added. Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a prominent Rajput face in the region, who had joined the BJP in 1992, claimed that though he had single-handedly established the BJPs dominance in that district over the years, he has been ignored by the party and not given any post in the organisation. Chauhan stressed that the BJP would not get even a single vote from tribals. While his wife Rangeshwari is a tribal, Suman Chauhan is a Rajput. The BJP will not get a single vote, out of the 1.10 lakh votes of tribals due to this ongoing controversy. There are huge chances that we will lose Kaalol. Thus, I want to inform you that I will not take any responsibility of ensuring the partys victory on any of the seven seats under my constituency including Kaalol, Chauhan said in the letter. Three days ago, Chauhan said that he had sought ticket for his wife on the ground that she had done very good work as Ghoghamba taluka panchayat president. Just go to Ghoghamba to see what kind of work she has done. She has completely uprooted corruption. Rangeshwari is the best candidate and that is why I have appealed to the party leaders to select her for Kaalol seat, Chauhan told reporters. On Friday, when Rangeshwari came to know that she has been ignored in ticket allocation, she targeted her husband in a fiery Facebook post, in which she even dared him to enter Kaalol for poll campaign. However, she deleted the post on Saturday. I had posted that comment out of anger and disappointment. That was not against the BJP, it was against the Member of Parliament. But now, I have entered into a compromise with him over the issue, Rangeshwari told reporters. Image: Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a prominent Rajput face in the region, said he was not taken into confidence while selecting the candidate for Kaalol. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan released 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Tayiba chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest, saying that the formers hugplomacy with United States President Donald Trump failed. Ribbing Modi, Gandhi on his Twitter handle said more hugs were urgently needed between PM Modi and Trump. Narendrabhai??? ???? ???. Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed (sic), he tweeted. Earlier on November 24, Saeed was released from house arrest in Lahore. Police guards were removed from his residence where a large number of supporters gathered to celebrate the end of his house arrest. In his first address after being released, Saeed blamed India and the United States for his detention and raked up the issue of Kashmir. Saeed was declared a global terrorist by the United Nations and the US for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which claimed the lives of 166 people and maimed over 300 others. Image: Rahul Gandhi shakes hands with his supporters during a rally ahead of Gujarat state assembly elections, at a village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters Pakistan has justified the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, claiming that Islamabad was committed to the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions regime on terrorists. The JuD head and Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder, who has a $10 million bounty on his head for terror activities, was freed by Pakistan on Friday. He is a UN and US designated terrorist. Indias ministry of external affairs said Saeeds release confirmed once again the lack of seriousness by the Pakistan government in bringing to justice perpetrators of terrorism, including individuals and entities designated by the UN. It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is visible for all to see, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi on Thursday. Responding to the comments made by the MEA, Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan was committed to the implementation of UNSC 1267 sanctions regime and has taken several steps in this regard. The (MEA) spokesperson took exception to self-serving insinuations, he said in statement issues late Friday night. Faisal said that courts in Pakistan, pursuant to their constitutional duty, were determined to uphold rule of law and due process for all citizens of Pakistan. Legal processes were anchored in rule of law, not dictates of politics and posturing, he said. It is in the interest of all states to speak and act in a manner that is consistent with the imperatives of adhering to rule of law at the national and international levels, Faisal said. He said that Pakistans resolve, actions and successes in the fight against terrorism, terrorist violence and terrorists are unmatched in the world. Pakistan condemns and opposes all forms of terrorism by any individual or group, the FO spokesperson said. Saeed, in his late 60s, was under house arrest for 297 days since January. The firebrand clerics release after midnight came ahead of the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. Saeed was individually designated by the UN under the Security Council Resolution 1267 in December, 2008. Image: Hafiz Saeed with his supporters after attending Friday Prayers in Lahore, Pakistan on the day that he was released from house detention. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters Clashes on Saturday broke out between security personnel and protesters belonging to a hardline religious groups in the Pakistani capital following a government crackdown, leaving one person dead and over 150 others injured and triggering violence in other cities. IMAGE: Police fire tear gas during clashes with protesters at Faizabad junction in Islamabad. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters The government blacked out all TV channels and blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to stem the spiralling violence. The police and paramilitary personnel tried to disperse the protesters who have been blocking main highways leading to the capital Islamabad for more than two weeks to press for the resignation of law minister Zahid Hamid. The protesters are objecting to changes made in the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September, alleging the action undermined Islamic beliefs and linked it to blasphemy. The operation was launched after the Islamabad high court on Friday issued contempt of court notice against Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for failing to implement orders to clear the roads. IMAGE: A supporter of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, an Islamist political party, gestures after blocking the main road leading to the airport in Karachi. Protests have spread from Faizabad to other parts of the country. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters The protesters belonging to Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan attacked the house of former interior minister Nisar Ali Khan in Faizabad area of Rawalpindi. They damaged the gate of his house and tried to enter the premises, but were prevented by police, official said. Khan is a former minister and his house is located very close to Faizabad interchanged which has been occupied by the protesters for almost three weeks. It was not known whether he was present inside the house at the time of attack. At least one security person was killed and over 150 persons, including protesters and security personnel, were injured, police said. IMAGE: More than 8,000 security personnel took part in the operation against around 2,000 protesters. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters TV footage showed police firing teargas and security personnel in riot gears charging at the protesters. Dozens of them were arrested and shifted to various police stations. Some of the security personnel were injured due to stone pelting by protesters. According to a security official, more than 8,000 security personnel took part in the operation against around 2,000 protesters. The operation was still going on and police were facing stiff resistance from the protesters, they said. Meanwhile, violence also erupted in many parts of Karachi, Pakistans biggest city and financial hub, where normal life was paralysed by protesters who forced shut down of markets, shops and petrol pumps. At least 15 people were injured in the violence. Security forces fired in the air and baton-charged the protesters who came out in many areas after a crackdown was launched at the Numaish roundabout on the M A Jinnah road. The protesters had also gathered at Al-Asif square and tried to block the roads leading to Hyderabad, traffic police officials said. IMAGE: Supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan chant slogans as they walk to join the sit-in protest in Karachi, Pakistan. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters A military spokesman said that army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa talked to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on telephone and urged for peaceful solution to the problem. As authorities struggled to contain the violence, the government sources said the decision to shut down private news channels and social networking sites was taken in view of the experience of the military operation against extremists holed up in the Lal Masjid in Islamabad in 2007. At that time some media channels glorified suspected terrorists and vandals and there was a backlash due to this, a source said. In such a delicate situation there was also concerns that social networking sites would be used to spread unverified and false news/information and create panic and fear among the people, another source said. IMAGE: In addition to a blackout to all TV channels, the Pakistan government has blocked popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Photograph: Caren Firouz/Reuters About 2,000 activists of TLYR and ST have been blocking the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road that connect Islamabad with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi for more than two weeks. Islamabad city magistrate on Friday issued a warning to protesters to disperse by midnight or face the consequences. Earlier, IHC last Friday had given a 24-hour deadline to the government to clear the roads which was later extended till Thursday. However, the court on Friday expressed strong displeasure at the government for failing to take action against the protesters Officials suspect Islamic State to be responsible for the attack. IMAGE: Other than the 305 people, including 27 children dead, another 128 have been injured in the attack. Photograph: REUTERS TV The death toll from the deadliest terror attack on Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Egypts restive North Sinai region has risen to 305, the state prosecution said on Saturday. Among the deceased are 27 children, Egypts General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek said in a statement. Sadek said 128 people were injured in the attack, the deadliest terror attack in the country. Heavily-armed terrorists bombed al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city during the Friday prayers. The number of terrorists involved in the attack vary from 25 to 30, the statement said, adding that they had raised the Islamic State flag. IMAGE: Damaged vehicles are seen after a bomb exploded at Al Rawdah mosque in Bir Al-Abed, Egypt. Photograph: Mohamed Soliman/Reuters They took their positions facing the door of the mosque and its 12 windows before opening fire on the worshipers, it said. The terrorists used five vehicles in the attack and torched seven vehicles owned by worshippers, the statement added. The prosecutor said that according to the injured people, some of the terrorists were masked and others were not and all of them were dressed in military-like outfits. After the bomb ripped through the mosque, the gunmen on four off-road vehicles opened fire on the worshippers who tried to escape from the site after the explosion, it said. Speaking to state-run Masriya TV station, Egyptian health ministry spokesman Khalid Mujahid described the incident as a terrorist attack. One report said the target appeared to be supporters of the security forces who were praying at the mosque. Local people were also quoted as saying that followers of Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, regularly gathered at the mosque. Islamist jihadist groups, including so-called Islamic State, see Sufis as heretics. About 50 ambulances were rushed to the attack site to shift the injured to hospitals. IMAGE: People stand outside the l Rawdah mosque, where a bomb exploded, in Bir Al-Abed, Egypt. The attack is now being considered at the deadliest in the history of Egypt. Photograph: Mohamed Soliman/Reuters No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack and there is no word yet on what happened to the terrorists involved. There have been regular attacks blamed on militants on the Sinai peninsula since the January 2011 revolution that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak, but this is the deadliest assault of its kind. The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule. Over 700 security personnel have been reported killed since then. The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belonged to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip. The Egypt government has announced three days of mourning, even as President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi chaired an emergency meeting with officials to review security situation after the deadly attack. Egypt has witnessed a series of terror attacks this year claiming scores of lives. On May 26, gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians in central Egypt, killing at least 28 people and wounding 25 others. On April 9, two suicide bombings at Palm Sunday services at churches in the northern cities of Alexandria and Tanta left 46 people dead. In a gesture that touched many hearts, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday hugged a part-time woman lecturer after listening to her plight during an interactive session with the teaching community of Gujarat. IMAGE: Ranjana Avasthi wept as she explained the plight of part-time lecturers, prompting Rahul Gandhi to walk of the dais and console her. Photograph: @INCIndia/Twitter Ranjana Avasthi, a PhD holder, was among the lecturers, professors and schoolteachers invited to attend a session with Gandhi, who is on a two-day campaign tour of Gujarat ahead of the first phase of assembly polls next month. After Gandhis address to the guests at the Thakorbhai Desai Hall, Avasthi, nearing retirement, poured her heart out when she was handed over the mic to ask a question. She sought to know the Congress plans to solve the problems faced by her fraternity if the party comes to power in Gujarat. With a choked voice, Avasthi, who claimed to be a part-time teacher, explained how several lecturers in Gujarat like her are being denied their basic right, be it adequate remuneration, medical leaves or pension. Ever since I completed my PhD in Sanskrit in 1994, we have been living in a miserable condition. Even after 22 years of service as a part-time lecturer, our salary is just Rs 12,000 per month. We were not even granted maternity leave. We have seen some of the worst days of our life during this service, said Avasthi with a heavy heart. Now, the government is planning to annul our entire service by offering us Rs 40,000 salary under a fixed-pay regime. Like others, we also wanted to retire with pension benefits to be able to live a respectable life. But now, there is no hope. Only we know what kind of struggle we did and what kind of pain we have gone through, said a teary-eyed Avasthi. IMAGE: The Congress vice president was addressing lecturers, professors and schoolteachers at an interactive session at Thakorbhai Desai Hall ahead of the Gujarat polls. Photograph: @INCIndia/Twitter She then urged Gandhi to ensure people like her do not suffer if his party comes to power in Gujarat after the next months polls. Avasthi appealed to Gandhi to make sure even part-time teachers get pension after retirement. Moved by Avasthis representation, Gandhi, who was holding his mic and listening to her plight, paused for a moment and said, Sometimes, you cant answer some questions with words. The 47-year-old Congress MP then put down his microphone on the dais and walked towards the lecturer, sitting on the middle row of the hall, to console her. Gandhi spoke with Avasthi for a while and then hugged her before returning to the stage, surprising the audience with his impromptu gesture which must have touched many hearts. He promised the teaching fraternity that if the Congress comes to power, it will focus on building a robust public education and healthcare system in Gujarat. Gandhi termed the fixed-pay system of the Gujarat government as unfair and promised to change it. The policy was introduced by the Gujarat government in 2006, wherein such direct recruits were only entitled to get a fixed salary for a period of five years. Nine years after he sacrificed his life to capture 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, Tukaram Ombles daughter says that citizens must realise that losing security personnel is not only the familys loss but also that of the country. IMAGE: Tukaram Omble's wife Tarabai and his two daughters (pictured right) Vandana and Vaishali. Vaishali says that they have kept his belongings untouched and not a day goes without thinking of him. Photograph: Rediff Archives The daughter of policeman Tukaram Omble, who was killed while trying to capture terrorist Ajmal Kasab, says her family still awaits his return, nine years after the deadly Mumbai terror attacks. We feel papa will come home any moment, although deep in our heart we know that he will never be amongst us now, says a teary-eyed Vaishali Omble, the eldest daughter of the Mumbai terror attacks hero. We always think that papa has gone out on duty and will return home. We have kept his belongings at the place they used to be in our home. Our family is proud of his supreme sacrifice, said Vaishali Omble, who has completed her M Ed (Masters in education) and aspires to be a lecturer. Omble, an assistant sub-inspector, was killed by Kasabs bullets in the early hours of November 27, 2008. In a daring act, he had pounced on Kasab without thinking much about the consequences. His bravery had made it possible for the police to overpower Kasab, the only 26/11 terrorist to be captured and hanged. Not a day has gone by in the last nine years that we have not remembered him, said Vaishali Omble, who stays at the Worli Police Camp with her mother Tara and sister Bharti, who is an officer in the state GST department. For how long will police or armed forces personnel continue losing their lives in the name of supreme sacrifice, she asked. This should stop somewhere. There should be a change in this scenario. Every citizen should always be alert and foil incidents in which we are losing our men, she said, ahead of the 26/11 attacks anniversary. IMAGE: A cop stands guard at the bust of Tukaram Omble in Mumbai's Marine Drive area. Photograph: Sahil Salvi/Rediff.com Vaishali Omble said citizens should know their responsibilities and must understand that when policemen or armed forces personnel get killed in the line of duty, it is not only the familys loss but also that of the country. Satara district in western Maharashtra from where my family hails has a long history of martyrs. Among the recent ones are Central Reserve Police Force head constable Ravindra Dhanawade, who was killed while fighting terrorists in Kashmir in August and Colonel Santosh Mahadik, who died while fighting terrorists in Kashmir in 2015. The list is unending, which disturbs me a lot, she said. We treat every member of a martyrs family like our own family and we help them overcome the grief, she said. Vaishali Omble gives tuitions to students from class 8 to junior college, which keeps her busy and makes her forget the pain of losing her father. On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived in Mumbai by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people on different locations, killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores. Laura Purcell's first novel The Silent Companions backfires and the result is more dreadful rather than dread-full. THE SILENT COMPANIONS follows in the path of Gothic ghost stories which pile on the gloom and doom By India Today: When Elsie Bainbridge arrives at The Bridge at the beginning of Laura Purcell's first novel, The Silent Companions, the stage is set for an eerie story along the lines of The Others. The Bridge is a ghostly, half-derelict mansion where "everything was dead". Elsie is dressed, appropriately, in widow's weeds, and the weather obliges too: "The sky was iron grey, the monotony broken only by crows." So far, so Gothic. advertisement With her elements in place-young widow, hostile villagers, crumbling mansion house, mist and mud and rain - Purcell's story unfolds in a series of unfortunate events told in three different times. The main story, set in 1865, follows Elsie's discovery of an antique painted figure in a long-locked attic room-one of the "silent companions" of the book's title. This sets in train ghostly, ghastly and gruesome happenings that lead to a Tarantinoesque body count and Elsie's incarceration in St Joseph's Hospital for the insane. The asylum is the setting for the second strand of the novel, where a doctor tries to piece together the events that have led to her incarceration. Is his patient mad? Is she a fantastist? Has she succumbed to what the villagers describe as an attack of the "morbs"? Is she a criminal, or is there something out there? beyond the understanding of mere science? The third strand is the back-story for the companions. Rewind to 1635, and Josiah Bainbridge, lord of the manor, and his wife Annie, are preparing for a visit from the King and Queen. Annie decides that life-like figures painted on freestanding wooden boards will be just the ticket to amuse and delight the visiting royals. The 'companions' turn out to be less a harmless divertissement than malevolent harbingers of evil. Unfortunately, the pastiche of elements from great gothic ghost stories fail to deliver on the promise made by the eerie eye peeking out of a die-cut keyhole on the book's cover. In so relentlessly piling on the gloom and doom, Purcell's book backfires and the result is more dreadful rather than dread-full. --- ENDS --- Hassan said CPI(M) is always trying to engage with the youth but accepted that the young leadership in the party is "not up to the mark". By India Today Web Desk: CPI(M) leader Moinul Hassan today said that the "Left should relook theoretical and ideological premises". Speaking on Day 2 of the India Today Conclave East 2017, Hassan said the party is always trying to engage with the youth but accepted that the young leadership in the party is "not up to the mark". On whether the Left has been left behind in West Bengal, Prasenjit Bose, an economist who was expelled by the CPI(M) in 2012, said the Left has suffered from two critical problems-not being able to adapt to the changes, and imitating other political parties. advertisement Bose said that the party that once attracted some of the most intelligent people is today not able to reinvent and innovate. Akhil Ranjan Dutta, a professor in Gauhati University, said that the Left had organised cadres but did not try to "negotiate with people" in the state. Many Left sympathisers, he said, condemned the Singur incident. "Medha Patkar came and sat with Mamata Banerjee," he said. On why Left in West Bengal lost out while it has reinvented itself in Kerala and retained power in Tripura, Dutta said, "If there is a perception that keeping the people poor in the name of equity is the ideology of the Left, young people will not accept it". Bose said that "they (Left) will not accept that there is a problem" and will continue to deny the mandate of the people which threatens to push them into "oblivion". CPI(M) leader Hassan argued that "Left is a very democratic party". What is the vision for Left's revival? Asked about his vision for the Left, Hassan said, "The Left should relook theoretical and ideological premises". Dutta said that while Left is the best alternative to the "kind of parties ruling the country today", it has at times "become parochial". "They have to look at aspirations of the people," he said, adding that RSS has become Leftist than the Left as "they (RSS) will go to everyone and even the Left and try to convince them". Bose said the Left in West Bengal needs "more representation from Dalits, adivasis, Muslims and of course youth". Here is the full coverage of India Today Conclave East 2017. --- ENDS --- TORRINGTON The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, along with 200 guests, paid tribute to seven honorees at the 4th Annual CultureMAX Awards Event on Nov. 14 at The Warner Theatre in Torrington. This annual event once again celebrated the inspiring works and contributions that various people, organizations, and businesses have made to northwest Connecticuts cultural fabric. The 2017 recipients honored during the evening were Susan Becker Aziz of Bantam in the Artist category - she has designed and fabricated costumes and sets for theater and dance in Litchfield County and beyond for over 25 years; Adam Atkins of Harwinton, who teaches at The Gilbert School in Winsted, in the Art Educators category - he has taught music at The Gilbert School for over 27 years, and also teaches adults through several community vocal music groups he has established; and Mark McEachern of Torrington in the Heritage Professional category - he is an historian and history advocate who leads the Torrington Historical Society and who has had a key role in valuable region-wide programs and city-wide preservation and promotional efforts Police seized 75,968 bottles of IMFL from a premises taken on rent by Rohit Yadav, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur who was into metal scrap business. By PTI, India Today Web Desk: The Gujarat Police, during a late night raid, seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth over Rs 2.2 crore in Gandhinagar. The seizure, which is the biggest in recent times in the dry state, comes just days ahead of the Assembly election. The team of Gujarat Police also seized five vehicles worth Rs 24.15 lakh from Khoraj village, the Election Commission said. advertisement According to the Election Commission, liquor is one of the most popular inducements used to persuade voters in the dry state. Police seized 75,968 bottles of IMFL, including those of brandy, from a premises taken on rent by Rohit Yadav, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur who was into metal scrap business. According to police, it was being illegally used as godown for bootlegging activities. "A criminal case has been registered vide Adalaj PSCR No 6266 /2017 under Section 66B, 65A C, 98(2), 116B etc of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949 in this regard and investigation is being carried out into the ownership of vehicles seized during the raid and to identify various people associated with the transportation, storage and sale of liqour," the EC said in a statement. The Gujarat Police has launched a special drive against the bootlegging activities in coordination with neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in view of the forthcoming assembly elections, scheduled for December 9 and 14. -With agency inputs ALSO WATCH | EXPOSED: How Gujarat's high stakes polls are funded on black money --- ENDS --- Jimmy Rebick worked for the former Ukrops Super Markets chain for 34 years and stayed on when the Martins Food Markets grocery chain bought those stores in 2010. But on July 17, after about seven years with Martins, he said goodbye to his co-workers at the chains store near Chesterfield Towne Center. The store and 18 other Martins locations in the Richmond area closed for good between November 2016 and August of this year. Its been humbling, said Rebick, 57, who started working at Ukrops while in high school and who had worked his way up to produce department manager at Martins. I never thought back in the days with Ukrops, in the beginning of my career, that something like this would have ever happened, he said. You felt like being in the grocery business was a pretty secure job format. In this day and time, you find out differently. In all, more than 2,700 employees at the 19 Richmond-area stores and one store in Williamsburg were laid off when the Martins chain exited the region to comply with antitrust conditions tied to the merger of the parent companies of Martins and Food Lion chains. Ten of the Martins stores were bought by Florida-based Publix Super Markets, which has since remodeled seven of the stores and reopened them. Former Martins employees had to apply for jobs at Publix just like any other new employee. Publix did not have any information on how many former Martins employees it had hired. The nine other Martins stores in the Richmond area and the one in Williamsburg were closed after no buyer was found. Its been almost a year to the day when the layoffs began last Nov. 28 when the first of the divested stores closed. The Virginia Employment Commission could not readily say how many of the former Martins employees were still without jobs or how many were collecting unemployment payments. Some of those workers have found work with other local grocery stores. Kroger, which has 18 area stores, has hired about 151 former Martins employees for hourly, department manager and store manager jobs, a spokeswoman said. Food Lion did not respond to a request for similar information. Walmart hired some former employees but did not have an exact number. The Richmond Times-Dispatch interviewed former employees, such as Rebick. They talked about the impact of losing what, for many, had been stable, long-term careers and what they are doing now. *** On Monday, Rebick starts a class to train for a commercial drivers license. Like many of the other former Martins employees, he qualified for help finding a job and retraining programs offered through the VEC. Martins provided 12 weeks of severance pay, he said, and unemployment payments kicked in. He is married and has two adult stepchildren. He has been working with ResCare Workforce Services, a company contracted to help laid off workers. There were some government grants and some different opportunities available for a person of my age and a person put in my position. I decided it was time for a career change, said Rebick, who lives in Powhatan. The commercial drivers license program is a four-week course to earn Class A commercial drivers license credentials, which would make him eligible to drive tractor-trailers. He has hauled trailers and campers in the past, so he has some familiarity with driving big vehicles. Im going for the complete thing. Its a four-week course to receive the Class A, which is the top tractor-trailer class that you can receive, he said. Im not going to be going from coast to coast. Im basically just taking advantage of what the government allows me to take advantage of. If they are willing to pay for this class, then I am willing to take it. ... Basically what I am trying to do is, Ive got to start over at the bottom no matter where I go. So I dont think I want to get back into the retail business, he said. If Ive got to start over at the bottom, I want to start over doing something on my terms. I had two Christmas Eves off in 41 years. I dont ever want to do that again. He did apply to Wegmans when the chain first opened stores here last year, but that was before the Martins closures were announced. I think I am too old and made too much money for what they were looking to hire, he said. He did not apply to Publix. When he goes into Kroger and Food Lion where the employees know him, he is asked when he is going to put in an application. Ive got to give this a shot first. If I can get something halfway decent out of this opportunity and I can find a Monday through Friday job, then I am going to give it a shot, he said. Some of his former co-workers have landed jobs at the other grocery chains. It looks like people who were quite a bit younger than I am and who had families and had a lot more responsibility, I think they pretty much are the ones that stayed in the grocery business, Rebick said. Rebick admits he was somewhat bitter initially but realized that wasnt helping. He lost a lot of time and tenure, he said. To complicate matters, his wife was recently told she was being laid off. She works in the home health field. Rebick feels her job prospects are better than his. You just reach a point where there was absolutely nothing you can do about it, so why get angry, why lose sleep. Hopefully, its going to be a blessing in disguise, he said of his situation. *** Before Sherri Anderson was laid off in November 2016, she had a dual role at the former Martins at White Oak Village shopping center where she worked. She was floral department manager but also a hiring manager. I did the hiring, onboarding, interviewing, made sure (new employees) knew about the benefits, Anderson said. Those skills in human resources helped her land on her feet. She had worked at Martins since 2010 and, before that, at Ukrops for seven years. Anderson started a new job this month at Amada Senior Care, where she is working in human resources and recruiting. The national senior care company has a network of franchise locations, including locations in the Richmond area. But even before the job with Amada Senior Care, she had landed a position in August with ResCare Workforce Services, the agency that came out to explain to her and the other displaced Martins workers some of the benefits available to them. As she interacted with the ResCare employees, she realized they were doing the type of work that she wanted to do. I went to their website and saw that there was a position available, and I applied, she said. I actually had to figure out how to reinvent my life, Anderson said. I had been doing grocery store retail ever since I was 15. I had to decide what was my Plan B, she said. After a round of interviews, she was hired in August as a business services consultant, a job in which she contacted local businesses looking for skilled employees and tried to match them up with people seeking work. Anderson also has taken advantage of retraining and workforce programs that allow her to take classes to make her more marketable. She is taking a class at Virginia Commonwealth University to earn Society for Human Resource Management certification. She takes the certification test on Dec. 1. The course, if she had to pay for it, would cost about $3,000. I feel very humble and grateful because there are a lot of my team members who I see on a regular basis and they still have not found employment. ... I just want to say for everybody to continue to have faith in God and dont give up, she said. *** Sushi maker Aung Chan Khine saw his livelihood upended when Martins stores in the area closed. Though technically not a Martins employee, he had operated a local franchise of Charlotte, N.C.-based Hissho Sushi since 2003 and had a contract to provide sushi to two Ukrops/Martins stores. When the stores closed, there went that business. Khine, 39, is still making sushi only now at his restaurant Sumo Sushi Express at 1090 Virginia Center Parkway. The restaurant is in the same neighborhood as the former Martins store where he worked near Virginia Center Commons mall. He also had provided sushi to the Ashland Martins store. Several months before the Martins store in Virginia Center Commons closed in February, he started looking for a place to open a restaurant, he said. He and his wife opened Sumo Sushi Express in March. A lot of people lost jobs, but I had a plan before (the stores) closed, Khine said. I knew I needed to prepare. I started looking for a place. He and his wife used personal savings to open the restaurant. It seats about 20, but Khine said a lot of the business is takeout. He and his wife are the only employees, but he is thinking about hiring a part-time worker. Please Donate In order to maintain this blog I have to pay for its upkeep including a hosting company, support services, virus and other malicious hackers. If you appreciate what I write please make a donation. Racist PayPal Tries to Close Down My Blog As you can see from this article PayPal have removed my blog. I would therefore ask people to make any future donations to the following: Name of Account: Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre Account No: 04094107 Sort Code: 09-01-50 Reference: Web donations By PTI: Kolkata, Nov 25 (PTI) Union Minister M J Akbar today unveiled a Dutch plaque at the Suriname Ghat here on the banks of Hoogly river, which was the point of departure of Indian indentured labourers to the then Dutch colony in South America. The plaque in Dutch language along with the English translations was installed by the Netherlands government. advertisement It was placed at the Mai Baap (mother and father) Memorial, which was unveiled in 2015 and is a depiction of the men and women indentured workers who had left the Indian coasts to work as labourers in sugarcane plantation in Suriname. The original Baba and Mai monument is in Parimaribo, the capital of Suriname, and symbolises the first Indian man and woman to set foot in the Dutch-speaking nation. Ambassador of Netherands to India Alphonsus Stoelinga and Suriname envoy Aashna Kanhai were also present at todays unveiling at the monument. Congratulating Suriname on its National Day, which marks its 42nd independence day, Akbar said, "When we talk about liberation, it is not only freedom from foreign rule, but is also the beginning. Freedom comes when we achieve freedom of aspirations". "From here people crossed the seven seas to reach Suriname. They were taken as replacement slaves and not as employees during those days of colonial rules," he said. The present generation of Indians in Suriname, whose parents and grand parents from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh had left the country between 1873 to 1917, never forgot their motherland, the union minister said. "They carry with them the philosophy, values, culture and beauty of the nation till this date," Akbar said. He said, "We are celebrating the resilience of human spirit, celebrating the ability of fellow Indians to make new achievements." "Today they are ambassadors (Indian descendants in Suriname) talking about our country. They never forgot the past, only in order to create a new future," Akbar said. Kanhai in her speech described the memorial "solid as a historical rock" and recalled how her ancestors had been among those who left their motherland, taking with them dhotis, sarees, the Gita and the Hanuman Chalisa for the settlers in Suriname, where around 34,000 east Indians went till 1960 and 65 per cent of them stayed back. She said that Suriname retains Bhojpuri, Maithili and Awadhi cultures along with those of Chinese, indigenous and other communities. advertisement The Dutch envoy recounted the history of Suriname and abolishment of slavery there. Stoelinga said the descendants of the indentured labourers who stayed on are respected. He thanked the Government of India for participating in the initiative. PTI SUS KK ANB --- ENDS --- A family escaped from a fire in a two-story house in western Henrico County on Saturday after being alerted by smoke alarms, authorities said. The American Red Cross was called to assist four adults and three children, who were not injured. The cause of the fire remained under investigation. The fire was reported about 10:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Horsley Drive, where firefighters found heavy smoke coming from all sides of the house and flames coming from a bedroom. Conflicting information from the occupants led firefighters to immediately go into rescue mode in which they searched through the heat and blinding smoke, without the protection of a hose, to locate potentially trapped civilians, the Henrico Division of Fire said in a news release. Thankfully, everyone was found to be outside and accounted for. CHARLOTTESVILLE The Charlottesville City Council is moving forward with a new Civilian Review Board for its police department. At Mondays meeting, where three homicide investigations in Charlottesville one that has led to charges and two that remain unresolved were mentioned by either a councilor or a member of the public, the council agreed to proceed with the creation of an independent community group that will review complaints against the department or its officers. The decision followed a lengthy debate that saw some councilors become frustrated with the proposed timeline for the groups formation. A formal vote on the proposal which could bring an end to the 9-year-old Charlottesville Police Citizens Advisory Panel is expected to take place next month. In the public comment period at Mondays meeting, representatives from the Legal Aid Justice Center and the Public Housing Association of Residents presented the council with a letter calling on it to dissolve the advisory panel and involve the community in the creation of a new independent review board. The letter was reportedly signed by various activist groups, including Black Lives Matter Charlottesville, the Black Student Alliance at the University of Virginia, Together Charlottesville, Showing Up For Racial Justice Charlottesville and UVA Students United. Separately, a statewide activist group has started a campaign in Richmond seeking to create a citizen review board for the citys police department. Later in Mondays meeting, when the council started discussing the proposal, David Simmons, chairman of the Citizen Advisory Panel, presented his groups proposal, which included provisions for the creation of a Civilian Review Committee and new protocols for reviewing citizen complaints and police reports. You charged us several years ago, (but) you did not provide us with the working tools to do the things that we needed to do; you did not provide the staff or resources, but we struggled through that. We persevered, Simmons said. Introducing the agenda item Monday night, Assistant City Manager Mike Murphy said city staff is recommending that the council allow them to continue researching best practices and possible organizational structures so that some kind of change can be adopted soon. I think its clear to me that some of the things (the Citizens Advisory Panel) originally did, or was intended to do, is needed as much as ever. We need to build relationships between community members and the police, Murphy said. I would point out, you did create an Office of Human Rights, and there are some parallel interests from the group about working with community members and their concerns about law enforcement. Simmons said the proposal signed by the panel members could help strengthen the panel, which he said is often left in the dark when it comes to police-related incidents in the community, making them reliant on media reports and social media for information about police-involved incidents. Heather Walker, a member of the panel who spoke Monday, said the panel faced hurdles recently following a comprehensive training to review the citys stop-and-frisk reports. We were ready to go, and the police were prepared to hand over reports and documents, she said. Someone in a different department, I think it was the Commonwealths Attorney Office, said, No, that panel cant look at those. We were stopped. Ive been on this panel for four years. And thats what happens every time. When asked by Councilman Bob Fenwick about what difference there would be between a beefed-up advisory panel and a review board, Simmons said a new review board would set us back by a year. Claiming that the advisory panel would continue to work collaboratively with the police department if kept together, Simmons said he thinks the new review board would likely be adversarial and create more distrust and less transparency in the community. But the councilors seemed intent on proceeding with a major overhaul. Im feeling compelled we need to be doing something very different, said Councilwoman Kathy Galvin. I understand your frustration, I hear it, nine years is a long time to try doing something while under-resourced, but theres a public perception issue. ... I think we need a fresh start. Galvin suggested that a task force be impaneled for three to six months before the city moves ahead with a new Citizen Review Board. Councilor Wes Bellamy, who is part of the advisory panel, became frustrated at her proposal, seeing it as a delay for implementing a truly independent community group. Im of the position that we dont need to create another task force for them to look at how to create a CRB. ... We can open up the process for applications and allow that body of whoever is appointed to create their own bylaws and standing, Bellamy said. The whole point of this is to be independent, he added. When we create a task force and say, Here are the practices we saw in other places and the direction we want you to go ... it becomes a lot less independent. It becomes more like us directing another citizen advisory panel. Simmons suggested that Bellamy had done little during his time on the panel to make changes in the past. You were privy to some information that you are sharing. You did not share that with us, Simmons said to Bellamy. You also, as a liaison to us this is one of the things were asking for step up to assist us. ... You have the ears that come through different channels. Bellamy responded by saying the panel is ineffective. Ive tried to have tons of conversations about it ... about us having community meetings and being more proactive. But weve essentially gotten little in return, Bellamy said. Galvin and Mayor Mike Signer pushed back against Bellamys desire to expedite the creation of the review board, suggesting that a more thorough vetting process needs to take place first. We werent given a resolution to vote on and we werent prepared with all the research that Mr. Bellamy is privy to, Galvin said. It would be more helpful if we had more structure to be able to define what this initial Citizen Review Board will look like. But Bellamy said the communitys desire for an immediate change is clear. Weve been hearing for months that people want this. Thats why Im becoming frustrated, he responded. Earlier in the meeting, Bellamy said he was offended by assertions that the public calls for a new review board are coming from a small but vocal section of the community. The council tentatively agreed to create an initial Citizen Review Board and will vote on the measure next month, but details about the makeup of the board and whether it will include any specific representatives of other community groups have yet to be settled. As for Richmond, more than 500 community members 40 percent of whom are registered city voters have signed a petition circulated by New Virginia Majority, a grass-roots organization focused on social, racial and economic justice. The petition calls for Richmond leaders to establish an elected, independent Citizens Accountability Board with subpoena-like power and the authority to hold RPD personnel accountable for misconduct and mistreatment of citizens. A week ago former president Barack Obama spoke at the Richmond Forum. The Times-Dispatch ran a short news story about it, but it included few details because Obama had asked that the media be barred from the event. Once upon a time, the Obama White House boasted of being the most transparent administration in history. The claim was a bad joke then, and it hasnt gotten any funnier now that Obama is hitting the lecture circuit. The Forums executive director says such no-media demands are typical for immediate past presidents. He notes that George W. Bush made a similar demand in 2014, which the Forum also accommodated. But a Times-Dispatch reporter wrangled a ticket and wrote about the event anyway. The Forum wasnt too happy that the newspaper let ordinary people have a peek behind the velvet curtain. Yet given our druthers, we prefer reporting about the Richmond Forum to not reporting about what a former president said before thousands of paying customers. This week we asked whether Obama was paid to speak in Richmond and, if so, how much he received. Confidential, we were told. No surprise there. Our brave men and women in uniform stand ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for our safety and freedom. Each soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and member of the Coast Guard deserves our most profound honor and respect both during and after service. One in 11 Virginians is a veteran. With more than 730,000 veterans, our great commonwealth ranks eighth in veteran population, a rank that is predicted to jump to fifth by 2027. These men and women made enormous sacrifices in defense of our nation; while we can never truly repay them for their service, we can and must keep the promises we have made to them. My father was one of the many dedicated soldiers who fought for our country during the Korean War; he taught me what it means to serve. His dedication, both in war and in peacetime, showed the enormity of the commitment our service members make. He used to tell me that service members only ask of their country what they themselves give their best. These men and women remain just as deserving when their term of service has ended. We owe them the best shot at finding a good civilian job when they leave the service. We owe them our best effort to end plagues like veteran suicide and homelessness. We owe them, throughout their lives, the best health care we can provide. *** In all of my work as a congressman from the policy decisions I make in Washington to the services my office provides here at home I keep veterans and their loved ones at the forefront of my mind. The desire to provide the best for the veterans in the Fourth Congressional District inspired my recent Veterans Resource Fair. Far too often, veterans are not able to get timely access to the resources they need. I was pleased to be able to gather all in one place information for veterans about access to services that can help improve their circumstances. My resource fair enabled many veterans and their family members to learn more about available resources including health-care benefits, educational opportunities, help finding work, and other useful services. The men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country deserve no less. My appreciation for veterans service, the risks they took and the sacrifices they make away from home and family for long periods and potential exposure in a combat zone shaped my opposition to the short-sighted tax bill on which the House recently voted. Unfortunately, some of my colleagues in Congress take a different view. Earlier this month, I opposed the Republican majoritys tax bill; while there were many reasons for my no vote, the ways in which that bill would hurt veterans is simply unacceptable. Notably, the bill would end the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) a federal tax incentive that encourages businesses to hire members of targeted groups, including unemployed veterans. Through the WOTC, the federal government spends perhaps $400 million per year helping thousands of former service members find good jobs and get back on their feet. That amount, $400 million, is a paltry portion of a $4 trillion dollar budget and is money well-spent. That help is urgently needed: in 2016 there were 453,000 unemployed veterans nationwide, including about 16,000 who live in Virginia. Ending the WOTC would make it even harder for those men and women to find work. *** Supporting and helping our veterans should never be a partisan issue. Historically, the WOTC has enjoyed broad support including from well-known veteran groups like the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The fact that it was targeted for elimination a push that may ultimately succeed is appalling. Ending this successful incentive would be the very definition of not giving veterans the best of what we have to offer. We must not sacrifice a program that supports those who have already sacrificed. Instead of cutting taxes for big business and the wealthiest Americans, we should be investing in our veterans reforming the VA, expanding educational opportunities, and redoubling our efforts to prevent suicide and homelessness. I intend to keep working on behalf of the tens of thousands of veterans living in the Fourth Congressional District. I am committed to assisting returning veterans with the transition to civilian life, and I am determined to help all veterans access the resources and opportunities they have more than earned. If you are a veteran or a military family member, thank you for your service and your sacrifices. This month we celebrated Veterans Day. Veterans Day should not be simply a designation on the calendar but a reminder to all of us to appreciate the service of our men and women in uniform and to redouble our efforts to ensure they get the appreciation and the services they have earned and deserve. Homebuyers sometimes have inflexible items on their must-have list. For Brian Frank and his fiancee, Melissa Wilson, it came down to bedrooms. They needed a fair number to accommodate their blended family, which has four kids. A five-bedroom house might not have been tough to find in the suburbs. But Frank and Wilson preferred the Fan District, where Frank had lived for 20 years. Its hard to find a five-bedroom house in the Fan, said Frank, president of SkyFoundry, a Richmond-based software company. Hard, but not impossible. While sizing up their options in the summer of 2016, Wilson, a nurse at Virginia Commonwealth University Health, stumbled onto a listing for an eight-bedroom house at 1853 West Grace Street. (It also had four full baths and two half-baths plenty for a large family.) When she visited it, Wilson fell in love with the property. The three-story house sat on a generously sized, double lot with a swimming pool, and it was built on a scale that could accommodate a bed and breakfast. Literally. The previous owners had converted the 7,500-square-foot property into a popular bed and breakfast called the Grace Manor Inn. Now, it was on the market as a single-family residence. And while it had been renovated in the 1990s, much of the houses original details were still intact, including its plaster moldings, light fixtures and hardwood and heart-pine floors. (It also had a rare, Edwardian-era shower on the second floor and an early, electric refrigerator preserved in one corner of the kitchen.) Indeed, the house encapsulated the transition that Richmonds architecture was undergoing in 1910, when the house was built for William Zimmermann, a successful Richmond businessman and civic leader. Back then, late-Victorian styles such as the Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne were falling out of favor, and the Colonial Revival was rising to replace them. In the house that Wilson found, the transition was frozen, mid-shift. The house still has one foot in the 19th century, said Chris Novelli, an architectural historian with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The exterior has the mass and ruggedness of the Richardsonian Romanesque, but the columns and the Palladian window are Colonial Revival. And the interior is pure Colonial Revival, except for the spindled friezes that divide the spaces on the first floor. Theyre Queen Anne. Among the interior standouts are the first floors original crystal chandeliers and scrolled brackets in the crown molding, as well as the mantels and patterned ceramic tiles surrounding the fireplace openings in the two parlors. (The house has six fireplaces.) I can imagine the houses original designer with a builders catalog in hand saying, Ill take one of those, one of those and one of those, Novelli said. Its quite a remarkable house. Frank and Wilson placed a successful offer of $1.1 million on the house the highest for a single-family residence on West Grace Street, said Chris Small, a real estate broker with Small & Associates Real Estate and the listing and selling agent for the property. They moved into the house with their children last fall. The sale marked a high point in an ongoing renaissance for West Grace Street, which had been Richmonds second-grandest avenue for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, first behind West Franklin Street and then Monument Avenue. Many of the larger homes on West Grace Street were turned into apartments and duplexes to meet housing demand after World War II. Then, beginning in the early 1980s, the trend began to reverse itself, with boarding homes getting converted back to single-family residences. Today, West Grace Street is reclaiming its earlier, lofty status with significant renovations, house by house and block by block, Small said. Frank and Wilson have no immediate plans for major renovations for their new home, although theyve undertaken a few small projects. Its an extremely well-built house, Frank said. They built it to last forever. And the family is settling into the home comfortably. When the weathers good, we spend a lot of time outside, next to the pool, Frank said. We love the size of the yard, which you dont see often in the Fan. _______________ Rumour has it that Kangana Ranaut will act in a thriller, after she wraps up Manikarnika. By India Today Web Desk: Kangana Ranaut seems to be relentless, when it comes to her work schedules. After she wraps up the historical drama, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi , she is expected to take on a thriller, produced by her close friend Shailesh R Singh. According to reports, he narrated the story to her one day and she loved it and promptly agreed to do it. advertisement Kangana was all set for her directorial debut, Teju as well. However, it looks like that might have to be kept on hold for a while. Meanwhile, the actress is taking a break from shooting for Manikarnika, as she sprained her ankle, after she jumped from a 40 foot wall on to a horse. Kangana returned to Mumbai, from Jodhpur, this week. We've managed to get a few glimpses of Kangana's look from Manikarnika: Kangana on the set of #Manikarnika in Jaipur pic.twitter.com/KbvkhJnEuy- Kangana Ranaut Daily (@KanganaDaily) October 25, 2017 Here's another one in her warrior avatar: #kanganaranaut #manikarnika A post shared by My Life Kangna (@mylifekangna) on Oct 31, 2017 at 1:29am PDT Meanwhile, her sister, Rangoli Chandel, just had a baby boy, and now Kangana might have more time to spend with him. ALSO WATCH| Mind Rocks 2016: Kangana Ranaut has come to be the embodiment of feminism --- ENDS --- Sonowal said the Prime Minister had proposed setting up a committee to tackle the flood problem in Assam. By India Today Web Desk: Rajdeep Sardesai, senior journalist and consulting editor of India Today, welcomed Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal for the second session at the India Today Conclave East 2017 titled 'The Northeastern Project: The New India'. The conversation started with Sardesai asking Sonowal about the difference between 'Look East, Act East' mantra. The Chief Minister responded saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always been focusing on Northeast and he wants it to be a growth engine. Praising Prime Minister Modi more, Sonowal called him the first Prime Minister to discover all available resources in Northeast. advertisement "It's not simply a political statement," Sonowal told Sardesai.Elaborating the idea behind the slogan, Sonowal said, "North East has enough resources to benefit not just us, but the entire nation. This has urged all of us, and youngsters especially, to work hard towards development. It's generated great confidence in the people here." ASSAM FLOOD SITUATION Talking about how Assam gets inundated year after year, Sonowal said, "Flood's have been an issue for a long time. For this, Modi has a strategy based on the fact that water is coming from the mountains, and even other countries, along with silt. To solve this, he said a new committee must be formed with members from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, and that a detailed survey must be done and a comprehensive report submitted." "Assam alone cannot solve this problem. We will have to work together," Sonowal said. ON TWO MAJOR WATERWAYS Talking about the two rivers, which Sonowal termed as two of the most potent waterways -- Brahmaputra and Barak - the Assam CM said, "We're trying to facilitate transportation via these two rivers, to promote trade through these." ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADE Sonowal who has been in news for his anti-corruption crusade and taking action against many officials, when asked if he'd ever put a minister behind bars, said, "No one will be spared. Even the CM will have to go behind bars if there is enough evidence."He said, "Since the first day, I've been working against corruption. We've recognised the loopholes and weaknesses in our system and tried to fix it."On asking if he's comfortable with Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has only recently joined the BJP and become Assam health minister, and if any action will be taken against him, Sonowal said, "We don't take action out of prejudice. It's impartial. If there is proof against someone, that person will be brought to book." Mentioning PM Modi again, Sonowal said, "PM Modi has asked me not to compromise while acting against corruption. If the system doesn't change, people won't become beneficiaries." advertisement ON NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP REGISTER Sardesai asked Sonowal is he's 'under pressure' to get national citizenship register ready by Dec 31, 2017 and called him the "champion of illegal immigrants'" cause. Responding to the question, Sonowal said, "People of Assam want an error-free register. Assam is the first state in the country taking this initiative. It will be done as per the Supreme Court directive." When asked if he roots for the Amendment in Citizenship Act which calls for welcoming Bangladeshi Hindus but not Bangladeshi Muslims, Sonowal said that is a separate issue and that all the guidelines fixed by SC will be followed when it comes to the citizenship register. INFRASTRUCTURE Accepting infrastructure is one of the main challenges, CM Sonowal said, "It is the first priority. From March 31 to 28 of Sept, Assam was flooded. How can we contrust roads during floods and rains?" He also said, "Assam is blessed with 6 months for construction. Flood is a huge challenge." How do we solve this? We are all putting efforts. Lauding PM Modi's interest in Northeast yet again, Sonowal said, "communication and connectivity are prime factors for development. PM Modi, without any hesitation, has given two lakh crores for roads and bridges. Six new bridges will be built over Brahmaputra river."Launching an attack on the Congress regime and PM Manmohan Singh, CM Sonowal said, "During Congress regime, we had to fight for money. Only three bridges were made in 55 years." advertisement He said, "Former PM Manmohan Singh, depsite representing Assam in the Upper House, didn't do anything. 'Dekhte reh gaye bas'. Sonowal said doubling of railway tracks, electrification of railways are in the pipeline too. ON ASSAM BEING THE GATEWAY TO NORTHEAST Talking about Assam being the gateway to Northeast, Sonowal told Sardesai, "Let me tell you this - we want Guwahati to be not only a gateway toNortheast, but to the entire Southeast Asia. We are planning to build two industrial corridors on either sides of Brahmaputra." FOCUS ON TOURISM AND INDUSTRY We have focus on tourism and Information Technology. New policies are being drafted to attract investors. We've to create environment for businesses. We're prioritising this. We are organising a global investor summit and asking investors to come invest in Assam. My government will devote time to make them comfortable." "We have got investment worth Rs 6,500 crore. Pathanjali wants raw materials. If we're able to provide it, it will benefit farmers as well."Talking about PM Modi again, Sonowal said, "PM Modi thinks Assam could be the oganic hub of India. We're planting 10 crore saplings per year. advertisement ON SABKA SAATH SABKA VIKAAS Answering Sardesai's question if 'new Assam is for specific communities' and if 'there is a growing divide', Sonowal replied saying, "Sabka saath, sabka vikaas". He said, "We've got four districts sharing border with Bangladesh. We're prioritising growth of these four districts. These are all Muslim majority areas. It's not about Hindu or Muslim, it's not about Assamese or Bengali. It's about everyone's growth and development."On Rohingya refugee issue, Sonowal said, "Myanmar has already said they will protect the Rohingya Muslims."Proving if Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee can draw well, Assam CM can sing will, the session ended with CM Sonowal singing a couple of lines for the audience. He said, "Guwahati and Kolkata are close to each other. We've been together for long. This is the strength of culture." Watch: No favouritism will be tolerated in corruption cases: Sonowal --- ENDS --- China has signalled its willingness to emerge as a key player -- perhaps even mediator -- in tackling the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. Foreign minister Wang Yi, who visited Bangladesh and Myanmar from November 17 to 20, offered a "three-stage" diplomatic proposal after talks in Dhaka, and to underline that China's considerable financial muscle will back this initiative, also announced a new "China-Myanmar Economic Corridor" following his visit to Naypyidaw. In Beijing, analysts have seen this diplomatic push as a precursor to a more confident Chinese diplomacy in addressing regional problems. The view is Myanmar may emerge as a test- case for what President Xi Jinping announced in October as a "new era" that would see China assume "centre stage" of the world, turning the page over the cautious "hide your brightness, bide your time" maxim that guided Chinese diplomacy so far. advertisement China said on November 20 that its proposal had "won approval" from both Bangladesh and Myanmar, calling for a three-step approach to restoring peace in Rakhine state, from where over 6,00,000 Rohingya refugees, according to the United Nations, have fled to Bangladesh since August. The first stage involves an on-the-ground ceasefire to allow Rohingya people to return and to stop them fleeing across the border. The second stage, Wang said, was to encourage and support Bangladesh and Myanmar to strengthen exchanges and to find a solution "on the basis of equality", while the third step was for the international community to help develop Rakhine state. It is no accident that China has ongoing investments worth tens of billions of dollars in both Bangladesh and Myanmar-projects it wants to protect. Wang, the foreign minister, hinted as much when the day after his proposal, he announced a plan to build an economic corridor with Myanmar following talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who has grown close to China since assuming her role. The corridor will build on an existing $1.5 billion pipeline connecting Yunnan province with Kyaukpyu port and special economic zone, which began delivering oil to China in April with the capacity of bringing 22 million tonnes annually from the Bay of Bengal. The corridor would further guarantee "access to the Indian Ocean more conveniently", Gu Xiaosong, a strategic expert, told the Party-run Global Times. "The corridor could help ease Myanmar's conflict and ensure stability along the border between China and Myanmar by providing greater employment and better living standards for Myanmar people," added scholar Chen Fengying, lest observers point out that China's strategic motivations were the real driver of this diplomacy. There are, at this stage, more questions than answers about both the proposal and China's intentions. Asked if the Myanmar government had indeed committed to China on a ceasefire, foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang didn't give details. He also didn't say whether the proposed second stage meant China wanted to mediate between Bangladesh and Myanmar on issues such as the return of those who have fled their homes. It may well be too early to tell whether China's plan will come to fruition, especially in the absence of clear details. But what does appear more than clear is China's new appetite to demonstrate regional leadership. And this, in of itself, could have huge ramifications for the region, particularly when its other major player, India, has shown little inclination of doing the same. advertisement --- ENDS --- By Gene St. Clair St. Clair is a computer technician living in New Castle. All decent Southerners are against racism and hate. And all Americans should know Robert E. Lee deserves a monument in his honor. Some may not be aware Lee was against secession and against slavery. Abraham Lincoln offered Lee command of the entire Union Army. When Virginia seceded from the union Lee wrote Lincoln telling him he had to decline his offer and go the way of Virginia or his country as he called it. If anything he may have been too loyal. During the war, Lee lost nearly everything, including his home when Arlington was turned into the National Cemetery and of course lost the war and his citizenship. Yet went on to help develop Washington and Lee University. As the war neared its conclusion Lees men, although starving, with no fit shoes or clothes urged him to not surrender out of adoration of the general. Lee could have made it a guerilla war and dragged the conflict on for many more years but wisely chose not to. After Lees surrender Lincoln was prepared to sign papers reinstating Lees citizenship, however during the turmoil of Lincolns assassination and Andrew Johnson taking over as president, the paper work was lost. In 1970 a law clerk discovered the paperwork and President Gerald Ford signed the papers in 1975 reinstating Lee as an American citizen. President Ford stated, General Lees character has been an example to succeeding generations, making the restoration of his citizenship an event in which every American can take pride. Lets respect Fords decision and Lincolns desire and honor Lee as the American hero he was. It disgusts me and many other Southerners to see the rebel flag in the same video as a swastika. The rebel flag is not about hate or neo-Nazis, but represents the heritage of the South which lost 300,000 lives including some 50,000 civilians in the Civil War. The War Between the States proved you cannot strip people of their heritage, not then and not now. At the Battle of The Wilderness General Lee raced to the front of the lines on his horse Traveller to lead the rebel charge. His men stopped in their tracks thereby dramatically increasing the chances of their own horrific death. They refused to move and started chanting Lee to the rear, Lee to the rear and would not fight until their general had moved to the rear. Few men who have ever walked this earth have had other men willing to die for them, Robert E. Lee was such a man. He is as deserving as any great American to have a monument in his honor. In a large degree because of Robert E. Lee, I am, have been, and always will be proud of my Southern heritage. THE firm hoping to bring fracking to Rotherham has asked the Government to rule on an application to drill in Harthill. Ineos Shale has written to the Planning Inspectorate over its plans for a 60-metre rig under land off Common Road. The application, which would see the rig drill down 2,800 metres for shale gas on land off Common Road, was due to be discussed at a standalone meeting of the councils planning board on November 23. But Ineos requested further talks with council officers, who were minded to recommend it be refused. It has now requested the Government make a decision on the applcation. See this week's Advertiser for more. By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will embark on a three-day visit to Bangladesh tomorrow for a multilateral naval exercise being held under a regional maritime forum set up by Indias initiative. His visit was also aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations and to explore new avenues for maritime cooperation, the defence ministry said. advertisement It said Indian naval ships Ranvir, Sahyadri, Gharial and Sukanya along with one maritime patrol aircraft P-8I will take part in the International Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) which will be inaugurated by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday in the port city of Coxs Bazar. The exercise is taking place under the aegis of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) -- an initiative of the Indian Navy that was launched in 2008 to bring together littoral states in the region. The IONS has now grown into a formidable organisation comprising 23 member nations and nine observer countries. The ministry said apart from the exercise, an Extraordinary Conclave of Chiefs (ECoC) meeting of IONS was scheduled on November 28 which will also be attended by Admiral Lanba. The meeting was expected to review the progress made by three IONS Working Groups on maritime security information exchange, interoperability and humanitarian assistance. Lanba will also hold bilateral discussions with Chief of the Naval Staff of Bangladesh Navy on Monday and several other navy chiefs of other participating countries. The defence ministry said Lanba would also be gifting War Memorabilia for the Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh. PTI MPB ASK ASK --- ENDS --- BJP leader Chandra Bose, grand nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, author and activist Anuj Dhar, and academic Prof DN Bose joined moderator Boria Majumdar for the session on Netaji titled 'Subhas Bose: The Enduring Legend'. By India Today Web Desk: Beginning the fourth session at the India Today Conclave East, moderator Boria Majumdar, consulting editor, sports, India Today, said, "You cannot not have a conclave in this part of the world, in Kolkata, and not talk about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose with people who either are part of the family who've been writing about, agitating, demanding justice, feeling persecuted for the longest time." advertisement BJP leader Chandra Bose, grand nephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, author and activist Anuj Dhar, and academic Prof DN Bose joined Majumdar for the session on Nejaji titled 'Subhas Bose: The Enduring Legend'. Responding to Majumdar's question, "Are we in Bengal always going to cry foul saying we did not get our due?", BJP leader Chandra Bose said, "For the last 70 years, successive Congress governments have obliterated the contribution of the liberator of India (Netaji). The NDA government, for the first time, on January 23, 2016, ushered in an era of transperancy by declassifying files pertaining to Subhas Chandra Bose." Anuj Dhar, responding to Majumdar question if Bengalis are victims and is that the reason why Netaji has not gotten his due, said, "90 per cent of Bengalis are least bothered about Subhas Chandra Bose. Had they been, things would have been different." "He (Netaji) was forgotten the day he left this country," said Dhar. Disagreeing with Dhar, Prof DN Bose said, "You are not aware of the number of books written in Bengali. You're ignorant of the passion people of Bengal has for Netaji." Majumdar said the TMC government and the NDA government came together to celebrate a cause, possibly the only one - Netaji. Chandra Bose said, "Enough distortions have taken place in the freedom history movement. What is the relevance of Netaji today? We should understand the essence of Bose's ideology - in the Azad Hind Fauj, there were no Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs - only Bharatiyas. Both the central and state governments should understand this and keep the country united." 'BELONGING TO BOSE'S FAMILY A DISADVANTAGE' On being asked if he would have been appropriated by a ruling party if not for his Bose surname, BJP leader Chandra Bose said, "Belonging to Bose's family is, in fact, a disadvantage. People's expectations are much higher in that case. Genetic science makes me look like Netaji but people want me to perform like him, which I am trying." "We all need a closure on the issue but the government is not ready to act," Anuj Dhar said. "To solve the Netaji mystery, the Intelligence Bureau files on Bose first need to be declassified," he said. advertisement Is Subhas Chandra Bose a naitonal icon or has he become just a Bengal icon, Majumdar asked. "Only Netaji's ideology can save this nation from further disintergration, regardless of the party in power," said Chandra Bose. "Netaji won't go away, like Aroon Purie tweeted last year. Mahatma Gandhi's 'ahimsa brand' was promoted all along, but it is Netaji who's making waves now," said Anuj Dhar. DN Bose said, "Netaji is a national icon. I've seen the kind of recognition he gets in places like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Right from 1939, he proved he's an Indian icon." WATCH | We appreciated Bengal Chief Minister's move of declassifying Bose files, says BJP's Chandra Bose at India Today Conclave --- ENDS --- People living below the poverty line in Samoa continue to fight two battles in life. One, there is the expensive cost of living that seems to be a daily burden for families who struggle to make ends meet. And two, there is finding the money to address the increasing cost of living in our island nation. Leana Faamoe, 70, from Faleasiu says there is no escaping these two daily battles and families must face them in order to survive. Mr. Faamoe was working on his plantation when the Village Voice team met him yesterday morning. Mr. Faamoe said his plantations kept him busy every day. This is the only work I can do here for my family, work on my plantation to provide our food, the father of five said. Working the plantation is also an exercise for me because it helps me maintain my health and its also something I do to take my mind off the high cost of living. Mr. Faamoe said all his children were employed and they also helped their family. Our family survives on the money sent by my children in New Zealand and also here in Samoa. He also compared the expensive cost of living nowadays with life in the past. I am just surprised about the expensive cost of living we have here today in Samoa compared to previous years. Things are all getting expensive nowadays. I really just cant believe it because the value of $100 today is like using a $10 unlike what it was back then when $100 was like gold. Mr. Faamoe said his family was fortunate that his children were working. I am lucky because all of my five children are working now and they support my wife and I. I also know and understand the struggle they are facing because things are so hard nowadays in Samoa given the expensive cost of living. Mr. Faamoe says the high cost of living now in Samoa is a burden on most families. The Samoa Airways booking system is currently undergoing testing and upgrades, so explained the airlines Marketing Manager, Mr Dwayne Bentley, during an interview last week. He said the new airline recognizes that their current booking engine is inadequate to meet the expectations of their international travellers booking flights with them. The airline has been in operation now for two weeks and has acknowledged that they have hit some complications after receiving complaints from would-be travellers. Mr Bentley acknowledged that they were aware that their current booking system was not on par by international standards before the airline was launched, but that time constraints prohibited them from installing a booking engine at the start that was adequate enough to meet the various demands of international flight enquiries. One of the challenges that we faced in the beginning was not having enough time to do everything that we needed to do and so what weve had to do is just move forward as best as possible with what we had but we also looking forward to the new technology and ways of doing things which is where the new booking agent comes in. When it was announced that the international service was going to be up and running again, we knew straight away that the current booking engine was just not good enough, especially when we looked at what the other carriers around the world are offering so were working very closely with our reservations system partner. In terms of the booking engine being a lot more user-friendly and people being able to see the different fares available a week out, we are also at the same time working on a brand new, booking engine. We are in the process of testing the different components of the booking engine and we hope to finalize and launch everything before the end of the year. Ms Jo Mikarna, was one of the first travelers who encountered problems and was featured in an article titled Lack of flights devastate prolific visitor to Samoa. Ms Mikarna said that she was unable to find suitable flight options available with Virgin airlines after they reduced their flight options to Samoa and she also found that flights around her preferred travelling dates were booked out with Samoa Airways, when she searched on their website. Samoa Airways fly from Sydney but they do not run every day and all flights are booked out Ms Mikarna said a week ago. Mr Bentley reached out to Ms Mikarna through the Samoa Observer to counter the impression that there is a lack of flights between Australia and Samoa and later assisted her with her booking. However the misinformation and confusion did not end there. The Samoa Observer has received further reports from the public who were also experiencing confusion with Samoa Airways booking system which showed flights were booked when they were not. Enquiries were then put to travel agents to see if they were having the same experience. One local travel agent confirmed that the current booking engine was causing problems for them as well as travellers wishing to book flights to New Zealand and Australia through Samoa Airways. The agent pointed out that the current booking system is the same used previously when Polynesian Airlines serviced flights to and from Pago Pago, On being told this, Mr Bentley acknowledged that they were experiencing difficulties with their website; initially with their banks credit card processor. At the same time he said, they were working to address the issues with their booking engine. The issue that we had up until recently, has been with our banks credit card processor so the booking will go through fine, but then when it got to the page where people had to enter their credit card details, thats where people were having issues. He said that has since been resolved. Addressing the feedback the airline was receiving about their website not being user friendly, the Samoa Airways marketing manager said, Thats something we will take on board and we will look at how that information can be better presented on our website so that people are not just clicking on any day not realizing that we only operate on certain days especially between Samoa and Sydney. So again, just in terms of the user-experience, thats something we will feed back to our web developers and booking team just to make sure that its more obvious than what it is currently. Mr Bentley is confident that by the end of year, customers will not only be able to have a better online experience with the improved website and booking engine which they are expecting to launch by the end of the year but that passengers can also expect other aspects of their travel experience to improve. When it comes to travel from 2018 onwards that booking system will be operational, were confident that it will really improve the user experience online. Theres room for improvement theres always room for improvement , I think thats very much where our focus is on right now and at the same time making sure that that safety component is there and our guests get the service that they paid for with regards to in-flight catering thats going to be an ongoing improvement. We will look to change that out and refresh those meal options available based on feedback not only from the passenger but from the crew just to make sure that what is being provided is the best that we can provide. 'FREEDOM IS NOT FREE; IT IS LIMITED' P.M. Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. Photo / File Photo. (Photo: Samoa Observer) 'FREEDOM IS NOT FREE; IT IS LIMITED' P.M. Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. Photo / File Photo. (Photo: Samoa Observer) The reinstating of the Criminal Libel Act will be subject to approval before Parliament by December, 2017. This is according to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi during his weekly press conference with the media. The Criminal Libel Act was abolished back in 2013 and the government has moved to reinstatement as part of efforts to address the growing number of ghost writers who use fake social media pages to attack members of the public. One such page is known as Ole Palemia. The Prime Minister was asked for a comment on the concerns raised by Acting President of the Journalists Association of Western Samoa (J.A.W.S.), Rudy Bartley, who has called on the government to find a more realistic solution to track ghost writers who use fake social media pages to attack members of the public. He believes the move to reintroduce the Criminal Libel law, which had been removed in 2013, is not the best way forward for Samoa. However that will not be considered according to Tuilaepa. He stated that at the next Parliament Session in December the Criminal Libel will be approved to be enacted. There is the mentality the reporters have; they can freely write whatever they think And this mindset was hammered by the court as there is no such thing. You cannot freely express what you think at the expense of others that is wrong, said Tuilaepa. You should know that once you publicize what you think defaming another. Be prepared, as you will be struck. Under the law, journalists are under the impression they are free to publicly publicize whatever.well that has been corrected by the court. There is no such thing. Freedom is not free; it is limited, said Tuilaepa. If what you are saying is accurate then you have nothing to worry about. According to Tuilaepa there are those reporters who report what happened. They stick to the guidelines of their profession and report accurately and they dont input their opinions or twist the story. This was not really a big deal back then, due to the lack of understanding of the matter. Also back then people were under the impression that members of the press have the freedom to publicize anything. No, that is wrong. This is why the government moved to establish a Media Council who set up guidelines for the reporters and hold them accountable. There are two types of reporters; one who follows the guidelines and reports accurately and a reporter who would make up stories and make hefty accusations and defame people to make money, and also spruce up the headline on the paper to attract readers and make money. Those are the ones who are furious about us bringing back (criminal libel), said Tuilaepa. They hide behind fake names and defame people all the time - a very unChristian thing to do. Those people, who are furious about the move, are the ones doing it. And if you see them, they look sick. He said these types of people will never reach 60 or 70 years old and they will die early. Earlier this week, Acting President J.A.W.S. said the re-introduction of the Criminal Libel law is of serious concern and it will have a negative impact on the work of the media in Samoa. Freedom of the media (to do its work) is fundamental to any democracy and laws which hinder this are not acceptable. Mr. Bartley made the comments in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. According to Mr. Bartley, J.A.W.S. exists to help, develop and protect the work of the media and its practitioners in Samoa. We are also concerned about the use of social media as a platform for slander and malicious attacks, Mr. Bartley pointed out. I assume this is the reason why the government is reintroducing this law. Those behind these attacks have tarnished the work and integrity of the media as a source of knowledge and information for our people. He also told the Samoa Observer the government should find a more realistic, practical solution other than reintroducing this law. He explained the reason J.A.W.S. has not made any public comment about the issue until now, is that they wanted to discuss this further with their membership at their upcoming A.G.M. scheduled for 27 November 2017. The producers of the film, revolving around a mafia queen, starring Deepika Padukone, have confirmed that the delay of Padmavati will not affect their film schedules. By India Today Web Desk: Despite the delay in Padmavati's release, there will be no change in the take-off schedule of Deepika Padukone's next film, which is being directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The film revolves around the life of a mafia queen, and also has Deepika's Piku co-star, Irrfan Khan. In a statement, producer Arjun N Kapoor confirmed that the shooting will not be delayed. "First of all, let me clearly state this, there has been no announcement from Padmavati team's end regarding the new release date. So it's anyway premature to talk about it. We don't have an idea when it will eventually release." advertisement Kapoor explained, "As it is, Deepika starts our film only around January end and February next year. We plan to begin shooting towards the end of January, but that can extend to February first week.So even if the film releases around that time, and Deepika needs time off to promote the film, we will happily accommodate that. That isn't a problem." Deepika's Padmavati has been a stuck in a religious-political rut, and fringe Rajput groups are out to obstruct its release in any way possible. The film is based on the tale of Rani Padmini of Chittor, written by the 16th century Sufi poet, Malik Muhammad Jayasi. Rajput groups are convinced that there is a romantic dream sequence between Rani Padmini and Alauddin Khilji, are trying their best to ban the film in every state. Not just this, they've been issuing death threats to director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika. The film has been postponed indefinitely from December 1. ALSO WATCH: Padmavati row: Yogi Adityanath justifies threats against Bhansali and Deepika Padukone --- ENDS --- There are several important reasons Auckland poet and academic, Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh is returning to Samoa on Sunday. Tusitala Marsh will be attending the Pacific Arts Association Conference which runs from 27 November to 01 December at the National University of Samoa. With the theme, Making the Invisible Visible Dr Marsh, who is an exciting performer, will be conducting a Literature and Spoken Word Workshop from 1.00-2.30pm on Thursday at the N.U.S. fale. For some of the prize-winning authors of the Samoa Observers national short story competition for primary and secondary students as well as adult authors who have entered the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story competition, this workshop presents an opportunity for them to continue to improve their literacy skills. And as the first Pasifika woman to be chosen as New Zealand's Poet Laureate for the next two years, she will be collecting materials to be carved into her tokotoko (tootoo). Tusitala Marsh explained, The Matua Tokotoko, the parent tokotoko that presides over each are national taonga (treasures) and each Poet Laureates own tokotoko is carved by Haumoana Maori carver, Jacob Scott from Matahiwi Marae. After talking to each Laureate, he then carves a tokotoko to reflect their identity as the new Laureate. During my trip to Samoa I want to collect materials for Jacob to carve into my own tokotoko. It makes sense, as a tusitala, to mark both tusitala heritages in the tokotoko. My grandad is Vaelei Tusitala, from Elise Foe so I will go to my grandad's house and bring something back (wood? stones?) for Jacob to honour the original Tusitala. I will also visit the other Tusitala's residence, the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Vailima, and see what presents itself for inclusion in the tokotoko. I will be composing a poetry sequence to mark this experience, she promised. Since the inaugural Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story competition began in 2015, Tusitala Marsh has returned to Samoa each year as one of the judges of the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story competition. On her last trip in 2016, she thrilled guests at a prizegiving function at the Samoa Observer headquarters, when she performed her poem Unity. The poem had been commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretary General and performed in Westminster Abbey by Tusitala Marsh for the Queen of England earlier that year. * To'oto'o is family heritage in the Samoan language. Selina Tusitala Marsh, of Samoan, Tuvaluan, Scottish and French descent, is an associate professor and lectures at the University of Auckland, specialising in Maori and Pacific Literary Studies and Creative Writing. She describes poetry as "the power of articulation. "It's the power to be able to embody language and connect with other people." The Waiheke Island-based poet published her first collection, Fast Talking PI, in 2009. In 2010 she won both the NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry, and Best First Book at the New Zealand Book Awards. She is the author of two further poetry collections, Dark Sparring (2013) and Tightrope. Each laureate receives $80,000 over two years from the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa to create new work and promote poetry throughout the country. Tusitala Marsh says while she would not do anything "remarkably" different, the award would allow her to take poetry to "some pretty impressive spaces". "I talk about 'unpoeted' spaces, where it doesn't usually have a space or is heard or made," she said. She was also given a carved tokotoko, or orator's stick, symbolising her authority and status. Tusitala Marsh said the post was a "wonderful opportunity to extend the poetic page and stage to this nation's multi-coloured, multi-hued voices. "To be recognised in this way is breath-taking. To occupy the role is breath-giving I can't wait to take the Laureate's tokotoko to the people and make poetry." New Zealand's first poet Laureate was Bill Manhire in 1996 and the outgoing Laureate for 2015-17 is C.K Stead. It was, Happy 84rd birthday, Emperor Akihito as the Japanese Embassy hosted a celebration to at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel on Friday night. The Japanese Ambassador, Maugaoleatuolo Shinya Aioki explained that his was the first time he had hosted this event because the Embassy of Japan in Samoa had now separated from the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand and has opened independently in January this year. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi paid tribute to the Japanese government and poeople, I would like to thank the Ambassador Mauaoleatuolo for the invitation to commemorate Japans National Day and to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan. Since the establishment of the formal ties in 1973, those 44 years ago, Japan and Samoa have developed a strong friendship over the years. Samoa has benefited significantly through development co-operations programs in the range of many key sectors but mainly in the transport and infrastructure, health, education sectors, he said. I would also to acknowledge Japans International grassroots human security programmes. The occasion was celebrated in traditional Japanese fashion with great food and lots of sake, a traditional Japanese drink made from fermented rice. Everything from the decorations that were fuchsia teuila and hand-made origami swans, to the exquisite cuisine which consisted of fresh sashimi and hand rolled sushi, strongly reflected the combination of both cultures. Tuimaugaoalii Kazumasa Shibuta greeted every guest personally at the door alongside his stunning wife who was dressed in a beautiful, silk, kimono. In attendance were fellow ambassadors, cabinet ministers and special guests. Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoiwas was called on stage alongside His Excellency to crack open the barrel. After the opening and when everyone was served, the entire room raised their glasses for a special toast in honour of the Emperor. A retired nurse, Simolo Reupena was amongst those recognized during the celebration of 100 years of service of the Samoa Nurses Association Incorporated. Mrs Reupena 94, missed out on the celebrations as she was bed ridden but that did not stop her from getting dressed up for a picture and showcasing her award of recognition for her service in Papa Sataua, Savaii. This is according to her daughter Atalua Tanielu, who attended the award ceremony and received her mothers award. My mother was one of the first, few nurses who served in Papa, Sataua, where they were pastors at the church. She kept occupied by serving as a nurse in Papa, Sataua, said Atalua. Masinaoso Leniu Auseugaefa Bell was also honoured on the day and despite being in a wheelchair, she was delighted to attend with the assistance from her daughter Valasiologo. At the celebration earlier this week, the President of the Samoa Nurses Association Taulapapa Faamanatu Nielsen gave a brief history of the Association and paid tribute to those who started the work of nursing in Samoa and those who have since passed on. The Samoa Nurses Association was founded in 1917 with just four girls from Papauta and now, in 2017, we have more than 400 registered nurses in Samoa, she said proudly. We have come a long way with so many challenges but we have also achieved so much, she said. This years event is about celebrating the lives of those who first established the Association and who took the necessary steps to improve the service of nurses in Samoa. Taulapapa said that at first it was very hard but they overcame the early difficulties. Those who first formed the Association were strong women, she said. But now, we are just thankful for all these years because we know we have come a very long way. Associations typically have five different documents that very much affect association living and governance. In addition to CC&Rs ( Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions), most associations have Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, operating rules and either a condominium plan or subdivision map. Unfortunately, most homeowners in common interest communities do not read these documents before they close escrow. A corporation is created when articles of incorporation are filed with the state. In earlier years, articles of incorporation often contained significant limitations on association and board powers. However, all common interest development associations are not incorporated, and those will not have articles. Not all incorporated associations use their legal name. The bylaws will usually on the first page state the associations correct name and indicate whether it is a corporation. The Secretary of State can provide a duplicate copy of articles, and its web site will indicate if the corporation is still in good standing visit www.businesssearch.sos.ca.gov. Bylaws, unlike articles of incorporation, are not filed with any public agency. Bylaws address governance topics such as the powers and limitations of the board, information on membership meetings, and board eligibility. Bylaws should not address the property, but how the corporation governs. Advertisement The subdivision map or condominium plan is the document by which a parcel of property is divided into lots or units for sale. It is filed with the County Recorder, and sometimes is attached to the CC&Rs as an exhibit. This document will describe what is common area and depicts or describes the boundaries of lots or units, and if the association has any easement areas or greenbelts over lots. Stock cooperatives and community apartments (also forms of common interest developments) will not have this document, since the form of ownership is different than in the planned development or condominium. Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions are typically referred to as CC&Rs. Despite the document using a different name, as long as it is recorded on all the member properties, the document is a declaration under Civil Code 4250 for the purposes of the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act. Declarations, or CC&Rs, are probably the most important and underappreciated of the governing documents. CC&Rs, once recorded on the property, are as much a binding contract on owners as their purchase agreements even though the purchaser did not sign it and may not have reviewed it. Under Civil Code 5975, in lawsuits to enforce the governing documents, the winner has their attorney fees paid by the loser so CC&Rs have more teeth than most owners realize. Association rules are at the bottom of the governing document pecking order. The law calls them operating rules (Civil Code 4340). Per Civil Code 4205, rules give way to the bylaws, covenants, and articles of incorporation. While bylaws and covenants are amended by vote of the membership, rules are modified by board vote. Rules must be written. Boards must follow a specific statutory process when adopting, changing or revoking rules. That process is set forth in Civil Code 4360. Associations are required to have in place election rules, delinquency policies, architectural application policies, internal dispute resolution rules, and a schedule of fines. Homeowners should have a complete set of their association governing documents and should read them sooner rather than later (unless you like surprises). Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Senior Partner of Richardson Ober PC, a California law firm known for community association expertise. Submit questions to Kelly@RichardsonOber.com. Past columns at www.HOAHomefront.com. The shift in shopping patterns was in full view on Black Friday as San Diegans turned from stuffing their stomachs to hunting for stocking stuffers. As the clock struck midnight, many were in their PJs when they fired up their laptops to order super deals online. The rise of e-commerce may be suppressing traditional Black Friday crowds. As of 7 a.m., online spending totaled $640 million, an 18.4 percent increase from the previous year, according to Adobe Analytics. Advertisement The Target store in Mission Valley opened at 6 a.m. Friday but 45 minutes before it opened there were just two people in line Alejandra Rodriguez, a hair stylist from Linda Vista, and Ivan Chavez, a 17-year-old from San Ysidro. They opened yesterday, too, so I dont know, maybe thats why theres not too many people here now, Rodriguez said. I remember before there were people sleeping to get in the front of the line. The move to online buying will be a factor as industry analysts watch closely at how the nations malls are faring for the start of the holiday shopping season. Analysts say Amazon is expected to take half of the holiday seasons sales growth. And Amazon is the top destination for people to begin holiday shopping, according to a September study by market research firm NPD Group. But the malls werent dead Friday morning. Nima Fariborzi and Kevin Lo, two high school seniors from Rancho Penasquitos, showed up at 5:45 a.m. at the Fashion Valley Mall. You plan it out so you can get the best deals possible, Fariborzi said. Last year I saved a lot of money. Lo bought a polo shirt at Abercrombie and Fitch for $24. Tanya Ruiz and brother George arrived at the Best Buy in Mission Valley at 1:30 a.m. Friday to get a bargain. (Rob Nikolewski / U-T ) Tanya Ruiz and her brother George camped out at Best Buy in Mission Valley at 1:30 a.m. Friday, even though the store did not open until 8 a.m. Tanya had her eye on a 55-inch Toshiba high-definition TV on sale for $279.99. marked down from $499.99. I love the hustle and bustle and the rush, she said. It gets me in a holiday mood I love to go out to all the stores and I love the challenge of trying to get what I want. Jermaine Loyce, a sound engineer from southeast San Diego, took part in his first before-dawn Black Friday experience in the hopes of getting a 50-inch Sharp TV on sale for $179.99. Ian Ramos, a college student, said he had waited in line from 1 to 6 a.m. to nab a $1,080 laptop at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Base exchange, then spent two hours at the H&M store at Fashion Valley and arrived at the Best Buy at 10 a.m. to buy an accessory. I think Im done, he said. Its tiring but thrilling at the same time. Brian Field from ShopperTrak said Black Friday remains the No. 1 shopping day of the year. Online sales may be growing but so are in-store purchases. Theres still plenty of room in both realms instore, online or mobile to take care of the customer, Field said. Melissa Martin, who runs BlackFriday.com in Virginia, said millennials are exerting their buying power, joining each other at the malls for fun, not just buying. Youll find retailers are going to give them an experience of a lifetime, because thats how theyre going to keep them engaged, she said. Thats why some San Diegans lined up to see Santa (by appointment at Fashion Valley), waited patiently in line at the new regions first Shake Shake (at Westfield UTC) and streamed into multiplexes to see Pixars Coco animated flick and Warners Justice League superhero mashup. Consumers are pooped out from shopping and instead of going home, they tend to go to movies, said Ana Serafin Smith, spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation. Buoyed by a bubbling stock market and low unemployment, the federation expects holiday spending to reach $682 billion, up as much as 4 percent over last year. Online sales will inch up from 10 percent to 11 percent of the total. To keep shoppers coming back, big and little stores are ramping what they call retailtainment, through product demonstrations, special events and dining options unavailable in the virtual world. Its a chance to interact with a designer, play with new toys or test drive a new Nintendo or Xbox, she said. At the newly expanded Westfield UTC, the No. 1 question to mall greeters was the location of the new Apple store. It was filled with red-shirted staffers, fielding questions about the new iPhones. Five-year-old Samantha Anger, left, and her dad, Chris Anger, right, of La Jolla, relax in one of the egg-shaped wicker chairs Westfield UTC. (Howard Lipin / U-T ) Other visitors, surrounded by their purchases, took breaks to sit in comfortable chairs around fountains and beneath trees in the summer-like weather. Its my little break, said Clairemont resident Sean Goss, stretched out in an egg-shaped wicker lounge chair as his three kids roamed the mall. A Westfield UTC shopper is reading (a real book) at one of the comfortable outdoors chairs. (Roger Showley/U-T ) Said George Aguilar, 56, of Carmel Valley, and his family, eating lunch at Shake Shake, Were not doing any shopping, though were crazy enough to be at a shopping mall. We just wanted to check out the burgers. Many shoppers came with dogs in tow, including Carmel Valley resident Winford Labombarde, who sat calmly outside Nordstrom with his nine-year Havinese, Patches. His wife and two daughters were lost somewhere in the crowds. Nearby resident Kira Rivkin made an outing of walking to the mall, where she danced to guitar music by Mike Officer with her 13-month-old, Kamila Kruglyak. I think Ill come back and buy more later, she said. Marla Kapp, 54, of Cardiff said shed already dropped off purchases three times at her car by noon and expected to spend $700. Were nonstop shopping, she said. The action wasnt all at the mall. In Mission Hills, Marielle and Pascal Giai were greeting customers at their Maison En Provence boutique devoted to Frenchy country home furnishings. They dont want to go stay in line, have that stampede, get crushed at those big sales and shops, said Marielle Giai. Instead, she had created a shopping event for customers to enjoy. Part of the experience is for them to come here and talk and see and smell, Giai said. Whether its here in Mission Hills or other neighborhoods like North Park, they want to make a day of it, go out to lunch, have breakfast, shop in their neighborhood and support their local community. The Deloitte accounting firm said in its Holiday Survey: Retail in Transition report that a third of all consumers want to shop both in person and online. This year theyre projected to spend $1,226 on 15 presents, up $228 from last year. Physical retail store formats will not disappear, the report says. However, they may need to adapt and transform in order to realize profitable growth in a highly competitive blended environment where digital has the potential to not only influence but also capture market share. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nicole Demos, 14, left, with her sister, Courtney Demos, 13, center, and their mom, Pattey Demos, right, from Rancho Santa Fe, walk through the Westfield UTC while shopping on Black Friday. (Howard Lipin / U-T ) ShopperTrak says they account for as much as 45 percent of total shopping visits to stores. This is the first year since 2012 to have four full weekends in December before Christmas, resulting in extra days to shop (and procrastinate). Nov. 24 (Black Friday) Dec. 23 (Super Saturday) Saturday, Dec. 16 Saturday, Nov. 25 Friday, Dec. 22 Saturday, Dec. 9 Saturday, Dec. 2 Saturday, Dec. 30 Thursday, Dec. 21 Source: ShopperTrak Business roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley Each weekday afternoon, the tiny Indian community of Pala is overrun by frustrated commuters sick of sitting in traffic along northbound Interstate 15, looking for a shortcut to their homes in Temecula and elsewhere in the Inland Empire. That shortcut takes them along State Route 76 to the Pala Casino and Resort, then left to Pala Mission Road where it intersects with Pala Temecula Road. From there, drivers take a winding, two-lane backcountry street for seven miles until arriving at the southeast corner of Temecula. Starting at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, hundreds of cars clog that intersection in the heart of Pala. On average, as many as 25 cars a minute turn north onto Pala Temecula Road during the evening commute. Near that intersection is where kids gather to play in the park. Its where the tribes cultural and learning centers are located. The post office is there. Advertisement Its a concentrated area in the community where kids spend a ton of their time, said Shasta Gaughen, the tribes environmental director, who says shes seen the situation get progressively worse the past year. Gaughen, others connected to the tribe, and state and county officials all agree that there is a big problem that doesnt have any obvious solutions. The problem is Interstate 15 and, to some extent, smart phone directional traffic apps that direct motorists to alternative routes because of the daily congestion along the freeway. Its a difficult issue, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Jim Bettencourt. We cannot stop people from driving where they want. You cant tell somebody you cant go this way. If people have figured out a good shortcut to get around stuff, they are more than welcome to take that path. Thats going to be a problem until the end of time. Marcelo Peinado, district division chief of traffic operations for Caltrans in San Diego and Imperial counties, said it all has to do with I-15. People dont like crawling along a highway for an hour and would rather take a shortcut that probably wont save them much time, but will alleviate some of the boredom because they will be moving faster, albeit on what is probably a longer route. Peinado said traffic volumes on I-15 from Route 76 to the Riverside County border an eight-mile stretch of freeway -- have increased by 10 percent since 2010. There has been a significant growth in the length of queues and the decreases of speeds, he said. In 2011, Peinado said, traffic slow-downs usually started only a few miles south of the county line. Now they begin about six miles south. And should an accident occur somewhere along the freeway, which is common, the traffic can be much, much worse. And the hours that constitute the afternoon commute are getting longer much longer. The duration of peak hours has changed, Peinado said. In 2011, the peak was from 2:45 p.m. to about 5 p.m. Today, its 2:15 to about 7 p.m. Since 2010, Peinado said, the estimated population of Riverside County has increased by 9 percent and the population of Temecula has increased by 12 percent. Thousands of people every day commute to jobs in San Diego County along the freeway, then return in the afternoon to their homes, which cost less and are bigger than what they could afford locally. Pala is taking the brunt of shortcut traffic, but the effects are felt all over local roads in North County near the freeway. For instance, in Rainbow, locals have been complaining about traffic along Old Highway 395 and other streets caused by drivers seeking a different route. Deer Springs Road is busier than ever as commuters drive through San Marcos over to I-15 to avoid congestion further south along the freeway. And Rice Canyon Road is experiencing much more traffic than ever before. County road experts said they have been getting complaints from the Pala and Rainbow areas. They recently implemented large commercial vehicle restrictions on Pala Temecula Road due to tight curves, spokesman Gig Conaughton said. Other measures taken by the county include asking Caltrans to identify potential solutions, and asking the CHP to provide additional enforcement along Rice Canyon, Pala Mission and Pala Temecula roads. Although there are no recent traffic count numbers for Pala Temecula Road, a county official said in 2003, the total traffic volume on Pala Temecula Road was 5,858 vehicles per day. In 2013, the volume had increased to 7,836 vehicles per day. Locals says it is twice as bad in 2017. But Caltrans told the county there isnt much that can be done for now about I-15. The San Diego Association of Governments long-term project list call for HOV lanes to be built between Escondido and the Riverside County border by the year 2035. As of now, funding isnt in place for that project. Gaughen, who works in the tribal hall along Pala Mission Road east of the intersection, said traffic often backs up to the highway on that stretch as well. She said people trying to avoid making the left onto Pala Mission will drive another mile east, then make a sharp, hairpin turn to get to the beginning of the road on that side. She said there have been several collisions as a result. Tim Ravago, the tribes law enforcement chief, said the situation really got bad about a year ago and has continued to get worse. And their attitudes are bad, he said of the drivers. There is no courtesy. Ive watched them at the intersection. No one has any respect for anyone anymore. Cars will cut off other people. He said sometimes he has to run interference for school buses. Its hard for them to get out, Ravago said. People just wont let up and give them an opening. Theyre in a hurry to get to where theyre going. Several times earlier this year, the tribe paid for CHP officers to conduct traffic control at the intersection. Ravago said the action may have helped a bit, but the backups were still huge. The CHP again plans on conducting several days of traffic control later this year, their overtime being paid by the tribe. Ravago said the county has told the tribe there is little they can do about the problem and suggested perhaps a traffic signal be built at the Pala Mission/Pala Temecula intersection. But I dont really think that would help, Ravago said. It might even create more of a problem. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones North Countys busiest train station has finished its $28 million upgrade just in time for the holiday travel season. The Oceanside Transit Center, which serves 1.2 million travelers annually, has new and longer boarding platforms, a third train track, new crossovers between the tracks, and more signs, seating and shelters after 17 months of construction. The money was well worth it, said Oceanside resident Richard Silver, a frequent rail passenger and an advocate for ridership issues. He often volunteers as a sort of greeter at the Transit Center on weekends and holidays, where Wednesday morning he offered help to any travelers who looked a little confused. Advertisement This was brilliant, Silver said of the improvements. It greatly increases the capacity ... and makes it easier to transfer from the Sprinter to the Coaster or from any train to another. Anything you do to make it easier to use public transit will cause more people to use public transit, he said. If he were to find fault with anything, Silver said, perhaps the station needs more informational signs, and the signs should have bigger letters to make them easier for older people to read. The Transit Center, on South Tremont Street a block south of Mission Avenue, is a hub for North Countys train, bus, taxi and ride-hailing services. Oceanside Deputy Mayor Chuck Lowery, also a frequent train rider, was there Monday when the newest platform opened to greet travelers and talk about the improvements. Our Transit Center is one of the busiest in the state, serving more than 220 trains and buses a day, Lowery said in a news release issued by the San Diego Association of Governments, which planned and coordinated the work along with the North County Transit District. We are reducing travel times by improving system reliability and the efficiency of freight movement, which in turn reduces car and truck traffic on Interstate 5, he said. This is a step in the right direction for each one of us: cleaner air, less traffic, and more travel options. The most recent work, completed this fall, includes a new train-level platform that allows disabled passengers to board more quickly and easily, and new electronic signs that display real-time arrivals and departures. The third track and crossovers, completed in June, allow freight trains that dont need to stop in Oceanside to continue on instead of idling behind trains that are stopped to disembark passengers. This cuts down on fumes, noise and delays, Lowery said, calling the project a huge plus for the city and the region. Travelers at the Transit Center can board Coaster trains to San Diego, Sprinter trains to Escondido, Metrolink to Orange County, or Amtrak to stations across California and beyond. About $21 million of the funding for the project came from TransNet, a half-cent sales tax San Diego County voters approved to pay for transportation improvements. The remainder of the money came from the Federal Transit Administration and the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl LimeBike one guess what their color scheme is planned an immediate rollout of 300 bicycles following the City Councils unanimous approval Tuesday of the business. The service was first introduced to San Diego County in September in Imperial Beach. Users can find and unlock bikes through a smartphone app, paying $1 per half-hour of use. Theres no cost to the city government. Unlike some sharing services, LimeBike doesnt use docking stations; users can go where they want and park the bicycles anywhere in National City when theyre done and then press a button to lock the back wheel to pause or end their ride. Its a concept imported to the U.S. from China, which has more than 2.3 million for-hire bikes in Beijing alone, according to the Xinhua news agency. Advertisement Colin McMahon, San Diego launch manager for LimeBike, said the company expects most of its business to come from first and last mile transportation. Typical users could include trolley or other public transit passengers heading to an apartment or work, mall employees, and high school students using the service with parental permission. Bikes flow throughout the entire city, McMahon said. Each bicycle is equipped with GPS tracking, enabling users to fund the closest bike available and for the operations team to move any that get deposited from low-demand areas to hot zones. Users are expected to use common courtesy and sense in depositing the bikes, so they dont present trip hazards or block sidewalks. National City, which approved the bike-share as a six-month pilot program, is LimeBikes 30th market in the U.S. In Imperial Beach also a six-month pilot the service logged its first 1,000 rides in just four days, McMahon told the council. Prominent bodies from the film and television and industry plan to hold a 15-minute blackout in support of Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. By India Today Web Desk: Amid raging protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film Padmavati, the Indian Films and TV Directors' Association (IFTDA), along with 20 other bodies of the film and television industry, are planning a 15-minute blackout in support of the film and "to protect the right to freedom of expression of creative individuals". Ashoke Pandit of IFTDA told IANS: "We will keep showing our support for Padmavati and SLB, because it is the basic right of a creative person to tell a story in his own way. He also added that Bhansali is a responsible filmmaker, and that making a film on history is not something easy, but a huge responsibility. To express our solidarity (with the film), we are gathering on Sunday for a 15-minute blackout where all shooting units in Mumbai will put off lights and no shootings will take place." advertisement Pandit also added, "We strongly protest against the non-institutional bodies who every now and then protest against movies and threaten actors and makers of films. We will keep condemning their actions in a democratic manner. We have faith in our Prime Minister, for justice to Padmavati," he said. Earlier this month, IFTDA, along with several other cine bodies, came together in solidarity of the historical drama. "We as film industry feel hurt every time such groups target our films and try to control our freedom of expression. Unfortunately, we do not get support from any other industry, not even from the government as if we are orphans as a community," Pandit added. Various celebrities from the industry, including Shabana Azmi, Hansal Mehta and Twinkle Khanna have voiced their support openly for the film. Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and has been at the heart of a fiery controversy, which is now a nation-wide debate.The film revolves around the tale of Rani Padmini, and fringe Rajput groups are less than pleased about this. Despite several clarifications by the Padmavati team, they're convinced that there is a romantic dream sequence between Alauddin Khilji and Rani Padmini in the film. Spearheaded by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, they've been protesting for a ban of the film in every state, and have issued death threats to Bhansali and Deepika Padukone on a regular basis. The film has been postponed indefinitely from December 1. ALSO WATCH: Padmavati row: Yogi Adityanath justifies threats against Bhansali and Deepika Padukone --- ENDS --- Authorities say a spear fisherman was badly injured Friday in a shark attack off Californias Central Coast. State fire Capt. Josh Silveira says the man and his father were several hundred yards offshore at Pebble Beach when the son was bitten in the right thigh. Silveira says the mans leg was intact but the bite was serious. The victim was taken to a trauma center for surgery. There was no immediate word on his condition. Advertisement The beach has been tagged with warning signs. Silveira says there havent been any recent shark sightings at the Monterey County beach, but in March, a great white shark attacked a kayak in Monterey Bay, knocking the kayaker into the water. He wasnt bitten. San Diego police are searching for a man suspected of robbing a Bay Park Arco station on Wednesday then returning three days later for a second try. A man entered the gas station on Morena Boulevard at Frankfort Street about 7:55 a.m. Saturday and pointed a gun demanding cash from the clerk behind the counter, according to police. However, the would-be robber fled with no cash when another customer walked into the store. Described as Hispanic or Asian, in his late 50s, with a thin build and a mustache and wearing reading glasses and a dark hooded sweatshirt, the man, police say, matches the description of the person who successfully robbed the same store on Wednesday. Advertisement Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1850 Twitter: @paulsisson U.S. Border Patrol agent Ramiro Cordero has spent nearly two decades working on the border in Texas, part of the El Paso sector team responsible for intercepting migrants and drug smugglers flowing in from Mexico. On most Fridays, Cordero sheds his green uniform and gun belt, packs the bed of his tan F-150 pickup truck and sets off with his wife across the international bridge. Weekends find him on his ranch in Moctezuma, deep in the state of Chihuahua, tending the pecan orchard, wrestling calves for branding or building a pit fire for freshly butchered pork barbacoa. Cordero, 46, grew up in Mexico and hopes to retire there soon. He is one of a substantial group of border agents more than half of whom are Latino whose family connections are in Mexico, whose professional loyalty is to the United States, whose history straddles both sides of the border. Left, U.S. Border Patrol agent Ramiro Cordero drives south on Mexico Highway 45, which cuts through Ciudad Juarez until the city gives way to the Chihuahuan Desert. Right, Cordero prepares to drive to Mexico for the weekend. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Its not unusual to see, he says, naming at least four friends and family members from Ciudad Juarez, south of El Paso on the Mexican side of the border, who have joined U.S. federal law enforcement. Border communities are very close. The ties are very, very close. Americas southwest border area has always been a land of its own, a place that is neither Mexican nor American, but a vibrant fusion of both. But years of drug violence in northern Mexico and the political rift between the U.S. and Mexican governments have strained those ties for some border residents, to the breaking point making Corderos choice a bold one. Its also evidence of the personal bridge-building some border residents must do to reconcile their American reality with their Mexican roots. Cordero has always blended in well with the tough law enforcement culture here in El Paso sector. He says he never removes the gold Border Patrol ring he wears on his right hand. He doesnt favor leniency for migrants who cross the border illegally. His uniform, he says, must always be pressed. He prefers Fox News and supports President Trump, whose verbal attacks on Mexico have opened deep wounds among Mexicans. But he grew up in Ciudad Juarez on a block of Avenida del Charro Cowboy Avenue near a rodeo arena less than a mile from the other side of the U.S. border. He moves fluidly between Spanish and English, knows the words to the ballads of beloved Mexican crooners Antonio Aguilar and Juan Gabriel and eats menudo religiously on Sundays. So his dream for a new beginning at midlife, retiring to a ranch in Mexico, also represents a homecoming. In many ways, Chihuahua is as much his home as Texas. Cordero, a native of Arizona who moved to Mexico at a young age, began his career as a border agent in 2000. It was the year that illegal immigration from Mexico was peaking and the agency reported more than 1.6 million apprehensions at the Southwest border a 50-year record that holds today. Border communities are very close. The ties are very, very close. U.S. Border Patrol Agent Ramiro Cordero He patrolled the line east of El Paso before there was an 18-foot steel border fence, before Sept. 11, before agents routinely brought machine guns on day patrol, when he alone apprehended between 15 and 30 crossers per shift. Both his nationality and his commitment to Border Patrol were questioned once, after his eldest brother, a former U.S. customs officer, pleaded guilty in 2010 to smuggling migrants illegally through an El Paso port of entry. But Cordero was not implicated in his brothers crime, and today, he crosses the border both ways with a SENTRI pass, for those known and trusted on both sides. As Cordero approached the Zaragoza international bridge one recent Friday afternoon, his work cellphone rang. U.S. Border Patrol, can I help you? he said into the phone. Que paso, Brenda? Okay, mira, do me a favor. Shoot me an email with that. The only problem is that I wont get back to it till Monday. Reason being, Im getting ready to cross south. Top, Claudia Cordero closes the gate behind her truck as she and her husband arrive on her family's ranch in Moctezuma, Mexico. Left, Victor Lucero herds Brangus cattle. Right, Ramiro Cordero speaks with Victor Cardona as his nephew, Santiago Gonzalez, 5, sits on Cardona's shoulders at Rancho San Isidro. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Mexicos Highway 45 cuts through Ciudad Juarez past maquila assembly factories and strip malls until the city gives way to the Chihuahuan Desert. The toll road is a major artery for goods headed north to the U.S. market, including auto parts and aerospace components. Its also a key drug corridor. About 120 miles south of El Paso, Cordero turned onto a dirt road twisting through mesquite and creosote and the half-abandoned pueblito of Moctezuma. Rancho San Isidro stretches over 8,000 acres belonging to his father-in-law, Victor Cardona, who raises cattle and pigs. The sun was nearly gone behind a white curtain of rain in the west by the time Cordero and his wife, Claudia, arrived. To the east, Corderos brother-in-law Miguel Cardona and two cowboys pushed some 60 head of Brangus cattle over a hill toward a corral where Cordero, ready to work, positioned himself to close the gate. He waited with a Coors Light and a cigarette. The wind whipped up and the rain moved over the ranch. The storm poured a deafening shower on the tin roof of a carport and outdoor kitchen. Cordero, his in-laws and the cowboys drank more Coors and waited for the rain to pass. I think life is simpler here, Cordero said. Not that I wish I was in his shoes or his shoes, nodding to the cowboys, as they did the muscular work of taking the hair off a slaughtered pig. People live just a simple life. I truly envy that life. Here, what is there to worry about? One of the cowboys built Corderos house, and it still needs a coat of paint outside and tiles on the roof. Its a do-it-yourself, one-story, three-bedroom home with tile floors, concrete counters and cabinets that hang a little cockeyed. Now that the house is almost finished, he has several times invited his fellow agents to make the somewhat nerve-racking drive down the drug corridor highway to his little piece of paradise. Hardly anyone wants to come down, he said. Clockwise from top left: Carlos de Leon jumps over the fence to rope calves at Rancho San Isidro. After working all day in the sun, Raymundo Hernandez, from left, Carlos de Leon and Ernesto Cardona take a break. Felipe Cardona, 6, plays on the swing set. Ramiro and Claudia Cordero relax at the ranch. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) The closest place to buy groceries and beer is Villa Ahumada, famous for its drive-in quesadilla joints, notorious for its role in the drug war. In 2008, gunmen brutalized the town of 12,500 people, killing the police chief, two officers and three residents. The entire police force quit. In 2015, a Juarez Cartel leader was arrested with a semiautomatic rifle and $20,000 on him; when Mexican federal investigators searched his ranch, according to news reports, they found more high-powered weapons, ammo, numerous vehicles and two Bengal tigers. In May, criminals sprayed a state building in Ahumada with bullets, killing one state police officer and wounding three others. Since the era of extreme drug violence began in the early 2000s, Daniel Benavidez, spokesman for the National Border Patrol Council union, said he hadnt heard of any agents living in Mexico. They may well be targets if they did retire there, he said. The two most prominent attacks on U.S. agents in Mexico were the 1985 kidnapping, torture and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Kiki Camarena, and the 2011 gunning down of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jaime Zapata. But Cordero knows he has the power of two governments behind him. There has always been an understanding, even among the most dangerous criminals, that they should stay away from U.S. agents, said Andrew Selee, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute in Washington. The few times something has happened, the U.S. and Mexican governments have responded with enormous force. Cordero also has the confidence of his own training. You know, this is all I need, he says, brandishing a large pocketknife. If somebody is going to kidnap me, somebodys going down with me. Im not going down alone. And I am confident that I can probably disarm him and can have him eat his own rounds. Saturday began at 7 a.m., first light. Cardona heated lard in a copper pot on a propane flame. He fried the pigskin to make crispy chicharrones a side dish to the red cow-stomach menudo simmering inside the house. In-laws began arriving to celebrate the annual branding of the calves. Cordero pulled some PVC pipe from the back of his truck and set about repairing the outdoor kitchen sink. At noon, everyone headed over to the corral. Claudia found the branding irons, one for Cardona and each of his five children. Cordero doesnt rope. But when the cowboys had each calf by the hoof and neck, he watched for a chance to grab its underbelly with two hands and in one swift motion take it to the ground knee on the neck, knee on the ribs, foreleg curled and secured. Cordero got kicked multiple times, but took down all but two of the 15 calves, some weighing 400 pounds. He takes off his uniform, and he completely transforms, Claudia said. He tries to wrestle down the cows like they were criminals. Its work but its not stress. After working from dawn till dark, Cordero, his in-laws and the cowboys and their families drank beer, danced banda and sang along to Mexican tunes. I mean, its strange, right? Cardona said of his brother-in-laws decision to make a home on the ranch. People usually like to come for a weekend or a vacation. But he works like we do. He works like he belongs here. On Sunday, when the family was gone and the cleanup was done, Cordero and his wife packed the truck and said goodbye to Cardona and Claudias father. Awaiting them at home were chores for the week ahead: shopping at Food King, making lunches of chicken and pasta alfredo from a packet, cleaning the backyard pool. Cordero would soon be back at the office, answering nonstop calls about border enforcement, drugs, illegal immigration. At the end of the ranch road, Claudia made the sign of the cross. Cordero turned north. Villagran is a special correspondent. The bad faith shown by the California Public Utilities Commission in the aftermath of the 2012 shuttering of the San Onofre nuclear plant along the north county coast is difficult to exaggerate. Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric jointly own the plant, with majority owner Edison responsible for its operations. In 2014, the CPUC approved a plan under which Edison and SDG&E customers would pay $3.3 billion of the $4.7 billion cost of shutting down San Onofre. Subsequently, The San Diego Union-Tribune broke the story that the deal had been secretly crafted in an unreported meeting between an Edison executive and then-CPUC President Michael Peevey in Poland in 2013. In 2016, under heavy pressure, the CPUC agreed to reopen the agreement on settlement costs. But the CPUC has never stopped being slippery. This week, after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge unsealed documents related to the states investigation of Peevey, U-T Watchdog found fresh examples. The CPUC successfully lobbied the state Legislature in 2016 to give it $6 million more to hire private attorneys so the agency can cooperate with the two criminal investigations currently underway. Soon thereafter, the commission began its push to quash court-approved search warrants. Among its tactics: saying that how the warrants were served by state investigators was improper even though they were carried out in the way the CPUC specified. Advertisement Most galling of all, four months after it fined Edison $16.7 million for its executives meeting with Peevey in Poland, the CPUC argued in court filings that the meeting was legal and couldnt be used to justify search warrants. This is inexplicable and indefensible but from the CPUC, completely predictable. It underscores the need for the Legislature to yet again seek sweeping reforms of the states least trustworthy agency. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Re Concealed-carry law would be a disaster (Nov. 20): Blaze Newman objects to a national concealed-carry act on the basis of public safety. There is no threat to public safety, based on data, of open-carry and concealed-carry being more available than in California and most counties. Today, 45 states allow open-carry under various regulations. Many states allow essentially unfettered concealed-carry. There is no link to increased violence by legally carrying people in these jurisdictions. To postulate that legal firearm-carrying people are a threat is not borne out by the facts and is insulting. The criminally oriented among us are already carrying firearms, and ignore current law. Advertisement Continued restrictions, if not more restrictions, will be similarly ignored. While I do think firearms carry is a states rights issue, in most of California the regulations prevent legal-carry, a practical method of self-defense. Bill Stoops Solana Beach Silencers were made to hunt and protect the hearing of hunters. Unfortunately a different kind of hunter is walking amongst us and they are going after our own. One of the key signals for a lock-down situation is the sound of a gun. Imagine the situation if that signal is not available. Sadly thats something that needs to be considered at this time in our lives. While we have laws already in place, the Northern California shooting showed us that they are not working. The shooter had a record of domestic violence and was told to turn in any firearms in his possession. As you know, he did not. This follows the historically tragic shootings in Las Vegas and Texas. The U.S. regulates many things, such as alcohol, drivers licenses and tobacco, to protect people. We can pass laws that respect Second Amendment rights while taking guns away from dangerous people. Rachel Loerch San Diego I saw in the paper that Congress fails to act on bump stock device (Nov. 16). Slide Fire, a leading manufacturer, has resumed selling them. Gun dealers reported that sales of bump stocks spiked after Las Vegas and some stores sold out quickly. Where is the public outrage? I do not understand why this is not front page news. Then maybe Congress would act. Where is the moral conscience of Slide Fire and the other dealers who sell these deadly items? I fear there will be more copycat mass killings. Maybe people are just too busy to write their congressman, get involved or to insist on immediate action, until they lose a friend or family member to a mentally ill person with a rifle and bump stock device. But then it is too late, isnt it? Marilyn Link Pacific Beach Re Nation seeks answers after another mass shooting (Nov. 7) Gun control advocates Michael Thaller, Emery Cummins and Tim Butler need enlightenment. Theres zero correlation between strict gun laws and lower gun deaths. Rather, the reverse is true: the states/cities with the strictest gun laws have the highest murder rates. Why would someone willing to commit murder hesitate to obtain a gun illegally? There are an estimated 300 million guns that are legally owned in this country. Today, like every day, few of them committed murder. How is that possible if guns kill people? They only do so in the hands of a murderer. The Texas shooter was actually stopped from killing even more people by a legal gun-toting good Samaritan who shot him. Children in the 1800s commonly carried guns to school yet never shot each other. Why? They had families who instilled good morals. This is the difference between then and now - not the availability of guns. Julie Gilbart Murrieta Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Moxie Theatres revival of The Diary of Anne Frank (U-T review, Nov. 20) is timely. Let Me Be Myself The Life Story of Anne Frank is currently on exhibit at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. It highlights Annes life from childhood, in hiding, until her betrayal and death at Bergen-Belsen. The exhibit shows how her experience foreshadows recent forms of discrimination that affect young people with diverse identities. I have proposed that UC San Diego designate one of our new residential colleges in her memory. Anne Frank College would inspire students to emulate her love of learning and stubborn faith in humanity. As she wrote: In spite of everything, I still believe in the essential goodness of human beings. Readers, especially alumni, who would like to see the creation of Anne Frank College are encouraged to let Chancellor Pradeep Khosla know it has their support. Advertisement Sanford Lakoff Mission Hills Two local prosecutors on Monday condemned Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggers decision on his last day in office to reduce the prison sentence for Esteban Nunez, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a 2008 stabbing. Nunez and three other Sacramento men originally faced murder charges stemming from a fight at San Diego State University that led to the stabbing death of Luis Santos, a 22-year-old Mesa College student. Nunez is the son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Los Angeles Democrat and San Diego native. Esteban Nunez, shown at his sentencing in San Diego Superior Court in June, is trying to get his 16-year prison sentence for a fatal stabbing reduced. The judge rejected his attempt on Friday. K.C. Alfred (K.C. Alfred) Related Schwarzenegger reduces sentence in San Diego slaying Commutations and pardons Prison sentence commutations by the past six California governors: Arnold Schwarzenegger: 10 Gray Davis: 0 Pete Wilson: 3 George Deukmejian: 0 Jerry Brown: 1 Ronald Reagan: 17 Pardons by the past six California governors: Arnold Schwarzenegger: 16, including one conditional and one amended. Gray Davis: 0 Pete Wilson: 10 George Deukmejian: 328 Jerry Brown: 403 Ronald Reagan: 575 San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said her office was not consulted before fellow Republican Schwarzenegger announced his decision to reduce the prison sentence from 16 years to seven years. We were shocked to hear of the Governors last-minute commutation, which greatly diminishes justice for victim Luis Santos and re-victimizes his family and friends, Dumanis, a former Superior Court judge, said in a statement. Schwarzenegger called the original sentence excessive and noted that co-defendant Ryan Jett had a previous criminal record and it was he not Nunez who inflicted the fatal wounds. San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, a former Superior Court judge and three-term Republican assemblyman, said the governors decision will hurt his legacy. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced the sentence by over half to help his political cronys son. In doing so, he undermined the judicial system and has jeopardized public safety, Goldsmith said. I speak for the overwhelming majority of San Diegans in stating that we are appalled and angry over Mr. Schwarzeneggers conduct. It reflects poorly on him, personally, and on his legacy as governor. Defense lawyer Brad Patton, who represented Nunez, said Monday that Schwarzeneggers action rectified the previous injustice of the 16-year sentence given by San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert ONeill. He said Nunez should not have received the same sentence as Jett, and that the commutation stemmed from an examination of the facts, not Fabian Nunezs political influence. Nunez was Assembly speaker from 2004 to 2008, overlapping with Schwarzeneggers tenure as governor. Nunez now works as a partner at Mercury Public Affairs, a Sacramento-based firm. Among the agencys partners is Adam Mendelsohn, a former deputy chief of staff for Schwarzenegger. Calls to Nunez for comment on his sons case were referred to Patton. The state constitution gives the governor authority to grant reprieves, pardons and commutations of sentences. The governor is required to report to the Legislature each reprieve he grants and must give the reasons for granting it. The governor is not allowed to grant a pardon or commutation to a person twice convicted of a felony except on the recommendation of the Supreme Court. A person can apply for clemency through the courts or directly to the governor. Applications can be referred to the Board of Prison Terms for investigation into the rehabilitative character of the applicant, but a governor can grant a pardon without an investigation. The whole point behind the pardoning power was to give the executive this great power and to act in the interest of justice because its clear that the law doesnt always lead to just results, said Kathleen Cookie Ridolfi, a Santa Clara University law professor and executive director of the Northern California Innocence Project. Ridolfi said the Nunez case seemed an unusual candidate for clemency because the appellate process hadnt been completed and because of the political ties between the governor and the defendants father. People are suspicious of it, she said. It seems very related to who his father is, and I cant argue with that. But at the same time I never want to discourage the exercise of clemency or pardoning power. Unfortunately, it is not exercised enough. David Steinberg, a professor of criminal law and procedure at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, said a governor typically chooses cases where there is weak evidence and real doubt as to whether the defendant committed the crime or in cases in which a defendant has received a long sentence for a nonviolent offense such as a three-striker who gets life in prison for shoplifting. The big concern is the perception of abuse of power, Steinberg said. There is a perception that (Esteban Nunez) got a break because his dad was a powerful politician. The commutation of Nunezs sentence was one of three announced Sunday. Schwarzenegger also granted eight pardons and one conditional pardon. He also reduced the sentences of Sara Kruzan, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1994 shooting death of her alleged pimp, and the sentence of Alberto Magana Torres, who was convicted of second-degree murder and attempted involuntary manslaughter for shooting a man who came on his property. Commuting sentences for those convicted in homicides is not unprecedented. In 1998, Gov. Pete Wilson commuted the prison sentence of a woman convicted in the 1981 murder of her abusive husband, lowering the womans sentence to 20 years to life. Wilson said she had ineffective assistance of counsel. Regarding the Padmavati row, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has said that people have the right to protest in a democratic manner, but they cannot physically obstruct and give violent threats. By India Today Web Desk: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has been in the midst of a whirlpool of controversy, and has now become a nation-wide debate. There have been protests all over the country, and the film has been banned in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Spearheaded by the fringe Rajput group, Shri Rajput Karni Sena, there have also been death threats to director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's life, and Deepika's as well. advertisement The groups are convinced that Bhansali has distorted history, and shown romantic dram sequence between Rani Padmini (played by Deepika Padukone) and Alauddin Khilji, (Ranveer Singh). At a literary festival, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said today that violent threats and announcing rewards for physical harm was not acceptable in a democracy. Not directly referring to the controversy, but films and art in general, he warned against undermining the rule of law in the country, but also pointed out that one should not hurt the sentiments of others. "This is not acceptable in a democracy. You have the right to protest in a democratic manner, go to the appropriate authorities...you cannot physically obstruct and can't give violent threats. Let us not undermine the rule of law," he said. He specifically mentioned that he was not talking about any film in particular. He spoke about other films such as Garam Hawa , Kissa Kursi Ka and Aandhi. "You have no right to take laws into your own hands. At the same time, you don't have the right to hurt the sentiments of others," Naidu said. Padmavati has been postponed indefinitely from December 1. ALSO WATCH: Padmavati row: Karni Sena threatens to behead Sanjay Leela Bhansali, chop off Deepika's nose --- ENDS --- The White House statement reiterated the US President's commitment in fighting terrorism and the "constructive" role that Pakistan should play. By Geeta Mohan: In a major blow to Pakistan, the United States of America has warned Pakistan of "repercussions" on US-Pak ties if 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Chief of terrorist network Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Hafiz Saeed is not re-arrested. The White House Press Secretary in a statement on Saturday said, "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistan's global reputation." advertisement This comes a day after Hafiz Saeed was released from house arrest in Lahore, Pakistan and got a hero's welcome at the Jamaat-ud-Dawaa (JuD) headquarters, an internationally proscribed organisation. He also gave a sermon at the Jamia al Qadsia Masjid in Lahore the very same day. The US administration has come down heavily on Pakistan for its "failure to prosecute or charge him" saying that it sends a "deeply troubling message about Pakistan's commitment to combatting international terrorism" and "belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil." The White House statement reiterated the US President's commitment in fighting terrorism and the "constructive" role that Pakistan should play. "As President Donald J. Trump's South Asia policy makes clear, the United States seeks a constructive relationship with Pakistan, but expects decisive action against militant and terrorist groups on Pakistani soil that are a threat to the region. The release of Saeed is a step in the wrong direction." Demanding that Pakistan re-arrest the Lashkar chief else it would show lack of "seriousness" the White House said, "The Pakistani government now has an opportunity to demonstrate its seriousness in confronting all forms of terrorism, without distinction, by arresting and charging Hafiz Saeed for his crimes." Adding, "Saeed's release, after Pakistan's failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan's commitment to combatting international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil." A Review Board of the Lahore High Court had ordered him to be freed on Thursday after authorities failed to file any formal charges against him since his house arrest in January this year. The board also rejected the request of the Punjab government for further extension of his house arrest for lack of evidence. US reminds Pakistan of the ample proof against Hafiz Saeed in attacks that have claimed American lives. "LeT is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks, including a number of American citizens. Saeed himself is a notorious terrorist who stands accused of having masterminded the November 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six American citizens", the press secretary said. advertisement A Pakistani government lawyer on Thursday had also urged the board to extend the house arrest for another three months as the country may face cut in aid or limited sanctions for freeing a UN-designated terrorist. "A clear international consensus exists regarding Saeed's culpability-he was designated by the United Nations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. The Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the United States, since 2012, has offered a $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice", the White Hose press secretary said in his statement. The United States strongly "condemned" the release of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed from house arrest in Pakistan and calls for his "immediate re-arrest and prosecution". --- ENDS --- Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/25/2017 -- Domestic laundry appliance is a machine or system which is used for washing cloth and clothes sheets. Use of domestic laundry appliances is not limited to washing only. These appliances are also used for cloth drying purposes. Global domestic laundry appliances market is segmented in to automatic washing machines, drying machines, other washing machines and electric smoothing irons. Introduction of new features in washing machine such large capacity, fast spin speeds, high energy consumption and digital display provides comfort and gives better experiences to user. Addition of such new features in laundry appliances further helps to boost the global domestic laundry appliances market. Growth in garment purchasing is one of the key factors associated with market growth of domestic laundry appliances. Due to rising income level of individual, people prefer to purchase lager number of clothes and to maintain them clean and safe; their investment over various domestic laundry appliances is growing. This is one of the key factors which act as driver for global domestic laundry appliances market. The demand of domestic laundry appliances is seen more in urban market especially in high-tier cities. Growing investment over research and development on various domestic laundry appliances and introduction of innovative technology further helps in the growth of domestic laundry appliances market. Growing urbanization and product upgrading are also some of the important issue for growth of global domestic laundry appliances market. Request For Report Sample@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3722 Asia pacific is one of the prominent markets for growth of domestic laundry appliances. Growing housed hold income level leads to investment over various domestic appliances including laundry appliances. Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth rates in domestic laundry appliances market during forecasted period 2014- 2020. China and India together holds the largest market share in domestic laundry appliances market in Asia Pacific region. Asia pacific holds the largest market share in domestic laundry appliances market. Rising economy level and large population base offers huge market potential for growth of domestic laundry appliances market in Asia Pacific region. According to a report, around 73% of Chinese households had a washing machine in 2010 and this figure is expected to reach around 80% by 2015. This growing trend of washing machines helps in the growth of global laundry appliance market. Countries such as Bolivia, Japan, Tanzania, and Vietnam are considered the highest potential markets and it is expected to witness fastest growth rates in global domestic laundry appliances market during forecasted period 2014- 2020. Europe, Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey and United Kingdom account the major market share for domestic laundry appliances. The global domestic laundry appliances market is expected to grow in a single digit growth rate during forecasted period 2014- 2020. Visit For TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3722 Some of the major companies operating in global domestic laundry appliances market are Sears Holdings Corp, Whirlpool Corp, GD Midea Holding Co Ltd, Haier Group, Bosch, Al Ghandi Electronics, LG Electronics, Miele & Cie KG, Electrolux, Hitachi Appliances In, Panasonic Corp, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd, Manar SA, Fagor Electrodomesticos S Coop, Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited, BC Hydro and Siemens and BSH Home Appliances Ltd. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2017 -- The Worldwide Pharmaceutical Isolator Market research report is growing with the rapid pace; mainly due the burgeoning Healthcare Sector. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, The World Pharmaceutical Isolator Industry Research report is booming and expected to gain prominence over the forecast period. The Market is forecasted to demonstrate a huge growth by 2023, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value & volume. Considering all these factors The World Pharmaceutical Isolator Market research report is expected to reach USD 39.0 billion by 2023, and the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 8.1% during the forecast period 2017-2023. Market Research Future published new report, titled "Pharmaceutical Isolator Market -Research Report: Global Forecast till 2023". The Worldwide Pharmaceutical Isolator Market report explores the Top Key Players in-depth analysis as: Gelman Singapore, COMECER S.p.A. cf. p.Iva, IsoTech Design, LAF Technologies Pty Ltd, Fedegari Autoclavi S.p.A, Hosokawa Micron Ltd., Bosch GmbH, MBRAUN, Chamunda Pharma Machinery Pvt. Ltd., Schematic Engineering Industries, NuAire, Inc., and others. Market Synopsis of Global Pharmaceutical Isolator Market: An isolator is an equipment designed to avoid contamination. Isolators are either open or closed. Open isolators allow for ingress or egress of materials while affording a level of protection from the external environment and thus protect products while allowing materials to enter and exit the workspace. Closed isolators, enable complete separation between the internal and external environment except for filtered air and they offer full protection to the substance being handled. Aseptic isolators differ from containment isolators on account of air pressure. Aseptic isolators use positive pressure to keep contamination out, while containment isolator applies negative pressure to keep contamination out of the workspace. Isolators are commonly found in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry and are widely used for pharmacy aseptic compounding applications. The market drivers for global pharmaceutical isolator market are rising demand due to the growing pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry, increasing regulations and cost of noncompliance, expanding the use of aseptic methods, rising bio labs, growing used of toxic and hazardous materials, advancements in isolator efficiency, and technology. However, the high cost of the isolators, high maintenance, the high cost of operation, the weak regulatory framework in developing regions and lack of inspection, increasing specifications, and stringency of quality control checks disease may hamper the growth of the market over the review period. Market Segments: The global pharmaceutical isolator market has been segmented on the basis of type, system, pressure differential, and end user. Based on the type, the market has been segmented into aseptic isolators, containment isolators, bio isolators, sampling, weighing and distribution isolators, active pharmaceutical ingredient & manufacturing isolators, and other. Based on the system, the market has been segmented into closed systems and open systems. Based on the pressure differential, the market has been segmented into positive pressure and negative pressure. Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals and diagnostics labs, pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, research and academics, and others. Regional Analysis: The Americas account for a significant market share owing to high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of advanced healthcare products in the U.S. drives the pharmaceutical isolator market. The high concentration of the major healthcare companies, biotech labs and hospitals in the developed countries of this region coupled with stringent regulatory and inspection is adding fuel to the market growth. Moreover, high inspection rate and the growing stringency of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections has fueled the U.S. market. Europe is the second largest market in the world due to growing the pharmaceutical and industrial base. Countries such as Germany and France lead the European market growth. Germany is expected to be the fastest growing market over the assessment period. The active pharmaceutical industry in Germany is a strong driver behind the dominance of this country in Europe. The ever increasing research and development expenditures of the developed regions have stimulated the market for isolators in these regions. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead this market due to the fast-growing pharmaceutical sector and large unmet needs over the forecast period. South East Asian countries such as China, India, and Malaysia are projected to contribute highly to the market growth. The growing penetration of medical devices industry in the Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the future pharmaceutical isolator market in the region. Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for are Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions, and poor healthcare development. The poor research and development in the Middle East and African region have restricted the growth of the pharmaceutical isolators market. GET SAMPLE REPORT @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4683 . Major Table of Contents: Chapter 1. Report Prologue Chapter 2. Market Introduction Chapter 3. Research Methodology Chapter 4. Market Dynamics Chapter 5. Market Factor Analysis Chapter 6. Global Pharmaceutical Isolator Market, By Type Chapter 7. Global Pharmaceutical Isolator Market, By System Chapter 8. Global Pharmaceutical Isolator Market, By Pressure Differential Chapter 9. Global Pharmaceutical Isolator Market, By End User Chapter 10. Global Pharmaceutical Isolator Market, By Region Chapter 11. Company Landscape Chapter 12. Company Profiles Chapter 13. MRFR Conclusion Chapter 14. Appendix ...CONTINUED GET DISCOUNT @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4683 . About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. Contact Akash Anand, Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2017 -- As the economy fluctuates, so does disposable income, consumer confidence, and the demand for discretionary jewelry and watches. With a prime focus on U.S. market for the hard luxury sector, a new study titled "Watches & Jewelry - US - October 2017" has been broadcasted to the online repository of Market Research Hub (MRH), offers an in-depth analysis of the market covering prime aspects. In the report, the reader will come across facts and figures that reveal the current market revenue and future growth of the watches and jewelry market. Request Free Sample Report: https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1373687 According to this comprehensive report, research experts predicts temperate growth for the watches and jewelry market in 2017 and beyond. This is an upswing and positive year for the manufacturers because in the U.S., almost all watch and jewelry retailers experienced a tough year due to a slowdown in consumption ahead of the presidential election. Since the last issuance of this report, jewelry stores have slipped behind jewelry departments in terms of where people buy items, while Amazon has risen to the top as a primary competitor. Jewelry is something that is stereotyped as women's accessories. Analysts found that Jewelry commands a majority of sales, but watches grow at faster pace. In the initial section of the report, an overview that comprises of an apt definition of the product for the scope of the research has been explained. In the following section of the report, readers can access an executive summary, which highlights key segment analysis, drivers, issues, opportunities, and trends. Some of the major factor influencing market growth include consumer confidence towards the product, positive growth in disposable personal income, experiences over tangible goods; and prices of precious metals remain low for the most part, therefore diamonds continue to shine in the market. The report further adds that iGens and Millennials drive the market's momentum. The percentage of smartwatch owners has grown more than doubled; and consumers show the value they place on affordability, as the percentage of fine jewelry buyers versus fashion/costume buyers has reversed with fashion/costume now the preference. Types of materials preferred by the customer in the U.S. is gold and diamonds. Browse Full Report with TOC- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/watches-and-jewelry-us-october-2017-report.html In terms of market competitiveness, Jewelry stores face tough competition and online marketplace starts to shine. The manufacturers are struggling because traditional jewelers losing some sparkle. The demand for smartwatches expected to steam again. Considering this, LG, Verizon, Samsung and Apple are looking ahead to maintain their competitiveness. Enquire about this Report- https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1373687 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) Email : press@marketresearchhub.com Website : https://www.marketresearchhub.com/ Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ Thierry Zomahoun is the president and chief executive officer of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), and founder and chairman of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF), which helps foster collaboration among young African scientists. In an effort to raise Africas profile in how science and mathematics can address development challenges, Zomahoun is promoting NEFs scientific programme as a platform to connect science, society and policy. He believes Africa is in a good position to lead the quantum tech revolution which relies on computing that is based on quantum mechanics to advance data processing and technological breakthroughs by harnessing its scientific talent to define solutions that address problems peculiar to Africa and the developing world. Zomahoun talked with SciDev.Net during the 10th World Conference of Science Journalists (October 26-30) in San Francisco, United States. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. What role can Africa play in the quantum revolution? I believe that Africa will play a big role. We are working on it and we want to make it possible for Africa to lead this technological revolution. If you look back, we missed the analogue and digital revolution. We are still trying to catch up with the digital revolution. We want to lead in the quantum revolution because we have the talent, the young Africans when we take populations from other parts of the world where most people are ageing, this is a disadvantage. [This is] the second thing that made me say Africa will lead the quantum revolution. The third reason that makes the African continent a good candidate to lead the quantum revolution has to do with political will. Our leaders are determined to provide the legal and policy framework we need to make it possible for researchers worldwide to come to Africa. How will the quantum revolution benefit Africa, what difference will it make? The first area that will benefit African researchers is collaboration for research. When Africa starts investing in quantum research and technology development, we will be drawing researchers from Central America to Europe and Asia. This can help build skills, strengthen research infrastructure and add value to the efforts of young African scientists. Another benefit will [be] the increase of overall data analytical capacity building [in the region]. We have enormous data on the continent, generated since the 1960s. They have not been used yet. Positioning Africa to lead the quantum revolution will imply you have trained people in data analysis and processing data in real time. The last area in which the continent can benefit is on the policy level. [The] quantum revolution will require another set of regulations and policies. For instance, the banking sector is talking about the confidentiality of customer and client banking data how do you continue to keep things confidential in the age of the quantum revolution and artificial intelligence? This change would take three generations, or within 45 years. The benefits can be measured by the small industries that would benefit from it. If you look at what we have achieved in industries we have created, thanks to the digital revolution, you can tell [how quantum revolution will benefit us]. What are the challenges in terms of using the results of scientific breakthroughs from developing regions such as Africa [considering that 1% of global research comes from Africa]? You hear the mention that Africas contribution to global research is less than 1%, but let us not forget there is a huge hidden reality in that 1%. Twenty years ago, nobody was talking about research coming out from Africa. We were talking about scientists from Africa who are living and doing research abroad. If you take the past 12-15 years, Africas research has more than tripledthis is something that people are not talking about. Yes, at 1% this [level of contribution] raises concerns. But when you realise that no other region has even tripled its research output in just one decade, it tells you a couple of things that first, we are not hiding the challenge we are facing; and second, if you see the quality in that 1%, there has been a paradigm shift. If Africa can maintain and quadruple its research output every decade, you can imagine in three to four or five decades from now where we are headed. This article was originally published on SciDev.Net's global edition. A U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant will soon help rural communities in Gage County set priorities for community facility improvements. The project was announced Wednesday by NGage, the countys economic development corporation. Working with University of Nebraska Extension and the Heartland Center for Leadership Development, NGage will facilitate priority-setting sessions with all 13 small towns in the county, said NGage Executive Director Walker Zulkoski. The grant, worth approximately $100,000, was awarded to the Heartland Center for Leadership Development. The Center is a 30-year-old nonprofit organization that works with community leaders throughout the Great Plains to help them set priorities for community vitality, noted Milan Wall, co-director of the Heartland Center. The grant awarded to them will support youth activities as well as the arrangements for and facilitation of the community sessions. A unique feature of the project will be engaging students from schools in the region to envision their communities as they would like to see them develop over the next 10 years, Wall said. The teenagers will be invited to create three-dimensional models of their towns to share with adults from the county as part of the planning process. Initial meetings will begin in December. Zulkoski estimated the entire process could take two or three years to complete. PoK leader Tauqeer Gilani today while addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad lambasted Pakistan and its terror tributaries for killing about 650 people of the Liberation Front. By India Today Web Desk: In an avalanche of blistering remarks on Pakistan and its ever-lasting stake on Kashmir, a Pakistan-occupied Kashmir leader Tauqeer Gilani today addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad roared, "Where is it written that Kashmir is Pakistan's? This is a propaganda by Muslim Conference..."" The PoK leader further breathed fire over Pakistan's sinister schemes and accused its terror agencies for plotting the murder of senior separatist leaders. advertisement "Pakistan was behind killing of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Sajjad Lone's fathers, jihadis backed by them have killed over 650 people of Liberation Front," Gilani said. Liberation Front is a party committed to seeking complete independence of the region from both India and Pakistan. Father of Sajjad Lone, Abdul Ghani Lone was a vocal proponent of peace in Valley who was assassinated in 2002. The then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had then condemned Pakistan's role in the murder, calling it blinded by greed for Kashmir. Gilani further added that Pakistan pays Rs 30,000 to use its flag to wrap the dead bodies of supposed 'freedom fighters'. Snubbing India's belligerent neighbour's maneuvers to claim Kashmir, Tauqeer Gilani scoffed, "They have even scribbled 'Kashmir will become Pakistan' on our bathroom doors." --- ENDS --- WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is feeling good. The Senate Finance Committee included two provisions he pushed for to help middle- and low-income families in a bill overhauling the tax code that will get a vote on the floor after Thanksgiving. Praise ye the Lord, Scott said after the Investing in Opportunity Act, which he had sponsored but got no action on for the past two years, was included in the larger bill dubbed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. "Huge deal." Scott, now 52, is the only African-American Republican in the Senate. He grew up with a single mother who worked 60-plus hours a week as a nurses aide and did additional odd jobs on the weekend. She still works today, Scott told USA Today, and her salary falls in one of the lower tax brackets. When hes trying to explain the effects of a policy on working-class Americans to his Senate colleagues, Scott said, he thinks of his mother. Im not talking about an imaginary or statistical single parent household ... Im talking about my momma and our income and her hard work and the loss of chances to do cool stuff because you dont have money to do it, Scott said. Scott's legislation would encourage investment in low-income communities by lowering the tax on capital gains if they are reinvested long term to help those communities grow. Scott also was part of a group of Republican lawmakers who worked closely with Ivanka Trump to double the child tax credit from $1,000 per child to $2,000. Ive been encouraging my colleagues and the Finance team to recognize the value of making up some of the distortions in the tax code in a way that benefits folks in middle-income America, Scott said in an interview in his office just before the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve the bill on Nov. 16. He kicked up his feet he was wearing brightly colored socks, no shoes onto the coffee table and leaned back into the couch, relaxed. To think of the stress of feeding the family ... I dont remember going to see a movie when I was a kid. Or the little things, you know, my aunt buying the Christmas gifts because my mother could not afford it, he continued. His colleagues appreciate the viewpoint. Scotts life story means he is acutely aware of the challenges facing so many Americans and the importance of economic mobility, said Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah. Democrats in his home state see a conflict between Scott's stated goals and some of his votes. On his own, (Scott) is thoughtful, is deep, is policy-oriented and is what this country needs when it comes to a bipartisan passion. And so it's not out of his norm to put into this bill items which are good and sound and good for this country, said former South Carolina State Rep. Bakari Sellers, a Democrat. Sellers said that the problem comes when "Tim would be compelled to make a party-line vote, which includes some provisions which we feel would be a detriment." Both the Investing in Opportunity Act and the increased child tax credit could have gotten Democratic support if they were considered on their own, Scott argues. In fact, of the 14 co-sponsors of the Investing in Opportunity Act, seven are Democrats. But for most Democrats, there are too many provisions in the broader tax bill such as repealing the Obamacare requirement that everyone have health insurance or the drastic tax cut for corporations that make it too hard to support. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., signed onto Scott's bill to encourage investment in low-income communities because it could be an engine for job creation, said her spokeswoman, Ricki Eshman. Unfortunately, including this bill in the partisan Republican tax plan does nothing to change the fact that this tax plan puts corporate special interests and the wealthiest few before hard-working families and small businesses, Eshman said. Spokespeople for other Democrats, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, said that despite being co-sponsors of Scott's bill, the senators had no intention to vote for the tax package that includes it. Scott said Democrats are "going to find a reason to vote 'no'" because of the current partisan environment. Scott worked closely with Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and a top adviser, as she met frequently with lawmakers about tax reform, including a focus on expanding the child tax credit. Sen. Scott is thoughtful and sincere in his work. He listens with genuine interest to differing perspectives and is a passionate advocate for the issues that he champions, she told USA Today. I have enjoyed working closely with him on tax reform and appreciate his leadership. A bill the House passed on Nov. 16 would increase the child tax credit from $1,000 to $1,600, while the Senate's plan would increase it to $2,000. That change is one Scott and other Republicans including Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida advocated for strongly, with Ivanka Trump's support. The Senate plan also raises the income limit for couples to qualify for the full credit from the current $110,000 to $500,000 next year. Chuck Marr, the director of federal tax policy at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said the Senate plan disproportionately helps wealthy families and does very little for "the millions of low- and moderate-income working families. Marr said low-income families cannot get the full $1,000 increase proposed in the child tax credit because the benefit phases in, with the credit increasing as income grows. An analysis by Marr's group found that nearly half the children in South Carolina would not get the full increase provided by the Senate bill, and 19 percent would receive only $75. Marr also points out that the child tax increase is set to expire in 2025. Even if Scott's provisions pass the Senate, the bill still has to be reconciled with the tax bill the House passed, and there is no guarantee his provisions will survive. Still, Scott says he has heard positive things from many House GOP leaders and President Trump also seemed to like the idea. Shame on a majority of the legislatively elected S.C. Supreme Court for letting the General Assembly off the hook on funding poor, rural schools. State leaders havent yet spent enough money or done enough work to upgrade these neglected schools so that theyre on par with urban and suburban public schools. On Nov. 17, the court ruled 3-2 to dismiss the 24-year-old Abbeville v. State of South Carolina school equity funding lawsuit. The order, however, is premature, because state legislators only started moving these schools toward parity after a 2014 order by the court. Now without the courts oversight, theres no pressure on the General Assembly to make good on its promises. With gazillions of dollars of state funding needs, do you really trust legislators not to continue a legacy of inattention in the so-called Corridor of Shame area where a multitude of challenges persist? Just walk through schools in places like Ridgeland, Allendale, Marion and Dillon and compare facilities, staff and support to schools in the Upstate or metro areas. Think that you would prefer for your kids to attend school in the former group? Carl Epps, an attorney for the school districts that filed the lawsuit a generation ago, said he was concerned about children who continue to suffer from the lack of educational opportunities that other kids in the state get. These children are not children of legislators," he said. "Legislators children are in other schools or in other areas. If this were not the case, the problems would have been addressed generations ago. My great fear is that the state will now content itself with passing piecemeal and clearly inadequate remedial legislation, as is its history, praise its accomplishments, and move on to another topic of another day. I pray I am wrong. In 2005, Columbia filmmaker Bud Ferillo drew attention to these dilapidated schools, many of which are located along the Interstate 95 corridor, in a documentary, Corridor of Shame. What kind of state intentionally maintains a 'minimally adequate education' system?" he asked after the courts ruling. I am hugely disappointed with this action, but I hope the legislature will begin to implement multi-year remedies that address the miserable conditions of many school buildings, equitable teacher salaries with bonuses to teachers willing to work in these districts and provide technology needed for 21st education. Ferillo, who often talks about generational poverty in these areas, stressed that continuing a mostly more of the same approach in poor areas will keep South Carolina in the nations opportunity cellar. These children are not going back to textile mills and tobacco farms of yesteryear, he said. They need high-quality education from birth to graduate school. Shortchanging public education condemns these communities to third world status and continues our 50th-place ranking. While some GOP House and Senate leaders praised the courts decision and pledge to continue to help poor, rural school districts, others werent as congratulatory. Simply put, the state of South Carolina doesnt seem to care about these kids, S.C. Rep. Cezar McKnight, D-Williamsburg, told the Morning News in Florence . What the General Assembly did in light of Abbeville was merely a dog-and-pony show. There was no real change. Now that there are no Supreme Court orders to mandate change, I doubt there will be any change. Were going back to the status quo. S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Camden, said the legislature wasnt the only branch of government to blame: We make tremendous changes to education in this state when we have a governor with vision and leadership like Dick Riley and we havent had that in over a decade. In the courts majority opinion, Justice John Kittredge wrote the order of judicial oversight was vacated after the General Assembly provided good-faith attempts and new reports on the steps they have taken to provide students with the constitutionally mandated opportunity to receive a minimally adequate education. And theres the big rub, as Ferillo suggests. If state leaders continue to focus on doing the minimum not what students really need to perform in the tech economy of the 21st century well continue to be in the basement. We must do better for all of South Carolinas students. Otherwise, we are complicit in relegating a large number of our children to continuing failure. Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com. In most parts of the world, protesters, standing up to the security forces trying to sabotage the protest, do get violent and even resort to stone-pelting. Pakistani people go a step ahead. By India Today Web Desk: Islamabad Police launched a clearance operation against protesters from the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan who have camped at the Faizabad interchange for weeks demanding the resignation of Pakistan's law minister, Zahid Hamid, for changes made about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat or finality of prophethood oath in the Elections Act 2017 passed in September. The situation turned violent, a policeman was killed and over 60 people were injured. There were protests reported from Karachi, Lahore, Faislabad, Peshawar and the Silakot-Wazirabad road in Punjab province. advertisement Latest reports from Pakistan said that at least 110 people, including 30 policemen and 14 FC personnel, have been injured in Islamabad operation. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority told TV channels not to broadcast footage of the operation and took all channels off air. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been suspended. As government launches crackdown on the goons of Labbaik in #Islamabad, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority takes all TV channels off-air. pic.twitter.com/Xll1L1DYO3- Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) November 25, 2017 In most parts of the world, during protests, security forces use teargas shells to disperse the crowds. But in Pakistan, things are different. Pakistan's Geo News reported that in Islamabad, protesters are firing teargas shells at the security forces. Normally, Security forces fire teargas shells at protesters.In Islamabad, protesters fire teargas shells at security forces. pic.twitter.com/QeaEabukn7- Kamlesh Singh (@kamleshksingh) November 25, 2017 Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, meanwhile, claimed that the protesters in Islamabad 'contacted India' and that the Pakistan government is investigating the matter, a Dawn report said. The same report quoted Iqbal as saying, "They are not simple people. We can see that they have various resources at their disposal. They have fired tear gas shells [at security forces], they also cut the fibre optic cables of cameras that were monitoring their protest." Where else would PROTESTERS fire teargas shells on SECURITY FORCES? Pakistan... --- ENDS --- She said the Asia-Pacific region has great potential for Celebrity Cruises and there is a high percentage of affluent travellers who are in the market for more premium cruise options. Rzymowskas visit was ostensibly to spur development of the brand in the region. She is keen on Celebrity getting greater visibility and giving greater support to travel partners, she remarked. A big challenge for Celebrity Cruises and its premium offerings is brand differentiation: Royal Caribbean has been here for a while now and people think the brands are all the same, she said. Rzymowska also paused to reflect that the parent company has been in Asia for over ten years now, and that it owes the growth and vision in Asia to the late Rama Rebbapragada. Everything began with him and the foundations he set, she said. During the past week Rzymowska has visited Tianjin, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. She talked up Celebrity Edge which sets sail in 2018, as well as the modernization of the entire Celebrity fleet from 2019-2023. She expects these to be game changers. She revealed Celebrity had taken a calculated risk for Edge in engaging world class designers who had not been involved in cruise before. She showed the audience visuals of the transformed state rooms with 20% more convertible outward facing space, split-level villas and spacious sea-facing cabanas, among other features. The brand will be marketing Celebrity Edges 2019 European sailings to Asians who have both the money and time to travel for longer periods, Rzymowska said. She was clear that Asia is important as a source market for Celebrity Cruises as it builds new ships and grows. We will have five Edge class vessels with one being churned out per year - the aim is to attract Asians who want to go to destinations such as Europe and Alaska for longer itineraries and mix with different nationalities. Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Constellation have been sailing seasonally in Asia. The strategy when in the region was in Asia, for Asia, commented Rzymowska. These were short itineraries to suit trends here, she added. There are bigger opportunities from the ever increasing outbound market in Asia. Celebrity Edge is filling up with younger, more 40ish demographics she said and reminded that the various combinations of inter-connected cabins suitable for multi-generational family travel would suit the Asia source markets. We will continue to increase our footprint in Asia and highlighted the work Celebrity is doing with Singapore Tourism Board and local travel partners. When asked if Celebrity would ever base a ship in Singapore she replied, I will never say never and was full of praises for Singapores great airlift and strategic location. Meanwhile Australians are the first to enjoy the newly refurbished Celebrity Solstice which return for a fifth consecutive season. STATEMENT OF PARTIDO LIBERAL PRESIDENT SEN. FRANCIS PANGILINAN ON PEACE TALKS CANCELLATION The Party expresses serious concern over the President's cancellation of peace talks with the National Democratic Front. Both sides have already endured enough, and cancelling the peace talks would only mean further suffering for all, especially civilians who are caught between the seemingly endless arms struggle. We need to have a continuous dialogue about dealing with the civil unrest. We need to continue talking about land reform, improving and ensuring workers' rights, protecting indigenous peoples, and alleviating the injustices long felt by our country's working class. There is much that can be done without shedding more blood. War has never been the best way to settle disputes, much less one that has persisted for nearly five decades. We hope this cancellation is only temporary, another bump in the long road to lasting peace for all. Press Release November 25, 2017 Returning drug war role to PNP will not solve drug menace - De Lima Senator Leila M. de Lima today asserted that President Duterte's plan to return the leadership of drug war to the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not solve the worsening drug menace in the country. De Lima, a known human rights defender, said instead of focusing who will lead the government's war on drugs, the President can do better by issuing a clear directive to stop the killings first. "The President will never solve the problem on the proliferation of illegal drugs as long as his administration's approach of killing suspected drug suspects remains the same. He can tap the PNP officials to lead his campaign again, or even ask them to combine forces with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the drug issue will remain unsolved," she said. "Let me reiterate that we cannot wage the war against drugs with blood, as it is not only discriminating, but also hypocritical. By promoting and tolerating the killings of suspected offenders without a day in court, the administration is only trying to 'solve' a crime by committing another crime," she added. De Lima issued the statement after Duterte announced he will eventually return the jurisdiction over his controversial all-out war on drugs to the PNP because PDEA lacks manpower to sustain his campaign. Duterte has earlier transferred the lead role in the crackdown on illegal drugs to PDEA following public outrage over the controversial death of 17-year-old student Kian Loyd de los Santos and 19-year-old Carl Arnaiz at the hands of Caloocan policemen in August. In a memorandum signed October 10, Duterte told law enforcement agencies to let PDEA "as sole agency" to conduct anti-illegal drugs campaign and operations. De Lima said "there has to be another way" in solving the drug problem in the country, which would not promote violence and not further tarnish the reputation of PNP as an institution. "We do not want another Kian de los Santos or Carl Arnaiz headlining the news. We do not want another story of police officers abusing their power. We do not want more killings and human rights abuses in our country. We want the killings to end now," she said. The President, who has unfailingly backed police-led killings, vowed to continue his deadly war on drugs that already killed an estimate of 13,000 people, up to the last day of his term in 2022. Touted as a "Prisoner of Conscience," De Lima is among the few senators who dared to oppose and criticize the President's all-out war on drugs, eventually leading to her detention. Press Release November 25, 2017 Be champions of human rights, De Lima tells lawyers Senator Leila M. de Lima today urged the Filipinos to continue expressing dissent over the crooked policies of the Duterte administration to pressure him and his allies into rethinking their approach to human rights and rule of law in the country. In a message at the advocacy and academic summit "Pagtugon sa Hamon: A Call to the Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Human Rights" on Nov. 24, De Lima said the public should be "champions of rights" despite the propaganda and endless lies peddled by the Duterte machinery. "Our rule of law, system of justice, and observance of human rights are indeed under attack. They are under attack by President Duterte who preys upon the fears of our countrymen and uses the same fear to seize, consolidate and expand power," she said. "Nais kong hikayatin ang lahat na patuloy na magmasid, makialam, magsalita at manindigan. Igiit natin sa Pangulo at ipaunawa sa kanyang administrasyon na hindi tayo pumapayag na ipagwalang-bahala ang ating mga karapatan at isantabi ang ating mga batas. Ipaglalaban natin ang demokrasya sa Pilipinas at ang dignidad ng Pilipino. We cannot just be victims of wrongs. We should be champions of rights," she added. De Lima noted how Duterte established a dark culture of violence against the poor and demonized dissent and ignored calls for accountability and undermined the democratic institutions and officials--like De Lima--that have dared stand in his way. She said she has suffered humiliation and persecution at the hands of the present administration after she initiated a Senate probe into the unabated spate of extrajudicial and summary killings in the government's all-out war on drugs barely two weeks since she became a senator in 2016. The Senator from Bicol said it is a challenge to the public, especially to lawyers and lawmakers, to protect their fellow Filipinos against the abuses and excesses in the state's exercise of power. "Thus, ensuring that no matter how lowly and humble we are, every Filipino is assured of access to justice and guaranteed of respect for his or her human rights," she said. De Lima maintained the darkest times--like the rule of Duterte, which is reminiscent of the fascist dictatorship--make the best heroes. "Wala akong duda na ang ating mga pagsisikap ay magbubunga ng makabuluhang pagbabago para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga kababayan," she said. De Lima further cited American anthropologist Margaret Mead to stress her point: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." The advocacy and academic summit "Pagtugon sa Hamon: A Call to the Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Human Rights" at the SMX Convention Center Aura, BGC, Taguig, was organized by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Attended by lawyers committed to upholding the rule of law, the conference is a two day conference scheduled from Nov.23-24. The Pakistani interior minister told local media that the group of religious protesters linked to the country-wide unrest seen in Pakistan today had 'contacted India'. A Pakistani police officer aims his gun towards the protesters next to a burning police vehicle during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan(AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) By India Today Web Desk: The main group of protestors linked to the country-wide turmoil and unrest being seen in Pakistan right now were in "contact" with India, the nation's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has sensationally claimed. Speaking to Pakistani news channel DawnNews Iqbal said his government has already begun investigating "why" the protestors "contacted India". "Why they did it, we are looking into it. They have inside information and resources that are being used against the state." advertisement "They (the protestors) are not simple people," the DawnNews's online publication quoted Iqbal, who is the Pakistani equivalent of a home minister, as further saying. "We can see that they have various resources at their disposal." The protesters, Iqbal added, had themselves fired tear gas, usually the weapon of choice of most riot-control forces, at Pakistani police trying to quell violence that has spread to cities including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. There were reports that TV channels had been ordered to go off air and that social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook had been blocked in certain parts of Pakistan. There are reports that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube are blocked in Pakistan. Are they blocked for you? Reply and let us know. Mention your city + blocked social media site/app.- Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 25, 2017 The violence and clashes first began in Islamabad today morning after police moved in to clear a protestors from the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, an Islamist political party, who had been camping at the capital city's Faizabad interchange for weeks, demanding that Pakistan's law minister Zahid Hamid resign. Hamid was directly targetted by the protesters today with The Express Tribune reporting that men affiliated to the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan attacked the law minister's residence in Pasrur, Sialkot. The protesters "broke into and ransacked the minister's haveli", the daily, citing its news serve Express News, said, adding, "They shattered windows and damaged furniture. The minister, however, is in Islamabad." As government launches crackdown on the goons of Labbaik in #Islamabad, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority takes all TV channels off-air. pic.twitter.com/Xll1L1DYO3- Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) November 25, 2017 The demand for Hamid's resignation was based on an unproved allegation that he was responsible for deliberately modifying the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (or finality of prophethood) oath when a recent legislation, Elections Act 2017 was passed, according to a report in Dawn. The daily added the modification was termed a 'clerical error' by the Pakistani government and had already been rectified, a development that did not stop the protestors from insisting on the resignation Hamid. Protesters hurls back a tear gas shell fired by police during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) Protesters hurls back a tear gas shell fired by police during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) advertisement CLEARANCE OPS So, nearly 2,000 activists of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan camped at the Faizabad interchange in Islamabad and even blocked the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road, both of which connect the capital city with its only airport and the garrison city of Rawalpindi. According to Dawn, early today morning, around 8,500 elite police and paramilitary troops in riot gear moved in to begin a clearance operation at the sit-in protest site after a number of deadlines, handed down by both the Pakistani judiciary and government, to end the protest lapsed. As police moved in to clear the protestors, TV channels were asked not to cover operation live, following which mysterious reports came in of media channels being completely blacked out. The crackdown in the Pakistani capital soon spilled over into other cities, with The Express Tribune reporting that countrywide protests were seen following the police operation in Islamabad. Other media outlets reported largescale stone-pelting by the protestors while the security forces were said to have resorted to firing tear gas and rubber bullets. advertisement Soon after reports of nation-wide protests came in, the Pakistani military spokesperson tweeted that army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had spoken to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and urged that "both sides" avoid violence and ensure peace. COAS telephoned PM.Suggested to handle Isb Dharna peacefully avoiding violence from both sides as it is not in national interest & cohesion.- Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 25, 2017 There were no immediate reports of how many people had been injured or detained, through The Express Tribune carried a story headlined, "Clashes erupt after law enforcers crackdown on Islamabad sit-in; Dozens injured; scores detained". A policeman was confirmed to be the one fatal causality of the protests in Pakistan. Pakistani protesters gather next to burning police vehicles after setting on fire them during a clash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) WATCH | Sushma responds to Pakistan PM Abbasi, slams Islamabad on terrorism at UNGA --- ENDS --- Press Release November 25, 2017 PHL Successfully Concludes Participation in 2017 Venice Biennale The Philippines has successfully completed its third consecutive participation in the Venice Biennale as it concludes The Spectre of Comparison, the Philippine Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Art Biennale. The 2017 Philippine Pavilion, curated by Joselina Cruz and featuring the works of Lani Maestro and Manuel Ocampo, completed a six-month run at the Artiglierie of the Arsenale--one of the main exhibition spaces of the Venice Biennale. Senator Loren Legarda, the visionary and driving force behind the Philippines' successful return to the Venice Biennale after 51 years of absence, congratulated the curator and artists of the 2017 Philippine Pavilion. "We are thankful for yet another successful participation in the Venice Biennale. This is a proud moment for us because we have mounted a Philippine Pavilion in the Arsenale. This only proves what we Filipinos are capable of and we will continue to prove this in our succeeding pavilions. As we close another milestone in our country's history of contemporary art, I wish to express my gratitude to everyone who has made this possible, especially to our curator, Joselina Cruz, and our artists, Lani Maestro and Manuel Ocampo," Legarda said. As much as 7,000 visitors per day have visited the Philippine Pavilion since it opened last May 13, 2017. The finissage or closing ceremony will be held on November 26, 2017 at the Fava Church in Castello where the Filipino community in Venice will gather. The Senator thanked the Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale (PAVB) Coordinating Committee and the agencies involved--the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its chairperson, National Artist Virgilio Almario, who is also the Philippine Pavilion Commissioner, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). She also thanked the Department of Tourism (DOT) for its support. Legarda also said that The Spectre of Comparison will have a homecoming exhibition. In 2016, Tie A String Around The World, the Philippine Pavilion at the 2015 Venice Art Biennale, had its homecoming exhibition at the Vargas Museum in the University of the Philippines; while Muhon: Traces of an Adolescent City, the Philippine Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, is currently exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila until December 29, 2017. Meanwhile, Legarda ensured that the country will continue to participate in the next exhibitions of the Venice Biennale. "We hope to be in the Venice Biennale for as long as it is here. Next year, we will participate in the Architecture Biennale and while we are preparing for that, we will also launch the open call for curatorial proposals for the 2019 Art Biennale. Moreover, to ensure continuity, we hope to enact a law institutionalizing the Philippine participation in the international exhibitions of the Venice Biennale," she said. For the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, the Philippine Pavilion will feature Edson Cabalfin's curatorial concept, The City Who Had Two Navels. "As we continue to participate in the Venice Biennale, we hope to enlighten more Filipinos on the importance of this endeavor. Art is important in fostering patriotism and nationalism. It is an enabler of development. Through our participation in the Venice Biennale, we hope that more Filipino curators and artists will be encouraged not only in exhibiting their craft but also in promoting the relevance of arts in nation building," Legarda concluded. Villanueva leads ceremonial turnover of land for the construction of the first public hospital in Bocaue Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday led the ceremonial turnover of the land that will be used for the construction of JB Lingad Memorial Hospital extension in Bocaue, Bulacan. With a total floor area of 2,968 square meters, the cost of the first public hospital in Bocaue is estimated at P250 million. The medical center will have a 50-bed capacity and can employ up to 150 medical and allied health professionals including jobs in administration, engineering, and housekeeping. "We are extremely grateful to the national government for supporting our advocacy in bringing quality healthcare especially to the people of Bocaue. For the longest time, the municipality did not have its own hospital. Sa konstruksiyon ng ospital na ito, hindi na kailangan pang pumila at makipagsiksikan ng mga Bocaueno sa mga public hospitals sa Malolos o Sta. Maria," Villanueva said. There are currently four private medical centers in Bocaue including St. Paul Hospital, BMMG Pharmacy and Hospital, Dr. Yanga Hospital, and Mt. Carmel Medical Center with a total of 235 hospital bed capacity. "The construction of this hospital will provide access to affordable and quality health service to the residents of Bocaue. This project is part of our commitment to continue and improve our health programs not just in the province of Bulacan but in the entire country as well," Villanueva stressed. Follow this live blog for all the latest updates from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's rallies in poll-bound Gujarat. By India Today Web Desk, Supriya Bhardwaj: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is addressing a series of rallies today in Gujarat today, days ahead of a two phase Assembly election. Gujarat is the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and has long been a stronghold of the BJP, the Congress' main rival. Rahul Gandhi is expected to be elected president of the Congress party - a post currently held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi. advertisement Today, he will visit Bayad and Sathamba in Aravalli, Lunawada and Santrampur in Mahisagar, and Fatepura, Jhalod and College Ground in Dahod, the INC (Indian National Congress) has announced. Congress VP Shri Rahul Gandhi ji will be visiting and having interactions with people in Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Mahisagar, and Dahod today #Congress_??_?? pic.twitter.com/1ZD7yVuN7h- Gujarat Congress (@INCGujarat) November 25, 2017 LIVE UPDATES Rahul Gandhi addressed the Khedut Adhikar Sabha in Bayad Former CM of Gujarat Madhav Singh Solanki warmly received Congress VP Rahul Gandhi at his residence on day 2 of... https://t.co/gdaz3iaE1d- Gujarat Congress (@INCGujarat) November 25, 2017 Why don't you ask questions about Jay Shah and Rafale deal, Rahul asks media On Rafale deal controversy, Rahul asks the following questions: 1) Is there a change in the prices in (the) first and second contract(s)? 2) Why was the contract given to a business man who has never made a single fighter plane in his life? 3) Did the entire cabinet pass this contract or not? 4) Did you take the CCS' s permission? 5) Why was your defence minister in Goa? READ | FROM THE MAGAZINE | The Rafale dogfight: Will corruption allegations on BJP help Congress? In Modi-Rupani model, your energy, resources are taken and given to a few businessmen: Rahul Gandhi You gave (India) two brave sons who ensured that the British ran away from India: Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi is in Gandhinagar --- ENDS --- One day in 1818, a Spanish lookout in Monterey saw a pair of mysterious vessels approaching. The Spanish had been warned that enemy ships were planning to attack California, and the commander of the Presidio immediately ordered his troops to muster at a gun battery overlooking the harbor. For the first and only time, a California fort was about to engage in a gunbattle with enemy ships. As recounted in the last Portals, the attack on Monterey was part of Latin American wars of independence that were racking the declining Spanish empire in the early 19th century. The two ships were commanded by a Frenchman named Hipolito Bouchard, who was fighting for newly independent Argentina. Bouchard was a privateer a legal pirate whose orders were to attack the Spanish in any way he saw fit. After an unsuccessful assault on the Spanish-controlled Philippines, he had sailed to Hawaii, where an Englishman named Peter Corney persuaded him to attack Monterey. Bouchard seized a second warship, put Corney in command of it and sailed for California. The capital of Spanish Alta California, like the entire province, was easy pickings. There wasnt much to pick, but Bouchard didnt know that. Monterey had only 400 inhabitants, almost all of whom lived inside the walls of the Presidio, a walled community 385 feet square and containing about 50 adobe buildings. Montereys garrison consisted of about 65 poorly equipped troops. Its gun battery, El Castillo, consisted of eight cannons mounted on a bluff, vulnerable to attack from its open rear. Bouchards force of 360 men was a motley assortment of adventurers. As Peter Uhrowczik writes in The Burning of Monterey, it was composed of 80 kanakas, or Hawaiians, along with Americans, Spaniards, Portuguese, Creoles, Negroes, Manila men, Malayans, and a few Englishmen. At midnight on Nov. 20, 1818, Corney anchored his ship, the Santa Rosa, less than a quarter mile from the fort and informed the Spanish that he and his men would deliver their papers in the morning. Meanwhile, Bouchard ordered an officer to land with 200 men and capture the fort under cover of darkness, but for unknown reasons, the attack was never carried out. Corney left his ship anchored near the fort overnight, apparently believing its cannons would be ineffective. However, as dawn approached, he realized that the battery was fully manned and opened fire. Two shore batteries, one at El Castillo and one on the beach, answered. During the two-hour battle, the Santa Rosa was hit repeatedly. Five men died, and Corney and most of the other crew members fled in boats. No one ashore was killed. The Spanish commander and governor of Alta California, Pablo Vicente de Sola, ordered the Santa Rosas commander to come ashore. But only the ships second-in-command, an American named Joseph Chapman, along with a sailor from Guinea and one from Buenos Aires, obeyed. Dissatisfied with their lies and frivolous excuses, Sola had them imprisoned. At this point, the battle came to a halt. Although most of the crew of the Santa Rosa had fled, the Spanish did not try to board it. Sola later explained that he didnt have enough men or ammunition. The relieved Bouchard, anchored 2 miles away, tried to buy time by sending an emissary ashore asking Sola to surrender. Sola angrily refused. That night, taking advantage of a victory dance at the fort, Bouchard sent boats to rescue the remaining crew of the Santa Rosa. Then, at 8 a.m. on Nov. 22, he led 200 men and nine boats ashore at what is now Lovers Point. A total of 138 men were armed with muskets the rest carried spears. The invaders advanced through low brush, passing near the current site of Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They met no resistance and by 10 a.m. occupied El Castillo. As the Spaniards fled on horseback, a group of spear-carrying Hawaiians hauled down the royal flag of Spain. The Spanish made a feeble stand at the Presidio, but it fell after a short fight, during which neither side suffered any casualties. Sola and his troops retreated to Rancho del Rey, 13 miles away. The civilian inhabitants of the Presidio had already fled, in such haste that most were barefoot. When Bouchards troops entered the Presidio, they found only one person, a drunken settler named Molina. He would be the only prisoner Bouchard would take in Alta California. The invaders sacked the houses in the Presidio, searching for valuables and money, mostly without success. Then they burned several dwellings, but left the Presidio church and Carmel mission unscathed. Bouchard stayed in Monterey for about five days, then sailed to Rancho del Refugio, 23 miles north of Santa Barbara. While plundering the ranch, three men wandered off and were lassoed by the locals. The enraged Bouchard sailed to Santa Barbara, where he retrieved the three prisoners in exchange for not burning the town. Bouchard concluded his assault on Alta California by plundering and burning San Juan Capistrano, after which he sailed back to Latin America. Bouchards raid had no effect on the fate of Alta California, although it did increase its Anglo population from three to five people, thanks to Joseph Chapman, who remained imprisoned in Monterey, and a Scottish drummer named John Ross, who deserted at San Juan Capistrano. The Spanish viceroy sent 200 additional soldiers to the remote province, but many of them were criminals and lowlifes who became known derisively as cholos. In 1821, Alta California became part of the independent nation of Mexico. As for Bouchard, he died as violently as he had lived. After many adventures, he ended up as commander of the Peruvian navy. He retired in his 50s and spent his last years as a gentleman farmer, growing grapes for brandy. At the age of 57, he was killed by his slaves, for reasons unknown. Bouchard is regarded as a national hero in Argentina. Gary Kamiya is the author of the best-selling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, awarded the Northern California Book Award in creative nonfiction. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com Trivia time Previous trivia question: What did guitarists Jerry Garcia and Django Reinhardt have in common? Answer: Garcia lost most of a finger in a childhood accident; Reinhardt lost two fingers in a fire. This weeks trivia question: Who called WACO, the community organization created to protest the redevelopment of the Western Addition, a passing flurry of proletarianism? Editors note Every corner in San Francisco has an astonishing story to tell. Gary Kamiyas Portals of the Past tells those lost stories, using a specific location to illuminate San Franciscos extraordinary history from the days when giant mammoths wandered through what is now North Beach to the Gold Rush delirium, the dot-com madness and beyond. His column appears every other Saturday, alternating with Peter Hartlaubs OurSF. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An Oakland school construction project is way over budget, more than a year behind schedule and being built in part by contractors under federal indictment in an unrelated bid-rigging scandal. The rebuild of Glenview Elementary has been plagued by problems almost from the start, with delays and cost overruns angering neighbors, parents and city officials who question the competency of current and former Oakland Unified School District leaders. The current price tag on the project is $54 million, although contractors just started the construction and costs could rise. Taxpayers were initially told it would cost about $40 million to build the new school on La Cresta Avenue in the Oakland hills. I honestly dont think anyone at OUSD gave an ounce of thought toward thrift while this project was being planned and designed, said Donna Rolle, who lives near the school. This bothers some of us a lot when we think of how our tax money is being squandered, and how much need there is in other, less affluent Oakland neighborhoods. The Glenview project is yet another headache for district officials, who are facing a separate fiscal crisis requiring them to make $15 million in cuts to classrooms and central office budgets this year and $11 million more next year. Joe Dominguez, deputy chief of facilities, said the scope and design of the new school changed over time and that various costs within the construction industry pushed up the price tag. But instead of the district adjusting the project parameters to stay within budget, the cost to rebuild Glenview continued to climb unchecked, he said. The district is now doing everything it can to reduce costs and get the school built as quickly as possible, said Dominguez, who came to the district last year. I am committed to making sure all of our facilities projects are on track, he said. We owe it to the students and families of OUSD to provide a safe and positive learning environment. Dominguez said the district has reviewed the building design and recently cut about $5 million from the project, including the elimination of pricey wood panels in the schools foyer. Without the cuts, the schools price tag would be close to $60 million, he said. The Glenview project is being funded by a $475 million bond measure that city voters approved in 2012. The school required upgrades to address seismic concerns, but rather than renovate the existing structure, district officials decided to rebuild, arguing in 2014 that the cost difference was only about $5 million. Its unclear whether pending federal charges against the founders of Turner Group Construction, one of three general contractors teaming up to build the school, will cause further delays. A federal grand jury in April indicted Len Turner and Lance Turner on charges of conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with the renovation of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The men have pleaded not guilty. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Dominguez said that if Turner Group Construction is ultimately removed from the Glenview rebuild because of the legal case, the other contractors will cover the work. This whole thing has been hard, said Bob Alten, president and chief officer of Alten Construction, one of the other lead contractors. But it really wouldnt affect the schedule or the project in terms of a negative way. Still, theres no way to make up all the lost time. Construction on the project was scheduled to start in July 2016 and end in June 2018. Students were supposed to move back into a brand-new school in the summer, but the building site remains a vacant dirt lot. The project is taking longer than expected because district officials decided early to separate it into three phases, initiating the demolition phase before the Division of the State Architect approved the building design, something that can take several months even under the best of circumstances. At Glenview, that process dragged because the district decided to retain part of the old buildings Art Deco facade and incorporate it into the new building. Despite facing the lengthy approval schedule, district leaders decided to knock down the old Glenview building once they had the demolition OK in fall 2016 and moved the 440 students to an unused school on the Emeryville border. The district is paying for buses to take students to and from school, a bill that is expected to reach $2 million before the new Glenview campus is ready. 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. They made a very bad decision to move the kids out of Glenview a year before they had to, said Andrea Dawson, chairwoman of the districts bond oversight committee. They didnt tell the community the truth up front. The delays were exacerbated in January by a change in state law that increased competitive bidding requirements for school construction projects. The school board didnt finalize the last Glenview contract until October. The best-case scenario now is for students to return in January 2020, and even that will require costly overtime and Saturday construction shifts. Rainy weather and unforeseen circumstances could add delays and costs. Nobody wanted this to play out in this prolonged way, said Heather Imboden, a communications consultant being paid $234,000 out of the 2012 bond money to work with neighbors and others affected by the Glenview project. District officials acknowledged the deviation from original plans, saying they are sympathetic to community complaints about noise, work hours and dust. But they say their focus is on getting the project done as quickly as possible. I am on the side of both the parents and the neighbors, said school board member RoseAnn Torres, who represents the district where Glenview is located. But weve got to build the school. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Over the past century, the swath of waterfront east of Highway 101 in South San Francisco has transitioned from meat-packing plants to steel mills to lab and office space for the biotech industry, which employs more than 20,000 workers at more than 200 companies. Now a developer who owns 40 acres of land on Oyster Point is looking to tweak the mix of uses in the area once more by building as many as 1,200 housing units in the biotech stronghold. But while housing advocates favor the idea, South San Franciscos biotech players argue that residential development is incompatible with the research and development activity that has made the city of 67,000 residents one of the leading life-science clusters in the world. The property owner, a group of investors led by the Chinese developer Greenland USA, is proposing to revise the 2011 Oyster Point Plan, which approved 2.25 million square feet of office and research-and-development space on the V-shaped property that wraps around the South San Francisco marina and harbor. The revised proposal, which calls for 4 acres of waterfront open space, would replace the third and fourth phases of that office development with seven residential buildings, decreasing the commercial development by between 500,000 and 750,000 square feet. Paul Stein of SKS Partners, a real estate development firm that is advising Greenland USA, says the housing will help meet the needs of South San Franciscos biotech workforce, which is anticipated to grow by 18,000 workers over the next three years. Stein said the decision to segregate biotech jobs from residential neighborhoods in the Oyster Point Plan was an 80s planning document that came at a time when the life-science field was in its infancy and there was a lot of misunderstanding about health risks that came with the research and development of drugs. Since then, housing and biotech have been built close to each other in several places, including in Cambridge, Mass., and San Franciscos Mission Bay. The new generation of biotech researchers want to work and live in a mixed-use environment with housing, retail and recreation, Stein said. The idea was: Its biotech, people dont know what it is, lets throw a fence around it and protect it, said Stein. Now, the reality of the world has changed, and we think housing will help enhance the biotech cluster out here. Sara Radcliffe, president of the California Life Sciences Association, an industry group that represents many South San Francisco biotech companies, says the industry supports housing but that Oyster Point is not the place for it. Plunking a residential neighborhood down next to around-the-clock research labs will inevitably lead to discord, she said. Much of South San Franciscos meteoric rise as a biotech center is attributable to smart planning that has avoided land-use conflict by not locating residential next to an industrial area, she said. The successful development of the life-science cluster has really been supported and driven by that vision, she said. Allowing housing would represent a dramatic turn in the citys vision for east of 101. While South San Francisco city staff has yet to take a position on the housing development, it was city officials who initially asked the developers to consider changing the Oyster Point approvals to include residential. City Manager Mike Futrell said a 2015 study identified two sites west of Highway 101 where housing could be desirable: Oyster Point and an industrial property next to the Caltrain station. The study said housing might be feasible, Futrell said. We are currently weighing the risks, looking at the macro and the micro. Which is the bigger risk to the biotech sector in the long term? Is it the housing shortage and the adverse impact of long commutes, or is it some perceived disadvantage of having residential too close to biotech? City planning staff will probably make a recommendation on the changes to the City Council by February. The City Council could vote in March or April. Mayor Pradeep Gupta supports the housing, arguing that the change would not only create places for workers to live but also inject energy into an area that is dead at night and on weekends. Its not only a good idea, its a critical need, said Gupta. We need the housing, and its essential that the new housing be built close to where people work so we can get them out of their cars. Casting a shadow on the debate is Genentech, the citys largest and most powerful employer. Genentech, which has been in South City since 1978, employs 12,000 workers there. Greenland says Genentech has not directly said it opposes the plan but has been lobbying against it behind the scenes. In a statement, Genentech said, We support the concept of residential developments in appropriate areas East of 101. At this time, we are not commenting on specific projects. Opponents to housing at Oyster Point also say that the area lacks the transportation infrastructure to support housing. Oyster Point has a ferry terminal with connections to Alameda, Oakland and San Franciscos Ferry Building. Its about 1.5 miles from the Caltrain station. But Futrell pointed out that the alternative to housing at Oyster Point is more office space 2.25 million square feet versus about 1.5 million square feet with the residential development. We are not comparing residential to open space, we are comparing it to more biotech space, he said. As compared to commuters going to work in biotech, the residential development will create less traffic. There will be people who live nearby who can bike or walk to work. While municipal planners generally have moved away from separating land uses into distinct zones, there are times when it makes sense, said Gabriel Metcalf, executive director of the generally pro-housing urban think-tank SPUR. Not every site in the region is appropriate for housing, he said. Where there are intact, healthy industrial and manufacturing clusters we probably want to protect those. Meanwhile, whether or not the housing is approved, work has started at Oyster Point. Demolition of several old buildings is set to commence this year to make way for phase one 508,000 square feet of commercial space in three buildings. Clara Tang, executive vice president with Greenland USA, said she is excited to do what her company has done on a large scale in 80 Chinese cities, as well as in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Los Angeles. Thats what we build: industrial parks with housing next to the companies so people can live next to where they work, she said. Thats what we do all over Asia. If approved, construction on the first phase of residential buildings could start as soon as next summer, she said. That phase would include 330 rental units, 150 condominiums and 11,000 square feet of retail. We wanted to plant a flag here, and Oyster Point is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she said. Its by the water. Everyone loves the water. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Jerry Griffin of Russian Hill shopped for a new car last year, he wanted one that ran on electricity, not gasoline. But without a garage, it seemed impossible. I would have, if I had a place to charge it, definitely gotten one of the battery type, said Griffin, who settled instead on a small gasoline-powered car made by Smart. The San Francisco metro area, at the intersection of environmental concern and technological prowess, has more electric vehicles than most cities worldwide. But for many residents, buying one remains unrealistic. Even as prices for EVs fall and the cars ranges increase, the hassle of plugging them in remains daunting for those who have only street parking. It is a problem that San Francisco and other cities will have to solve as governments around the world look to cut greenhouse gas emissions (California wants to slash them about 40 percent over the next 13 years). Obviously, we want to have significantly more charging infrastructure, not just in San Francisco but all around California, said Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who plans to introduce a bill next year that would ban new gasoline and diesel cars cars after 2040. Ting has an electric Chevrolet Bolt that he can charge at both home and work. Charging stations are proliferating in city and corporate garages, thanks to investment by electric utilities and private companies such as ChargePoint and Tesla. But getting to them can be a hassle, and a parking spot at work can be expensive. More money is coming. A year ago, regulators approved plans from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to spend $130 million to install 7,500 charging stations in Northern and Central California. Its an enormous number, and at least 20 percent but perhaps as much as half will be used for stations serving multifamily housing. Theres no silver bullet for sure, but I think the PG&E program is not to be underestimated, said Max Baumhefner, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. PG&E also has proposed spending $22 million for fast charging stations near multifamily buildings; this would help show whether such chargers could increase electric car usage among residents who lack garages, Baumhefner said. California is getting about $800 million for charging infrastructure through the settlement with Volkswagen over the German automakers diesel emissions cheating devices. Another VW settlement could add millions more. Rules are changing too. Starting in January, San Francisco will require all new buildings, both residential and commercial, to install wiring to enable 20 percent of parking spots to be electrified, with 10 percent ready to serve electric cars when the building opens. Berkeley has gone a step further. The city is completing a pilot project that allows a small number of property owners without garages to install a residential charging station, something not previously permitted. But its expensive participants adding curbside stations probably spend $5,000 to $10,000, estimates Sarah Moore, who administers the program and only a handful of people have done it. Amy Hale, a central Berkeley resident, installed a curbside charging station last year as part of the program, paying about $4,000 to $6,000 for the project, which included an electricians fees and sidewalk work along with the station itself. Before that, she and her fiance were basically trying to survive, more or less, without a charger of our own, because its illegal to have anything across the sidewalk, she said. In their desperation, they ran an extension cord to the car which wasnt cool, she said. It was also inconvenient, because the low voltage on her home outlet meant charging took a long time. When they went to spots with charging stations, such as Whole Foods or Berkeley Bowl, she said, We would pay for charging and just take extra-long to shop. Despite having installed the charger, Hale cant reserve the parking spot in front of her house. But she notified the neighbors about the stations existence, and the vast majority of the time, she is able to park by the charger. Ultimately, San Francisco will need more charging stations if it is to persuade more residents to go electric. Among leading EV markets around the world, denser cities like Amsterdam have one public charger per about five electric cars, compared to one public charger per 25-30 electric cars in California markets, Nic Lutsey, who leads electric vehicle research for the International Council on Clean Transportation, said in an email. In Amsterdam, many of the parking spots are public, whereas in the U.S., most electric car owners have their own garage and designated parking, said Lutsey, who noted that Europeans pushed for early public investments in charging. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes A 2013 paper by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University estimated that just 56 percent of vehicles in the U.S. have a dedicated parking spot off the street. Without available chargers, its hard for people who want to be green to take the final step to buy a clean vehicle, said Griffin, the Russian Hill resident. Its an irony of the situation, because I think a lot of people live in cities because deep down they want to live sustainably and live a more compact life, he said. The city of Berkeleys Moore said many residents are finding their own solutions, like working out deals with neighbors. Another creative idea: In Los Angeles, the Department of Water and Power has installed some charging stations connected to the electricity in streetlamps and utility poles. Researchers are also experimenting with wireless charging. The good news is that the electric grid is basically everywhere we just have to extend it the last 10 or 20 feet, to the driveway, to the curbside, said Baumhefner, who said he used to run an extension cord out of a rental unit window to the driveway to charge his electric car, but now, after moving, has an easier setup. Ultimately, of course, if the vision of San Francisco ride-hailing leaders Uber and Lyft comes to pass, no one will have a car: They will be shared self-driving cars that can be hailed by app. It will be interesting to see how many people in San Francisco even continue to own their own cars, Ting said. Kate Galbraith is the assistant business editor at The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: kgalbraith@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kategalbraith This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate For major retailers, the holiday shopping season over the past few years has really been about one thing: the clearance sale. Led by Amazon and Walmart, retailers have slashed prices to win as much market share as possible during the critical four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. By January, profit margins have all but disappeared. The relentless discounting makes for good optics but lousy retailing. Yes, companies may have temporarily boosted sales, but over the long term, they have only conditioned consumers to expect even deeper price cuts the next time around. Instead of inspiring delight and loyalty, retailers have focused on getting the sale literally at any cost. This year, though, Ive detected a subtle but unmistakable shift in this mind-set. Retailers from Walmart and Best Buy to Kohls and Lowes have been more willing to experiment with pricing, technology, format and service, striking partnerships with startups and even competitors to offer consumers something more than a price cut. Retailers have recognized (holiday discounting) has been a race to the bottom, said Doug Stephens, founder of the Retail Prophet consulting firm. They are literally in an existential battle for their survival (against online players like Amazon), and price and promotion is not the answer. Whether this amounts to a fleeting moment or permanent change remains an open question. And retailers are no doubt still offering big discounts. But the industry is starting to innovate at a time of the year normally devoted to just clearing out inventory, Stephens said. Retailers realize that their backs are up against the wall, said Pano Anthos, founder and managing director of XRC Labs retail incubator in New York. Retailers, he said, must start experimenting now to remain relevant in the future, even if it doesnt pay off immediately. There is no shiny object that's going to make your sales go through the roof, Anthos said. This is about making small, incremental gains that you can apply everywhere. Earlier this month, Best Buy, the worlds largest consumer electronics retailer, said customers can shop through voice-assisted technology from Amazons Alexa and Google Home. Kohls department stores recently rolled out a partnership with Amazon that will allow consumers to return Amazon purchases at 82 Kohls stores near Chicago and Los Angeles. Walmart, the nations largest retailer, has been trying to drive consumers to its stores by offering shoppers online discounts on 10,000 products if they pick up their purchases at the store. Macys and Lowes are tinkering with the most valuable asset they possess: physical store space. San Francisco startup B8ta designed special stores within a store to show off tech gadgets and smart home products at Macys flagship store in New York and 70 Lowes locations across the country. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle The B8ta stores are equipped with special sensors that will allow the retailers to track consumers in the store and which products they frequent and buy. Based on that data, Macys and Lowes can adjust the stores inventory in real time to account for those consumer preferences. Retailers normally rely on calculating sales at stores open for a year to determine performance. But B8ta co-founder Phillip Raub said companies are now looking for ways to better measure whats happening inside their stores. Theres a lot of activity happening in this space, Raub said. Macys and Lowes want to get in front of it. Sales are still important, but retailers need to learn to use their store space more efficiently and to do that, they need up-to-date information on consumer behavior as they shop, Raub said. Walmart and Williams-Sonoma in San Francisco also recently made moves that will boost their competitive position in time for next years holiday shopping season. This month, Williams-Sonoma said it will pay $112 million to buy Outward in San Jose, whose augmented reality and 3-D technology will allow consumers to digitally visualize what products look like in the home. And Lord & Taylor department store, owned by Hudsons Bay Co. in Canada, will open a virtual store on Walmart.com next year. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Retailers wont just suddenly wean themselves off price cuts overnight. The reality is that they cant afford to lose too much market share to competitors during the holiday shopping season, which can still account for one third of annual sales. But they need to convert that market share into real loyalty. It cant just be a one-and-done sale. To me, the holiday season really is an opportunity to acquire, retain and grow customer relationships, said Sebastian DiGrande, executive vice president of strategy and chief customer officer at Gap Inc. in San Francisco. At the end of the day, yes, theres the immediate short-term need to strike the right balance between sales and profit margins. But the most exciting thing about the period is that the customer acquisition opportunity is like no other, he said. And if we can give them a tremendous experience the first time around, they become a customer for life. Then I'm willing to trade off a bit on sales and profits. Thomas Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. He is author of Rebuilding Empires (St. Martins Press), his book about the future of big box retailing in the digital age. Email: tlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByTomLee Year-end tax planning will take on extra significance and complexity this year, given the likelihood that congressional Republicans will try to get a tax bill passed before Dec. 31 to claim a legislative victory for 2017. The normal year-end tax advice goes like this: Figure out if you will be in a higher or lower income tax bracket next year. If your tax rate is likely to go up next year, try to accelerate any income you can into this year and defer deductions until next year, so that your taxable income is higher this year and lower next year than it would be otherwise. If your tax rate is likely to go down, do the opposite. This makes sense if you are self-employed and have some control over your income and expenses, if your income varies substantially from year to year because of bonuses or commissions, if you plan to stop working or start working next year or move into a new tax bracket for other reasons. For most people with a steady job and consistent deductions, its usually not worth the effort. This year, however, they might want to consider grabbing some deductions before they disappear. For example, the House and Senate tax bills would eliminate the itemized deduction for state and local income or sales tax starting next year. The Senate bill also would kill the deduction for property taxes, while the House bill would cap it at $10,000 per year. If you are taking these deductions and not subject to alternative minimum tax, consider making the second installment of your property taxes due April 10 in California before the end of the year to get the added deduction in 2017. Likewise, if you are making estimated California income tax payments, consider making your final 2017 payment, due Jan. 16, before year end. This assumes you have cash to make the extra payments. Selling stock to raise cash could negate the benefit if you have to pay capital gains tax. If you expect to be subject to the alternative minimum tax in 2017, theres no reason to prepay these taxes because they are not deductible. Both Republican tax bills would eliminate the alternative minimum tax starting next year. On the off chance that Congress kills it, but not the state and local tax deduction, you could use these deductions next year. If you are not subject to alternative minimum tax but close to it, deducting an extra property tax payment in 2017 could throw you into it, and you could wind up paying higher tax than you would otherwise. Thats because people are required to calculate their taxes under the regular and alternative tax systems and pay whichever is higher. Taking an extra state income or property tax deduction in 2017 could bring your regular tax bill below your alternative tax bill, said Jeff Levine, director of financial planning with Blueprint Wealth Alliance. Again assuming you are not subject to alternative minimum tax, what happens if you accelerate these tax payments and Congress ends up preserving the state and local tax deduction? This time next year, you will be short some deductions. In that case you can make up for them by prepaying your state taxes due in early 2019 by the end of 2018. If a tax bill goes through this year, for most people there will be more of a push to defer income and take deductions in 2017, said Christine Brown, Senior Wealth Strategist at UBS Financial Services in San Francisco. Unfortunately there is no easy way for most people to know if they will be in a higher or lower tax bracket next year. The House and Senate GOP tax bills differ in some major respects, but both would eliminate many deductions while lowering tax rates for most people. Both would roughly double the standard deduction to $24,000 for married couples and $12,000 for individuals. Many people who currently itemize deductions would take the standard deduction instead, losing the benefit of whatever itemized deductions (such as charitable contributions) remain. Both would eliminate the $4,050 personal exemption you can claim for each taxpayer and dependent claimed on the tax return. But they would increase the child tax credit by different amounts. The net result of these and other many other changes is that most individual taxpayers would be in a lower bracket next year, but some would move to a higher bracket because they would lose so many deductions their taxable income would goes up substantially. Virtually all of the proposed changes affecting individuals would take effect next year and not apply to this years taxes. To figure out where you would end up, youd have to predict which provisions are likely to pass and take them all into account. Looking at one or two in isolation could give you an inaccurate picture. That said, prepaying your taxes is a low-risk proposition for most people not subject to alternative minimum tax. People who converted a regular individual retirement account into a Roth IRA in 2017 and think they might want to undo it should also do so by Dec. 31, said Levine. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes When you convert a regular deductible IRA into a Roth IRA, the amount converted is added to your income for that year and you owe ordinary income tax on it. After that, the Roth grows tax-free. However, if the value of your Roth IRA falls after the conversion, you will wish you had not done it because now you owe tax on some appreciation that has disappeared. Under current law, you can undo or recharacterize the conversion as late as Oct. 15 of the following year. You essentially put the money back in your regular IRA and dont owe tax. Its kind of a heads-I-win-tails-I-win loophole. Both bills would eliminate the ability to recharacterize a Roth conversion in 2018. If you did a conversion this year and you are thinking about recharacterizing it, absolutely I would do it by Dec. 31, Levine said. Taxpayers still have time to contemplate their year-end moves, but shouldnt wait too long. If Congress passes a bill this year, it will be Dec. 31 or close to it, said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender The Pathway Home, an independent residential treatment facility for post-9/11 veterans with combat stress, sits amid thousands of acres of trees and lawn in Yountville. But all one Marine named Jack needed of the outdoors was the exit staircase across the hall from his room. Hed come out of an intense group class, grab his Camel Blues, and by the time he got out on the landing, it was already packed as tight as a Humvee, with 10 or 15 others with post-traumatic stress disorder huddled together and drawing deeply on the nicotine to calm their nerves. Devil Dog, How you doing? theyd greet Jack, using the nickname for his rifle company. Im doing, hed say. This scene is real. But its cinematic equivalent is now out there in the film Thank You for Your Service. The DreamWorks film stars Miles Teller as Sgt. Adam Schumann in the true story of troops coming home from Iraq and struggling to adjust to civilian and family life in Fort Riley, Kan. Thank You for Your Service, based on a book of the same name, tells the story of Schumann, a platoon leader with a gift for sniffing out roadside bombs, who is physically uninjured in three tours of duty. But the injuries to his mind are so severe that he comes in from a patrol, walks through a door marked Combat Stress, and in short order, he is standing alone on a tarmac waiting for his own medevac helicopter. His war is over, but he cannot get over the guilt of leaving his men behind, and he cannot handle the shame of being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The Department of Veterans Affairs medical bureaucracy only makes things worse until finally, as a last gasp, he is accepted to the Pathway Home, an independent and under-the-radar nonprofit that serves veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. At the Sacramento airport, he is met by Fred Gusman, a social worker who left the VA to start his own live-in clinic, supported by donations and grants, with a minimum stay of four months. It occupies a redundant hospital building at the Veterans Home of California-Yountville, 9,000 Wine Country acres in the Napa Valley. The facility came under duress during the fires in early October. At one point all 850 residents of the Veterans Home, including the Pathway, were ordered to evacuate. Residents and staff of the Pathway were sent to Napa Valley College, where they waited for three hours in the gymnasium. While on alert for a week, the campus came under no further threat. It just feels like Im in another country, Schumann says, as the car meanders around to the two-story Spanish building. Im so damn nervous. This dialogue, and the film itself, comes out of a two-volume history by David Finkel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer for the Washington Post who embedded with an Army Infantry Battalion created for the troop surge of 2007 and 2008 in Iraq. The first book, The Good Soldiers, published in 2009, follows the troops as they try to stabilize a city at the same time insurgents try to blow up the Humvees that are sent out to help the population. Two years later, Finkel embedded again, this time at the battalions home base in Fort Riley. He narrows his focus to Schumann and follows him out to the Pathway Home, which is depicted in heroic fashion in the follow-up, Thank You for Your Service, published in 2013. Universal Pictures During the surge in Iraq, the most common injury was on the inside traumatic brain injury, or TBI, suffered while riding in an armored Humvee that hits a roadside bomb. Its effects are not immediate but show up over time when victims seem to forget what they are going to say or do and are prone to snapping over the tiniest infraction. The guilt and stigma over a PTSD diagnosis is so strong that veterans often wish theyd lost a leg or an arm in the war, or show visible scars of a head wound, just so it would not look like they are faking it. Jack, the combat vet has not read the book but his story parallels that of Schumann. The technical differences are that Jack is a Marine and Schumann was Army. Jack was in Afghanistan, and Schumann in Iraq. Schumann served seven years and Jack six. Both were in the infantry facing the same insurgent dangers. Both came home seemingly intact but badly damaged. Both took a few years of struggle and bouncing between jobs at home before hitting the wall in their late 20s. Both arrived at the Pathway Home as chain smokers, but every combat vet has that habit. Both left the program once before returning to finish the job. The major difference is that Schumann is literally an open book while Jack is extremely guarded. Once a Marine, always a Marine, and there is still shame in a wound that cannot be seen. As such, he will not reveal his last name and will not allow his face to be photographed. He will not discuss what happened to him as a rifleman in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2009 and 2010 or what happened to him after the war to land him in Pathway. But it is not too hard to figure out. According to statistics quoted in the book, among those admitted to the Pathway Home, 80 percent have tried school and quit, 70 percent have been fired from a job, and 60 percent have attempted suicide. I came home from the war and realized that I couldnt calm down, is what Jack says about his condition. It must have been serious because his father, a Vietnam veteran drove him up from his home in Southern California. I didnt want anyone to know I was coming here, he says. What will my friends think of me. Am I weak? Thats a difficult barrier to get over. By the time veterans in Jacks and Schumanns era reached the Pathway Home they had been through the VA treatment programs and/or those offered through private insurance. The first line of defense was heavy medication and, if that did not work, a VA residential treatment program ranging from four weeks to seven weeks. Fred Gusman, the Pathway founder, did not want to deal with either the VA or insurance so he was perfect for this program which was funded by a private grant of $5.6 million 10 years ago. Financial independence allowed him to do it his way, which was the long way. VA treatments assumed that the veteran had no psychological issues right up to the moment PTSD hit, but Gusman knew this was too simplistic. There were childhood issues at play here, and his treatment programs emphasized these in long emotional classroom sessions called Trauma Group. In Jacks case the day went this way chow, class, smoke break, class, smoke break and so on. He came for four months and stayed six. Then after a failed re-entry back home, he returned for another year. The camaraderie built here was so strong, and it wasnt built in class, it was built in the smoke pit, he says while using the nickname for the fire escape and table at the foot of the stairs. Jack and his cohorts never mixed with the older men at the Veterans Home, most of whom served in World War II, Korea or Vietnam. The Iraq and Afghanistan vets stuck together and only under cover of darkness would they walk out of the building and up the hill to a cemetery that dates to the Civil War. Guys would talk about the guys theyd lost, Jack says. When Jack arrived hed emphasized the word Pathway in the name, as in a route to somewhere else. By the time he left, he accented the word Home, as if this Spanish-style building were it. The Pathway Home used to hold a graduation ceremony, and family came from across the country. A few hundred veterans over the years walked to the podium to be handed a long-stemmed yellow rose and given a few moments to make a speech. When it was Schumanns turn, he first turned to Gusman and said, I want to thank you for saving my life. Then he turned to his wife, Saskia (portrayed by Haley Bennett in the film) and said, Im going to be home. Finally home. Then Gusman retired. After treating 450 veterans from all over for PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury, or MTBI, the Pathway Home narrowed its mission. In 2016, the Board of Directors refocused to serve post-9/11 veterans from California, as they transition to higher education to pursue studies at Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College and elsewhere. Christine Loeber, 47, a social worker with her masters from Boston College, was hired away from the VA clinics in San Francisco and Menlo Park, the place Ken Kesey made famous in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. When these people are in combat, their systems are programmed to keep them alive under incredibly stressful situations, she says. Nobody helps them understand that when they get back they have to reprogram their nervous system to operate at a different caliber so they can be successful civilians. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle The Pathway Home is funded by donors with an annual budget of $1 million, and VA medical records are not required for admission. A monthly fee of $700 per patient is requested, as a sign of commitment. But the fee is not a barrier to entry. The Pathway Home has always been just for men, but Loeber plans to open it to women. A housing wing on a different floor from the men has already been secured. When that happens the resident population is expected to ramp up to 34. For now it is staffed for 14, and there are not enough smokers to form up on the fire escape. Jack himself has quit his pack-a-day habit altogether. Now 30, he is married, lives in downtown Napa and has a job as a wine consultant. But he is available on short notice. The Pathway Home is home. Room 4137 to be exact. On this day his old door is closed, and there is a veteran behind it dealing with issues. If Jack can be of help, all that veteran has to do is open the door. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art Movie: Thank You for Your Service is expected to be released on DVD, BluRay and digital in January. Books: Thank You for Your Service (2013, Macmillan) and The Gold Soldiers (2009, Macmillan) by David Finkel are in paperback in bookstores and libraries. To tour the Pathway Home with Christine Loeber: http://bit.ly/pathwayhome This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Many San Franciscans wonder whether our political leaders truly see what we see: the filth, the garbage, the dirty needles, the drug use, the homeless people who sit at the same corner day after day clearly needing help. Do the citys top dogs really see this embarrassing underbelly of our glorious city, or are they safely tucked away behind their big wooden desks, able to ignore the muck as theyre whisked from one meeting to another in a private car? Two politicians really do see it very, very up close. Every Wednesday morning, Bevan Dufty, a former supervisor and current member of the BART board, and Supervisor Hillary Ronen pull on blue latex gloves and grab brooms and dustpans to clean the grossness that pervades the street-level plazas at BARTs 16th Street Mission Station. It doesnt seem to be a publicity stunt if it is, theyre very good actors. Theyve been there like clockwork for weeks, and I watched them one morning as they got down in the depths. They hate me at BART, they really hate me. But Ive got to do what Ive got to do, said Dufty, wearing a bright yellow sweatshirt with the hood pulled up to protect himself from the rain. He got the idea to start these weekly cleanups a couple of months ago after getting complaints from BART passengers that the stations were in dire need of attention. Hes since written letters of complaint to BART bosses, recruited other city officials to join him on a one-off basis, and posted pictures of the mess on social media. Its probably annoying and embarrassing to BART brass thats a good thing. Some of the San Francisco stations have become de facto homeless shelters and shooting galleries for injection drug users. I walk through BART stations regularly and have recently seen piles of feces, dirty needles and piles of trash. God forbid you are in a wheelchair or have a baby stroller the smell in the elevators is often unbearable. Wielding a metal grabber and a trash can on that recent Wednesday morning, Dufty explained his quest as he picked up the detritus left from the night before. In just minutes, hed collected quite a haul. A Burger King cup. Scraps of paper. A plastic case for a syringe. Bottle caps. A red straw. A soiled white towel. Chicken bones. Cigarette butts. A peppermint candy. A business card from Canada College. A used Band-Aid. (By the way, since when it is OK to just chuck your trash on the ground? Everybody needs to pitch in to return this city to health.) The brass doesnt know how to handle me, Dufty said. If things are fine, Ill stay out of their business. But if things are raggedy like they are here and they dont make sense, Im going to be in it. Dont make No the answer to every question and every thought. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle BART, of course, argues that No is not the answer to every question and thought. Since Dufty began shining attention on the 16th Street station in September, the agency has assigned a janitor there eight hours a day, five days a week on a temporary basis. Nighttime janitors who are responsible for several stations also have it on their rotation. The agency also started power-washing the station every night. BARTs budget includes funding for 150 janitors, 13 more than two years ago. Four new positions will focus mainly on two of the agencys nastiest stations: Powell Street and Civic Center. The budget approved by the BART board in June highlights the districts commitment to doing more to clean our stations, Chris Filippi, a BART spokesman, said in a statement. This is a quality-of-experience concern for many of our riders, and BART is committed to doing all it can to improve. Dufty and Ronen say BART has a long way to go. They want the new janitor at the station made permanent. They want weekend shifts added. They want a sign installed in the elevator telling people not to use it as a restroom. They want the citys new grant money from the state for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, which gives low-level, nonviolent drug offenders services rather than jail time, to be targeted at the station. They want the citys Homeless Outreach Team to spend more time there. Ronen on that morning knelt down to talk to Alice, an elderly woman whos been sitting with her huge piles of belongings outside the Burger King at the corner every day for months. She sleeps in its entryway at night in her red camping chair. Ronen left a message for Jeff Kositsky, director of the citys Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, asking for help for the woman. It appears Alice has been offered help but is wary of staying in shelters because she fears shed have to give up all of her belongings. Kositsky did not return a request for comment for this column. On Friday, Ronen sent a letter to the BART directors asking them to join her and Dufty in cleaning the station so they can get a firsthand look at the conditions BART riders face each morning. While I knew the general conditions of the plaza were bad, cleaning it myself has opened my eyes to the deeply unhealthy conditions at the plaza, conditions that are unacceptable for a major transit hub, she wrote. Ronen, who represents the Mission District at City Hall, said shes been using the station for 15 years and knew the conditions were awful, but hadnt realized just how awful until she started cleaning it on a regular basis. Its an embarrassment, she said. Two weeks ago, it was unbelievable. Stop reading now if youre eating your breakfast. Seriously. There was a pile of diarrhea on the tree over there in the planter box, she said, pointing. The smell of urine was just overwhelming and hit you as you walked into the plaza. There were used needles. Bevan swept a dead pigeon in the corner into the trash. There were piles of wet clothes all over the plaza, broken glass and bottles. As we talked, a man wearing filthy clothes and covered in dirt and sores approached, eating a pineapple through its hard, brown shell. He said he found it in the garbage can. Where are you sleeping? Ronen asked him. Nowhere, he replied before shrugging and walking off. Despite all this, Dufty said the station has actually gotten a lot better since September. The company that owns the big advertising sign visible to riders on their way down the escalators cleaned the trash that had collected on the spikes intended to keep pigeons from sitting on it. The mailbox has been cleaned of graffiti and has a new, legible sign about mail collection hours. This is the best Ive seen it, Dufty said. Its getting better and better. One small corner of the city beginning to be addressed. So many more to go. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf PM Modi's "hug-plomacy" has failed, Rahul Gandhi has said, pointing to the end of 26/11 attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed's house arrest, and to the passage of a US bill that requires Islamabad to help de-link the Lashkar-e-Taiba from the Haqqani Network. By India Today Web Desk: When Narendra Modi met Donald Trump at the White House in June, the prime minister gave the US President three hugs, prompting a renowned news agency to devote a news story to that display of bonhomie. Five months later, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is still talking about it. Modi's "hug-plomacy" has failed, Rahul said in a tweet Saturday, pointing to the end of 26/11 attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed's house arrest, and to the passage of a US bill that requires Islamabad to help de-link the Lashkar-e-Taiba from the Haqqani Network. advertisement "More hugs urgently needed," Rahul said. Narendrabhai, ??? ???? ???. Terror mastermind is free. President Trump just delinked Pak military funding from LeT. Hugplomacy fail. More hugs urgently needed.https://t.co/U8Bg2vlZqw- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 25, 2017 Rahul's tweet contains a link to a news report on the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018. The Pakistani newspaper Dawn says the bill "provides $700 million for reimbursing Pakistan for monitoring the Pak-Afghan border but withholds half of the amount." What's more, the US government can't issue a US $350 million waiver unless the American defense secretary "certifies to the congressional defence committees" that Pakistan is taking steps to deny the Haqqani network safe havens, curb the movement of its militants, disrupt its "fundraising and recruiting efforts," and detain its leaders and initiate legal proceedings aginst them, Dawn's report said. "Policy makers in Washington feel that linking an India-specific group like LeT with the Haqqani Network could discourage Pakistan from cooperating with the US in the war in Afghanistan," it said. Last month, when Donald Trump tweeted that he'd begun to "develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders," Rahul tweeted this. Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017 WATCH | Gujarat model meant to serve the rich, of no help to the poor: Rahul in Bharuch rally --- ENDS --- As the Trump administration threatens large cuts to the National Park Service, federal parks officials have an idea: Just charge a whopping $70 to enter some of Americas most beloved national parks, including Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Sequoia and Yellowstone. The proposed fee increases, which were announced in October, have come under fire by nature enthusiasts, outdoors groups and, now, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and 10 of his counterparts from other states. For every dollar the punitive fee increase raises from families, the Trump administration intends to cut more than 4 dollars from the National Park Services budget almost $300 million, Becerra said, in a statement. That backdoor math simply does not add up. Its a cruel deception for millions of hardworking families. In their comment letter, the attorneys general said that the National Park Services announcement had failed certain legal requirements, including data to support the criteria it must consider around the aggregate effect of recreation fees on recreation users. But the crux of their argument is a simple one. The national parks belong to all Americans, not only the wealthy ones. By doubling, and in some cases tripling, the entrance fees, the National Park Service would absolutely limit access to some of the countrys most majestic places. Thats antithetical to the parks mission. Its also completely unnecessary. Its true that the parks have a backlog of maintenance needs. But even these steep increases in fees wouldnt begin to cover those needs as long as the Trump administration is dedicated to cutting the budget for the overall agency. Instead of limiting access to Americas public lands, Washington needs to give the park service the money it deserves. 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. The torture and travail endured on the Bataan Death March is well known. What isnt is the torture and travail those prisoners of war were put through when they reached their end destination in China. This remembrance is the mission of Forgotten Camp: Allied POWs of Shenyang, a North American premiere at the World War II Pacific War Memorial Hall, inside a Chinatown storefront. The display of 200 enlarged images, along with wall text and illustrations smuggled out by the POWs themselves, comes from Chinas Site Museum of Shenyang POW Camp of World War II Allied Forces, and this is its North American premiere. The exhibition details the three years of incarceration forced upon troops captured during the Pacific War. Most famous were the 75,000 American and Filipino troops who surrendered on April 9, 1942, on the island of Luzon. Broken into groups of 100, they walked in the heat, without food or water, in what became known as the Bataan Death March. After five days, those who survived were dispersed to various POW camps, including those under Japanese control in Manchuria. Twelve hundred American POWS arrived packed into the holds of cargo ships from Manila, via Korea, to enter the Mukden POW Camp in Manchuria in November 1942, according to online sources. Additional troops from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, brought the population to 2,000. They lived in barracks partly underground and were put to work as slave labor. An estimated 200 of them did not survive the first winter in the camp. The 1,300 surviving prisoners at Mukden were rescued by Red Army troops in August 1945. Compared with (atrocities in) the European theater of World War II, I doubt the American public has heard as much about the atrocities the Japanese Imperial Army committed in China and other Asian countries, said Chinese Consul General Luo Linquan, in an interview with China Daily USA, one of the exhibition sponsors. The prisoners suffered a lot, and it helps the American people to know this history, said the curator, Lihong Fan, who came from Shenyang (formerly named Mukden), the capital of the northeastern Liaoning province in China, for the opening Tuesday, Nov. 21. Since 1,200 of Mukdens 2,000 prisoners were American, operators of the museum would like to see more American visitors and San Francisco is the likeliest place to find them. This (exhibition) is about their experiences in the camp and the fight against fascism, Fan said through an interpreter. The Mukden POW Camp is called the forgotten camp, because its location and history were mostly unknown until 2003. Said to be the best preserved of the 200 POW camps in the Pacific theater, Mukden opened as a free historic site and museum two years ago. If the Mukden POW Camp is unknown, so is the World War II Pacific War Memorial Hall. It opened two years ago in a narrow hillside storefront that did its part during the war. It was headquarters for for a war drive called Save One Bowl of Rice. In lieu of that one bowl, Chinatown residents were asked to donate $1 to be sent to China for the war effort against the Japanese. More than 100 members of the Chinese community came to the opening of the exhibition. Among those attending the event was Simplicio Yoma, who served in the Philippine army and was captured during the war. He says he was on the Death March, but that he was not held at the Mukden POW Camp. It brings back very painful memories of the occupation, said Yoma, through an interpreter, as he sat in his full dress uniform, covered in medals, waiting for the opening program to begin. Its important so that history will not repeat itself and the horror of World War II will not be forgotten. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SamWhitingSF Instagram: @sfchronicle_art Forgotten Camp: Allied POWs of Shenyang: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday- Sunday. Through Dec. 30. World War II Pacific War Memorial Hall, 809 Sacramento St., San Francisco. About 1.7 million people serving in the U.S. armed forces have a big decision to make in the coming months, as the military undertakes a major overhaul of its retirement system. Beginning in January, the military is switching from just a traditional pension system, in which retirees receive a monthly check for life based on their pay and years of service, to one that also includes investment accounts, like those commonly available to civilian workers. The new blended system is based, in part, on recommendations by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. The system needed updating, the commission said, because the militarys current pension system leaves the vast majority of service members with no retirement savings when they leave. Currently, service members must serve at least 20 years to get a pension hence its 20 or nothing nickname. More than 80 percent of service members leave short of that minimum, according to the Defense Department. The new system still offers a monthly pension, but one calculated using a formula that reduces it by 20 percent, said Michael Meese, a retired Army brigadier general and chief operating officer of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association, a nonprofit group that provides insurance and other financial services to military members. (The commissions final report noted that while its benefits recommendations werent budget driven, they would nevertheless substantially reduce government spending.) But service members will also receive contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan, the federal governments version of an investment-based, 401(k) retirement plan. The military will contribute a minimum of 1 percent of the service members pay, even if they contribute nothing. The military will also chip in as much as 4 percent more in matching contributions, for a maximum government contribution of 5 percent. (Service members already may contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan, known for its low-cost investment funds, but the military currently makes no contributions.) Its no longer all or nothing, said Josh Andrews, an Air Force reservist and a certified financial planner with USAA, a financial services company focused mainly on service members and their families. Service members will also be eligible for bonuses aimed at encouraging them to extend their time in the military. Another new, and somewhat controversial, component gives those who reach the 20-year retirement minimum the option of taking part of their pension as a lump sum in exchange for a reduced benefit. This option must be carefully considered, Andrews said, because while it could be helpful to meet an immediate financial need like starting a business or paying off a large debt it provides less money in your pocket over time than a pension taken in the usual way. Men and women enlisting in the armed forces after Dec. 31 will be automatically enrolled in the blended system. (Theyll start getting the 1 percent contribution to the Thrift Savings Plan in 60 days, but must wait two years for matching contributions.) People with 12 or more years of service at the end of this year will be grandfathered into the current system. Service members with less than 12 years of service, however, must decide whether to move to the new system or remain in the old one. In general, the decision to switch to the blended system is irrevocable, according to the Defense Department. Both Andrews and Meese suggested that people who knew for sure that they did not want to stay in the military for 20 years would probably benefit from switching to the blended system. Those who are committed to remaining, however, may want to stay with the current plan although there are still risks. The military, like private employers, can go through periods of downsizing, Andrews noted, in which case staying in the old system could leave you short. If someone is at the 10-year point, Andrews said, its much less risky to stay in the old system than if youre one to two years in. Those who are unsure of their plans, Meese said, have some hard thinking to do. Are you likely to save 5 percent on your own to get the full matching contribution in the Thrift Savings Plan? If not, you may be better off in the old system. Merely getting the 1 percent automatic contribution is unlikely to make up for the 20 percent reduction in your pension if you do stay until retirement, he said. To help weigh the options, the Defense Department is requiring all service members to take a two-hour online training course. We want to make sure they make an informed decision, said Henry Manning, operations officer for the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. Here are some questions and answers about the militarys retirement system: Q: When do I have to make a decision about switching? A: Anytime in 2018. It makes sense, however, to make a decision as soon as possible because the military will begin making contributions in January to the Thrift Savings Plan for those who switch to the blended system. So those who wait until, say, July to opt in will have missed out on six months of retirement contributions. If you switch, theres a huge advantage to deciding earlier, Meese said. You might as well make a decision on Jan. 1. (Those who dont actively opt into the new system by the end of 2018 will remain in the old system.) Q: Where can I find more information about the new system? A: The Defense Department offers information on its website, along with a blended retirement plan calculator. Other tools include a calculator offered by USAA. Q: Does the new system affect people serving in the reserves and the National Guard? A: Yes. Eligibility for the new blended system is based on the number of retirement points earned by reservists and those serving in the National Guard. More information is available on the Defense Departments website. Ann Carrns is a New York Times writer. Santa Rosa police seized 20 grams of cocaine, a .40-caliber handgun with a large-capacity magazine and $3,500 from a 21-year-old man who was pulled over in a traffic stop Saturday. Officers began pursuing Santa Rosa resident Christian Kekoa Bazzano as he drove west on Carillo Street. The police eventually stopped Bazzano for minor traffic violations and arrested him at Glen Street and College Avenue. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When tourists come to San Francisco on vacation, if they opt to stay at an Airbnb, the options are as diverse and colorful as the Bay Area itself. How an agoraphobic artist travels, only using Google Street View The Los Altos Hills Airbnb Beyonce rented for 2016 Super Bowl triples in price to $30k From converted cupcake trucks to self-described "hobbit huts," travelers have a wide variety of accommodations to choose from when planning a trip to the Bay. Click through the slideshow above to see some of the quirkiest Airbnb listings in the Bay Area. The San Francisco-based company claims it has more than 3 million listings in 191 countries. But its emergence as a dominant player in the tourism industry is not without controversy. Many blame the vacation rental service for driving up the cost of housing in cities like San Francisco. Now Playing: The interior is so incredible, you have to see it to believe it. Video: HouseBeautiful San Francisco tried to regulate the growing vacation rental industry by forcing hosts to register with the city and imposing a 90-day annual limit on short-term rentals. However, an April report by the San Francisco Budget and Legislative Analyst's Office found that more than a quarter of San Francisco homes listed on Airbnb violated the 90-day limit. In May, Airbnb struck a deal with San Francisco to ensure more hosts get registered, with the goal of universal registration by January 2018. The deal will help the city enforce the 90-day limit and other terms of the vacation-rentals agreement. Despite the ongoing controversy, Airbnb's business model seems to be working. The company predicts it will earn $3.5 billion by 2020, Fortune reports. Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com. By PTI: Pune, Nov 24 (PTI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray today came out in support of the embattled real estate developer D S Kulkarni and urged depositors to support the "Marathi" real estate developer. Thackeray today met as many as 600 to 700 depositors, who have invested in fixed-deposit schemes of DSK Builders, the construction firm founded by Kulkarni. advertisement The firm has been accused of cheating its depositors. "He (Kulkarni) is not a cheater. He himself is in trouble and there is a need to help him in his difficult times. "There are some people who are active against Marathi builders like DSK. Some of them are associated with a political party and are conspiring against Marathi businessmen to help some non-Marathi real-estate developers," Thackeray alleged, while talking to reporters. Fellow Marathi real estate developers should extend a helping hand to Kulkarni, the MNS chief said. One of the depositors who was present at the meeting said MNS chief appealed them to stand by Kulkarni. Pune police registered a case against Kulkarni and his wife on October 28 on a complaint lodged by a depositor who alleged that for the past several months he was not getting interest on his FD, nor could he retrieve the principal sum. More complaints followed. According to police, around 1,500 complaints have been lodged against the DSK group. PTI SPK KRK --- ENDS --- California Highway Patrol / A Sig-alert has been issued for southbound Interstate Highway 880 just north of Dixon Landing Road after a multiple vehicle collision blocked all lanes of traffic early this morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. A CHP officer said that the collision resulted in at least one major injury, although it is unclear how many people were injured in the collision. The accident was called in just after 5:04 a.m. today, and the Sig-alert was issued at 5:22 a.m. Internet services on mobile networks, except voice calls, in the districts of Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri will remain suspended for three days until the midnight of November 26 The Haryana government has suspended mobile Internet services in 13 districts for three days ahead of two public rallies by a Jat body and ruling BJP's Kurukshetra MP By PTI, Press Trust of India: The Haryana government has suspended mobile Internet services in 13 districts for three days, fearing a law and order problem in view of two public rallies by a Jat body and the BJP's Kurukshetra MP on November 26. MP Raj Kumar Saini, who was opposing quota for Jats, had announced a "Samanta Maha Sammelan" in Jind while All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti national president Yashpal Malik had also announced a rally in Rohtak districts Jassia on the same day. advertisement Internet services on mobile networks, except voice calls, in the districts of Jind, Hansi, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri shall remain suspended for three days until the midnight of November 26, an official order said yesterday. The order, which came into force yesterday, was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) S S Prasad. "The order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of state of districts as mentioned," it said. It said there was a likelihood of tension, danger to human life and property, disturbance of public peace and tranquility in Haryana by protestors and anti-social elements during the two public rallies on Sunday. JATS CLASH WITH POLICE Yesterday, a group of Jats who were opposing Saini's rally at Jind clashed with the police and blocked the Jind- Chandigarh National Highway in Jind. The police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the protesters, and the highway was cleared for normal movement of vehicular traffic after a while. Jat leader Sandeep Bharti, who led the protesters, was demanding the cancellation of Saini's rally. Bharti alleged that Saini was known for his anti-Jat rants and accused him of spreading communal hatred by making inflammatory and derogatory statements against the community. Officials said the situation remained tense in Rohtak and Jind. WATCH | From March 2017 | Who are Jats and why are they protesting? All your questions answered --- ENDS --- By PTI: Kolkata, Nov 25 (PTI) The revised tax treaty between Indian and Cyprus will promote bilateral investments, a diplomat said here today. The two countries signed the revised India-Cyprus Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement in November, 2016. "I believe with new taxation agreement, investment from both sides will increase," High Commissioner of Cyprus to India Demetrios A Theophylactou said on the sidelines of a Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry event. advertisement Cyprus is one of the major sources of foreign direct investment in India with a cumulative investment of about USD 8.5 billion. However, investment from India is minimal in Cyprus, but Theophylactou is hopeful that sectors like tourism will be lucrative for Indian investors. The diplomat also said ayurveda could be another area for Indian investment in Cyprus. "I had gone to Kerala... and I feel Indian ayurveda holds lot of potential in Cyprus," he said. PTI BSM RBT --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HOUSTON Cat hair stuck in a package helped lead officials to a Houston-area woman accused of mailing bombs to former President Barack Obama and Gov. Greg Abbott, who opened his parcel but escaped injury, according to court documents. Julia Poff of Waller County was indicted in federal court this month for a trio of 2016 mail bombs, including a botched explosive stuffed in a cigarette pack that failed to detonate when the governor opened it. The 46-year-old was upset with Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General, because she had not received support from her ex-husband, the federal court documents stated. Using a salad dressing cap from a bottle purchased for an anniversary dinner, Poff allegedly cobbled together an explosive with black powder and pyrotechnic powder, then slipped it in the mail to Abbott. RELATED: Police make arrests in Austin area after alleged threats of shootings at church, high school Now Playing: FOX 26 News reporter Ivory Hecker Video: Fox 26 Houston When Abbott opened the package in early October 2016, it didnt blow up because he didn't open it as designed. Had the device exploded, it could have caused severe burns and death, according to court documents. Agents working the case later found a damaged shipping label addressed to the mail bombing suspect, from when she originally had received the packaging through EBay. A similar package sent to Obama was detected in screening and never made it to the intended target. Poff had stated she did not like the President, according to court documents. The D.C.-bound explosive which was packaged sloppily helped build the case against the accused bomber. After diverting the package, agents discovered that cat hair caught in the shipping label was microscopically consistent with the hair of one of Poffs pets, according to court records. RELATED: Amazon 'reviewing' its website after it suggested bomb-making items A third package was sent to the Social Security Administration in Maryland, where Poff had been denied benefits. A search of Poffs home turned up a trove of fireworks in the garage, according to court records. In an unsolicited Facebook message asking for prayers and PayPal donations to cover legal fees, Poff told a Houston Chronicle reporter that trash had been taken from her family's home that had our fingerprints on it and was used in some serious crimes that we did not commit and know nothing about. She also was charged with more than $5,000 of food stamp fraud and false bankruptcy declaration. A federal public defender on Thursday declined to comment. Court records note that Poff has been evicted repeatedly, in one case allegedly leaving a rented home with potatoes stuffed down the toilets and cement poured in the drains. Her criminal history includes a misdemeanor theft conviction, which netted deferred adjudication and probation that later was revoked, according to court records. She also was convicted of felony fraud. RELATED: Texas man jailed at same facility he allegedly threatened to bomb Last year, using a Sealy mailing address but describing herself as a Waller County resident, Poff sued her leasing companys manager for allegedly calling her a purple Martian from hell, according to paperwork filed in Harris County court. The suit also claimed that the Cypress Four Property Ventures manager verbally attacked Poff on the phone and described her as a professional squatter. A judge ultimately tossed the case. On Friday, a federal judge ruled against releasing Poff, citing a serious risk that the defendant will flee. The case is due for a pretrial conference early next year. "I have had preliminary discussion with the family of the boy, I will in all probability will take his case," Tanveer Ahmed Mir told India Today. Pradyuman Thakur (left), the Ryan International School student who was murdered earlier this year. The teenage student accused of killing him will now be represented by the man who defended Aarushi Talwars' parents (right) By Ankit Tyagi: Tanveer Ahmed Mir, the lawyer who represented Aarushi Talwar's parents in a murder case that received national prominence, will now defend the teenage student of Gurgaon's Ryan International School who is accused of killing Pradyuman Thakur. "I have had preliminary discussion with the family of the boy, I will in all probability will take his case," Mir told India Today. advertisement He said the student's father, who is also a lawyer, approached him through a third lawyer - a friend of Mir's - who practices in Gurgaon. He said it's still too early to say what will be done, as the student is in a remand home waiting for the CBI to present its case to a competent court. "We will first argue on the new amendment whether the accused boy needs to be tried as a juvenile or as an adult." he said. He added he would stress on international conventions on trials of underage defendants that India is a signatory to. CBI sources said who the defence lawyer is isn't their concern. "Hiring a lawyer is the right of the accused. We are confident about our investigation," a source said. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PRADYUMAN MURDER CASE Pradyuman Thakur, a Class 2 student at Gurgaon's Ryan International school, was found killed in a washroom on the school premises at around 7 am on September 8. The Haryana Police arrested a bus conductor, Ashok Kumar, but in a sensational twist, the CBI said a Class XI student of Ryan International School had killed Pradyuman to get school exams and a parent-teacher meeting postponed. The teenage student's father says he is innocent. Ashok Kumar has been granted bail. WHAT MIR THINKS OF THE CASE PRIMA FACIE The motive put forth by the CBI (about getting exams postponed) seems to be fly in the face of common sense, Mir said. He added he will have to see what kind of forensic evidence the agency has. The CBI, he said, is relying too much on CCTV footage. "CBI is relying on the CCTV footage but there are too many people in the CCTV footage. Ultimately it's about solid evidence," he said. "How do they explain then if the boy and the conductor were in the bathroom at the same time, then why didn't either of them shout on seeing the other killing the child?" advertisement 'OUT ON BAIL DOESN'T MEAN INNOCENT' Mir said the CBI appears to be making a mistake similar to the one it did in the Aarushi-Hemraj case. "Somebody being out on bail doesn't mean he is acquitted and someone arrested doesn't mean guilty. Don't want to comment on Gurgaon Police investigation. But looks like in this case CBI is also making the same blunder as in Aarushi-Hemraj case," he said. "You see, natural course of investigation is collecting evidence and then coming to a theory What CBI seems to be doing is first coming making a theory and tweaking evidence to fit their argument." "These are the same tricks they resorted (to) in the Aarushi case and the world knows what happened in the end, they were embarrassed," he said. 'HOPEFUL MIR WILL GET JUSTICE FOR MY SON' "I am thankful to Tanveer Mirji," the teenage student's father told India Today. He said he's hopeful Mir will get justice for his son. "They have beaten him up, he is being framed." (Inputs from Munish Chandra Pandey and Tanseem Haider) advertisement WATCH | Cops tortured him, applied electric shock: Ashok Kumar's wife --- ENDS --- Two Bay Area counties are home to oil refineries, but only one has an industrial safety ordinance directed at preventing accidents that could harm workers and pollute the air Contra Costa County. Solano County has no ordinance, but Benicia, where Valero operates a refinery, is beginning a conversation on adopting a city safety ordinance. The push for the city ordinance comes at a time when the state recently has adopted its own industrial safety ordinance modeled on the Contra Costa County ordinance. The regional air quality board also unanimously adopted on Nov. 15 the strictest regulation in the nation to limit emissions of cancer-causing toxic air contaminants. Solano County officials say they are studying the new state regulations but question the need for another layer of governmental oversight. The goal, said Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, who called the Nov. 14 community meeting along with a coalition of environmental and community groups, is to get a seat at the table. Air quality is always a concern in a refinery town, but a May 5 incident at Valero that sent huge plumes of black smoke and flames soaring into the sky reignited community worries. The flaring resulted in shelter-in-place and evacuation orders and raised the price of gasoline. It was later determined the refinery had released 80,000 pounds of toxic sulfur dioxide a huge amount, experts said. Two investigations (one by the state, one by the county) found Valero not at fault, but the countys findings were never forwarded to the city and only revealed through a public records act request. The regional air board is still investigating. Valero is suing PG&E over a power failure that preceded the refinery losing control of its process. An industrial safety ordinance would bring Benicia and surrounding communities into the know and give residents directly affected some say. An ordinance also would require Valero to pay fees to the city, or Solano County if the Board of Supervisors adopts an ordinance, to contract for the engineering expertise needed to oversee prevention programs, audits and inspections. Unsurprisingly, Valero is against the idea. Contra Costa County adopted its industrial safety ordinance in December 1998 after a series of incidents, and just days before four men were killed and a fifth seriously burned in a gruesome refinery accident. Richmond soon after adopted its own ordinance. Contra Costas ordinance is held up by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board as a model. The record shows the number of refinery and chemical facility incidents has diminished since adoption. Industrial safety is a public concern. The public deserves to be in the know. 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. It might be time to jump on the current round of cheap airfares from the Bay Area and many west coast cities to Hawaii. LINKS & UPDATES ON TRAVELSKILLS Over the last year or so, fares to Hawaii from the west coast have remained stubbornly over $400 round trip-- most of the time inching closer to $500. But ever since last month when Southwest signaled that it would be jumping in the Hawaii market, fares have taken a tumble. More Information Chris McGinnis tracks fares and travel news on the TravelSkills.com blog. Sign up for email alerts or follow him on Twitter @cjmcginnis See More Collapse They've gone up and down since then, but this weekend they are back down. How low? Well, as of today you can fly nonstop from San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose as well as San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland (mostly 1-stop) and Seattle in early December, January February and March for about $340-$380 round trip. The $337 deal is for flights departing Oakland only. SFO fares start at $357. Even Denver has roundtrips in the low 400's. That's quite a deal for winter flights. And the deals are good to Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Kauai. Plus it appears that all airlines serving Hawaii are in on the deal, with Hawaiian and Virgin America as the most aggressive discounters. MORE DETAILS & UPDATES ON TRAVELSKILLS To get the deals, you have to be a bit flexible with travel dates-- more... According to Google Flights, these fares are available for roundtrip in early December, January, February and early March. (Bookable Saturday, Nov 25 and subject to change). Aloha! Will you go this year? Dont miss out on deals like this + other important travel news! Sign up here for one email-per-day updates from TravelSkills! Chris McGinnis is a travel blogger and editor of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. Southwest Airlines 2018 schedule will give East Bay business travelers new daily flights to five domestic destinations that currently have no regular non-stop service from Oakland International including two transcon routes. [FULL STORY & COMMENTS] In its 2018 summer schedule announcement, the airline said it will introduce daily non-stops on July 8 from Oakland to San Antonio, and on July 15 from OAK to Orlando, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Indianapolis. (Saturday-only non-stops from OAK to Orlando begin April 8.) Earlier this year, Southwest started offering non-stop seasonal service from Oakland to Newark Liberty International, but based on the success of those flights, the airline now plans to convert that into year-round service, with daily flights due to start April 8, 2018. (The only other non-stop service from Oakland to the New York City area is on JetBlue, which goes to JFK Airport.) The new service will give Southwest 33 non-stop destinations out of Oakland. More Information Chris McGinnis tracks fares and travel news on the TravelSkills.com blog. Sign up for email alerts or follow him on Twitter @cjmcginnis See More Collapse Southwest has been steadily ramping up its California operations in recent months, and it has a new promotion for Rapid Rewards members who live in the state. Called California Millions, it will give away millions of Rapid Rewards points to winners. It remains in effect through November 30. Heres a link to participate. The airlines summer schedule for next year also includes new daily non-stops between San Antonio and Ft. Lauderdale starting July 8. On June 6, Southwest will end its daily service between Flint, Michigan and Chicago Midway. On June 7, Southwest will resume daily seasonal service between Denver-Charleston, S.C., Chicago-San Juan and Omaha-Orlando. And on June 9, it will start new Saturday-only seasonal flights between Boise-Dallas, Denver-Panama City, Fla., and Tulsa-Orlando. Chris McGinnis is a travel blogger and editor of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. ISLAMABAD Pakistans government called in army troops on Saturday to restore order after police clashed with an Islamist group that has been camped out for the last twenty days at a key intersection near the capital Islamabad, state TV reported. The protest inspired demonstrators to take to the streets of other cities across the country in solidarity, bringing them to a virtual standstill. State TV reported that the Interior Ministry said Saturday that army troops had been summoned to assist the citys civil administration in clearing the Faizabad intersection. Six people were killed and 200 others, mostly police, were injured as police tried to clear the intersection linking the Pakistani capital with the garrison city of Rawalpindi, doctors at local hospitals said. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of a law minister over an omitted reference to the Prophet Muhammad in a parliamentary bill. Dr. Masood Safdar of Benazir Bhutto Hospital said five civilians arrived dead from bullets wounds. Dr. Tariq Niazi of the Holy Family Hospital confirmed the death of a young man who was shot in head during the violence at the intersection and the surrounding area. Hundreds of police in riot gear had moved in against the supporters of the Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah party early Saturday after a deadline expired at midnight. The police action and reaction from protesters sent scores of injured to hospitals. News of the police intervention spread quickly, prompting sympathizers in cities round the country to take to the streets in a show of solidarity with the Islamabad protesters. The situation prompted authorities to take TV broadcasts off the air. Key social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were also blocked. The government had made several attempts to resolve the stalemate through negotiations. The law minister, Zahid Hamid, apologized for the omission, saying it was a clerical error that was later corrected. But protest leaders demanded his resignation. Anjum Naveed and Zarar Khan are Associated Press writers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate VATICAN CITY Pope Francis heads to Myanmar and Bangladesh with the international community excoriating Myanmars crackdown on Rohingya Muslims as ethnic cleansing but his own church resisting the label and defending Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi as the only hope for democracy. Francis will be walking a fraught diplomatic tightrope during the visit this week, which will include separate meetings with Suu Kyi, the powerful head of Myanmars military as well as a small group of Rohingya. Francis has defined his papacy by his frequent denunciations of injustices committed against refugees, and he is expected to speak out strongly against the Rohingya plight. But he is also the guest of Myanmars government and must look out for the well-being of his own flock, a minority of just 659,000 Catholics in the majority Buddhist nation of 51 million. Lets just say its very interesting diplomatically, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke responded when asked if Francis 21st foreign trip would be his most difficult. The Rev. Thomas Reese, an American Jesuit commentator, was more direct: I have great admiration for the pope and his abilities, but someone should have talked him out of making this trip, Reese wrote recently on Religion News Service. Reese argued that Francis legacy as a champion of the oppressed will come up against the harsh reality of blowback for Myanmars minority Christians if he goes too far in defending the Rohingya against the militarys clearance operations in Rakhine state. If he is prophetic, he puts Christians at risk, Reese said. If he is silent about the persecution of the Rohingya, he loses moral credibility. Francis already has been urged by the Catholic Church in Myanmar and his hand-picked cardinal, Charles Bo, to refrain from even using the term Rohingya, which is rejected by most in Myanmar. Francis has used the term in the past, when he condemned the persecution of our Rohingya brothers, denounced their suffering and called for them to receive full rights. Myanmars government and most of the Buddhist majority dont recognize the Rohingya as an ethnic group, insisting they are Bengali migrants from Bangladesh living illegally in the country. It has denied them citizenship, even though they have lived in Myanmar for generations. The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Francis would likely call for a lasting solution for the Rakhine Muslims that takes into account the importance for the people of having a nationality. The situation on the ground has deteriorated badly since Rohingya militants attacked security positions in poverty-wracked Rakhine in August. Myanmar security forces responded with a scorched-earth campaign against Rohingya villages that the U.N., U.S. and human rights groups have labeled as textbook ethnic cleansing. More than 620,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, where they are living in squalid refugee camps. Bo has defended Suu Kyi as Myanmars only hope for democracy, saying criticism against her was unfair. Nicole Winfield is an Associated Press writer. CAIRO Egypts security forces were on high alert Saturday after striking back at militants whose massacre of more than 300 people at a Sinai mosque raised fears of a new and bloodier phase in the countrys struggle against Islamist insurgents. Egypts state-run Information Service tried to portray Fridays carnage at least 305 dead, or about quarter of the male population of the village of Rawda as a sign of weakness, despair and collapse among militants opting for easy civilian targets rather than hitting heavily armed security forces as in the past. But the level of coordination and precision by the attackers gave no obvious suggestions of a struggling force in an area where Islamic State-inspired groups have gained a key foothold. The assault on a mosque also raised concerns over increasing threats to the countrys minorities, including the Muslim Sufi community hit Friday. Amr Nabil/Associated Press Survivors and officials described five pickup trucks carrying up to 30 gunmen converging on the al-Rawda mosque as the imam began his sermon. Some worshipers died in a suicide blast; others were gunned down as they ran. The attackers would later walk among the fallen, 27 of them children, shooting those who appeared to be breathing. Eyewitnesses said that some had carried a black flag that local residents recognized as belonging to State of Sinai, a local Islamic State affiliate that has remained largely intact even as the Islamic States main bases in Iraq and Syria have crumbled. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion immediately fell on Islamic State-linked militants. President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi pledged to avenge the bloodshed with brute force. But the contours of a tougher approach remain hazy. Egyptian security forces have been locked in battle with the countrys Islamic State affiliate for several years. The insurgency has killed hundreds in the heavily patrolled Sinai and militants have struck further afield, including Christian Coptic churches in Cairo and Alexandria. The Egyptian government has been describing its reaction to every attack as a harsh response since the summer of 2013, if not before. So its difficult to assess what is meant by a promise to do more than that, said Zack Gold, a fellow with the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Louisa Loveluck and Heba Farouk Mahfouz are Washington Post writers. Salman Khan has been paired opposite Jacqueline Fernandez in Race 3. The film will be directed by Remo D'Souza. By India Today Web Desk: Salman Khan is known for going to any lengths to help out his co-stars. And this time, it was for Jacqueline Fernandez. Salman,who has been paired opposite Jacqueline in Race 3, reportedly wanted to give her a more substantial role, instead of letting her just be eye-candy. He didn't want the actress to be a mere decorative piece in the film. He told Remo to give her a meaty role, so she can display her acting abilities. advertisement And it goes without saying, Salman's request can't be denied. So sources say that Jacqueline's role has been chalked out with a lot of care and effort. Jacqueline has been usually relegated to being just eye-candy in films like the Race franchise previously, Dishoom and Judwaa 2 . So we hope to see more of her, in Race 3! The big-budget action thriller, which went on floors this month, will also see Bobby Deol , Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem in pivotal roles. It will be directed by Remo D' Souza. The shooting for the film started this month, and Salman shared a photo on Twitter and Instagram to celebrate the moment. Baki sab toh Theek Hai but look at how hot, cool, sweet, charming & sexy is rameshji looking in this Race 3 ke team pic mein . pic.twitter.com/mpkYOUaxOK- Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) November 10, 2017 Race 3 was all set to clash with ex-lover Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Fanney Khan, next Eid. However, there is speculation that Aishwarya's film might be postponed now. ALSO WATCH: Sunny Deol-Bobby Deol are back with poster boys, Salman Khan turns villain for Race 3. --- ENDS --- WASHINGTON The Trump administration has backtracked on its decision to order the Palestinians office in Washington to close, instead saying it would merely impose limitations on the office that it expected would be lifted after 90 days. Last week, U.S. officials said the Palestine Liberation Organization mission couldnt stay open because the Palestinians had violated a provision in U.S. law requiring the office to close if the Palestinians try to get the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis. The move caused a major rift in U.S.-Palestinian relations that threatened to scuttle President Trumps ambitious effort to broker Mideast peace before it ever got off the ground. Yet the United States delayed shuttering the office for a week while saying it was working out the details with the Palestinians, before abruptly reversing course late Friday, as many Americans were enjoying a long Thanksgiving Day weekend. State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said the U.S. had advised the PLO Office to limit its activities to those related to achieving a lasting, comprehensive peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Vasquez said even those restrictions will be lifted after 90 days if the U.S. determines the Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in serious peace talks. The White House, in an effort led by Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been preparing a comprehensive peace plan to present to both sides in the coming months. We therefore are optimistic that at the end of this 90-day period, the political process may be sufficiently advanced that the president will be in a position to allow the PLO office to resume full operations, Vasquez said. The reversal marked a serious departure from the administrations interpretation of the law only a week earlier. Officials had said then that, one way or another, the office had to close because Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a U.N. speech in September, had called on the ICC to investigate and prosecute Israelis. That same law, though, says the president can let the office re-open after 90 days despite an ICC push if serious Israeli-Palestinian talks are under way. Asked how the Trump administration explains its new interpretation of about what must happen if the Palestinians call for an ICC investigation, Vasquez said: These actions are consistent with the presidents authorities to conduct the foreign relations of the United States. The chaos that ensued after the announcement, with the U.S. unable for several days to explain if the office was truly closing and when, indicated it had caught much of the government off-guard. Josh Lederman is an Associated Press writer. By PTI: Vellore (TN), Nov 25 (PTI) Four girl students of a government higher secondary school here ended their lives by jumping into a well in a suicide pact after being allegedly chided by teachers for not being attentive in class, police said. The Class XI students of Panapakkam Government Higher Secondary School at the nearby Arakkonam town jumped into a farm well at Nangamangalam village yesterday. Fire and Rescue Services personnel fished out the bodies and sent them for autopsy to a government hospital last night. "Based on the preliminary inquiry, the headmistress and class teacher have been suspended," a district education official told reporters here today. The reason for the girls suicide is yet to be ascertained, a top district police official said. advertisement "Four teams of police personnel are questioning the class students, teachers, and others and only after the conclusion of the enquiry would the cause of the suicide be known," he said. The official said no suicide note had been recovered. He said a preliminary enquiry revealed that 11 students were chided by teachers for not being attentive in class and were asked to bring their parents on November 24. "Yesterday, out of the 11 students, seven apologised and assured the teachers that they will be attentive. The other four students ended their lives," he told PTI. The seven girls who tendered apology too had not brought their parents, he added. Of the four girls who committed suicide, two came to school in the morning and left the premises immediately. They later joined the other two and all of them went to the farm in their bicycles. "Local people, including a cowherd, saw the girls going to the farm well," he said. Villagers alerted police and local officials after they spotted the abandoned bicycles near the farm well. Senior police officials and a district official placed wreaths on the bodies. PTI VGN APR CHT --- ENDS --- He noted that India had lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced. He added the two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone The Swami said the government was insisting on a maximum of two children, but till the time the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, Hindus should have at least four children By India Today Web Desk: Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj of the Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar said today that Hindus must have at least four children until "demographic imbalance" can be checked by the Uniform Civil Code's implementation. He added that the two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone. He noted that India had lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced and this had resulted in a demographic imbalance. advertisement He was speaking to reporters on the second day of the three-day Dharma Sansad organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in the temple town of Udupi of coastal Karnataka. #WATCH Udupi: Swami Govind Dev Giri says 'Every Hindu couple should have four children,so that Hindu population is stabilized ' (25/11/17) pic.twitter.com/vAkZGF6XJ1- ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2017 The Swami said the government was insisting on a maximum of two children, but till the time the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, Hindus should have at least four children. India lost many of its territories wherever Hindu population reduces, he said. "We have seen that India lost those territories wherever Hindu population reduced, resulting in demographic imbalance. The two-child policy should not be restricted to Hindus alone." On cow-vigilantism, the seer said some criminals were settling personal scores under the guise of 'Gau Rakshaks'. "Gau Rakshaks are peace loving people. They have been defamed by some vested interests. Some criminals are settling scores under the guise of Gau Rakshaks," said Giriji Maharaj. The mega religious event is being attended by over 2,000 Hindu seers, matt heads and VHP leaders from all over the country. (With PTI inputs) --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Nov 25 (PTI) Select edible oil prices firmed up at the wholesale oil and oilseeds market during the week on increased offtake by vanaspati millers, driven by rising demand from retailers against tight supplies. Firm trend overseas also influenced sentiment. Castor oil in the non-edible section showed some strength on increased offtake by consuming industries. advertisement Traders said increased buying by vanaspati millers to meet rising demand from retailers in view of the ongoing wedding season against tight stocks position on fall in supplies from producing regions mainly led to rise in edible oil prices. Positive leads from overseas markets also influenced sentiment, they said. In the national capital, groundnut mill delivery (Gujarat) oil rose by Rs 200 to Rs ,8,900 per quintal. Mustard expeller (Dadri) and cottonseed mill delivery (Haryana) oils moved up by Rs 150 each to Rs 7,950 and Rs 6,450 per quintal respectively. Sesame mill delivery also jumped up by Rs 500 to Rs 8,400 per quintal. Tracking a firm trend overseas, palmolein (RBD) and palmolein (Kandla) oils too shot up by Rs 350 each to Rs 6,450 and Rs 6,500 per quintal respectively. Crude palm oil (ex- kandla) went up by Rs 150 to Rs 5,000 per quintal. Soyabean refined mill delivery (Indore) and soyabean degum (Kandla) oils followed suit and enquired higher by Rs 200 each to Rs 7,400 and Rs 7,000 per quintal respectively. Coconut oil quoted higher at Rs 2,650-2,700 instead of Rs 2,550-2,600 per tin. In the non-edible section, castor oil got fresh buying support from consuming industries and ended higher by Rs 100 to Rs 8,600-8,700 per quintal.(MORE) PTI SUN KPS ABM --- ENDS --- The Army is currently using second generation Konkurs and Milan 2T ATGMs, which do not have night-fighting capabilities. By Ajit Kumar Dubey: Seeking to bolster the anti-tank arsenal of its infantry troops, the Indian Army is moving ahead with a proposal to buy Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel which will meet the urgent requirement of these missiles for the force. "To meet the immediate requirements of the infantry battalions of the Army, a proposal is being moved for buying Spike missiles for the force, which will be taken up for discussion at very high level in the defence ministry in the coming weeks," a government source told Mail Today. advertisement The requirements of the Army are so huge that they will be met with the missile systems supplied by the Israelis along with the ones to be produced by DRDO in future as it is also developing the man-portable ATGMs, sources said. The Army needs third-generation ATGMs, with a strike range of over 2.5 km and fire-and-forget capabilities, to equip all its 382 infantry battalions and 44 mechanised infantry units, which will carry them on their Russian BMP combat vehicles. Sources said this combination of buying from abroad and allowing Make in India at the same time will balance the need for taking care of national security requirements along with the need to promote the indigenous industry. The defence ministry has been in talks with Israel and USA for a long time to get the third generation anti-tank missiles and had ultimately zeroed in on the Spike missiles under an old deal, which would have cost around Rs 3,000 crore. This is not the first time the defence ministry has decided in favour of Make in India projects over foreign imports as recently, one project to buy two regiments of short-range surface-to-air missiles (SRSAM) worth Rs 18,000 crore was disallowed in favour of Akash surface-to-air defence missile systems. In the earlier competition for ATGMs, India had also tried one American fire-and-forget ATGM, but that offer was not accepted due to unacceptable terms. Spike missile is a third generation, fire-and-forget, top attack ATGM with a range of 2.5 km, which can operate both during day and night against an incoming enemy tank regiment. The Army is currently using second generation Konkurs and Milan 2T ATGMs, which do not have night-fighting capabilities. According to reports, the Army currently has a shortage of around 68,000 missiles, with no missiles held as War Wastage Reserves against a government stipulation to build up stocks to last for at least 10 days of intense fighting. The DRDO has a long list of successes in the field of missile defence systems and has not only developed the strategic systems, but is also gaining expertise in air defence as well. It recently tested the quick reaction surface-to-air missile system for the armed forces within a few months of being tasked to do the development. Its small range missile NAG is also moving ahead towards acceptance by the armed forces. --- ENDS --- advertisement By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Modi's son, Utkarsh is to get married on December 3, and all the guests who have already been invited to the wedding are being informed about the change in venue. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Nine days ahead of his son's wedding, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, has changed the marriage venue following a threat from RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son and former Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav. Citing security concerns after Tej Pratap's threat, Modi has changed the venue from Shakha Maidan in Rajendra Nagar to Veterinary College ground, near Patna airport. advertisement Modi's son, Utkarsh is to get married on December 3, and all the guests who have already been invited to the wedding are being informed about the change in venue. It may be mentioned that Tej Pratap, who has also been invited to the wedding, has threatened to sabotage the wedding and thrash Modi by entering his house forcibly. Informing journalists about this change, Modi said that after receiving the threat from Lalu's son, he first planned on shifting the venue to 5, Desh Ratna Marg, the bungalow allotted to him as deputy CM. However, the former deputy CM, Tejaswi Yadav, has still not vacated this house despite being allotted another bungalow. Then, Modi wanted to change the venue to 3, Desh Ratna Marg bungalow, which has been allotted to Speaker of Bihar Council. But the former Health Minister, Tej Pratap has also not vacated this house. Though, he too has been allotted another bungalow. It is then Modi decided to change the marriage venue to Veterinary college ground. --- ENDS --- Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: %method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: %perl> 28: